“Your University located in Orangeburg, SC”
September 19, 2006: Andy Brack introduced Dr. Andrew Hugine, Jr. as a gentleman from Green Pond SC…a town with more homes than people. He also made sure every person in the audience understood the fourth year President of South Carolina State University (SCSU) is an extremely accomplished professional who holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from SCSU and a PhD from Michigan State University. Before assuming his current position, he also was SCSU Teacher of the Year.
Dr. Hugine’s theme for his address to our Club was obvious: First, SCSU has come a long way since it’s first President, Thomas E. Miller described SCSU as “a faculty of 13, eight small buildings, nine degree programs, 10 milk cows, 25 hogs, and a few chickens.” Second, SCSU has a lot to brag about today and third, it has distilled a clear vision for a bright future.
Today the comprehensive 1890 Land Grant University has:
– 220 faculty members, 57 academic programs, 107 buildings (physical plant)
– 4500 undergrad/graduate students (378 from Charleston/Dorchester counties)
– 93 percent of its programs that can be accredited are accredited
More notably, SCSU has a pedigree of programs unique to the University. It’s the nation’s only undergraduate environmental sciences field station in the nation. Additionally, it’s SC’s only:
– undergraduate degree program in nuclear engineering
– master of science degree in transportation
– MBA degree with a concentration in agribusiness
– Doctor of Education degree in the state focusing on education administration; ranked third in the nation in graduating minorities with the Doctor of Education degree
Dr. Hugine was very proud in stating that eighty percent of the Faculty hold doctoral degrees and are fourth highest in the state in generating external research grants and contracts totaling over 41 million dollars. The areas are impressive including: neuroscience and brain computer interface (artificial intelligence) with implications for combating Alzheimer’s and clean energy research with emphasis on using hydrogen as an alternative fuel. SCSU has the most diverse Faculty in the state. In describing the student body, Dr. Hugine referred to SCSU as a statewide resource with 80 percent of the students being native South Carolinians. He emphasized it’s important not to have “brain loss” outside of the state after graduation and stated that of the 26 thousand living alumni, 18 thousand or 69 percent live in South Carolina. He cited some alumni notables: Rickie Green, a lead construction engineer on the recently completed Cooper River Bridge Project: Harry Carson, a NFL Hall off Fame inductee; six college presidents; nine members of the current SC General Assembly; and the first and only female Athletic Director in SC’s public institutions. Additionally, SCSU ROTC commissioned more minority officers than any other institution in the nation.
Other highlights of Dr. Hugine’s presentation centered around the University as an “economic engine,” having a total economic impact statewide of 181.5 million dollars, supporting 1335 jobs, and generating 4.9 million dollars in state-level taxes. In doing so, SCSU never looses it’s focus of “making a difference in the lives of our young people.” It’s a student centered institution that was ranked number nine in the nation by The Washington Monthly with particular emphasis on Social Mobility, moving low income individuals into the middle class, where SCSU was ranked number one in the US.
Dr. Hugine concluded his talk by explaining SCSU’s vision on how they will “continue to make a difference:”
– Be one of the top 25 public universities, among peer institutions, as measured by recognized independent ratings
– Enrollment Goal: 8000 by 2014
– Create additional programs to meet projected societal needs and support economic development particularly along the I-95 Corridor.
Submitted by Bill Crowe, Keyway Committee