South Carolina State University (SCSU) is a four-year, state-supported,
coed, liberal arts institution founded in 1872 as South Carolina
Agricultural and Mechanical Institute. From 1872 to 1895, SCSU existed
within the institution of Claflin College. In 1895, the South Carolina
General Assembly enacted legislation for the severance of SCSU from
Claflin.
SCSU opened independent of Claflin in 1896 as a land-grant institution
under the name of the Colored Normal Industrial Agricultural and
Mechanical College of South Carolina. The name changed to South Carolina
State College in 1954. With an expanded mission to provide programs in
advanced study, the school received university status in 1992 and thus
adopted its present name.
Traditionally, the College has focused on teacher education, research, and
service. As a land-grant institution, SCSU is committed to providing
undergraduate instruction that combines liberal arts with vocational
education. SCSU is also committed to community service, offering programs
related to agriculture as well as adult and continuing education programs.
The sixty-building campus is situated on 160 acres, with a variety of
architectural styles. An additional 286 acres are located at Camp Daniel
in Elloree, South Carolina. The campus facilities include the Martin
Luther King, Jr. Auditorium, Henderson-Davis Theater, Hodge Hall, and Duke
Gymnasium and Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the-art facility. |
