Recent Stories

A group of students surround the larger-than-life bronze Cocky statue, all of them flashing the spurs up hand sign.

UofSC welcomes increasingly diverse and talented class of students

August 20, 2019, Jeff Stensland

The approximately 8,700 students arriving in Columbia this week are part of the largest pool of new students ever enrolled at the University of South Carolina’s flagship campus. Preliminary enrollment numbers show the university also is increasing in diversity and serving more students from South Carolina than ever before, surpassing last year’s record and setting a new bar for academic achievement.

Topics: Students, Undergraduate Admissions, Diversity

Front of Lieber College during renovations

Renovation Recap: Lieber College

June 20, 2019, Koby Padgett

The University of South Carolina provides an outstanding atmosphere not only for its students but also for its faculty and staff - often ranking among the best employers in the state. The latest renovation to Lieber College provides much-needed upgrades contribute to the university’s welcoming atmosphere and help attract and retain university talent.

Topics: Undergraduate Admissions, Campus Construction

Jefferson in class with her students

Education alumna wins SC Teacher of the Year

June 06, 2019, Kathryn McPhail

Education alumna, Chanda Jefferson, was recently named the 2020 South Carolina Teacher of the Year. Her passion for serving others began when she drove the church van as a teenager. Now a decade into her career as an educator, she finds herself teaching much more than biology to her students.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Academics, Undergraduate Admissions, graduate-studies, Diversity, Service, Careers, Student Voices, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, The Graduate School

Mr. Gibson's fifth grade class

Culturally relevant teaching changes the game for students

May 13, 2019, Kathryn McPhail

Jackson Creek Elementary School, in Columbia, is committed to improving the way its teachers are educating students — both academically and socially. The school is collaborating with College of Education professors to offer all teachers and support staff ongoing professional development in culturally relevant teaching.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Faculty, Academics, Research, Experiential Learning, Undergraduate Admissions, graduate-studies, Diversity, Partnerships, Careers, Student Voices, College of Education, The Graduate School

LeAnn Haga, education alumna

From passion to practice

April 05, 2019, Kathryn McPhail

Efforts to recruit and retain teachers in South Carolina go beyond the four years students spend on campus. For College of Education alumna LeAnn Haga, a high school outreach program inspired her to pursue a teaching career, a scholarship allowed her to earn a degree debt-free and now, her alma mater continues to support her in her first year as a teacher.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Academics, Experiential Learning, Scholarships, Undergraduate Admissions, Economic Engagement, Partnerships, Careers, Student Voices, College of Education

New music explores Confederate monuments

'Red Hot Sun Turning Over'

March 26, 2019, Megan Sexton

A new composition, "Red Hot Sun Turning Over," by School of Music assistant professor David Garner uses music, sounds and images from the Civil War era and the early 20th century to explore the story of Confederate monuments. It will be premiered Sunday (March 31) at the Koger Center.

Topics: Students, Faculty, Experiential Learning, Undergraduate Admissions, Initiatives, History, Careers, Student Voices, School of Music, University Libraries

Preston Thorne, former athlete

Life after the 4th quarter

February 08, 2019, Kathryn McPhail

Former Gamecocks football player Preston Thorne is back on campus, but now he’s tackling the teacher shortage instead of opponents. Since graduating 15 year ago, Thorne has taught history, coached high school football and even co-authored a children's book. Now, he's helping the College of Education recruit more students to the teaching profession.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Academics, Undergraduate Admissions, Diversity, College of Education

Aalia Soherwardy

Fast track to success

December 14, 2018, Alyssa Yancey

The BARSC-MD program, a joint initiative between the University of South Carolina Honors College and the USC School of Medicine, allows a select group of students to complete an undergraduate degree and their medical degree in just seven years. The students receive conditional acceptance to medical school as freshmen, and then enter medical school after their third year of undergraduate coursework.

Topics: Students, Academics, Undergraduate Admissions, graduate-studies, Health Sciences, Medicine (Columbia), South Carolina Honors College

Creative degree programs

USC Creativity

December 03, 2018, Megan Sexton

The university has established several new degree programs that illustrate creative curricula by adding innovation, an entrepreneurial approach or other types of value to traditional degrees.

Topics: Students, Faculty, Academics, Research, Experiential Learning, Undergraduate Admissions, graduate-studies, Initiatives, Entrepreneurship, Careers, Student Voices, College of Arts and Sciences, Darla Moore School of Business, College of Engineering and Computing, School of Music, South Carolina Honors College

education course at USC

Filling the void

September 18, 2018, Kathryn McPhail

South Carolina is in critical need of special educators, with special education vacancies making up the largest share – nearly 20 percent - of unfilled teaching positions last year. To tackle this growing issue, the College of Education is launching a new certificate program for both early childhood education undergraduate students as well as current teachers.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Academics, Undergraduate Admissions, Diversity, Careers, Student Voices, College of Education

Marisa Green

Getting at the core of the issue

August 09, 2018, Kathryn McPhail

To increase diversity among South Carolina’s teachers while also tackling the growing teacher shortage, the College of Education is launching the Apple Core Initiative. Ten students, including Marisa Green, will take part in the pilot program which provides scholarships and support for underrepresented populations in South Carolina.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Academics, Scholarships, Undergraduate Admissions, Diversity, Student Voices, College of Education

New teacher works with students

New retention program earns A+ from teachers

July 19, 2018, Kathryn McPhail

A new College of Education program aimed at increasing teacher retention in South Carolina proves successful in its first year - with 100 percent of participating teachers returning to the classroom next school year. This fall, 50 additional teachers will enter the program, and a $600,000 grant will help the college research the effectiveness of teacher recruitment and retention efforts statewide.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Academics, Research, Undergraduate Admissions, Careers, Student Voices, College of Education

Galen Health Fellows

Galen Fellows

March 19, 2018, Megan Sexton

The first class of Galen Health Fellows arrived on campus in August, a group of more than 450 first-year students with dreams of careers in the health sciences.

Topics: Students, Faculty, University Leadership, Academics, Experiential Learning, Undergraduate Admissions, Initiatives, Health Sciences, Service, Careers, Student Voices, College of Arts and Sciences, Medicine (Columbia), College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, Arnold School of Public Health, College of Social Work

Tori Vaeth at hotel

The 'SEARCH' for purpose

January 12, 2018, Kathryn McPhail

A cherished, childhood friendship led Tori Vaeth to study special education at the University of South Carolina. Now, the College of Education double alumna is leading a program that’s training and placing young adults with intellectual disabilities in rewarding careers.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Academics, Experiential Learning, Undergraduate Admissions, graduate-studies, Diversity, Economic Engagement, Service, Leadership, Student Voices, College of Education, The Graduate School, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

Smart Start Nursing Program

A Smart Start to a nursing career

September 25, 2017, Megan Sexton

Starting this fall, a cohort of nursing majors in the South Carolina Honors College will start on the path to a career that might include research and academia — along with clinical nursing practice. The Smart Start Nursing Program allows Honors College students to be automatically accepted into the upper division of the College of Nursing.

Topics: Students, Faculty, Academics, Research, Experiential Learning, Undergraduate Admissions, Initiatives, Health Sciences, Careers, Student Voices, College of Nursing, South Carolina Honors College

Cocky statue on campus

Get ready for a Cocky weekend

September 07, 2017, Megan Sexton

On Sept. 15, a 6-foot-5, 773-pound bronze statue of the beloved mascot will be dedicated in front of Davis College, just off Greene Street next to the Melton Observatory. Cocky is seated on a bench, with one hand raised high with a spurs-up sign. His other hand rests on a stack of books, a nod to Cocky’s role as a literacy leader around the state.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Faculty, Undergraduate Admissions, Initiatives, Recognition, Service

Senior Ben Youngblood

Senior wisdom

May 22, 2017, Megan Sexton

Freshmen arrive on campus each fall curious, excited and sometimes a little nervous about the road ahead. By graduation, they’re often completely different people. We asked four seniors at the end of their college careers about how the college experience had changed them and what it has meant to have that experience at Carolina

Topics: Students, Experiential Learning, Undergraduate Admissions, Student Voices, Darla Moore School of Business, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, College of Information and Communications, South Carolina Honors College

Sarah Gehlert

New dean named for College of Social Work

April 11, 2017, John Brunelli

The University of South Carolina has named Sarah Gehlert as the dean of the College of Social Work. Gehlert comes to Carolina from Washington University in St. Louis, where she was the E. Desmond Lee Professor of Racial and Ethnic Diversity.

Topics: Faculty, University Leadership, Academics, Research, Experiential Learning, Scholarships, Undergraduate Admissions, graduate-studies, Health Sciences, Leadership, College of Social Work

Hollings scholars

Tops in the nation, again

September 04, 2015, Steven Powell

Watching their teams climb in the rankings is a cherished pastime of many Gamecocks, but competitive talent at Carolina is hardly restricted to the sporting life. Over the past several years, the University of South Carolina has been a fixture near or atop the leaderboard in producing Hollings scholars, fielding a group of academic talent that, once again this year, is second to none in the country.

Topics: Students, Academics, Experiential Learning, Scholarships, Undergraduate Admissions, College of Arts and Sciences

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