SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION CHE 12/05/2019 Agenda Item 6.02.B December 5, 2019 MEMORANDUM To: Chairman Wes Hayes and Members, SC Commission on Higher Education From: Chairman Charles Munns, and Members, Committee on Academic Affairs and Licensing University of South Carolina Mission Statement Change Background The University of South Carolina (USC) requests approval for changes to its USC Columbia mission statement and the USC regional campus mission statements The USC Board of Trustees approved revised mission statements on June 21, 2019 An updated version (proposed to the Commission upon consultation with Commission staff) was transmitted to CHE on July 31, 2019 for consideration at the August 27, 2019 CAAL meeting USC withdrew the item to enable its Board consideration of remaining edits The USC Board approved the changes October 11, 2019 (enclosed) In accordance with §59-103-45(6) of the South Carolina Code of Laws 1976, as amended, the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education is charged with the responsibility to “review and approve each institutional mission statement to ensure it is within the overall mission of that particular type of institution as stipulated by Section 59-103-15 and is within the overall mission of the State.” Academic Affairs staff consider minor revisions such as changes for clarity The full Commission considers substantive revisions, which include changes to the nature, function, type, or sector of the institution University of South Carolina representatives and Commission staff collaborated during the summer of 2019 to discuss changes to the institution’s mission statements Revisions include: 1) clarification/designation of campus names; 2) appropriate inclusion of Fort Jackson, Palmetto College two-year campuses, USC Columbia colleges and schools, and Carnegie Foundation recognition; 3) removal of specific enrollment numbers; and 4) accurate distinction between USC Columbia and the USC System Upon review, Commission staff determined the proposed revisions did not appear to represent new functions, a sector shift, or other substantive changes from current University operations P: (803) 737-2260 F: (803) 737-2297 1122 Lady St, Suite 300 Columbia, SC 29201 www.che.sc.gov @SCCommHigherEd CHE 12/05/2019 Agenda Item 6.02.B However, a revision to ensure designation of Palmetto College and its four campuses (Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, and Union) to USC Columbia and not to the USC System per se, in tandem with the aggregate of remaining editorial changes, represented sufficient change to the published mission statements to prompt CHE staff to invite full Commission consideration CAAL Consideration At its November 6, 2019 meeting, the Committee on Academic Affairs and Licensing considered the proposed changes Representatives from the University of South Carolina explained the proposed changes were intended to ensure continued compliance with SACSCOC guidelines for institutional mission statement review, citing the forthcoming decennial SACSCOC institutional review Representatives noted collaboration with CHE staff about proposed edits and that the updates align the mission and the university’s current profile and activities Staff affirmed its findings as noted in the Background With no remaining discussion, CAAL voted unanimously to favorably commend the proposed changes to the Commission Recommendation The Committee on Academic Affairs and Licensing recommends the Commission approve the revised University of South Carolina mission statement Enclosure: Attachment 1: University of South Carolina System Mission Statement Attachment Attachment CURRENT USC System Mission Statement USC System Mission Statement Approved by the Board of Trustees – July 2010 The primary mission of the University of South Carolina is the education of the state's diverse citizens through teaching, research, creative activity, and service Founded in 1801, the University of South Carolina system is the largest university in the state, serving more than 41,000 students from its flagship Columbia campus, three senior campuses (Aiken, Beaufort, and Upstate), and four regional campuses (Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, and Union) The University of South Carolina is a public institution offering degree programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels Through the primary method of classroom and laboratory instruction and through a secondary method of distance education delivered via the Internet, teleconference and electronic media, degree programs are offered in the following areas: arts and sciences; education; engineering and computing; hospitality, retail, and sport management; mass communications and information studies; music; public health; and social work, and in professional programs such as business, law, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy With a flagship campus recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a top research and service institution and nationally ranked in start-up businesses, and an eight-campus system that confers nearly 40% of all bachelor’s and graduate degrees awarded at public institutions in South Carolina, the University has a profound relevance, reach, and impact on the people of the state The University of South Carolina provides all students with the highest-quality education, including the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success and responsible citizenship in a complex and changing world through engagement in nationally and internationally ranked research, scholarship, service, and artistic creation Attachment EDITS TO CURRENT USC System Mission Statement USC System Mission Statement Approved by the Board of Trustees – July 2010Pending BOT-AA approval September 13, 2019 and BOT approval October 11, 2019 The primary mission of the University of South Carolina System is the education of the state's diverse citizens through teaching, research, creative activity, and servicecommunity engagement Founded in 1801, tThise public Uuniversity of South Carolina system is the largest university in the state, servesing more than 41,000 students from its flagship Columbia campus, three senior campuses comprehensive universities (Aiken, Beaufort, and Upstate), and four regional Palmetto College campuses (Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, and Union) The University of South Carolina System is a public institution offersing degree programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels Through the primary method of classroom and laboratory instruction delivered in and through a secondary method of distance education delivered via the Internet, teleconference and electronic media, degree programs are offered variety of face-to-face and distance learning formats and modalities, degree programs are offered in the following areas: arts and sciences; business; education; engineering and computing; hospitality, retail, and sport management; mass information and communications and information studies; law; medicine; music; nursing; pharmacy; public health; and social work, and in professional programs such as business, law, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy With a flagship campus recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a top research and community engagedservice institution and nationally ranked in start-up businesses, and an eight-campus system that confers nearly 40% of all bachelor’s and graduate degrees awarded at public institutions in South Carolina, the Uuniversity has a profound relevance, reach, and impact on the people of the state The Uuniversity of South Carolina System provides all students with the highest-quality education, including the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success and responsible citizenship in a complex and changing world through engagement in nationally and internationally ranked research, scholarship, service, and artistic creation Attachment UPDATED USC System Mission Statement USC System Mission Statement Approved by the Board of Trustees – October 11, 2019 The primary mission of the University of South Carolina System is the education of the state's diverse citizens through teaching, research, creative activity, and community engagement This public university system serves students from its flagship Columbia campus, three comprehensive universities (Aiken, Beaufort, and Upstate), and four regional Palmetto College campuses (Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, and Union) The University of South Carolina System offers degree programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels Through classroom and laboratory instruction delivered in a variety of face-to-face and distance learning formats and modalities, degree programs are offered in the following areas: arts and sciences; business; education; engineering and computing; hospitality, retail, and sport management; information and communications; law; medicine; music; nursing; pharmacy; public health; and social work With a flagship campus recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a top research and community engaged institution and nationally ranked in start-up businesses, and an eight-campus system that confers nearly 40% of all bachelor’s and graduate degrees awarded at public institutions in South Carolina, the university has a profound relevance, reach, and impact on the people of the state The University of South Carolina System provides all students with the highest-quality education, including the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success and responsible citizenship in a complex and changing world through engagement in nationally and internationally ranked research, scholarship, service, and artistic creation Attachment SUMMARY of Edits to the USC System Mission Statement • • • • • Refer to University of South Carolina as the University of South Carolina System as appropriate Change comprehensive campuses to comprehensive universities Change regional campuses to regional Palmetto College campuses Ensure inclusion of all colleges/schools Ensure inclusion of Carnegie Foundation recognition as a research and community engaged institution