USC is planning a $2.5 million program that will connect students to “beyond the classroom” experiences. They’re calling it USC Connect, but we’re calling it a bad idea.
What does this USC Connect program consist of that involves spending $2.5 million of our precious university dollars? Apparently this technology will inform students both on and off campus of various extracurricular activities, speakers and performances at USC. It will also connect students with courses that may be interesting to them based on their interests.
Not only that, but in order to run this program and its expensive technology, an office will be created, with paid staff members to oversee it. That’s exactly what we need at Carolina — more bureaucracy and another office.
Students who truly want to be integrated into the school community should and will take the initiative to personally seek out these extracurricular activities and interesting classes, regardless of whether USC Connect exists. It is, after all, our responsibility to be involved. Moreover, there are many ways to keep students informed that do not cost anything close to $2.5 million, such as posters placed in Russell House or better Facebook advertising. Constructing a new technology system for this is a waste of money.
USC wants to be reaccredited, and when the reaccreditation team from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools arrives today, officials want to show a frilly plan full of high-end technology and innovation. Here’s the thing: SACS only requires the university to spend $500,000 on this process. USC chose to spend $2.5 million and admitted the program might not continue after five years, when SACS policies allows it to end. Yes, the university really admitted that.
As college students with unlimited access to so many resources — a daily newspaper, Blackboard and the school website, for instance — the last thing we need is a $2.5 million fancy events calendar.