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Developing new academic programs that are relevant and responsive to the needs of the local community is the greatest accomplishment of USC Aiken during the past year, said chancellor Dr. Daniel Heimmermann in an interview on Oct. 24.
“We’re laser focused here at USC Aiken on helping develop the workforce. Our area is growing and there’s a tremendous demand for a skilled workforce,” Heimmerman said. “USC Aiken remains committed to developing flexible and relevant curriculum that prepares graduates to meet our current and future workforce needs.
” He said that during the past year, USCA faculty developed new graduate degrees in computer and informational science, and educator leadership. New bachelor’s programs were developed in public health and software engineering. Certificate programs were developed in data science, cyber security, network security and IT, strategic communication, real estate and Spanish for the clinical encounter.
“We’re doing our part here at USC Aiken and that is to provide these relevant, industry-aligned programs that prepare our students to be really job-ready on day one,” Heimmermann said. “All of our academic programs prepare our graduates to hit the ground running in their chosen field,” he said. “Most of our programs include out-of-class learning experiences such as internships, undergraduate research, study abroad and other experiential learning, which provides our students with a deeper applied and real-world learning experience.
” “Many of these out-of-class experiences are done in partnership with local industries and organizations such as Savannah River Site, Savannah River National Laboratory, Savannah River Mission Completion other agencies, businesses, schools and health care organizations which support our science, business, education, and nursing students in their capstone and internship experiences,” Heimmermann said. “Experiential learning, including undergraduate research, also takes place in the social sciences, and arts and humanities as well,” he said. Heimmermann delivered a State of the University address on Oct.
8 that went into detail about the past year’s accomplishments. He said he structured the address based on “how we are pursuing and fulfilling the pillars that are part of our Strategic Plan, and how during the past year we’ve made progress.” USCA’s Strategic Plan 2030 was approved by the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees in the spring.
The pillars are: Deliver a Flexible and Relevant Curriculum; Address the Pressing Needs of the Region; Reimagine the Composition of the Student Body; Enhance the Campus Experience; Bolster a Sustainable Foundation. The progress in some areas has been rapid, he said. “As I reflected on it, it was really edifying for me that it’s a five-year plan but really in the past year we’ve accomplished quite a bit.
” He said that “increasingly, external funding support will become even more important as we pursue and achieve our mission and goals.” “During the past year, USC Aiken researchers secured nearly $4 million in external grants from agencies such as the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, the U.S.
Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as other national, state, and local agencies and organizations,” Heimmermann said in his address.
He said the school continues “to expand educational access to qualified students by maintaining reasonable tuition rates at levels that are attentive to our students and their families’ ability to pay.” He said USCA has not raised tuition in seven years. Factoring in inflation during this period, he equated that to a reduction in tuition of more than 25 percent.
By improving the first-year freshmen experience to promote academic success and student satisfaction, the university has improved its retention rate, which contributed to this fall’s record enrollment of nearly 4,000 students, he said. In addition to the Strategic Plan, a Facilities Master Plan is in the early stages of development with involvement from the community and local stake holders, the Chamber of Commerce and economic developers. “What physically will the campus look like in five to ten years?” Heimmermann asked.
“What new buildings will we need? What do we need to do to create a more inviting campus for prospective students as well as the community?” He said he’s optimistic about USCA’s future. “While the world and higher education continue to be fraught with daunting uncertainties and challenges..
. what remains assured and definitely proven is that this university’s resolve and ability to faithfully and intrepidly carry out its noble mission with your continued support, building upon our tremendous legacy, USC Aiken will continue its responsive and impactful service to its students and its community in fulfillment of its original promise made over six decades ago.” The key to that is remaining “responsive and relevant to the people” in the community, he said.
“The crowning jewels of the university, the thing that we do, are our academic programs in preparation for the workforce and our economy, and also from our students’ point of view, their own success.”.
