Division of Development and Alumni Relations

Supporting Faculty

A strong faculty is the key to Carolina’s goals of sustaining excellence in teaching while expanding research. In recent years, the University has recruited a strong core of junior faculty from very competitive pools globally. They are making their mark in their academic programs. They are highly productive in scholarship and innovative research.

They will be also heavily recruited by other universities willing to provide them possibly greater compensation, enhanced research facilities, and retention benefits. 

Private support plays an important role in retaining excellent junior faculty, as well as attracting the premier research senior faculty who bring their leading-edge work, funding and partnerships with them.   

In addition, the “Baby Boom” generation of faculty at universities across the nation is reaching retirement age.  Carolina will face stiff competition from universities with large endowments for the best teachers and researchers.  If Carolina is to compete, we must increase the number of endowed chairs and professorships.

Endowed chairs and professors have a profound impact on the entire campus.  In addition to securing more research support and setting the standard for teaching excellence in the classroom, they attract promising younger faculty to USC.  A stellar faculty strengthens the University’s programs and reputation, which in turn attract the best graduate and undergraduate students to Carolina's campuses.

Your support can make it happen.