The University of South Carolina System is a state university system of collection of campuses set up in 1957 to expand the educational opportunities of the citizens of South Carolina as well as extend the reach of the University of South Carolina throughout the state. With over 52,000 students at the eight campuses, the system is the largest institution of higher learning in the state of South Carolina. The system includes the flagship and research campus at Columbia, three senior campuses, and four regional campuses. UofSC also has several thousand future students in feeder programs at surrounding technical colleges.
USC Florence, a campus from 1957 until it became independent on July 1, 1970 as Francis Marion College.
USC Coastal Carolina, a previously independent two-year campus, joined USC system in 1959 and remained until it became independent on July 1, 1993 as Coastal Carolina University.
Governance
The University of South Carolina System is governed by the Board of Trustees which oversees the overall management of the system. The Board of Trustees is composed of a total of 20 members. Of the members, 16 are chosen by the General Assembly, three are ex officio members, and one is appointed by the Governor of South Carolina. A President is appointed by the board to serve as the chief executive officer of the system and to manage with the day-to-day affairs of the campuses. In addition, the President is tasked with long-range planning of the system and recommending improvements to the Board of Trustees. Each senior campus is administered by a chancellor and each regional campus is managed by a dean, all of whom report directly to the president. The duties of the chancellor at the Columbia campus are encompassed by the office of the president. Both the Board of the Trustees and the president have offices in the Osborne Administration Building, at the northeast corner of The Horseshoe. The Board of Trustees meets every other month and the president delivers a yearly state-of-the-university address in the Longstreet Theater.
Board of Trustees
Note: This article was transferred from the University of South Carolina article which pertains only to the Columbia campus, since the Board of Trustees governs the whole system. The Board of Trustees is a body created by the state of South Carolina responsible for the maintenance and operation of the university, including the University of South Carolina System. Its primary focus is to set the mission for the University system and to approve all financial decisions. The board was established in the legislation passed by the General Assembly on December 19, 1801 for the foundation of South Carolina College. The original board was composed of twenty-five members, twelve of whom were ex officio and 13 were elected. They first met on February 12, 1802 at the home of GovernorJohn Drayton. A quorum was not present so they met again on February 14 when they did have the necessary numbers for a quorum. On May 7, 1970 about 500 students marched to the flagpole on the Horseshoe and demanded that the U.S. Flag be lowered to half staff to honor those who had died in the Kent State shootings. An equal size counter-protest gathered at the flagpole and demanded that flag remain hoisted at the top of the pole. To thwart off any potential bloodshed, President Tom Jones ordered that the flag be lowered. However, the protesters felt emboldened and took over the Russell House. The National Guard had to be called in to dislodge the students from the building and 42 students were arrested. The board acted to discipline the students on May 11. A crowd of 300 students formed, marched on the administrative building where the trustees were meeting, and demanded amnesty for the students. The board refused and the protesters responded by vandalizing cars parked at the building. One car that was flipped over was bought the same day by a trustee. The protesters occupied the first floor of the building causing the trustees to huddle in a room on the second floor. After waiting a few hours in the room, Hugh Willcox, a trustee in his 70s, simply left the room, walked past the students, and sped away in his car. Sol Blatt, Jr. commented that he would not have done that for $100,000. The National Guard arrived later that night and the protesters dispersed at their sight. The inability of President Tom Jones to control the actions of the students led to the loss of support by the trustees and his eventual resignation in 1974.
Composition and powers
The Board of Trustees is composed of the following 20 members:
Governor of South Carolina, ex officioChairman of the Board; may appoint a designee in his/her stead
President of the Greater University of South Carolina Alumni Association, ex officio
One member elected by the General Assembly from each of the sixteen judicial circuits
One member appointed by the governor
The governor's appointee and those elected by the General Assembly serve for a term of four years. Seven standing committees have been set up to streamline the business of the board of trustees. A special or ad hoc committee can be formed by the Chairman of the Board should a need arise. The following are the seven standing committees:
Up until 1981, the positions of head football coach and athletic director were combined. Despite being the athletic director, the head football coach held little sway over the hiring and firing of the coaches for the other athletic programs. The true power lay with the chairman of the athletic committee and the position was dominated from the 1930s to the 1970s by Solomon Blatt, Sr. and his son Solomon Blatt, Jr. Yet in 1966 Blatt, Jr. was trumped when he had lined up Bill Murray to become the head football coach and Governor Robert Evander McNair had instead convinced Paul Dietzel to accept the position. The trustees have the final say on all affairs that are pertinent to the University. Their powers include:
Awarding of honorary degrees
Purchasing, leasing and selling property of the University
Additionally, according to the Code of Laws of South Carolina, Section 59-117-100, the board of trustees are tasked with ensuring that the president of the university is not an atheist or an infidel.
