Division of Development and Alumni Relations

Support the Promise
of USC Lancaster

USC Lancaster -- the oldest and largest of the Regional Campuses of the University of South Carolina -- celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Our greatest strengths include the connections with USC and the Lancaster community, an outstanding faculty and staff, a strong academic reputation and alumni satisfaction, accessibility, beautiful facilities, and proximity to Charlotte.  Also, our Gregory Health and Wellness Center and Carole Ray Dowling Health Center and clinics make USCL the center for community health in the area.

About USC Lancaster

Established in 1959, USC Lancaster admits all students who show promise of academic success.  Most of USCL's students are first-generation college students from rural areas, small towns, and cities  across the central Piedmont area of the Carolinas.  Over 1,000 students attend the USC Lancaster.

Through a broad commitment to equity, an extensive scholarship and financial aid program, and a variety of weekday and evening course offerings, USC Lancaster seeks to make education accessible, affordable, and convenient to the residents of this area.

Despite dwindling state support and the Lancaster region suffering serious economic problems, we have had many successes over the last five years.  USCL has had tremendous enrollment increases, with similar faculty growth and development. We have made great strides with the introduction of Lancer athletics, expansion of fundraising support, introduction of the Performing Arts Series, and improvement of facilities. 

Our Native American Studies Program has been nationally recognized, and we were the first totally wireless campus in the USC system.  

But many challenges remain and our community's educational and economic needs continue to grow.  Our goals include: identify funding for a new classroom building, keep enhancing student activities, expand the number of degree programs so we can meet student expectations and community needs, sustain the recruitment and retention of high-caliber faculty, and improve USC Lancaster’s physical plant (in terms of size and beautification) in order to sustain enrollment growth. 

Priorities

We have a pressing need for more scholarships as student demand and enrollment increases.  Many of our students are working their way through college and these monies allow them more time to focus on their study.   A typical endowed scholarship can be created for $10,000.

Mrs. Mary Morse Dodds believed in the promise of USC Lancaster and recently left a scholarship bequest of approximately $600,000 to the USC  Lancaster. This is the single largest bequest from an individual that the campus has ever received. This money will be used to assist students who graduate from any South Carolina public school in furthering their education at the University of South Carolina Lancaster.  

The Educational Foundation of the University of South Carolina Lancaster will allow someone to create a scholarship endowment within five years. Smaller gifts may be added to existing scholarships or given to the overall endowment.

Please consider supporting the promise of USC Lancaster and the difference we can make. Our top needs for support include:

• Student scholarship endowments (increase 50 percent by 2012)
• Endowed faculty chairs (establish two by 2012)
• A new classroom building