Dr. Pastides on USC

October 4, 2011: Dr. Harris Pastides, fellow Rotarian and President of the University of South Carolina, addressed our club today. He was named USC’s 28th president in 2008 and was the first internal candidate to be elected in more than half a century. Before joining the South Carolina faculty, Pastides served as professor of epidemiology and chairman of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He received his master’s of public health and his Ph.D. in epidemiology from Yale University.

With over 21,000 applications this year, the university currently has the largest number of students enrolled in history. The class of 2015 was selected from the largest, brightest and most diverse pool of high school applicants, ever, and there are more South Carolinians enrolled than ever before. There are eight campuses in the USC system, which totals over 47,000 students. Adding faculty and staff to that count would make USC equivalent in size to the fourth largest city in South Carolina.

USC’s increasing attractiveness has been reflected in national publications and rankings. Last year, Princeton Review recognized USC as a top 50 “best value” public university. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine described USC as a top choice in the nation and one that delivers the “best BA for the buck.” The Carnegie Foundation gave USC the highest research designation and recognized it as among the nation’s leaders in providing programs that benefit and engage communities.

USC recently broke ground for the new Darla Moore School of Business. Pastides mentioned a few of the green initiatives slotted. The new building will generate as much energy as it consumes. Rainwater will be collected and used for irrigation and toilets. The building will be awash with windows to allow more natural lighting and the roof will include green turf to reduce heat buildup. Also through the generosity of alumna and highest benefactor, Darla Moore, USC has began planning the new Ronald E. McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research, which will help create a cluster of knowledge-based aerospace companies, including Boeing , by providing applied research and development, and by creating the aerospace future workforce.

Dr. Pastides spoke briefly about athletics at USC, noting the phenomenal baseball seasons of the last two years and remembering one of Coach Tanner’s comments: “It’s not about winning every game; it’s about winning the important games.” He hopes to have a fine football season. After all, the team has the size, speed, and strength to beat anybody …or lose to anybody.

11/11/11 is the grand opening for the capital campaign, which will be the largest in the history of the university. Pastides discussed sources of USC funding. State appropriations ranks fifth, with tuition ranking first, grants/contracts second, auxiliary services third, and philanthropy fourth.

Submitted by Loretta Wilson, Keyway Committee