USC’s Board of Trustees met Friday (Sept. 26) on USC Aiken’s campus, approving numerous academic initiatives – including a new research center and a new vice president for system affairs and community engagement.
Academic approvals
The board officially designated the Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment Research Center.
Founded in 2019 and officially designated as a center on Friday, the Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment Research Center is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, such as intellectual disability, ADHD, fragile X and Down syndrome.
Two hires with tenure were approved at the meeting Friday: Craig Wilson at USC Columbia — who will serve as Palmetto College chancellor — and Renae Swanson at USC Upstate.
The board approved 12 honorary academic titles across six colleges and schools:
- Four in the College of Nursing.
- Two in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management.
- Two in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.
- Two in Palmetto College.
- One apiece in the Joseph F. Rice School of Law and the School of Medicine Columbia.
Academic approvals at USC’s system campuses included a new undergraduate certificate in criminology and law at USC Beaufort and the termination of a bachelor’s program in chemistry at USC Aiken.
Vice president for system affairs, other approvals
Julian Williams was officially named vice president for system affairs and community engagement Friday. Williams had been serving in that role as interim since October 2024. Along with his role with system affairs, he will continue to serve as USC’s vice president for access, civil rights and community engagement.
Other approvals include gift namings, the approval of the executive budget request for the 2026-27 fiscal year and the 2025-26 performance evaluation planning form for agency heads.
Contract approvals
The Board of Trustees approved 11 contracts and agreements, including four USC facilities management task order contracts between AOS Specialty Contractors, L-J Inc., Mar Construction Company and Williams Infrastructure.
Three contracts affiliated with USC’s medical school were approved:
- Fifth Amendment of Affiliation Agreement with Prisma Health for medical student education and graduate education.
- Memorandum of agreement with Prisma Health for funding to support physician education, training and workforce development.
- Memorandum of agreement regarding participating in South Carolina Medicaid supplemental teaching physician payment program.
Other contracts include:
- An agreement between Parking and Transportation Services and Central Midlands Regional Transportation Authority (COMET).
- An amendment to the master license agreement between USC Libraries and Sage Publications.
- An affiliation agreement with USC Beaufort and the USC Beaufort Education Foundation.
- A memorandum of understanding between the Darla Moore School of Business and Corporate Solutions LLC.
AI Statement of Principles
The board formally adopted a statement of principles regarding use of AI for education and university operations. Beginning in August, USC Columbia became the first public institution in the state, and among the first in the country, to give free AI access to all students, faculty and staff. USC’s partnership with ChatGPT upholds strict privacy standards to safeguard data, including academic records and proprietary research.