University of South Carolina
Encyclopedia
The University of South Carolina (also referred to as USC, SC, or Carolina) is a public, co-educational research
university
located in Columbia, South Carolina
, United States
, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over 359 acres (145.3 ha) in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House
. The University has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for its research and engagement, has received a Top-10 ranking from U.S. News & World Report for being "most promising and innovative," and for decades has received annual recognition for its prestigious undergraduate and graduate International Business programs. It also houses the largest collection of Robert Burns
and Scottish literature materials outside of Scotland.
Founded in 1801, USC is the flagship institution of the University of South Carolina System
and offers more than 350 programs of study leading to bachelor's
, master's
, and doctoral
degrees from fourteen degree-granting colleges and schools to an enrollment of approximately 44,557 students, 29,597 on the main Columbia campus. USC also has several thousand future students in feeder programs at surrounding technical colleges. Professional schools on the Columbia campus include business, engineering, law, medicine, and pharmacy.
The University was founded as South Carolina College on December 19, 1801, by an act of the General Assembly
initiated by Governor
John Drayton
in an effort to promote harmony between the Lowcountry
and the Backcountry
. On January 10, 1805, having an initial enrollment of nine students, the college commenced classes with a traditional classical curriculum. The first president was the Baptist
minister and theologian Reverend Jonathan Maxcy
. He was an alumnus of Brown University
, with an honorary degree from Harvard University
. Before coming to the college, Maxcy had served in the presidencies of Brown, and Union College
. Maxcy's tenure lasted from 1804 through 1820.
When South Carolina College opened its doors in 1801, the building now known as Rutledge College was the only building on campus. Located one block southeast of the State Capitol, it served as an administrative office, academic building, residence hall, and chapel. However, the master plan for the original campus called for a total of eleven buildings, all facing a large lush gathering area. In 1807, the original President's House was the next building to be erected. The building now known as DeSaussure College followed shortly thereafter, and the remaining eight buildings were constructed over the next several decades. When completed, all eleven buildings formed a U-shape open to Sumter Street. This modified quadrangle became known as the Horseshoe.
The College became a symbol of the South in the antebellum period as its graduates were on the forefront of secession from the Union. With the generous support of the General Assembly, South Carolina College acquired a reputation as the leading institution of the South
and attracted several noteworthy scholars, including Francis Lieber
, Thomas Cooper
, and Joseph LeConte
.
government for South Carolina to fill its quota of 18,000 soldiers. A system of conscription would begin on March 20 for all men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, so on March 8 all of the students at the college volunteered for service in order to avoid the dishonor of having been conscripted. Despite the depletion of students, the professors issued a notice that the college would temporarily close and would reopen to those under eighteen. When the college reopened on March 17, only nine students showed up for classes and it became quite apparent to all that the college would not last past the end of the term in June.
On June 25 with the consent of the state government, the Confederate authorities took possession of the college buildings and converted them into a hospital. After many unsuccessful attempts to reopen the college, the trustees passed a resolution on December 2, 1863 that officially closed the college. By February 1865, Sherman's
army had reached the outskirts of Columbia and the college was spared from destruction by the Union forces because of its use as a hospital. In addition, a company of the 25th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
was stationed at the campus on February 17 to protect it from harm and to thwart off pillaging Yankee soldiers.
The Union army took possession of the college on May 24, 1865 and although the future for the college appeared bleak with it under military control, General John Porter Hatch
sent a letter on June 19 to the remaining professors at the college that it should reopen as soon as possible. The appointment of Benjamin Franklin Perry
as provisional governor of South Carolina
on June 30 by President
Andrew Johnson
restored civilian rule to the state. Perry reinstated the trustees to their positions and the board met on September 20 to authorize the college to reopen on the first Monday of January in 1866. In a message to the legislature in October, Perry sought to convert the college into a university because with the state in an impoverished situation, it would provide a more practical education. Little opposition developed to change the College into a university and bill to establish the University of South Carolina was passed by the General Assembly
on December 19, 1865.
The University Act of 1869 reorganized the University and provided it with generous financial support. An amendment was added to the act by W. J. Whipper, a black representative from Beaufort
, that would prevent racial discrimination from the admissions policy of the University. The legislature further proved its seriousness towards racial equality by electing two black trustees to the governing board of the University on March 9, 1869. A normal school
was established by the legislature on the campus of the University as well as a preparatory school since most of the black students of the state were ill prepared for the academic work required at a university. In addition, to encourage enrollment by blacks, tuition and other fees were abolished. On October 7, 1873, Henry E. Hayne
, the Secretary of State of South Carolina
, became the first black student when he registered for the fall session in the medical college of the University.
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, and most of its buildings reflect the federal style of architecture in vogue in the early days of the nation. Among them is the Caroliniana Library, which was designed by Robert Mills
and is the first freestanding academic library in the United States
.
Over the years the eleven original buildings on the Horseshoe survived a fire, an earthquake, and the Civil War, but in 1940 McKissick Museum replaced the original President's House. The President's House would eventually return to the Horseshoe after extensive remodeling of one of its original buildings, which was dedicated as such in 1952.
During the 20th century, the campus began to spread out dramatically from the Horseshoe. Today it includes the student union, 24 residence halls, numerous academic buildings, Longstreet Theatre, the Koger Center for the Arts
, the Carolina Coliseum
, the Colonial Life Arena, Carolina Stadium, and various facilities for Olympic sports
. (Williams-Brice Stadium
is located approximately one mile off campus.) Recent additions to the campus are the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center, the Greek Village, the Green Quad, the Honors College Residence Hall, the Public Health Research Center, the Inn at USC, the Colonial Life Arena and Carolina Stadium. Future plans also include a new home for the School of Law (to be constructed in the block bounded by Gervais, Senate, Pendleton, and Bull streets with construction scheduled to begin in 2013) and a new home for the Moore School of Business, currently under construction at the corner of Assembly and Greene streets.
The campus continues to expand west toward the Congaree River
in support of its research initiatives (see below). Three separate sites, each specializing in its own research area, will initially cover 500000 square feet (46,451.5 m²) spread over six city blocks and will eventually grow to 5000000 square feet (464,515.2 m²). This new district of campus, named Innovista, will mix university and private research buildings, parking garages, and commercial and residential units. At the center will be a public plaza called Foundation Square.
The University of South Carolina also operates a transit system under Parking Services called Carolina Shuttle (formerly ShuttleCock) which operates Monday - Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm with 7 routes and 14 buses including converted buses that use more energy-efficient biodiesel. The Evening Shuttle operates from 6pm to 2:30am. The system operates during the Fall and Spring semesters, with limited operation during the summer, reading days, and holidays. Service is free to all USC students, faculty and staff. A new system called "Cocky's Caravan" was added in 2008 as a weekend service, shuttling students from main areas on campus to the local entertainment district Five Points
. In 2011, Cocky's Caravan was shut down and replaced by a partnership with Checker Yellow Cab known as "Carolina Cab" that offers students free rides from Five Points to their homes within 5 miles (8 km) of campus, 10:00 pm to 3:00 am Thursday through Saturday.
Classified as more selective, USC admitted just under 70% of those who applied to be Freshmen in 2010. When admitting Freshmen, the university puts emphasis on the rigor of high school study and scores on standardized test, SAT or ACT
. It also considers class rank, extracurricular activities, and an optional personal statement. The average incoming freshman had a combined SAT score (critical reading and math) of 1185 and a high school GPA of 3.9.
Over 120 courses are offered exclusively to Honors College students. Students are required to complete a Senior Thesis
under the direction of a faculty advisor in order to graduate from the College with Honors. Since 1994, Honors College students have won more than 278 national awards and fellowships.
The SC Honors College offers housing for freshmen and sophomores in the new Honors College residence hall, on the former site of the University's "Towers" dormitories.
* Southern Region includes South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia and Florida
During his tenure, former Carolina president John Palms articulated a "Cathedrals of Excellence" budgeting philosophy. Palms advocated the money from fundraising be channeled into USC's best programs, rather than spread the funds evenly. The strategy would pay off in the long term when these programs became nationally prominent, making a name for USC and attracting grant money. His primary goal was for the University of South Carolina to be admitted to the Association of American Universities
- an association of the leading 62 research universities in the United States and Canada.
Former President Andrew Sorensen raised even larger sums for research, including a $300 million grant for colorectal cancer
. In the spirit of Palms' budget, the board of directors moved to transform university land on Assembly Street into an "innovation district" called Innovista
that will develop four strengths: biomedicine
, nanotechnology
, environmental science
and alternative fuels.
Innovista is a partnered development with the City of Columbia and will form an ecosystem of sorts. The 200 acre (0.809372 km²) campus will house offices and private research firms among the university offices and labs, as well as residences and retail. Those who live and work in Innovista will have easy access to the Congaree Vista
and a Publix
supermarket and will be within walking distance of the Five Points
bar and shopping district. Innovista is planned to add five million square feet of floor space to the metro area and could set Columbia on a more urban path.
Current president, Harris Pastides, has a research background. His prior history with the university includes serving as the vice president for research and health sciences, executive director of the SC Research Foundation, dean of the Arnold School of Public Health and as an epidemiology professor. His stated objectives on taking over the position included boosting academics, promoting research and launching an ambitious fund raising campaign.
In May 2009, USC was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of 31 universities nationwide to house an Energy Frontier Research Center that is expected to bring $12.5 million in federal funding, the largest single award in the university's history, to the College of Engineering and Computing. President Pastides commented on the grant, “This award solidifies the university’s position as a leader in alternative-fuel research.”
.) Enrollment statistics for Fall 2009 indicate the following:
The University of South Carolina campus is currently home to twenty-five residence halls, the last of which opened in of the fall of 2009. The housing on campus is under the supervision of Department of Student Housing, and quality of life is enhanced through the Residence Hall Association
, whose current structure was determined by former president and vice president Amanda Pippin and Steve Smith.
University Housing currently provides over 6,200 on-campus housing units on campus. Most of these Housing Centers have rooms that are air-conditioned and offer phone and cable television outlets and data connections that are networked to the University mainframe with access to the Internet. Housing provides many types of living experiences on the campus some include: family residents in the 9 story Cliff Apartments each apartment is furnished with a stove and refrigerator. Rent includes all utilities. Freshmen housing, these centers, or residence halls, have layouts that maximize opportunities for student interaction. Freshman Centers typically feature double rooms and one central bathroom on each floor per unit. Notable freshmen centers include the 11-story Columbia Hall, 10-story Bates House and Patterson Hall. Apartment style units are located in the modern housing units are which are commonly referred to as the “Quads” they are the most requested type of housing among upper-level students. All are air-conditioned featuring two-, three-, and four-private bedroom floor plans with a living/dining area, kitchen, and bath. Undergraduates may choose housing in a specific "living and learning community". The concept is to create a better social and learning environment by housing students with similar academic or career interests together on campus. Learning communities enhance students’ living experience by providing active learning experiences, faculty-student interactions, and opportunities to explore diversity, community service, undergraduate research, and study abroad; some of these centers are Maxcy College, Capstone, and Preston Residential College.
Currently 9-story Patterson Hall, with a housing capacity of approximately 600 female freshmen, is Carolina’s largest residence hall. The tallest and most notable landmark on the Columbia campus is the 18-story Capstone House. Top of Carolina Dining Room is on the 18th floor and was the only revolving restaurant on an American college campus. In the fall of 2004, the $29 million West Quad (now Green Quad) opened and became one of only four in the world to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The 172000 square feet (15,979.3 m²) complex includes three four-story buildings with the latest technology and environmental features for conserving water and energy and creating a healthier, greener environment for the 500 undergraduate students who call it home. West Quad, was built with a significant amount of recycled materials, ranging from the cement blocks and copper roof to the interior carpet, is also intended to encourage students to learn more about their environment.
The future of housing on the Carolina Campus is The Honors College Residence Hall, located on the site of the former University's "Towers" dormitories. The exterior design of the Honors Residence includes two wings perpendicular to Blossom Street and a main wing parallel to Blossom Street that faces the rear of the Graduate Science Research Center. The residence hall holds 537 beds and includes a common living area for every 10 to 12 residents and a study room for every 12 to 24 students. The rooms house one or two students each and are suite style, meaning that two rooms share a common bathroom. A full-service dining hall, including a hot entree line, deli, and grill, is located on the first floor along with a Starbucks
. Also on the first floor, there is a game room complete with a pool table, a ping pong table, and a big screen TV and a kitchen with a stove, refrigerator, and sink. The dorm is also home to the Honors Learning Center, which includes three classrooms and a conference center. The Honors Residence was awarded Gold Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design (LEED) certification from the United States Green Building Council, making it the first building on the University of South Carolina campus to be awarded Gold certification.
Since campus academic enrollment exceeds the capacity of on-campus housing, the University is in the process of adding more residence halls, most of which will be suite-style. As a result, some students live in popular off-campus housing including apartments at Pointe West, College Suites, RiverSide Estates/University Commons, The Wilshire House at Union Station, Whaley's Mill (now The Loft), Granby Mill, and Garnet River Walk; houses in the Shandon, Rosewood, and Olympia areas of Columbia; and off-campus housing provided by Greek organizations.
Carolina Productions is a student organization responsible for providing diverse educational programs, entertainment, and special events for the University. It is composed of seven commissions, each of which concentrates on separate programming.
Honor societies include Alpha Epsilon Delta
, Alpha Lambda Delta
, Alpha Phi Sigma
, Beta Alpha Psi
, Carolina Scholars Association, Chi Sigma Iota, Eta Sigma Delta, Gamma Beta Phi, Golden Key
, Kappa Delta Epsilon
, McNair Scholars Association, Mortar Board
, Mu Sigma Rho
, National Residence Hall Honorary
, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
, Omicron Delta Kappa
, Order of Omega
, Phi Alpha Theta
, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Lambda Sigma, Phi Sigma Pi
, Pi Tau Sigma
, Psi Chi
, Rho Chi, Sigma Alpha Lambda
, Sigma Delta Pi
, Sigma Iota Rho
, Tau Sigma, and Tau Beta Pi
.
Professional organizations include Kappa Kappa Psi
National Band Fraternity, Academy of Student Pharmacists, Alpha Kappa Psi
, American Marketing Association, Delta Sigma Pi
, Gamecock Pre-Veterinary Association, Global Business Council, Library and Information Science Student Association, Phi Alpha Delta
, Public Relations Student Society of America, Social Work Student Association, Student Nurses Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, Biomedical Engineering Society, Phi Beta Lambda, among others.
Religious organizations include Canterbury Community (The Episcopal Church), Christian Legal Society, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Campus Crusade for Christ
, Chi Alpha (Assemblies of God), Christ's Student Church (Church of Christ), Hillel (Jewish), Lutheran Campus Ministry, Methodist Student Network, Muslim Students Association, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Presbyterian (USA) Student Association, The Navigators
, Reformed University Fellowship
(Presbyterian Church in America), St. Thomas More Catholic Community, Student Christian Fellowship, Saint Theodore's Anglican Chapel, and Kappa Upsilon Chi
.
Minority and international student organizations include Association of African American Students, Students Allied for Latin America, Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Alliance, Black Graduate Student Association, Hellenic Student Organization, NAACP, Brothers of Nubian Descent, Ethnic Student Ministries, Indian Student Association, International Student Association, Nihon Club, Fellowship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, Taiwanese Students Association, Thai Students Association, Turkish Student Association, Vietnamese Student Association, Filipino-American Student Association, SEED, SALA (Students Associated for Latin America), Pastafarians at USC, Society of Black Engineers, Hindu Students Council
, and African-American Male Institute.
Other organizations include choral groups, concert band, the Carolina Debate Union, the USC Mock Trial Team, dance, drama/theater, jazz band, the Mighty Sound of the Southeast
, music ensembles, musical theater, the anime
club Nashi
(Creators of the annual event Nashi-Con, garnering over 1000 attendees annually to the university), opera, pep band, symphony orchestra, and the campus radio station.
Students can also join the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) or participate in any of the local projects sponsored by Habitat for Humanity.
The student run radio station, WUSC
, began broadcasting on the AM dial in 1947. In January 1977 WUSC began broadcasting on the FM dial, and in 1982 the station found its current home at 90.5 FM. In June 2006, WUSC upgraded to a current digital transmitter and are now broadcasting in HD radio. WUSC-FM was one of the first stations in the state to broadcast in HD and recently made history by being the first station in the state to broadcast in HD2.
Students also publish a literary magazine, Garnet & Black, which was formed in 1994 as a consolidation of the university's former yearbook and its literary magazine. The magazine focuses on timely issues and trends of student interest and regularly offering tidbits on current events and a "Create" section showcasing students' literature and artwork. It is published four times a year and is free to students at many locations across the Carolina community.
In the Fall 2006, USC established its first television station, Student Government Television (SGTV). It was funded by Student Government until April 2007 when Student Government released SGTV to the Department of Student Media, which operates Garnet & Black, The Daily Gamecock, and WUSC. It became known as Student Gamecock Television (SGTV)
SGTV airs Monday through Thursdays from 6pm-10pm and all weekend long and can be seen on cable channel 4. SGTV provides original, informative, and entertaining programming and serves as an outlet for student work.
The Greek system has experienced a significant increase in interest over the last several years. Greek Life leaders credit this with the addition of the most prominent features of Greek Life at the University—the large, mostly Greek Revival, mansions maintained by the national fraternities and sororities as chapter houses lining Lincoln and Gadsden Streets, called the Greek Village. All students who live in these residences are members of a sorority or fraternity, and while the properties are managed by the University, each house is considered private ownership by each respective fraternity or sorority.
The following chart is a list of the 20 fraternities and sororities with houses in the Greek Village:
The University of South Carolina also has four Musical Greek organizations including Kappa Kappa Psi
, Tau Beta Sigma
, Phi Mu Alpha, and Sigma Alpha Iota
.
(except for men's soccer which competes in Conference USA
) and are known as the Gamecock
s. The Gamecocks have won eight national team championships: 2010 National Championship in baseball
, 2011 National Championship in baseball
, 2005 & 2007 National Championships in women's equestrian, 2005-2007 Hunt Seat National Championships in women's equestrian, and 2002 NCAA championship in women's track & field. Also, the men's and women's track & field teams have produced many NCAA individual champions, world championship medalists, and Olympic medalists. The men's baseball and basketball teams have also produced Olympic medalists. Other significant accomplishments include 2005 NCAA runner-up in women's track & field, NCAA runner-up three times in baseball (1975, 1977, 2002), 1993 NCAA runner-up in men's soccer, and 2005 & 2006 NIT
championships in men's basketball, and a Heisman Trophy winner (George Rogers
, 1980). See grid at the main article for other championships.
, convocation
, and athletic games are: The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way
, the USC fight song
and We Hail Thee Carolina
, the University's alma mater.
and the Congaree Vista
. Both of these areas are within walking distance of campus and offer restaurants, bars, cafés, and a variety of local entertainment.
Lake Murray
and the three rivers (Saluda River
, Broad River
, and Congaree River
) around Columbia
offer students many recreational activities. The South Carolina coast—Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head—is only a 1.5 to 2 hour drive for additional recreational activities.
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
located in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over 359 acres (145.3 ha) in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House
South Carolina State House
The South Carolina State House is the building housing the government of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The building houses the South Carolina General Assembly and the offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. Until 1971, it also housed the Supreme Court...
. The University has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for its research and engagement, has received a Top-10 ranking from U.S. News & World Report for being "most promising and innovative," and for decades has received annual recognition for its prestigious undergraduate and graduate International Business programs. It also houses the largest collection of Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
and Scottish literature materials outside of Scotland.
Founded in 1801, USC is the flagship institution of the University of South Carolina System
University of South Carolina System
The University of South Carolina System is a state university system of eight campuses set up in 1957 to expand the educational opportunities of the citizens of South Carolina as well as extend the reach of the University of South Carolina throughout the state...
and offers more than 350 programs of study leading to bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
, and doctoral
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
degrees from fourteen degree-granting colleges and schools to an enrollment of approximately 44,557 students, 29,597 on the main Columbia campus. USC also has several thousand future students in feeder programs at surrounding technical colleges. Professional schools on the Columbia campus include business, engineering, law, medicine, and pharmacy.
Foundation of South Carolina College and Early History
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
initiated by Governor
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
John Drayton
John Drayton
John Drayton was the 40th Governor of South Carolina on two non-consecutive occasions from 1800 to 1802 and 1808 to 1810, and was later a United States federal judge.-Early life and career:...
in an effort to promote harmony between the Lowcountry
South Carolina Low Country
The Lowcountry is a geographic and cultural region located along South Carolina's coast. The region includes the South Carolina Sea Islands...
and the Backcountry
The Upstate
The Upstate is the region in northwestern South Carolina, United States, also known as The Upcountry, which is the historical term. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the 10 counties of the commerce-rich I-85 corridor in the northwest corner of South Carolina. ...
. On January 10, 1805, having an initial enrollment of nine students, the college commenced classes with a traditional classical curriculum. The first president was the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister and theologian Reverend Jonathan Maxcy
Jonathan Maxcy
Jonathan Maxcy was the second president of Brown University ; the third president of Union College; and the first president of the University of South Carolina.Born in Attleboro, Massachusetts on September 2, 1768, Maxcy was educated at an academy in Wrentham, Massachusetts and...
. He was an alumnus of Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, with an honorary degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Before coming to the college, Maxcy had served in the presidencies of Brown, and Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
. Maxcy's tenure lasted from 1804 through 1820.
When South Carolina College opened its doors in 1801, the building now known as Rutledge College was the only building on campus. Located one block southeast of the State Capitol, it served as an administrative office, academic building, residence hall, and chapel. However, the master plan for the original campus called for a total of eleven buildings, all facing a large lush gathering area. In 1807, the original President's House was the next building to be erected. The building now known as DeSaussure College followed shortly thereafter, and the remaining eight buildings were constructed over the next several decades. When completed, all eleven buildings formed a U-shape open to Sumter Street. This modified quadrangle became known as the Horseshoe.
The College became a symbol of the South in the antebellum period as its graduates were on the forefront of secession from the Union. With the generous support of the General Assembly, South Carolina College acquired a reputation as the leading institution of the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
and attracted several noteworthy scholars, including Francis Lieber
Francis Lieber
Francis Lieber , known as Franz Lieber in Germany, was a German-American jurist, gymnast and political philosopher. He edited an Encyclopaedia Americana...
, Thomas Cooper
Thomas Cooper (US politician)
Thomas Cooper was an Anglo-American economist, college president and political philosopher. Cooper was described by Thomas Jefferson as "one of the ablest men in America" and by John Adams as "a learned ingenious scientific and talented madcap." Dumas Malone stated that "modern scientific...
, and Joseph LeConte
Joseph LeConte
Joseph Le Conte was an American geologist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley.-Biography:...
.
Civil War and Reconstruction
Seventy-two students were present for classes in January 1862 and the college functioned as best it could until a call by the ConfederateConfederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
government for South Carolina to fill its quota of 18,000 soldiers. A system of conscription would begin on March 20 for all men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, so on March 8 all of the students at the college volunteered for service in order to avoid the dishonor of having been conscripted. Despite the depletion of students, the professors issued a notice that the college would temporarily close and would reopen to those under eighteen. When the college reopened on March 17, only nine students showed up for classes and it became quite apparent to all that the college would not last past the end of the term in June.
On June 25 with the consent of the state government, the Confederate authorities took possession of the college buildings and converted them into a hospital. After many unsuccessful attempts to reopen the college, the trustees passed a resolution on December 2, 1863 that officially closed the college. By February 1865, Sherman's
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
army had reached the outskirts of Columbia and the college was spared from destruction by the Union forces because of its use as a hospital. In addition, a company of the 25th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
25th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 25th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 25th Iowa Infantry was organized at Mount Pleasant, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service on September 27, 1862.The regiment was mustered...
was stationed at the campus on February 17 to protect it from harm and to thwart off pillaging Yankee soldiers.
John Porter Hatch
John Porter Hatch was a career American soldier who served as general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He received a Medal of Honor for gallantry in action at the September 1862 Battle of South Mountain during the Maryland Campaign.-Early life and career:Hatch was born in Oswego, N...
sent a letter on June 19 to the remaining professors at the college that it should reopen as soon as possible. The appointment of Benjamin Franklin Perry
Benjamin Franklin Perry
Benjamin Franklin Perry was the 72nd Governor of South Carolina, appointed by President Andrew Johnson in 1865 after the end of the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
as provisional governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
on June 30 by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
restored civilian rule to the state. Perry reinstated the trustees to their positions and the board met on September 20 to authorize the college to reopen on the first Monday of January in 1866. In a message to the legislature in October, Perry sought to convert the college into a university because with the state in an impoverished situation, it would provide a more practical education. Little opposition developed to change the College into a university and bill to establish the University of South Carolina was passed by the General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
on December 19, 1865.
The University Act of 1869 reorganized the University and provided it with generous financial support. An amendment was added to the act by W. J. Whipper, a black representative from Beaufort
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
, that would prevent racial discrimination from the admissions policy of the University. The legislature further proved its seriousness towards racial equality by electing two black trustees to the governing board of the University on March 9, 1869. A normal school
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
was established by the legislature on the campus of the University as well as a preparatory school since most of the black students of the state were ill prepared for the academic work required at a university. In addition, to encourage enrollment by blacks, tuition and other fees were abolished. On October 7, 1873, Henry E. Hayne
Henry E. Hayne
Henry E. Hayne was an African-American politician in South Carolina. During Reconstruction, he represented Marion County in the South Carolina Senate and then was elected Secretary of State of South Carolina, serving from 1872 to 1877...
, the Secretary of State of South Carolina
Secretary of State of South Carolina
The Secretary of State of South Carolina is an elected position in the U.S. state of South Carolina.-Organization:The Secretary of State's office has four internal divisions:...
, became the first black student when he registered for the fall session in the medical college of the University.
Campus
The HorseshoeOld Campus District, University of South Carolina
The Old Campus District, University of South Carolina, is an historic district centered around The Horseshoe on the main campus of the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, in the United States...
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, and most of its buildings reflect the federal style of architecture in vogue in the early days of the nation. Among them is the Caroliniana Library, which was designed by Robert Mills
Robert Mills (architect)
Robert Mills , most famously known for designing the Washington Monument, is sometimes called the first native born American to become a professional architect, though Charles Bulfinch perhaps has a clearer claim to this honor...
and is the first freestanding academic library in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Over the years the eleven original buildings on the Horseshoe survived a fire, an earthquake, and the Civil War, but in 1940 McKissick Museum replaced the original President's House. The President's House would eventually return to the Horseshoe after extensive remodeling of one of its original buildings, which was dedicated as such in 1952.
During the 20th century, the campus began to spread out dramatically from the Horseshoe. Today it includes the student union, 24 residence halls, numerous academic buildings, Longstreet Theatre, the Koger Center for the Arts
Koger Center for the Arts
The Koger Center for the Arts is an arts center located in Columbia, South Carolina, on the University of South Carolina campus. It was built in 1988, and has 2,256 saleable seats...
, the Carolina Coliseum
Carolina Coliseum
The Carolina Coliseum is a 12,401 seat multi-purpose arena in Columbia, South Carolina. It was the home of the University of South Carolina men's and women's basketball teams and Columbia's main events venue until 2002, when the Colonial Center, now Colonial Life Arena, opened...
, the Colonial Life Arena, Carolina Stadium, and various facilities for Olympic sports
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. (Williams-Brice Stadium
Williams-Brice Stadium
Williams-Brice Stadium is the home football stadium for the South Carolina Gamecocks, the college football team representing the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina...
is located approximately one mile off campus.) Recent additions to the campus are the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center, the Greek Village, the Green Quad, the Honors College Residence Hall, the Public Health Research Center, the Inn at USC, the Colonial Life Arena and Carolina Stadium. Future plans also include a new home for the School of Law (to be constructed in the block bounded by Gervais, Senate, Pendleton, and Bull streets with construction scheduled to begin in 2013) and a new home for the Moore School of Business, currently under construction at the corner of Assembly and Greene streets.
The campus continues to expand west toward the Congaree River
Congaree River
The Congaree River is a short but wide river in South Carolina in the United States; It flows for only 47 miles . The river serves an important role as the final outlet channel for the entire Lower Saluda and Lower Broad watersheds, before merging with the Wateree River just north of Lake Marion to...
in support of its research initiatives (see below). Three separate sites, each specializing in its own research area, will initially cover 500000 square feet (46,451.5 m²) spread over six city blocks and will eventually grow to 5000000 square feet (464,515.2 m²). This new district of campus, named Innovista, will mix university and private research buildings, parking garages, and commercial and residential units. At the center will be a public plaza called Foundation Square.
The University of South Carolina also operates a transit system under Parking Services called Carolina Shuttle (formerly ShuttleCock) which operates Monday - Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm with 7 routes and 14 buses including converted buses that use more energy-efficient biodiesel. The Evening Shuttle operates from 6pm to 2:30am. The system operates during the Fall and Spring semesters, with limited operation during the summer, reading days, and holidays. Service is free to all USC students, faculty and staff. A new system called "Cocky's Caravan" was added in 2008 as a weekend service, shuttling students from main areas on campus to the local entertainment district Five Points
Five Points (Columbia)
Five Points in Columbia, South Carolina is a shopping, restaurant, and nightlife area that attracts customers from the nearby University of South Carolina and throughout the Columbia metropolitan area. It is the center for the city's annual St...
. In 2011, Cocky's Caravan was shut down and replaced by a partnership with Checker Yellow Cab known as "Carolina Cab" that offers students free rides from Five Points to their homes within 5 miles (8 km) of campus, 10:00 pm to 3:00 am Thursday through Saturday.
Points of interest
- The HorseshoeOld Campus District, University of South CarolinaThe Old Campus District, University of South Carolina, is an historic district centered around The Horseshoe on the main campus of the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, in the United States...
- Williams-Brice StadiumWilliams-Brice StadiumWilliams-Brice Stadium is the home football stadium for the South Carolina Gamecocks, the college football team representing the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina...
(aka: "The Cockpit") - Colonial Life Arena
- Carolina Stadium
- Stone Stadium
- Koger Center for the ArtsKoger Center for the ArtsThe Koger Center for the Arts is an arts center located in Columbia, South Carolina, on the University of South Carolina campus. It was built in 1988, and has 2,256 saleable seats...
- School of LawUniversity of South Carolina School of LawThe University of South Carolina School of Law, also known as South Carolina Law or SC Law, is one of the professional schools of the University of South Carolina. South Carolina Law was founded in 1867 in Columbia, South Carolina and is the only public and non-profit law school in the state of...
- W. Gordon Belser ArboretumW. Gordon Belser ArboretumThe W. Gordon Belser Arboretum is an arboretum located near the University of South Carolina campus, in Columbia, South Carolina.The arboretum was a gift from William Gordon Belser, a neighborhood homeowner and real estate developer. It is a natural area now used for teaching biology.-See also:*...
- Carolina ColiseumCarolina ColiseumThe Carolina Coliseum is a 12,401 seat multi-purpose arena in Columbia, South Carolina. It was the home of the University of South Carolina men's and women's basketball teams and Columbia's main events venue until 2002, when the Colonial Center, now Colonial Life Arena, opened...
- Longstreet Theatre
- McKissick Museum
- Gibbes Green
- National Advocacy Center
- Close/Hipp Building (Darla Moore School of Business)
- Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center
- Thomas Cooper Library
- South Caroliniana Library
- Maxcy Monument
- Capstone House
- West Quad (Green Quad)
- Honors Residence
- The Inn at USC
- Russell House (University Union)
Admissions
| College | Undergrad | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| College of Arts and Sciences | 7,574 | 1,224 |
| Moore School of Business Moore School of Business The Darla Moore School of Business is the business school of University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1919, the Moore School has a special focus on international business. It currently enrolls over 4,800 students in degree-seeking programs... |
3,953 | 424 |
| College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management | 1,766 | 65 |
| College of Engineering and Computing | 1,584 | 453 |
| College of Mass Communications and Information Studies | 1,388 | 518 |
| College of Education | 1,067 | 1,106 |
| College of Nursing | 1,008 | 173 |
| Arnold School of Public Health | 766 | 653 |
| College of Pharmacy | 402 | 453 |
| School of Music | 325 | 137 |
| College of Social Work | 13 | 546 |
| School of Law University of South Carolina School of Law The University of South Carolina School of Law, also known as South Carolina Law or SC Law, is one of the professional schools of the University of South Carolina. South Carolina Law was founded in 1867 in Columbia, South Carolina and is the only public and non-profit law school in the state of... |
-- | 689 |
| School of Medicine | -- | 510 |
| The Graduate School | -- | 6,527 |
|
||
ACT (examination)
The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in November 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test...
. It also considers class rank, extracurricular activities, and an optional personal statement. The average incoming freshman had a combined SAT score (critical reading and math) of 1185 and a high school GPA of 3.9.
Honors college
Founded in 1978, the South Carolina Honors College offers academically gifted undergraduates the advantages of a small liberal arts college with the resources and academic depth of a comprehensive research university. After gaining acceptance to the University of South Carolina, students must apply separately to the Honors College and demonstrate significant academic achievement. 2010 entering freshmen had an average weighted GPA of 4.51 and an average SAT score (critical reading and math) of 1410.Over 120 courses are offered exclusively to Honors College students. Students are required to complete a Senior Thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
under the direction of a faculty advisor in order to graduate from the College with Honors. Since 1994, Honors College students have won more than 278 national awards and fellowships.
The SC Honors College offers housing for freshmen and sophomores in the new Honors College residence hall, on the former site of the University's "Towers" dormitories.
National rankings
| Publication | Rank | Category |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories... |
# 1 | Undergraduate international business for 13 consecutive years |
| # 2 | Graduate international business (20 consecutive years as either # 1 or # 2) |
|
| # 3 | School psychology doctoral program | |
| # 4 | Graduate social psychology | |
| # 10 | Insurance/Risk Management | |
| # 19 | Graduate library science, including # 2 school library media and # 8 health information |
|
| # 24 | Business programs (among public universities) | |
| # 52 | Top public institutions, National Universities | |
| # 58 | Master's nursing program | |
| # 85 | Medical Schools | |
| # 87 | Law Schools | |
| # 111 | National Universities | |
| National Research Council United States National Research Council The National Research Council of the USA is the working arm of the United States National Academies, carrying out most of the studies done in their names.The National Academies include:* National Academy of Sciences... |
# 7 | Electrical engineering doctoral program (#1 Southern Region*) |
| # 10 | Geography doctoral program (#2 Southern Region) | |
| # 26 | English doctoral program (#5 Southern Region) | |
| # 29 | Biological sciences doctoral program (#8 Southern Region) | |
| # 29 | Chemical engineering doctoral program (#7 Southern Region) | |
| # 31 | Mechanical engineering doctoral program (#7 Southern Region) | |
| # 36 | History doctoral program (#7 Southern Region) | |
| # 41 | Pharmacy doctoral program (#2 Southern Region) | |
| # 47 | Chemistry doctoral program (#9 Southern Region) | |
| American Board of Pediatrics | # 2 | Pediatrics residency program |
| Journal of Health Education | # 5 | Health education doctoral program |
| Latin Trade | # 5 | MBA programs for Latin Americans |
| American Academy of Kinesiology & Physical Education |
# 8 | Exercise science |
| Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education | # 9 | Hotel, restaurant, & tourism management |
| Journal of Public Affairs Education | # 10 | Publication rates of faculty research (Dept. of Political Science) in journals associated with the American Society for Public Administration |
| The Financial Times of London | # 25 | MBA program (# 55 worldwide; # 2 worldwide in international business) |
| The Wall Street Journal / Harris Interactive | # 49 | Business school (# 7 worldwide in international business) |
| Kiplinger's Personal Finance | # 32 | Best Values in Public Colleges |
| Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index | # 1 | Kinesiology and exercise science doctoral program |
| Top 10 | Marine science | |
| Top 10 | Nuclear engineering |
* Southern Region includes South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia and Florida
Research
USC is one of 62 public and 32 private research institutions and the only university in South Carolina classified a research institution of "very high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USC was awarded $218.8 million in research funding in the 2010 fiscal year, a record amount for the school and an increase of 4% over the year prior.During his tenure, former Carolina president John Palms articulated a "Cathedrals of Excellence" budgeting philosophy. Palms advocated the money from fundraising be channeled into USC's best programs, rather than spread the funds evenly. The strategy would pay off in the long term when these programs became nationally prominent, making a name for USC and attracting grant money. His primary goal was for the University of South Carolina to be admitted to the Association of American Universities
Association of American Universities
The Association of American Universities is an organization of leading research universities devoted to maintaining a strong system of academic research and education...
- an association of the leading 62 research universities in the United States and Canada.
Former President Andrew Sorensen raised even larger sums for research, including a $300 million grant for colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
. In the spirit of Palms' budget, the board of directors moved to transform university land on Assembly Street into an "innovation district" called Innovista
Innovista
Innovista is the University of South Carolina's research campus. The plan behind Innovista was made public in 2005, with the intention that the site would be a center for research on hydrogen and other technologies, and a magnet for private companies building spin-off products.Innovista has...
that will develop four strengths: biomedicine
Biomedicine
Biomedicine is a branch of medical science that applies biological and other natural-science principles to clinical practice,. Biomedicine, i.e. medical research, involves the study of physiological processes with methods from biology, chemistry and physics. Approaches range from understanding...
, nanotechnology
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
, environmental science
Environmental science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
and alternative fuels.
Innovista is a partnered development with the City of Columbia and will form an ecosystem of sorts. The 200 acre (0.809372 km²) campus will house offices and private research firms among the university offices and labs, as well as residences and retail. Those who live and work in Innovista will have easy access to the Congaree Vista
Congaree Vista
Congaree Vista is a cosmopolitan section of Columbia, South Carolina, near the banks of the Congaree River, which was revitalized during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The section includes many small, high-class shops and restaurants, often in renovated warehouse buildings...
and a Publix
Publix
Publix Super Markets, Inc. is an American supermarket chain based in Lakeland, Florida.Founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins, it is an employee-owned, privately held corporation. Publix is currently ranked No. 86 on Fortune magazine's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For 2010 and was ranked No...
supermarket and will be within walking distance of the Five Points
Five Points (Columbia)
Five Points in Columbia, South Carolina is a shopping, restaurant, and nightlife area that attracts customers from the nearby University of South Carolina and throughout the Columbia metropolitan area. It is the center for the city's annual St...
bar and shopping district. Innovista is planned to add five million square feet of floor space to the metro area and could set Columbia on a more urban path.
Current president, Harris Pastides, has a research background. His prior history with the university includes serving as the vice president for research and health sciences, executive director of the SC Research Foundation, dean of the Arnold School of Public Health and as an epidemiology professor. His stated objectives on taking over the position included boosting academics, promoting research and launching an ambitious fund raising campaign.
In May 2009, USC was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of 31 universities nationwide to house an Energy Frontier Research Center that is expected to bring $12.5 million in federal funding, the largest single award in the university's history, to the College of Engineering and Computing. President Pastides commented on the grant, “This award solidifies the university’s position as a leader in alternative-fuel research.”
Demographics
Over 29,000 students attend the Columbia campus of the University of South Carolina, coming from all 46 South Carolina counties. In addition, students from all 50 states and more than 100 foreign countries are represented. (Almost 16,000 students study at the regional campuses of the University of South Carolina SystemUniversity of South Carolina System
The University of South Carolina System is a state university system of eight campuses set up in 1957 to expand the educational opportunities of the citizens of South Carolina as well as extend the reach of the University of South Carolina throughout the state...
.) Enrollment statistics for Fall 2009 indicate the following:
- Undergraduates 72%, Graduates 23%, Professionals 5%
- Females 55%, Males 45%
- Full-time 84%, Part-time 16%
- Residents 72%, Non-residents 28%
- Minorities 24%
Housing
Residence hall association
In the United States, a Residence Hall Association is a student-run university residence hall governing body. It is usually the parent organization for individual hall governments. Their function is similar to a student government, except that most of their activities pertain to on-campus living...
, whose current structure was determined by former president and vice president Amanda Pippin and Steve Smith.
University Housing currently provides over 6,200 on-campus housing units on campus. Most of these Housing Centers have rooms that are air-conditioned and offer phone and cable television outlets and data connections that are networked to the University mainframe with access to the Internet. Housing provides many types of living experiences on the campus some include: family residents in the 9 story Cliff Apartments each apartment is furnished with a stove and refrigerator. Rent includes all utilities. Freshmen housing, these centers, or residence halls, have layouts that maximize opportunities for student interaction. Freshman Centers typically feature double rooms and one central bathroom on each floor per unit. Notable freshmen centers include the 11-story Columbia Hall, 10-story Bates House and Patterson Hall. Apartment style units are located in the modern housing units are which are commonly referred to as the “Quads” they are the most requested type of housing among upper-level students. All are air-conditioned featuring two-, three-, and four-private bedroom floor plans with a living/dining area, kitchen, and bath. Undergraduates may choose housing in a specific "living and learning community". The concept is to create a better social and learning environment by housing students with similar academic or career interests together on campus. Learning communities enhance students’ living experience by providing active learning experiences, faculty-student interactions, and opportunities to explore diversity, community service, undergraduate research, and study abroad; some of these centers are Maxcy College, Capstone, and Preston Residential College.
Currently 9-story Patterson Hall, with a housing capacity of approximately 600 female freshmen, is Carolina’s largest residence hall. The tallest and most notable landmark on the Columbia campus is the 18-story Capstone House. Top of Carolina Dining Room is on the 18th floor and was the only revolving restaurant on an American college campus. In the fall of 2004, the $29 million West Quad (now Green Quad) opened and became one of only four in the world to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The 172000 square feet (15,979.3 m²) complex includes three four-story buildings with the latest technology and environmental features for conserving water and energy and creating a healthier, greener environment for the 500 undergraduate students who call it home. West Quad, was built with a significant amount of recycled materials, ranging from the cement blocks and copper roof to the interior carpet, is also intended to encourage students to learn more about their environment.
The future of housing on the Carolina Campus is The Honors College Residence Hall, located on the site of the former University's "Towers" dormitories. The exterior design of the Honors Residence includes two wings perpendicular to Blossom Street and a main wing parallel to Blossom Street that faces the rear of the Graduate Science Research Center. The residence hall holds 537 beds and includes a common living area for every 10 to 12 residents and a study room for every 12 to 24 students. The rooms house one or two students each and are suite style, meaning that two rooms share a common bathroom. A full-service dining hall, including a hot entree line, deli, and grill, is located on the first floor along with a Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
. Also on the first floor, there is a game room complete with a pool table, a ping pong table, and a big screen TV and a kitchen with a stove, refrigerator, and sink. The dorm is also home to the Honors Learning Center, which includes three classrooms and a conference center. The Honors Residence was awarded Gold Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design (LEED) certification from the United States Green Building Council, making it the first building on the University of South Carolina campus to be awarded Gold certification.
Since campus academic enrollment exceeds the capacity of on-campus housing, the University is in the process of adding more residence halls, most of which will be suite-style. As a result, some students live in popular off-campus housing including apartments at Pointe West, College Suites, RiverSide Estates/University Commons, The Wilshire House at Union Station, Whaley's Mill (now The Loft), Granby Mill, and Garnet River Walk; houses in the Shandon, Rosewood, and Olympia areas of Columbia; and off-campus housing provided by Greek organizations.
Student government
USC's student government is composed of the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches. A 50-member Student Senate is led by the Student Body Vice President. The Student Senate enacts referendums, resolutions, and bills to enhance the student body in non-academic fields, maintains a budget for student life programs and organizations, confirms nominations for cabinet positions, and makes recommendations for change within the University. Student Government is operated entirely by students with a Constitutional Council (its version of a Supreme Court) and Elections Commission. Authority derives from the Student Government Constitution, a document written and adopted with the inception of Student Government and overseen by the President of the University of South Carolina and the University's Board of Trustees.Organizations
Students may participate in any of the 300 registered student organizations.Carolina Productions is a student organization responsible for providing diverse educational programs, entertainment, and special events for the University. It is composed of seven commissions, each of which concentrates on separate programming.
Honor societies include Alpha Epsilon Delta
Alpha Epsilon Delta
Alpha Epsilon Delta is a U.S. health preprofessional honor society. The organization currently has more than 144,000 members within 186 chapters at universities throughout the United States, making it the world's largest Honor Society serving all students from different backgrounds in the pursuit...
, Alpha Lambda Delta
Alpha Lambda Delta
Alpha Lambda Delta is an honor society for students who have achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher and are in the top 20% of their class during their first year or term of higher education.-History:...
, Alpha Phi Sigma
Alpha Phi Sigma
Alpha Phi Sigma is the only Criminal Justice Honor Society accredited by the Association of College Honor Societies. Traditionally a national organization serving United States universities, recent expansion into Canadian universities has distinguished Alpha Phi Sigma as an international honor...
, Beta Alpha Psi
Beta Alpha Psi
ΒΑΨ is a national honors business organization for highly successful accounting, finance and information systems students and professionals. It was founded on February 12, 1919 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is currently headquartered in Durham, North Carolina...
, Carolina Scholars Association, Chi Sigma Iota, Eta Sigma Delta, Gamma Beta Phi, Golden Key
Golden Key International Honour Society
The Golden Key International Honour Society is an Atlanta, Georgia-based non-profit organization founded in 1977 to recognise academic achievement among college and university students in all disciplines....
, Kappa Delta Epsilon
Kappa Delta Epsilon
Kappa Delta Epsilon can refer to:* Kappa Delta Epsilon Society, a national, coeducational professional fraternity for students of education in the United States of America...
, McNair Scholars Association, Mortar Board
Mortar Board
Mortar Board is an American national honor society whose purpose is to recognize outstanding students dedicated to the values of scholarship, leadership, and service. The Cornell University Der Hexenkreis chapter, founded in 1892, is the oldest and predates the national society's founding in 1918...
, Mu Sigma Rho
Mu Sigma Rho
Mu Sigma Rho is the National Statistics Honor Society. Founded in 1968 at Iowa State University, it seeks to promote and encourage scholarly activity in statistics, and to recognize outstanding achievement among students and faculty thereof. Its activities include outreach and professional...
, National Residence Hall Honorary
National Residence Hall Honorary
The National Residence Hall Honorary, or NRHH, is the premiere honorary dedicated to recognizing leaders in the residence halls and serves as the recognition branch of NACURH. NACURH, as an organization, believes that recognition is necessary in a strong Residence Hall community...
, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
National Society of Collegiate Scholars
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is a national nonprofit academic honor society for college students in the United States. NSCS has active chapters at more than 280 colleges and universities in the United States, including in the District of Columbia, and in Puerto Rico, consisting of a...
, Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...
, Order of Omega
Order of Omega
The Order of Omega is an undergraduate Greek society recognizing "fraternity men and women who have attained a high standard of leadership in inter-fraternity activities." It functions as an adjunct to traditional fraternal organizations, rather than a social or professional group in se...
, Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta is an American honor society for undergraduate and graduate students and professors of history.The society is a charter member of the Association of College Honor Societies and has over 350,000 members, with about 9,500 new members joining each year through 860 local chapters.-...
, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Lambda Sigma, Phi Sigma Pi
Phi Sigma Pi
Phi Sigma Pi is a national coeducational honor fraternity based in the United States. The fraternity is a 501 not-for-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania, with the purpose of fostering the ideals of scholarship, leadership and fellowship...
, Pi Tau Sigma
Pi Tau Sigma
Pi Tau Sigma is an International Mechanical Engineering Honor Society. Pi Tau Sigma's core values are:*Integrity ,*Service , and...
, Psi Chi
Psi Chi
Psi Chi is the International Honor Society in Psychology, founded in 1929 for the purposes of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship, and advancing the science of psychology. With over 1,050 chapters, Psi Chi is one of the largest honor societies in the United States...
, Rho Chi, Sigma Alpha Lambda
Sigma Alpha Lambda
Sigma Alpha Lambda is a National Leadership and Honors Organization in the United States dedicated to developing the individual and serving the campus and community...
, Sigma Delta Pi
Sigma Delta Pi
Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society , was established on November 14, 1919, at the University of California at Berkeley. Its insignia is the royal seal of Fernando and Isabel, representing Castille, León and Aragón...
, Sigma Iota Rho
Sigma Iota Rho
Sigma Iota Rho is a collegiate honor society of international studies founded in 1984 whose members are advanced students with outstanding academic performance in the field, as well as, extracurricular involvement...
, Tau Sigma, and Tau Beta Pi
Tau Beta Pi
The Tau Beta Pi Association is the oldest engineering honor society in the United States and the second oldest collegiate honor society in America. It honors engineering students who have shown a history of academic achievement as well as a commitment to personal and professional integrity...
.
Professional organizations include Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi is a fraternity for college and university band members. It was founded on November 27, 1919 at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. William Scroggs, now regarded as the "Founder," together with "Mr. Kappa Kappa Psi" A...
National Band Fraternity, Academy of Student Pharmacists, Alpha Kappa Psi
Alpha Kappa Psi
ΑΚΨ is the oldest and largest professional business fraternity. The Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity was founded on October 5, 1904 at New York University, and was incorporated on May 20, 1905...
, American Marketing Association, Delta Sigma Pi
Delta Sigma Pi
ΔΣΠ ' is one of the largest co-ed professional business fraternities. Delta Sigma Pi was founded on November 7, 1907 at the School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance, New York University, New York, New York and is currently headquartered in Oxford, Ohio...
, Gamecock Pre-Veterinary Association, Global Business Council, Library and Information Science Student Association, Phi Alpha Delta
Phi Alpha Delta
ΦAΔ , or P.A.D., is the largest co-ed professional law fraternity in the United States of America. Phi Alpha Delta has members who are university students, law school students, lawyers, judges, senators, and even presidents. It was founded in 1902 and today has over 300,000 initiated members...
, Public Relations Student Society of America, Social Work Student Association, Student Nurses Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, Biomedical Engineering Society, Phi Beta Lambda, among others.
Religious organizations include Canterbury Community (The Episcopal Church), Christian Legal Society, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
, Chi Alpha (Assemblies of God), Christ's Student Church (Church of Christ), Hillel (Jewish), Lutheran Campus Ministry, Methodist Student Network, Muslim Students Association, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Presbyterian (USA) Student Association, The Navigators
The Navigators (organization)
The Navigators is a worldwide Christian para-church organization headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Its main purpose is the discipling of Christians with a particular emphasis on enabling them to share their faith with others....
, Reformed University Fellowship
Reformed University Fellowship
Reformed University Fellowship, or RUF, is the campus ministry organization of the Presbyterian Church in America . RUF has experienced rapid growth the past few years, and currently has 110 chapters at different college campuses spread over 27 US States, Mexico, and Canada...
(Presbyterian Church in America), St. Thomas More Catholic Community, Student Christian Fellowship, Saint Theodore's Anglican Chapel, and Kappa Upsilon Chi
Kappa Upsilon Chi
Kappa Upsilon Chi is a national men's fraternity composed of Christian collegians seeking to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Kappa Upsilon Chi was founded in 1993 at Texas Tech University....
.
Minority and international student organizations include Association of African American Students, Students Allied for Latin America, Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Alliance, Black Graduate Student Association, Hellenic Student Organization, NAACP, Brothers of Nubian Descent, Ethnic Student Ministries, Indian Student Association, International Student Association, Nihon Club, Fellowship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, Taiwanese Students Association, Thai Students Association, Turkish Student Association, Vietnamese Student Association, Filipino-American Student Association, SEED, SALA (Students Associated for Latin America), Pastafarians at USC, Society of Black Engineers, Hindu Students Council
Hindu students council
Hindu Students Council is an organization of Hindu students in the United States of America and Canada. According to its website, it serves as an "international forum that provides opportunities to learn about Hindu heritage through various activities, events and projects." It is an independent...
, and African-American Male Institute.
Other organizations include choral groups, concert band, the Carolina Debate Union, the USC Mock Trial Team, dance, drama/theater, jazz band, the Mighty Sound of the Southeast
Mighty Sound of the Southeast
The University of South Carolina Marching Band — also called the Mighty Sound of the Southeast or more commonly known as the Carolina Band or the USC Marching Band, has entertained football fans at the University of South Carolina since 1921...
, music ensembles, musical theater, the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
club Nashi
Nashi Pear
Pyrus pyrifolia is a pear tree species native to China, Japan, and Korea. The tree's edible fruit is known by many names, including: Asian pear, Chinese pear, Korean pear, Japanese pear, Taiwan pear, and sand pear.....
(Creators of the annual event Nashi-Con, garnering over 1000 attendees annually to the university), opera, pep band, symphony orchestra, and the campus radio station.
Students can also join the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) or participate in any of the local projects sponsored by Habitat for Humanity.
Media
The Daily Gamecock is an editorially independent student newspaper that is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer, with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. It has a readership of more than 30,000 and is distributed across the University campus and regional campuses in the USC System.The student run radio station, WUSC
WUSC
WUSC-FM is a student-run College radio station operating at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, United States.- Purpose :...
, began broadcasting on the AM dial in 1947. In January 1977 WUSC began broadcasting on the FM dial, and in 1982 the station found its current home at 90.5 FM. In June 2006, WUSC upgraded to a current digital transmitter and are now broadcasting in HD radio. WUSC-FM was one of the first stations in the state to broadcast in HD and recently made history by being the first station in the state to broadcast in HD2.
Students also publish a literary magazine, Garnet & Black, which was formed in 1994 as a consolidation of the university's former yearbook and its literary magazine. The magazine focuses on timely issues and trends of student interest and regularly offering tidbits on current events and a "Create" section showcasing students' literature and artwork. It is published four times a year and is free to students at many locations across the Carolina community.
In the Fall 2006, USC established its first television station, Student Government Television (SGTV). It was funded by Student Government until April 2007 when Student Government released SGTV to the Department of Student Media, which operates Garnet & Black, The Daily Gamecock, and WUSC. It became known as Student Gamecock Television (SGTV)
Student Gamecock Television (SGTV)
Student Gamecock Television is the campus television station of the University of South Carolina. It primarily serves the main campus of the university in Columbia in the state of South Carolina....
SGTV airs Monday through Thursdays from 6pm-10pm and all weekend long and can be seen on cable channel 4. SGTV provides original, informative, and entertaining programming and serves as an outlet for student work.
Greek life
About 20% of the male student body and 24% of the female student body participate in Greek organizations. The Greek Life is governed by an internal body that is called the Greek Council. There are two separate councils, one for males and another for females, that oversee activities and recruitment for Greek organizations on campus. The organizations hold two rush classes for the fall and spring semesters. The Greek organizations are heavily involved on campus with community service projects and spirit contests.The Greek system has experienced a significant increase in interest over the last several years. Greek Life leaders credit this with the addition of the most prominent features of Greek Life at the University—the large, mostly Greek Revival, mansions maintained by the national fraternities and sororities as chapter houses lining Lincoln and Gadsden Streets, called the Greek Village. All students who live in these residences are members of a sorority or fraternity, and while the properties are managed by the University, each house is considered private ownership by each respective fraternity or sorority.
The following chart is a list of the 20 fraternities and sororities with houses in the Greek Village:
| Fraternities | Sororities |
|---|---|
| Alpha Tau Omega Alpha Tau Omega Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009... |
Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Chi Omega is a women's fraternity founded on October 15, 1885. Currently, there are 135 chapters of Alpha Chi Omega at colleges and universities across the United States and more than 200,000 lifetime members... |
| Chi Psi Chi Psi Chi Psi Fraternity is a fraternity and secret society consisting of 29 active chapters at American colleges and universities. It was founded on Thursday May 20, 1841, by 10 students at Union College with the idea of emphasizing the fraternal and social principles of a brotherhood... |
Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Delta Pi is a fraternity founded on May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The Executive office for this sorority is located on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. Alpha Delta Pi is one of the two "Macon Magnolias," a term used to celebrate the bonds it shares with Phi Mu... |
| Kappa Alpha Order Kappa Alpha Order Kappa Alpha Order is a social fraternity and fraternal order. Kappa Alpha Order has 124 active chapters, 3 provisional chapters, and 2 commissions... |
Chi Omega Chi Omega Chi Omega is a women's fraternity and the largest member of the National Panhellenic Conference. Chi Omega has 174 active collegiate chapters and over 230 alumnae chapters. Chi Omega's national headquarters is located in Memphis, Tennessee.... |
| Kappa Sigma Kappa Sigma Kappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living... |
Delta Delta Delta Delta Delta Delta Delta Delta Delta , also known as Tri Delta, is an international sorority founded on November 27, 1888, the eve of Thanksgiving Day. With over 200,000 initiates, Tri Delta is one of the world's largest NPC sororities.-History:... |
| Lambda Chi Alpha Lambda Chi Alpha Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a... |
Delta Zeta Delta Zeta Delta Zeta is an international college sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Today, Delta Zeta has 158 collegiate chapters in the United States and over 200 alumnae chapters in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada... |
| Sigma Phi Epsilon Sigma Phi Epsilon Sigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,... |
Gamma Phi Beta Gamma Phi Beta Gamma Phi Beta is an international sorority that was founded on November 11, 1874, at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. The term "sorority," meaning sisterhood, was coined for Gamma Phi Beta by Dr. Frank Smalley, a professor at Syracuse University.The four founders are Helen M. Dodge,... |
| Pi Kappa Phi Pi Kappa Phi Pi Kappa Phi is an American social fraternity. It was founded by Andrew Alexander Kroeg, Jr., Lawrence Harry Mixson, and Simon Fogarty, Jr. on December 10, 1904 at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina... |
Kappa Delta Kappa Delta Kappa Delta was the first sorority founded at the State Female Normal School , in Farmville, Virginia. It is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the university... |
| Sigma Alpha Epsilon Sigma Alpha Epsilon Sigma Alpha Epsilon is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity founded at the University of Alabama on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the Antebellum South... |
Kappa Kappa Gamma Kappa Kappa Gamma Kappa Kappa Gamma is a collegiate women's fraternity, founded at Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois, USA. Although the groundwork of the organization was developed as early as 1869, the 1876 Convention voted that October 13, 1870 should be recognized at the official Founders Day, because no... |
| Sigma Chi Sigma Chi Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon... |
Zeta Tau Alpha Zeta Tau Alpha Zeta Tau Alpha is a women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
| Sigma Nu Sigma Nu Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia... |
Phi Mu Phi Mu Phi Mu is the second oldest female fraternal organization established in the United States. It was founded at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The organization was founded as the Philomathean Society on January 4, 1852, and was announced publicly on March 4 of the same year... |
The University of South Carolina also has four Musical Greek organizations including Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi is a fraternity for college and university band members. It was founded on November 27, 1919 at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. William Scroggs, now regarded as the "Founder," together with "Mr. Kappa Kappa Psi" A...
, Tau Beta Sigma
Tau Beta Sigma
Tau Beta Sigma is a co-educational national honorary band sorority dedicated to serving college and university bands. The Sorority, headquartered at the historic Stillwater Station in Stillwater, Oklahoma, numbers over 3,500 active members in 145 active chapters, and over 40,000 alumni...
, Phi Mu Alpha, and Sigma Alpha Iota
Sigma Alpha Iota
Sigma Alpha Iota , International Music Fraternity for Women. Formed to "uphold the highest standards of music" and "to further the development of music in America and throughout the world", it continues to provide musical and educational resources to its members and the general public...
.
Athletics
The University offers club, intramural, and varsity sports. Its 19 varsity sports teams compete in the Southeastern ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(except for men's soccer which competes in Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
) and are known as the Gamecock
Gamecock
A gamecock or game fowl is a type of rooster with physical and behavioral traits suitable for cockfighting. Game fowl are more closely related to their wild cousins "jungle fowl"; a shy wild chicken from forests in South Central and Southeastern Asia...
s. The Gamecocks have won eight national team championships: 2010 National Championship in baseball
2010 College World Series
The 2010 College World Series began on June 19, 2010 and concluded on June 29 in Omaha, Nebraska at Rosenblatt Stadium. South Carolina won the championship after defeating UCLA. Rosenblatt has hosted the CWS since 1950, but 2010 will be the final College World Series to be played in the famed...
, 2011 National Championship in baseball
2011 College World Series
The 2011 College World Series began on June 18, 2011 and concluded on June 28 with the University of South Carolina defeating the University of Florida by a score of 5-2 in Omaha, Nebraska at TD Ameritrade Park. TD Ameritrade Park replaced Rosenblatt Stadium, which hosted the CWS from 1950–2010...
, 2005 & 2007 National Championships in women's equestrian, 2005-2007 Hunt Seat National Championships in women's equestrian, and 2002 NCAA championship in women's track & field. Also, the men's and women's track & field teams have produced many NCAA individual champions, world championship medalists, and Olympic medalists. The men's baseball and basketball teams have also produced Olympic medalists. Other significant accomplishments include 2005 NCAA runner-up in women's track & field, NCAA runner-up three times in baseball (1975, 1977, 2002), 1993 NCAA runner-up in men's soccer, and 2005 & 2006 NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
championships in men's basketball, and a Heisman Trophy winner (George Rogers
George Rogers (American football)
George Washington Rogers is a former American football player who achieved distinction in both the college and professional ranks as a running back...
, 1980). See grid at the main article for other championships.
Fight Song and Alma Mater
Notable among a number of songs commonly played and sung at various events such as commencementGraduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
, convocation
Convocation
A Convocation is a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose.- University use :....
, and athletic games are: The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way
The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way
"The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way" is the fight song of the University of South Carolina. It was adapted from the musical number "Step to the Rear" in the Broadway show How Now, Dow Jones and the lyrics were written by Gamecocks football coach Paul Dietzel.-History:USC band director James...
, the USC fight song
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
and We Hail Thee Carolina
We Hail Thee Carolina
"We Hail Thee Carolina" is the alma mater of the University of South Carolina. It was adopted by the University in 1912 and is sung by alumni at Gamecock athletic events.-History:...
, the University's alma mater.
Recreation
Students tend to socialize off campus in Five PointsFive Points (Columbia)
Five Points in Columbia, South Carolina is a shopping, restaurant, and nightlife area that attracts customers from the nearby University of South Carolina and throughout the Columbia metropolitan area. It is the center for the city's annual St...
and the Congaree Vista
Congaree Vista
Congaree Vista is a cosmopolitan section of Columbia, South Carolina, near the banks of the Congaree River, which was revitalized during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The section includes many small, high-class shops and restaurants, often in renovated warehouse buildings...
. Both of these areas are within walking distance of campus and offer restaurants, bars, cafés, and a variety of local entertainment.
Lake Murray
Lake Murray (South Carolina)
Lake Murray is a reservoir in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is approximately 50,000 acres in size, and has roughly 500 miles of shoreline. It was impounded in the late 1920s to provide hydroelectric power to the state of South Carolina. Lake Murray is fed by the Saluda River, which flows...
and the three rivers (Saluda River
Saluda River
The Saluda River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 200 mi long, in northern and western South Carolina in the United States...
, Broad River
Broad River (Carolinas)
The Broad River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 150 miles long, in western North Carolina and northern South Carolina in the United States. Via the Congaree, it is part of the watershed of the Santee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean...
, and Congaree River
Congaree River
The Congaree River is a short but wide river in South Carolina in the United States; It flows for only 47 miles . The river serves an important role as the final outlet channel for the entire Lower Saluda and Lower Broad watersheds, before merging with the Wateree River just north of Lake Marion to...
) around Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
offer students many recreational activities. The South Carolina coast—Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head—is only a 1.5 to 2 hour drive for additional recreational activities.
Recent accomplishments
- Since 1994 students have won 383 national fellowship and scholarship competitions totaling more than $11.4 million dollars for advanced academic study. Included are seven selections to the USA Today All-Academic Team and nearly 150 Marshall, Rhodes, Truman, National Science Foundation, Fulbright, Goldwater, Madison, Cooke, Javits, Udall, and Knowles Science Teaching fellows and scholars—among others. During the 2007-08 academic year alone, South Carolina students won 31 awards and more than $1.3 million.
- USC was listed as No. 9 among the nation's “Most Promising and Innovative Schools" by U.S. News and World Report. The first-time category is based on “promising, innovative changes” in academics, faculty, students, facilities or the campus.
- In January 2010, it was announced that USC placed the most student-athletes on the 2009 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll of any of the 12 schools in the conference. The Honor Roll was based on grades from the 2009 Spring, Summer and Fall terms. To be named to the list, a student-athlete must have maintained a 3.00 grade point average during the preceding academic year (two semesters) or a cumulative GPA at or above 3.00. The Gamecocks placed 78 student-athletes on the Honor Roll, while the University of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
was next closest with 51.
- On June 30, 2010, USC won the national championship in Division I baseball at the College World Series2010 College World SeriesThe 2010 College World Series began on June 19, 2010 and concluded on June 29 in Omaha, Nebraska at Rosenblatt Stadium. South Carolina won the championship after defeating UCLA. Rosenblatt has hosted the CWS since 1950, but 2010 will be the final College World Series to be played in the famed...
, defeating UCLA at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha. Sophomore center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was named the College World Series Most Outstanding PlayerCollege World Series Most Outstanding PlayerThe College World Series Most Outstanding Player is an award for the best individual performance during the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. The recipient of the award is announced at the completion of the College World Series Championship Game...
.
- On October 9, 2010, USC defeated the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide by a score of 35-21 at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC. ESPN's College GameDay (football) broadcasted live from Old Campus District, University of South CarolinaOld Campus District, University of South CarolinaThe Old Campus District, University of South Carolina, is an historic district centered around The Horseshoe on the main campus of the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, in the United States...
on the Carolina campus during the morning hours before the game. This is the first time in the University's history that the football team has defeated a top ranked opponent.
- On November 13, 2010, Carolina traveled to Gainesville, FL and defeated the Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
36-14 to clinch the SEC Eastern Division football title. This marked the school's first trip to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta since the University of South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992.
- On June 28, 2011, USC won the national championship in Division I baseball at the College World Series2011 College World SeriesThe 2011 College World Series began on June 18, 2011 and concluded on June 28 with the University of South Carolina defeating the University of Florida by a score of 5-2 in Omaha, Nebraska at TD Ameritrade Park. TD Ameritrade Park replaced Rosenblatt Stadium, which hosted the CWS from 1950–2010...
, defeating FloridaFlorida Gators baseballThe Florida Gators baseball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of baseball. The Florida Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association , and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . They play their home games in Alfred A...
at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha. Second baseman Scott Wingo was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player. The Gamecocks also set records for most consecutive College World Series wins (11) and the most consecutive NCAA tournament wins (16) in the victory.
People
The University has over 250,000 living alumni.Presidents
During its more than two hundred year history, the University has had 27 presidents. The Board of Trustees announced the selection of Harris Pastides as the 28th president on July 11, 2008.Board of Trustees
Since its charter in 1801, the University has been governed by a board of trustees, which now governs the entire USC system.Further reading
- Hollis, Daniel Walker, (1951) University of South Carolina Volume I South Carolina College, Columbia: University of South Carolina Press
- Hollis, Daniel Walker, (1956) University of South Carolina Volume II College to University Columbia: University of South Carolina Press
External links
- Official website
- Official Athletics website
- Historical Photos of USC Buildings and Grounds at the University of South Carolina Library's Digital Collections Page