View the Focus Report: Rule of Law >>
PARTICIPATE
A tireless advocate for the establishment of rule of law, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, '76, '81 law, eloquently defines the concept's guiding principles in an address at the university. Meanwhile, four graduate assistants are answering the call to action and putting their research to use with the USC Rule of Law Collaborative Repository.
INNOVATE
The rule of law is the underpinning element that allows for a system of rules to keep us safe, resolve disputes and help us prosper. The passion for justice burns brightly in USC trustee William Hubbard, '74, '77 law, who chairs the World Justice Project, a global, multidisciplinary initiative to strengthen the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights.
LEAD
USC research professor Jennifer Pournelle leads other researchers through parts of the world experiencing political upheaval. USC professor Gordon Smith leads the Rule of Law Collaborative on its primary mission to bring the powerful expertise of our faculty to those dealing with the practical challenges facing nations going through difficult transitions.
View the Focus Report: Carolina >>
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"Come to Carolina to discover the world." This is USC President Harris Pastides' message to students. With the support of a billion-dollar campaign, his Focus Carolina plan is a blueprint for success, ensuring our students will be able to participate in a world full of opportunities.
INNOVATE
"There are no limits to what you can achieve here." USC's 2011 Outstanding Woman of the Year Elizabeth Wilson will graduate after just three years with five majors. In addition to her academic achievements the innovative Wilson created a business and volunteers her talent to help others improve their businesses.
LEAD
"Michael is a great player, but he is an exceptional student." Michael Roth became a household name for Gamecock fans by leading his team to a second straight national baseball championship in 2011. But he skipped the celebrations to complete his study-abroad program in Spain.
View the Focus Report: Leadership >>
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"The people in Library and Information Sciences are amazing." Thanks to some great professors and a study abroad trip, Megan Coker is headed down a new career path. USC Connect encourages students like Megan to participate in a variety of leadership activities to achieve their goals.
INNOVATE
"We are trying to reach as many different groups of students as possible with leadership programs." Under the direction of Kevin Elliott, the Carolina Leadership Initiative is creating innovative programs to help students make a positive difference in their communities, in the state and around the world.
LEAD
"The university embraced me." Just a few weeks into his freshman year, Steve Benjamin had the opportunity to see Pope John Paul II speak on the Horseshoe -- an experience he credits with inspiring him to pursue his schoolwork and his future with a whole new focus.
View the Focus Report: Sustainable Energy >>
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For more than 30 years, the University of South Carolina has been providing engineers for the nuclear industry. USC students will staff and build the next generation of the nation's nuclear plants and are researching ways to reprocess spent fuel and make nuclear power a truly sustainable inexpensive energy source for future generations.
INNOVATE
USC researchers Jochen Lauterbach and J.R. Regalbuto are investigating how to use catalysts to clean up emissions from coal-fired power plants and replace greenhouse-gas-creating car and jet fuels with renewable sources such as energy crops.
LEAD
The university is a leader in the push for green construction, with a goal of creating the world's largest net-zero building when the new Darla Moore School of Business is completed next year. Students also gain hands-on experience by helping create and implement USC's sustainability programs.
View the Focus Report: Health >>
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USC's School of Medicine Greenville campus welcomes its inaugural class of medical students this summer. The 90,000-square-foot Health Sciences Education Building is nearly complete and will house the S.C. College of Pharmacy, the satellite Certified Nurse Anesthesia program and a regional simulation center in addition to the new school.
INNOVATE
Martin Morad, chair of the SmartState Center of Economic Excellence for Regenerative Medicine, is working on a biologically based pacemaker derived from human tissue. His work holds immense promise as a replacement for current pacemaker technology and has important implications for preventing heart disease and reducing health care costs.
LEAD
College of Social Work researcher Darcy Freedman led the effort to create the Right Choice, Fresh Start Farmers Market that sets up every Friday next to a health center in Orangeburg, S.C. The market brings affordable fresh produce to residents of the rural area while helping small-scale farmers sell their goods.
View the Focus Report: P-20 Education >>
PARTICIPATE
Our College of Education is working to improve schools in our community through academic tutoring and mentoring for at-risk middle school students in Richland County. We also have introduced a Freedom School for South Carolina that provides a summer learning experience for students through high school.
INNOVATE
Our Child Development and Research Center gives students the opportunity to watch very young children from toddler to school-aged and observe their interactions with each other and caregivers. Students can see what they are learning in the classroom in practice and gain insights into early childhood behavior.
LEAD
We are partnering with educators at all levels to foster the desire for learning at all stages of life. From the Center for Inquiry that teaches children to seek out their own answers to programs that train local community college administrators, USC is at the forefront of the P-20 education movement.
ATHLETICS
Spring 2011
Gamecocks win second straight national baseball championship in the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
Fall 2011-12:
Gamecocks notch first 11-win football season, including a Capital One Bowl victory over Nebraska.
Winter 2011-12:
USC's women's basketball team makes it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.
SYSTEM
Spring 2012:
USC announces largest capital campaign of $1 billion. Visit the Carolina's Promise website. 
Fall 2011-12:
The University of South Carolina Beaufort celebrates its largest graduating class of 289 students. Visit USC Beaufort.
2011:
The University of South Carolina Aiken is ranked No. 1 among the top public regional colleges in the South in the 2011 edition of U.S.News & World Report's guide, "America's Best Colleges." This is the 13th consecutive year USC Aiken has been ranked in the top three and the seventh year it has been ranked
No. 1 in the South. Visit USC Aiken.
Winter 2012:
A study on USC's economic impact shows that our eight campuses and alumni pump $4.1 billion into the state's economy every year and support nearly 1 in every 37 jobs in South Carolina. Learn more about USC's economic impact on the state.
STUDENTS
Fall 2011:
USC welcomes our largest freshman class (4,569) with highest average SAT score (1,199).
Spring 2012:
Gamecock Guarantee, a program that provides financial aid and academic support for low-income, first-generation students from South Carolina, graduates its first four-year class. Visit the Gamecock Guarantee.
Spring 2012:
Three USC students are named Goldwater Scholars, marking 20 consecutive years one or more Carolina students have earned the honor.
Spring 2012:
The South Carolina Honors College is ranked No. 1 honors college in the nation in "Review of Fifty Public University Honors Programs." Visit the South Carolina Honors College.
FACULTY
2011:
USC receives a record $227 million in sponsored research funding in 2011, a 3.7 percent increase from 2010. View the Office of the Vice President for Research.
2011-12:
Five faculty members are named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), bringing USC's total number of fellows to 29.
FACILITIES
Fall 2011:
Construction begins on the Darla Moore School of Business, which promises to transform business education and serve as the front door to Innovista. The school is pursuing LEED Platinum and a Net-Zero rating. View the Darla Moore School of Business.
Fall 2011:
Patterson Hall reopens after a major renovation, including a conversion to suite-style units, all new furnishings and sustainability features.