South Carolina State University has been allocated $8 million in state funding that will take education and research in the College of Science Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Transportation (STEM-T College) to a new level.
Four years in the making, the Research Partnerships and Workforce Training Programs are a partnership between SC State, the University of South Carolina (USC) and Clemson University in support of the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) and the Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BSRA).
The state has allocated an initial $40 million proviso, of which $8 million comes to SC State, with the promise of significantly more funding as objectives are met.
“SC State already enjoys productive and mutually beneficial relationships with SRNL and BSRA,” SC State President Alexander Conyers said. “These funds will strengthen those connections and transform our STEM-T College into an even greater asset for the people of South Carolina and our students.
“I thank Gov. Henry McMaster and the General Assembly for supporting this visionary milestone in the development of SC State and our partners in this critical endeavor,” Conyers said.
The Research Partnerships and Workforce Training Programs’ overall objective is to provide a talent pipeline for SRNL and coursework to support professional development for the site’s existing workforce.
SC State is the only institution in South Carolina and the nation’s only HBCU (historically Black college or university) offering a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering, hence its importance to SRNL. SC State also manages the Savannah River Environmental Sciences Field Station, which provides hands-on, field-oriented experiences for students.
From SC State’s perspective, the initial $8 million in state funding for the Research Partnerships and Workforce Training Programs is a gamechanger for both research initiatives and the marketability of its graduates in STEM fields.
“This investment underscores the state’s commitment to preparing our students for the jobs of tomorrow, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving STEM world,” said Dr. Frederick Evans, SC State provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Expanding access to STEM education empowers our youth to innovate, create, and drive our state’s future economic success.
“The financial support will also position our students to engage in more strategic research within the STEM field and strengthen our alliances with business and industry, which will lead to new curricula to support workforce development in the State of South Carolina,” Evans said.
According to Elbert R. Malone, SC State associate provost for research and sponsored programs, SC State’s share of the proviso will support:
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The employment of 12 new research faculty in such areas as environmental engineering; the basic sciences of biology; chemistry and radiochemistry; health physics; nuclear engineering; cybersecurity and networking.
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Scholarships and internships for undergraduate students.
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Three Centers of Excellence — The Center for Energy and Environmental Solutions; the Center for Nuclear Criticality, Radiochemistry and Spectroscopy; and the Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.
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Placing faculty jointly appointed at SRNL in missionrelevant areas.
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Establishing two precollege institutes – the Summer Bridge Program for young students and the Summer Science Institute for teachers.
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STEM lab enhancements including equipment and modifications to conduct cutting-edge research and provide high-quality educational experience to STEM students. In addition, SC State is using other funding sources to renovate labs in Hodge Hall for the
