SCSU’s New President Urges Rotarians, Community to Support the University

In a talk to the Rotary Club of Orangeburg – Morning on Wednesday morning, August 13, Dr. George E. Cooper, the recently installed 10th president of South Carolina State University, shared an optimistic vision for University’s future and an ambitious agenda focused on enriching research and educational opportunities, and upgrading the physical plant at SCSU.

Until recently, Dr. Cooper was an administrator with the US Department of Agriculture who routinely dealt with land grant institutions. He pointed out that SCSU was created as a land grant institution under the second Morrill Act of 1890, which specifically gave money to states to expand higher education access to African Americans. Between them, the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890 committed states who received grants from the federal government to equal support for majority black colleges and universities. It’s a commitment, he said, which has not usually been met.

"South Carolina," he noted, "does not rank high in education." To improve, we need to educate students to compete in a global economy. "Even when they are working in Africa or Japan, they are representing South Carolina," he pointed out.

Key to improving the educational opportunities at SCSU is emphasizing research. Research not only attracts students, but "it attracts and retains the best faculty."

Despite the unwelcome news that state agencies were told of a second round of budget cuts, Dr. Cooper intends to ask lawmakers to approve 67 million to address deferred maintenance on the campus. "Students shouldn’t have classrooms where the heating and air do not work."

Dr. Cooper also said he plans to announce a major capital improvements campaign which will have an impact on the South Carolina economy extending into the hundreds of millions.

"My message to the lawmakers is that we’re going to be a success. If you want to claim credit for it later, you’ve got to support us now."

He asked local leaders in the community to support his agenda with lawmakers. "Write a letter. Better yet, get ten friends to write letters and make phone calls."

He pointed out that SCSU plays an important role in training educators throughout the state, and serves as an important resource for them. Success at SCSU will be the community’s success, he said, and an expansion of the University’s physical infrastructure would certainly benefit the local economy.

"I’m competitive in what I do, in that I want South Carolina State University to offer the best education available. When leaders in the community send their children off to college, when college professors send theirs, I want them to think of us first. That’s how we’ll know we’re a success."

His comments were well received by the audience. "It’s all about leadership ability," said Ann Hurst, president of the club, "and that’s what he showed this morning."

Club Notes:

August 20, 2008 Don Tribble, Executive Director, Orangeburg County Community of Character Also co-presenting - Orangeburg County Sheriff La Water Missions International.
rry Williams

August 27, 2008 Bill Clark, Orangeburg County Administrator
REMEMBER!
--August 28 Water Missions trip!

Character Trait for August: Self Respect

Joan Didion: "To free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves--there lies the great, singular power of self-respect."