The University of South Carolina Upstate (USC Upstate) is a public university located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1967 and formerly known as the University of South Carolina Spartanburg, the school changed its name in the summer of 2004. The University of South Carolina Upstate is the fastest growing university in South Carolina offering both undergraduate and graduate programs for students in the Upstate and surrounding areas. One of four accredited four-year schools in the University of South Carolina System, it is home to approximately 6,000 students and 340 full-time faculty. It is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
History
After the Spartanburg General Hospital decided to discontinue its degree program for nurses, local politicians, led by Dr. G.B. Hodge, decided to create a separate University for the region. In 1967 the Spartanburg Regional Campus was opened as a two-year college with an initial enrollment of 177 students. Because of increased popularity, the school became a four-year institution in 1975 and was renamed the University of South Carolina Spartanburg. During the following years, both the campus and the scope of the University expanded. In the summer of 2004 the USC Board of Trustees voted to change the name to University of South Carolina Upstate to better reflect its mission to educate the people of South Carolina's upstate region. Aside from its presence in Spartanburg, University of South Carolina Upstate has become the largest educational provider in the University Center Greenville, a consortium of seven institutions of higher learning in Greenville, South Carolina.
Colleges and schools
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Mary Black School of Nursing
- George Dean Johnson Jr., College of Business and Economics
- School of Education
Clubs, organizations, and teams
University of South Carolina Upstate has many clubs and organizations as well as academic teams whose main goals are the intellectual and interpersonal growth of students through community service and wide-ranging cultural activities.
IFC Greek organizations for men
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Pi Kappa Phi
NPC Greek organizations for women
- Zeta Tau Alpha
- Phi Mu
- Delta Zeta
NPHC Greek Organizations for Men and Women
Fraternities
- Alpha Phi Alpha
- Kappa Alpha Psi
- Omega Psi Phi
- Phi Beta Sigma
Sororities
- Alpha Kappa Alpha
- Delta Sigma Theta
- Zeta Phi Beta
- Sigma Gamma Rho
Organizations
Campus organizations and clubs are exceptionally diverse and include many clubs, such as the Campus Activity Board, The Carolinian, news blog, the literary journal writersINC, Student Government Association, and many academic and social clubs.
The Chemistry Club strives to stimulate and maintain an interest in the field of chemistry through monthly meetings. Activities include community service activities, bringing speakers to campus from academia, industry, and regulatory agencies, field trips to local chemical companies, performing chemical demonstrations at schools and for the public, and participating in local section American Chemical Society meetings.
The Marketing Club, which provides students with resume workshops, company visits, and internship opportunities.
The Forensics Team, led by coach and director, Dr. Kevin Sargent, has proved to be able to compete with other top universities.
The Mock Trial Team competes nationally alongside local rivals, Furman, Duke, and UNC-Chapel Hill. The team has been gaining in experience and in wins since being taken over by Sargent.
Impact, a community service organization on campus.
The Shoestring Players theater group presents several major productions each year, plus smaller presentations and original revues. Membership is open to all students interested in theatrical performance and production.
College Republicans
College Democrats
CAB (Campus Activities Board)
The Carolinian - Student run publication on campus.
Pi Sigma Alpha - Political Science honor society.
Honors program
The University of South Carolina Upstate's Honors Program, actively encourages academic enrichment and achievement by providing superb coursework and opportunities to academically advanced students. The program provides an array of classwork opportunitiesâ€"from advanced sections of classes to complete honors courses, many taught and facilitated by the University's best faculty and occupied by the school's brightest students. The program also encourages community service and intellectual betterment by placing high standards for honors graduation which include community service and predetermined honors seminars. The Honors Program organizes trips abroad annually.
Athletics
University of South Carolina Upstate sponsors 13 collegiate teams known as the Spartans. The athletic department colors are green, white, and black, while the university colors are garnet and black. The teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference and Division I of the NCAA. These sports are men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf, baseball, softball, track & field, cross country, and women's volleyball.
The head coach of the Spartans baseball team is Matt Fincher. He has been the head coach for 11 years and has rebuilt the baseball program. "The 2005 Spartans finished with the program's best ever record as a member of NCAA Division II. USC Upstate had a 33-21 overall record and a 14-16 mark in the league in the 2005 season..."
The head coach of the women's basketball team is Tammy George. She has been the head coach for 4 years. During just four seasons as a head coach, George has established herself in both the NAIA and NCAA, having coached both Brevard and Upstate to berths in their respective national tournaments. She had a tremendous first season with USC Upstate in 2005-06, leading the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994-95 and coaching Yakeeshia Ross to Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year honors. In four years as a head coach, George has compiled a 70-52 career record.
Alumni
The University has a living Alumni base of over 30,000. According to the school, over 80% of them still live and work in the upstate region.
The USC Upstate Alumni Association, an office within University Advancement, is a service organization established by the University to promote the interests of the institution and to develop and maintain a close bond between the University and its alumni.
The Alumni Association keeps members informed about their alma mater and their classmates. The Association notifies alumni of annual events on and off campus, and promotes annual giving to the Carolina Piedmont Foundation.
Membership is open to all former students who have graduated from USC Upstate.
References
External links
- Official website
- USC Upstate Athletics website