University president Harris Pastides called upon the Carolina community to help transform USC into the 21st century university students need during his annual State of the University speech Wednesday morning at the Russell House Ballroom.
The thought of becoming a modern university may seem like a large task to accomplish, but Pastides is confident USC is up to the challenge.
Pastides explained that the Carolina community has been working relentlessly to develop the standards and benchmarks of a model university for some time now.
Some of the achievements mentioned include booming enrollment and retention trends, research advancements and multiple accounts of national recognition for excellence on a variety of fronts.
While listing off the recent accomplishments of the university, Pastides noted that USC is in the top three percent of universities in the United States in graduating the most African American students.
“What a better way to contribute to social and economic quality, than by providing opportunities through a college degree … for all our citizens,” said Pastides.
Briefly going off script, Pastides announced that USC was once again ranked the No. 1 public honors college in the country. He also announced that the university moved up three spots in the US News & World Report's rankings, breaking into the top 50 public universities.
Third-year public relations student Taylor Evans was excited by the announcement. “I think that the nation is now taking note of what we are doing and that we are improving as a university on many different levels,” said Evans.
Among many other things, Pastides takes pride in the On Your Own Time graduation program offered here at USC.
“We want our students to see their academic career not in terms of four or more annual cycles … but as 120 credits to be earned on or off cycle … on their time, not on ours, on a schedule that suits their dreams, their plans and their families’ bank accounts,” said Pastides.
Pastides' ideal 21st century model university not only focuses on the needs of their students but also on the needs of their faculty. Pastides hopes to continue to create an enriching environment for faculty members with the increase of "healthy lifestyle and personal finance classes" as well as research opportunities.
As a result of faculty dedication, many important partnerships between companies and the university have been made.
“Our entrepreneurial spirit is bubbling,” said the university president. “In fact, the National Academy of Investors recognized USC as being in the top 100 universities in the world that were granted U.S. patents. This ranking places USC in the company of institutions such as MIT, Stanford, Princeton and Yale."
According to Pastides, no university has perfected the art of being a 21st century model university, but we are coming close. In order to continue to improve, the president said, we must focus on the needs of the modern graduate.
“A 21st century grad is one who is classically educated in the core arts and sciences, regardless of major, workforce-ready, creative and innovative-ready and also leadership-ready,” Pastides said.
In addition to providing more support to students academically, Pastides hopes to move the Carolina community to becoming more safe and accountable in social settings. These are just two of the factors mentioned by Pastides to help propel the University of South Carolina forward.
Pastides announced that Joan Gabel, university provost, will be focusing more on the improvement of Health Sciences at USC during this year.
“We set our goal on being the best university in the region – and perhaps anywhere – if you wish to pursue a great job and a great life as a health professional,” Pastides said.
In order to support Gabel’s efforts, Pastides revealed that the university will be building a new medical school campus in Columbia. A larger announcement regarding the medical school will be released soon. Additionally, USC will be opening a satellite campus at Greenville Health System for the Arnold School of Public Health this year.
Pastides hopes to continue to shape the university to better serve the student body as the school year progresses.
“The university of the 21st century must be more like … well … like the University of South Carolina we already know and love, even as we strive to do even more and do it even better."