Chancellor Bennie Harris welcomed faculty and staff to the start of the new academic year with a presentation that looked back at the past year’s achievements and outlined goals for the coming year.
Harris shared a story he told new students during convocation the previous week. A stone that once stood immovable on a cliff was washed away during a torrential storm. As it was carried along by the currents, the stone was battered but transformed into something new.
Students will go through a similar journey when they attend college, Harris said. They will change and be reshaped by the experiences they go through, becoming more refined and resilient in the process.
Harris reminded the university community of their role guiding and supporting students during this journey. But he also spoke of the rough waters the university itself must negotiate right now.
From executive orders aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion in everything from admissions to hiring to academic offerings, to new mandates requiring the disclosure of detailed admissions data, universities everywhere are facing much uncertainty.
The impact of these changes on USC Upstate itself is not yet fully clear, he noted.
But despite the challenges, Upstate has continued to thrive, Harris said. This year’s entering class is projected to be the highest since 2019, and enrollment overall is expected to increase 8% over last year. New programs, such as industrial engineering, data science and sport management, along with new certificates in AI and accounting, are adding to the university’s workforce-relevant offerings.
Fundraising reached a record $8.65 million last fiscal year, nearly triple the previous year. And the university launched its new strategic plan, Greater 2030, which will guide growth along five strategic pillars.
Harris outlined three major goals for the next five years that align with the strategic plan:
- Sustaining student enrollment. The university seeks to grow enrollment to 5,380 students in the next five years.
- Strengthening the college-to-career promise. This includes expanding career services and increasing internship and mentoring opportunities to ensure graduates have the skills employers need.
- Elevating USC Upstate’s brand and reputation. Strengthening USC Upstate’s brand includes additional investment in leadership development for students, faculty and staff.
Harris emphasized the university’s commitment to ensuring all faculty, staff and students have access to AI and opportunities to learn how to use it effectively. In the year ahead, a group of faculty and staff will be tasked with figuring out best practices for implementation.
“We are not doing this to catch up, we are doing this to stay relevant,” Harris said.
Through all that lies ahead, “We will travel the river together,” he said, thanking faculty and staff for their critical role in serving not only students, but the community and world at large.