The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees met Tuesday (Dec. 16) and advanced three major projects on the USC Columbia campus along with many academic programs and initiatives.
Facilities, USC Next approvals
The board issued Phase II approvals for renovations to Thomas Cooper Library, the McKissick Building and Barnwell College. The board also approved project bond resolutions for the McKissick and Barnwell College renovations.
The projects are part of the USC Next master plan. USC Next is anchored to four overarching goals: reinvigorating the historic campus core; improving the student life experience; reimagining the engineering/research district; and realizing a new health sciences campus.
The board also gave Phase I approvals to two projects: the construction of USC Upstate’s track and field facility plus land acquisition at Blossom and Williams streets near Founders Park.
Other project approvals include:
- Three at USC Aiken: auxiliary storage building construction, replacing the roof at the science building, chiller replacement at the convocation center.
- A budget increase for USC Beaufort’s sandstone building renovation.
- Fire alarm system replacement at USC Upstate’s Palmetto House.
Approval of academic initiatives
USC’s board advanced personnel approvals during Tuesday’s meeting in regards to both tenure and promotion and honorary academic titles.
In total, there were 35 professors who were promoted to the rank of professor:
- Nine from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.
- Eight from the College of Education.
- Six from the Arnold School of Public Health.
- Five from the Darla Moore School of Business.
- Three from the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing.
- Two from the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management.
- One apiece from the School of Medicine Columbia and School of Music.
The board also approved tenure and promotion to associate professor for four faculty members — two from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences and one apiece from the College of Pharmacy and Arnold School of Public Health — along with one new hire with tenure.
Seven honorary academic titles were also approved during the meeting.
The board approved one new program at USC Columbia, a master’s degree in environmental law and sustainability, and terminated a pair of programs: a Master of Arts in Economics and a postbaccalaureate certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages.
The board approved moving the master’s degree in technology innovation and entrepreneurial engineering from the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing to the Darla Moore School of Business.
Two new centers were approved in Tuesday’s meeting: the Bullying and Prevention Center and the Institute of Geopolitics, Innovation and Global Competition.
The board also approved to change the name of the Collaborative for Health Equity Research to the Center for Collaborative Health, Engagement and Research.
Three new programs at USC Upstate were approved during the meeting: a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, a bachelor’s degree in applied language and global studies and a master’s degree in organizational leadership.
The board approved a dual enrollment site with USC Union at Lake Wylie High School for its associate’s degree in general liberal arts and sciences.
The board approved curriculum or concentration modifications for eight programs:
- Bachelor’s program in languages, literatures and cultures.
- Bachelor’s program for global studies.
- Bachelor’s program for broadcast journalism.
- Master’s program for anthropology.
- Master’s and doctoral program in sociology.
- Master’s program for education administration.
- Clinical doctoral program for physical therapy.
The board approved added concentrations for bachelor’s programs in interdisciplinary studies, cardiovascular technology, hospitality management and in sport and entertainment management.
There were also approvals for an added concentration to the master’s degree in anthropology and an added site in Washington D.C. for the master’s program for public safety executive leadership.
Contracts and other approvals
Along with the approvals of a gift naming opportunity and confidential candidates for honorary degrees, the board approved 10 contracts during Tuesday’s meeting:
- A lease between USC facilities with Gadsden and Green.
- A Human Resources election of firefighter coverage under PEBA’s police officers retirement system.
- A conference hotel agreement between the Division of Student Affairs and Loews Arlington Hotel and Convention Center.
- An agreement between USC’s Business Affairs and Barnes and Noble College Booksellers.
- A services agreement between the School of Public Health and the Department of Health and Human Services.
- A faculty agreement between the College of Pharmacy and Prisma Health.
- A memorandum of understanding between USC Sumter and the South Carolina Educational Television Commission.
The board also approved three agreements between USC’s Brain Health Center and Prisma Health: a clinical co-management agreement, a clinical space lease agreement and an equipment lease agreement.