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USC Regional Campuses – Critical state resources

As South Carolinians strive to improve the quality of their lives, many residents across our state find themselves able to earn a college degree only through the USC regional campuses: Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter and Union.

The 4,619 students currently enrolled at USC Regional Campuses rely on the campus' proximity to earn their associate or bachelor degree. In these counties, which rank at or near the bottom for households with registered vehicles, convenience is a critical factor in whether students are able to attend college.

Since 1958, these six campuses have served their communities through their libraries, performing and cultural arts venues, small business development services, and special programs that meet a community's particular needs. For example, USC Salkehatchie graduated its first class of nurses in May 2010. Part of a rural nursing partnership program, the majority of those students are now working in the rural communities served by USC Salkehatchie. The program enables place-bound students to live at home while obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Another example is USC Union's Opportunity Scholars Program, which provides support for students who are the first in their families to attend college and who qualify for significant amounts of financial aid. Both campuses are hubs for hundreds of area K-12 teachers who enroll each year in programs to complete their recertification requirements.

The USC Regional Campuses are a low investment; high output solution to South Carolina's most pressing education needs.

  • Current state appropriation for the regional campuses: $7,391,670 ( 1.1123% of the state's total higher education appropriation of $664,570,497)
  • In 2009-10, USC Regional Campuses generated $5,245,844 in tuition dollars; $2,359,515 in federal grants - which includes federal financial aid; and $9,959,645 in state and local grants, contracts, sales and services and other operating revenues.
  • USC Regional Campuses and their buildings:
REGIONAL CAMPUS SQUARE FOOTAGE & BUILDING NUMBER
  TOTAL BUILDINGS GROSS AREA NON E&G E&G
LANCASTER 7 248,247 2,796 245,451
SALKEHATCHIE 16 194,715 32,752 161,963
SUMTER 8 226,714 9,319 217,395
UNION 5 109,862 1,164 108,698

The USC Regional Campuses employ many in their regions and through payroll and benefits, provide great economic impact in their areas.

REGIONAL CAMPUS EMPLOYEES - CLASSIFIED & UNCLASSIFIED
LANCASTER        
  CLASSIFIED 51    
  UNCLASSIFIED 50    
    101    
      PROFESSORS 4
      ASSOC PROF 6
      ASST PROF 17
      INSTRUCTORS 20
SALKEHATCHIE        
  CLASSIFIED 34    
  UNCLASSIFIED 26    
    60    
      PROFESSORS 1
      ASSOC PROF 4
      ASST PROF 11
      INSTRUCTORS 4
SUMTER        
  CLASSIFIED 49    
  UNCLASSIFIED 54    
    103    
      PROFESSORS 11
      ASSOC PROF 15
      ASST PROF 7
      INSTRUCTORS 18
UNION        
  CLASSIFIED 17    
  UNCLASSIFIED 11    
    28    
      PROFESSORS 0
      ASSOC PROF 0
      ASST PROF 4
      INSTRUCTORS 6

2009-2010 Salary/Fringe Expenditures
Lancaster $9,509,863 Total all funds - A, D, E, F ,G ,K
  $6,581,002 A Funds only
Salkehatchie $6,208,733 Total all funds - A, C ,E ,F ,G ,H, K
  $3,849,896 A Funds only
Sumter
$7,850,198
All funds - A, C, D, E, F, G ,H, K, L
  $6,475,854 A Funds only
Union $2,785,493 Total all funds - A ,C ,E ,F ,G
  $1,799,032 A Funds only
**information based on Intranet - Post-close July 31, 2010

 

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Facts & Figures at a Glance

Funding per Student

In spite of decreased funding for higher education from state resources and support that has diminished at a rate greater than our neighboring states, USC serves with pride. South Carolina's state funding per full-time student is $5,700, compared with a U.S. average of $6,928. South Carolina falls 18 percent below the national average. Here is a look at how South Carolina and some of our neighboring states support higher education.

According to the State Higher Education Finance report for FY 2009, total educational revenue, meaning state funding plus tuition and fees, was $10,801 per full-time student in South Carolina, compared with the national average of $10,998.  However, state support per student is 20 percent less than the national average, resulting in higher tuition per student. Simply put, states with larger educational appropriations have lower tuition levels.

Unprecedented Cuts

In just over two years, USC has lost 47 percent, or $105 million, in its state appropriations budget for educating students.

Enrollment and access

USC's mission is to provide access to higher education. Across the USC System, headcount has increased 27 percent in 10 years.  For full-time students, the increase is 38.72 percent. USC educates students from every county in the state.

Quality of Life

USC awards nearly 40 percent of all bachelor's and graduate degrees conferred at public institutions in our state. USC's goal is to educate even more South Carolinians and increase the number of South Carolinians with a college degree, thus increasing income and quality of life.

The USC Columbia community contributed more than $7 million to the local economy in volunteer time and money last year.

Economic Impact

The USC system has an economic impact of $3.96 billion on the state and supports more than 46,000 jobs, or 2.5 percent of the state's job base.

More Facts & Figures