University of South Carolina Mission Statement

Approved by the Board of Trustees - April 1997

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The primary mission of the University of South Carolina, a multi-campus public institution serving the entire State of South Carolina, is the education of the state's diverse citizens through teaching, research and creative activity, and service.

 Teaching

The University is committed to providing its students with the highest-quality education, including the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success and responsible citizenship in a complex and changing world. A particular strength of the University of South Carolina is the excellence, breadth, and diversity of the institution's faculty.

Research

Convinced that research and scholarship, including artistic creation, are essential for excellent teaching, the University pursues aggressively an active research and scholarship program. The University is dedicated to using research to improve the quality of life for South Carolinians.

Service

Another important facet of the University's public mission is service -- to its community, state, nation, and the world in such areas as public health, education, social issues, economic development, and family support systems.

 

Founded in 1801 in Columbia, the University of South Carolina began providing programs in communities statewide in the 1950's and 1960's. At that time, a network of campuses was established in response to community initiative and support for accessible, affordable educational programs principally for local citizens. In the 1970's, the Aiken and Spartanburg campuses were granted the authority to award baccalaureate degrees. While the regional campuses, the senior campuses, and the Columbia campus all pursue teaching, research, creative activity, and service, they do so with an emphasis suited to their individual campus missions.

Columbia Campus

As a major teaching and research institution, USC Columbia has long offered a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs through the doctoral level. With a mission of teaching, research, and service, USC Columbia addresses the state's needs for master's level, professional, and doctoral education, for conducting and sharing research, and for responding to statewide and regional demands for educational resources and professional expertise.

USC Columbia aspires to national and international stature as it provides equitable access to its opportunities, resources, and activities.

Senior Campuses

Separately accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Aiken and Spartanburg take as their primary mission the delivery of basic undergraduate education to their respective areas. These senior campuses also offer graduate-level coursework through the University's Graduate Regional Studies program and offer master's degree programs in response to regional demand.

Regional Campuses

Accredited with USC Columbia by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the regional campuses in Beaufort, Lancaster, Allendale (Salkehatchie), Sumter, and Union principally provide the first two years of undergraduate education, as well as selected associate degree programs mainly for their locale. The regional campuses also provide for the completion of bachelor degrees by offering selected upper-division coursework in conjunction with Aiken, Columbia and Spartanburg campuses as well as some graduate education through the University's Graduate Regional Studies program. In addition to providing these programs, the regional campuses bring the resources of the entire University to citizens throughout the state.