Board Briefs: Trustees approve budget, key USC Next projects
June 19, 2026, Andy Shain
University of South Carolina trustees approved a 2026-27 fiscal year budget and advanced key projects tied to the Columbia campus’s USC Next master plan.
June 19, 2026, Andy Shain
University of South Carolina trustees approved a 2026-27 fiscal year budget and advanced key projects tied to the Columbia campus’s USC Next master plan.
June 18, 2026, Andy Shain
University of South Carolina trustees approved a 2026-27 fiscal year budget that freezes in-state tuition systemwide and advanced key projects tied to the Columbia campus’s USC Next master plan.
March 19, 2026, Andy Shain
The USC Board of Trustees formally approved a number of new construction and renovation projects, including a neurological hospital and rehabilitation center, and received updates on the university’s master plan, including redeveloping the student union and developments on South Main Street. Trustees also adopted a resolution in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the 225th anniversary of the founding of USC.
March 04, 2026, Andy Shain
Captain Ray Glenn, a 1999 Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing graduate, assumed command of Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the United States.
February 12, 2026, Allen Wallace
On Feb. 21, a year's worth of work culminates with USC Dance Marathon’s 14-hour Main Event. More than 1,000 students will join the year-round team of 400-plus for a full day of interactive activities, performances and educational programming centered around the Miracle Families and supporting Columbia's children's hospital.
February 10, 2026, Chris Horn
Teagan Thomas is enrolled in the 2025-26 cohort of Palmetto Pathway, a bridge program that began in 2019. Like all other students in the program, the Summerville, South Carolina, freshman is enrolled through USC Lancaster but lives in Bates residence hall on the Columbia campus and attends classes exclusively with other Palmetto Pathway students.
February 09, 2026, Chris Horn
Samantha Hinton is on track to graduate from USC in May with a bachelor’s degree in advertising. Hinton started out at Carolina in Palmetto Pathway, a bridge program for freshmen. Palmetto Pathway students are enrolled through USC Lancaster but live in a residence hall on the Columbia campus before transitioning to USC Columbia after their first year.
December 12, 2025, Chris Horn
USC chemistry professor Linda Shimizu has a long list of accomplishments, including recently being named a fellow of the American Chemical Society, one of only 36 chemistry professors worldwide to receive the honor in 2025 for scientific and professional accomplishments.
December 03, 2025, Megan Sexton
As the December Class of 2025 prepares to walk across the commencement stage, graduates leave the University of South Carolina with memories of enduring friendships, newfound passions, supportive mentors and life-changing experiences.
October 31, 2025, Megan Sexton
As the university marks the celebration of First-Gen College Celebration Week, we caught up with first-generation students, alumni, faculty and staff who are thriving in the classroom and beyond.
September 23, 2025, Megan Sexton
USC retained its top ranking in international business and is home to the nation’s top first-year student experience among public institutions, while the College of Nursing BSN degree jumped 17 spots to No. 22 nationally, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings released Sept. 23.
August 19, 2025, Megan Sexton
USC students are members of a supportive Gamecock family that will help them succeed — inside the classroom and out. Through study abroad trips and undergraduate research, student organizations and SEC sports, Carolina students have myriad opportunities for finding their life’s passion.
May 30, 2025, Megan Sexton
The roots of Adm. Jacob Shuford’s 35-year U.S. Navy career — which took him to top postings all over the world — were planted and nurtured in the honors program at the University of South Carolina.
February 11, 2025, Allen Wallace
Dance Marathon, the university’s largest student-run philanthropic organization, brings together students from across USC to raise money and awareness for patients and families at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital. The Main Event is Feb. 22.
January 13, 2025, Téa Smith
As a first-generation college student and an Asian American, Sarah Tra worried about whether she would be able to find community and connect to her culture on campus. But joining organizations like the Vietnamese Student Association and the Asian and Pacific Islander Activism Association has given her the opportunity to connect with her community through fundraisers, rallies and events that showcase culture through food, music and dance.
November 20, 2024, Megan Sexton
As the December Class of 2024 prepares to walk across the commencement stage, graduates leave the University of South Carolina with memories of enduring friendships, newfound passions, supportive mentors and life-changing experiences.
November 08, 2024, Megan Sexton
Cassandra Bosier is a new faculty member in the College of Education, but she isn’t new to the classroom. She spent 25 years as a teacher, mentor and principal in Richland County schools before starting at USC this fall.
October 31, 2024, Hannah Cambre
At USC, where one in five students identify as first-generation, the university is doing more than ever to help this important and growing population flourish with resources and support. We sat down with five first-gen students to learn more about their stories and the people and resources that have helped them thrive at USC.
September 24, 2024, Laura Morris
In 2025, construction will begin on the College of Nursing's Biobehavioral Research Center that will provide dedicated space for faculty research, enhancing expertise and improving health outcomes for South Carolina and beyond.
September 23, 2024, Megan Sexton
The University of South Carolina is home to the nation’s top first-year student experience among public institutions, and its living-learning communities are ranked 10th best in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings released Sept. 24.
August 01, 2024
For a lot of University of South Carolina students, the realization that this is a special place comes quickly. One walk around the Horseshoe, one time cheering in the stands at Williams-Brice Stadium, and that’s all it takes. But those signature experiences are only a tiny part of what it means to be a Gamecock. Life-altering experiences can be found all over campus and beyond.
August 01, 2024, Megan Sexton
After a long military and government career, Augustus Way Fountain found his way back to the classroom. The chemistry instructor at USC is a winner of this year’s Garnet Apple award for teaching innovation.
July 23, 2024, Dana Woodward
The University of South Carolina has joined the STARS College Network, a coalition of 32 of the nation’s most prominent institutions dedicated to ensuring that students from rural and small-town America have the information and support they need to enroll and graduate from the college or university of their choice.
June 10, 2024, Chris Horn
Jorge Crichigno, professor of integrated information technology in the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, is leading a three-year project to prepare a new generation of cyberwarfare professionals.
May 22, 2024, Kathryn McPhail
Honors College alumna Kayla Gardner’s passion for protecting the ocean and teaching others to do the same led her to pursue a career in marine science. Unlike many young people who are drawn to dolphins, turtles or sharks, much smaller creatures sparked Gardner’s interest.
April 15, 2024, Hossein Haj-Hariri
Hossein Haj-Hariri, dean of USC's Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, writes about the college's growth, education and research innovation and impact on South Carolina's economic and infrastructure planning.
April 05, 2024, Megan Sexton
The gold standard in string music education is marking its golden anniversary this year. For the past 50 years, the University of South Carolina String Project has been the national model in a program that combines music lessons with community service and teacher education.
March 08, 2024, Alexis Watts
Gracie Vess’ eyes light up at the mere mention of history. But the South Carolina Honors College senior and McNair scholarship recipient doesn’t dream of chronicling the past. Instead, she hopes to shape the future by becoming a high school history teacher. “I want every student to realize their significance in shaping history," says Vess. “I want to teach my students that history is crafted by the collective actions of many people, which is why being an active citizen is so important.”
February 27, 2024, Alexis Watts
Noah Raganschmalz once orchestrated the inner workings of nuclear submarines as a Navy-trained engineer. Today, the 33-year-old first-year pharmacy student is working toward a career in community pharmacy. “Everyone has had to take medication or has needed help navigating through medical jargon,” he says. “I believe that pharmacy is the front line of helping people.”
December 07, 2023, Marketing and Communications
It’s been a momentous year at the University of South Carolina. We welcomed a record-setting freshman class, renamed our law school, announced new research initiatives, hired new deans, held an investiture ceremony for President Amiridis — and so much more.
November 03, 2023, Megan Sexton
First-generation college students come from all sorts of backgrounds and bring a variety of perspectives to campus. At USC, about one-fifth of the student population identifies as first-generation college students, meaning their parents did not earn a four-year college degree.
October 16, 2023, Megan Sexton
Danny Morrison, former president of the Carolina Panthers and a sport management professor at USC, draws on his long career in athletics to inspire and educate the next generation of sport professionals
October 13, 2023, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina announced Friday (Oct. 13) the USC Commitment, a new affordability initiative to cover tuition and academic fees at all system campuses for in-state students graduating in the top 10 percent of their high school class and whose family’s annual household income is below $80,000.
September 15, 2023, Dan Cook
This is the fifth straight year that the University of South Carolina has been ranked as the No. 1 public institution for first-year experience and the 25th consecutive year that it has earned the top ranking in international business.
September 13, 2023, Hannah Cambre
Jump Start was designed as an initiative of Graduation and Retention Network (GARNET) to improve transfer student retention rates and academic outcomes. The program allows transfer students to acclimate to the campus community and get a head start on coursework the summer before starting classes.
September 11, 2023
The University of South Carolina commemorated the 60th anniversary of desegregation with an observance at the site where a monument will be placed in early 2024 to honor the three Black students who enrolled six decades ago.
September 01, 2023, Megan Sexton
Northrop Davis, a media arts professor who teaches TV and screenwriting, along with manga, the Japanese art of cartooning, comics and anime, is the is the winner of USC's top teaching award for 2023.
August 30, 2023, Lauryn Jiles
The university never sleeps, but it does slow down a bit during the summer. With the start of the fall semester, here’s a reminder of some recent happenings that you might have missed, plus a heads up about some major upcoming events.
August 24, 2023, Koby Padgett
As a record-breaking first-year class settles into the University of South Carolina this week, here are some numbers about our incoming students that help give a picture of the activities they take part in, how they’ll impact campus life and the resources it takes to support them.
August 24, 2023, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus began classes Thursday (Aug. 24) and announced that it is welcoming its largest class in the school’s history, with more students hailing from South Carolina than ever before.
August 21, 2023
For a lot of University of South Carolina students, the realization that this is a special place comes quickly. One walk around the Horseshoe, one time cheering in the stands at Williams-Brice Stadium, and that’s all it takes. But those signature experiences are only a tiny part of what it means to be a Gamecock. Life-altering experiences can be found all over campus and beyond.
August 03, 2023, Alexis Watts
Summer camp memories don’t often include crime scene blood spatter analysis or creating culinary masterpieces, but the Carolina Master Scholars Adventure Series is not your typical summer camp.
August 01, 2023, Jeff Stensland
All South Carolina students who are ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class will be guaranteed admission to the University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus starting with the Fall 2024 application cycle.
July 26, 2023, Megan Sexton
Bill Sutton, a professor of practice in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, brings his half-century of experience and connections in the sports industry to students at USC.
June 23, 2023, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees approved a new annual budget Friday (June 23) that makes historic investments in areas central to the university’s mission while keeping in-state tuition flat for a fifth year in a row.
June 23, 2023, Megan Sexton
Each summer, African American high school students from around South Carolina visit USC for Summer Seniors, a four-day residential recruitment program that gives students a feel for what to expect as a college student.
May 25, 2023, Alexis Watts
You never know what will be behind the next open door. Evan Delp and Bob Magee (both 2021, international business) had no idea that a chance meeting during a scholarship interview at the Honors College would lead to a lifelong friendship and joint pursuit of their musical passion.
May 05, 2023, Lauryn Jiles
When Jenna Wilson became director of the Carolina Closet, she never imagined she’d be in the graduation business. She launched a joint collection project for students unable to buy their own cap and gown.
November 04, 2022, Megan Sexton
There is no typical first-generation college student. Some come from immigrant families, some from households where family members didn’t graduate from high school. But all add energy and variety to the University of South Carolina campus.
November 04, 2022, Megan Sexton
There is no typical first-generation college student. Some come from immigrant families, some from households where family members didn’t graduate from high school. But all add energy and variety to the University of South Carolina campus.
November 04, 2022, Megan Sexton
There is no typical first-generation college student. Some come from immigrant families, some from households where family members didn’t graduate from high school. But all add energy and variety to the University of South Carolina campus.
October 03, 2022, Kyndel Lee
The University of South Carolina’s Columbia and Upstate campuses are recipients of an investment in scholarships by Prisma Health to help counter the state’s critical nursing shortage.
September 09, 2022, Megan Sexton
The University of South Carolina has the top first-year student experience of any public college in the country and the best international business program, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings.
August 23, 2022, Koby Padgett
It’s an exciting time on the University of South Carolina campus as a record-breaking first-year class settles in. Here are some details about our student body, activities they take part in, how they impact campus life and the resources it takes to support them.
August 19, 2022, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus this fall welcomed its largest, and among its most diverse freshman classes in the school’s 221-year history.
July 29, 2022, Alexis Watts
School of Journalism and Mass Communications graduate and former Miss Gamecock, Meera Bhonslé will compete for the title of Miss USA on Oct. 3.
April 05, 2022, Elinore Armstrong
Jane Armstrong’s experience in creating art pieces for the Type Hike exhibition at Thomas Cooper Library fuels her passion for graphic design and illustration.
December 08, 2021, Mollie Roe
At the College of Nursing, Gabs Amster used her personal journey to a healthy lifestyle to connect and empathize with her patients. After graduation this month, she will begin her career as a registered nurse in a critical care unit.
December 03, 2021, Abe Danaher
It is now easier for students to transfer from Midlands Technical College to the University of South Carolina. The two schools have announced new direct transfer tracks that align MTC courses with the first two years of courses in designated programs at UofSC. This allows students to earn an associate degree and move right into the final two years of their bachelor’s degree program.
September 13, 2021, Megan Sexton
The University of South Carolina has the top first-year student experience of any public college in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings. UofSC also retained its No. 1 ranking in international business for the 23rd straight year.
September 07, 2021, Koby Padgett
Thanks to unprecedented state investment in need-based aid, the University of South Carolina awarded financial aid of $3,000 to more than 3,000 students for the 2021-22 academic year.
July 14, 2021, Megan Sexton
Lauren Johnson-Cummings, the executive director of the Greenville ONE conference center, has used her psychology degree to understand behavior and relationships in her 20-year event planning career.
April 28, 2021, Megan Sexton
Darren Burton, who grew up in the tiny town of Estill, South Carolina and attended high school in Irmo, will graduate with leadership distinction in May with a degree in accounting from the Darla Moore School of Business and the South Carolina Honors College.
April 19, 2021, Megan Sexton
The two severe concussions Jessica Teresi suffered affected her mental health, but the challenges also resulted in gained resiliency skills and a commitment to advocacy and service.
January 04, 2021, Megan Sexton
After losing both of her parents, Antonia Adams has made a new start at the South Carolina Honors College. Her journey shows the importance of perseverance and the belief that education can restore confidence and hope.
November 25, 2020, Megan Sexton
Catherine Howland will earn her Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in music education summa cum laude in December. The School of Music and Honors College grad will start her career as a choir teacher at a middle school in South Carolina starting in January.
October 28, 2020, Megan Sexton
Military-affiliated students play an important role at the University of South Carolina. Veterans and active duty Gamecocks excel in the classroom and beyond, including alumni like Candace Terry who earned her Master of Social Work degree in May and now is the director of governmental affairs for the S.C. Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
September 23, 2020, Megan Sexton
Julia Fowler, who earned her degree from UofSC as a theater and dance major, has made the move from South Carolina to Broadway to Los Angeles, where she created the Southern Women Channel on YouTube and is a writer on a Netflix television show.
September 08, 2020, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina welcomed almost 7,800 new students to the Columbia campus this fall and the incoming freshman class is more diverse and has more in-state students than any previous class.
July 29, 2020, Megan Sexton
The first novel by UofSC almuna Rachel Beanland has been called the perfect summer read and is one of Good Morning America's "25 Novels You'll Want to Read This Summer."
July 17, 2020, Megan Sexton
Sarah Schumacher Gams, who earned her undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of South Carolina, is the 2021 South Carolina teacher of the year.
June 08, 2020, Megan Sexton
Ashley Fellers is finishing her first year at the School of Medicine, a program she entered a year early through the South Carolina Honors College's BARSC-MD program.
May 14, 2020, Megan Sexton
Madhura Pande, who graduated in May from the South Carolina Honors College with degrees in biological sciences and Spanish, has been working on research since she arrived on campus as a freshman.
May 10, 2020, Chris Horn
Rebekah Cloninger has a lot to tell her future children and grandchildren about her time at the University of South Carolina. Like the night she met A’ja Wilson, the Most Outstanding Player from the 2017 championship team, and got her jersey signed by the former UofSC forward who now plays for the Las Vegas Aces.
May 06, 2020, Megan Sexton
Thomas Palmer chose UofSC because of the opportunities offered by a large university, along with its top-flight School of Music and impressive Honors College. Playing in the orchestra during the production of Leonard Bernstein’s MASS, he was reminded that he made the right decision
March 17, 2020, Chris Horn
How difficult was it to get admitted to the University of South Carolina in 1897? At that time, regrettably, only white students were admitted. Students also had to know grammar, geography, algebra, history — and Latin and Greek! Admission standards at the university have varied in the past two centuries. The bar for admission is a lot different than it was in 1897, but it guarantees that those who get in are ready to succeed.
February 12, 2020, Megan Sexton
All of the university’s undergraduate chemistry labs moved this semester into the newly renovated building at Greene and Main streets, offering state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
December 12, 2019, Megan Sexton
Dara Khaalid earned her degree from the University of South Carolina this month, ready to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. It’s a path she set out on years earlier – when she was just a fifth grader.
October 14, 2019, Kathryn McPhail
After winning state championships in high school, Kaden Briggs was excited to earn a spot on the University of South Carolina’s track and field team. But he was shocked when he faced an unexpected hurdle – some skepticism about his chosen career path.
October 03, 2019, Megan Sexton
University 101 started as a trial course in 1972, following a student riot on campus in 1970. Forty-seven years later, the course is being taught to 80 percent of incoming freshmen, helping them adjust to college life and learn about all the university has to offer.
September 09, 2019, Megan Sexton
The University of South Carolina has the top first-year student experience among the nation’s public universities, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings.
September 09, 2019, Kathryn McPhail
For most students, the path to law school doesn’t include a stop in a fourth grade classroom. Well, at least not as the teacher of the class. But law student Brandon Adams says his experience as a teacher will help him become a better attorney, and he plans to combine his love of teaching and the law.
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.
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.
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.
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.
May 02, 2019, Amanda Hernandez
Three juniors in the College of Arts and Sciences join the prestigious list of South Carolina Goldwater Scholars. A total of 56 Goldwater Scholarships have been awarded to UofSC students since 1990. Jeremy LaPointe, Jana Liese and Sarah Beth Pye are this year's recipients.
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.
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.
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.
January 23, 2019, Carol J.G. Ward
An international workshop at the University of South Carolina challenged participants to consider the future of music higher education by re-envisioning curriculum for the 21st century
January 10, 2019, Amanda Hernandez
For electrical engineering senior and first-generation college student Sam Wilson, a solid support system has been integral to his college success. As he enters his final semester at UofSC, Wilson is "paying it forward" to help shape the future of students following in his footsteps.
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.
December 07, 2018, Diane Parham
Year after year, the number of lives transformed by the University of South Carolina’s Gamecock Guarantee program keeps growing. But numbers alone don’t tell the full story.
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.
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.
August 24, 2018, Kathryn McPhail
A cellphone video of Mac Watson opening his acceptance letter from the CarolinaLIFE program spread quickly on social media and continues to gain him a lot of positive attention. Watson’s desire to attend Carolina began just last year, but his love for his future alma mater is bringing thousands to tears.
August 22, 2018, Jeff Stensland
As the University of South Carolina welcomes students returning to campuses, it’s also greeting a new group of freshmen and transfer students that’s among the largest and most diverse in the university’s history.
August 15, 2018, Koby Padgett
The incoming class of freshmen is expected to be one of the largest at the University of South Carolina. We break down Move-In 2018 by the numbers.
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.