The USC board of trustees approved Phase I of the Russell House expansion plan, extended the in-state tuition freeze for an eighth consecutive year and approved several other actions for the 2026-27 year at its June 19 meeting.
Russell House expansion
The Russell House will be expanded on the site of the Thomson Building, according to a university press release. Expansion plans include modernizing and expanding meeting spaces for student organizations, consolidating student services to one location, expanding dining facilities and fixing maintenance issues.
The project will be spread across three phases and will add an estimated 274,000 square feet to the Russell House. Phase I gives the university the ability to hire architects, create renderings and begin planning the project, said Collyn Taylor, director of news and communications.
Construction won’t begin until after Phase II is approved by the board, according to Taylor. Currently, there are no set start or end dates for construction, he said.
The Russell House is the oldest and one of the smallest student unions among Southeastern Conference schools and has not undergone a major renovation since 1976. Student Body President Cole Rotondo said the five presidents before him have worked to get this expansion approved by the board.
“This was not a one-person job whatsoever,” Rotondo said. “This was the culmination of years and years of hard work, and not just by student body presidents, but by students in general.”
Rotondo said Phase I is estimated to cost $4.3 million, while total project expenses are estimated at $250 million.
The expansion's main source of funding is a recurring $150 Russell House expansion fee, which will be added to student bills starting in fall 2026.
“This project would be impossible without it,” Rotondo said. “We needed a sure funding source so that we could make sure we could actually get this renovation off the ground.”
The Russell House renovations will coincide with the modernization of other campus buildings, including Thomas Cooper Library and McKissick Museum. These campus-wide projects are part of USC Next, the university’s architectural plan to accommodate USC’s growth.
Tuition freeze
The board announced that in-state tuition will remain the same for the eighth year in a row, with in-state students paying $6,344 per semester. This frozen rate is nearly $3,400 less than what students would pay if tuition had kept pace with inflation, according to a university press release.
The university’s continued in-state tuition freeze is made possible through state funding and a partnership between USC and the South Carolina General Assembly, according to the press release.
Nonresident tuition will rise 3% to $19,250 per semester.
Other fee increases include an average increase of $108 and $133 for dining and housing expenses, respectively. These increases are the smallest in six years, according to a university press release. For the 2026-27 school year, dining costs will average $5,902 and housing $11,432.
Other actions
The board also approved the construction of a civil rights center between Blossom and Wheat streets. This allocates a permanent building for the Center for Civil Rights History and Research, which is currently located in the Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library.
Free access to ChatGPT for students and faculty will continue this year, as the board renewed USC’s contract with OpenAI through the upcoming year.
The board announced recent land acquisitions and other projects related to USC Next. The university acquired 12.6 acres near Founders Park, which will be used for “game day parking, commuter student parking and possible future development,” according to a university press release.
The new 900-bed housing project being built where McBryde once stood will be named “The Commons at Carolina.” The residence hall is expected to open in fall 2028.
The board of trustees will hold its next meeting on Aug. 21 at the Pastides Alumni Center.