Stewards of the Region

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USCB Stewards of the Region

As a small and localized university that is located in an up and coming yet semi-rural area, it is important for the University of South Carolina Beaufort to give back to its community and location. It is our "Duty to Serve." This is an integral part of USCB’s Mission and Vision that “responds to regional needs, draws upon regional strengths and prepares graduates to contribute locally, nationally and internationally with its focus on teaching, research and service,” USCB’s Strategic Plan that expands and deepens “partnerships with organizations whose mission, goals, and future are enhanced by alignment with the university mission,”  as well as the USCB’s Academic Master Plan. Here below is a list of some seventeen projects on community initiatives for our region.

Woman with DrumDr. Najmah Thomas, associate professor of public health and coordinator of the Human Services Program, is working with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to make farming accessible to African Americans, including the local Gullah-Geechee community, and other socially disadvantaged groups. 

Education Students in a Group USCB has received a $5.1 million Teacher Quality Partnership grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Called MASTERY (Melding Academics, Support, and Training of Educators for higher Retention Yields), this grant project will expand USCB’s recruitment, preparation, and support of highly qualified, diverse teacher candidates to serve in 21 high-need schools in the Beaufort County School District. Aligned with local community needs, MASTERY will focus on developing teacher candidates in the critical shortage areas of early childhood education, gifted and talented education, middle and high school math and science, special education, and English as a Second Language. The grant also will provide teacher candidates and working teachers with university-based and district-level support. 

Hospitality Students at FenceCollaborating with local community and business leaders, USCB’s Center for Lowcountry Hospitality Education has established tourism ambassador programs for Hilton Head Island and Bluffton. Trained in regional knowledge, culture and ecology, the Ambassadors provide a valuable service to the region’s many visitors, helping ensure a quality guest experience. 

Nursing Student Injecting MannequinUSCB has been awarded a $1 million federal grant to advance healthcare education in the region and meet the growing demand for registered nurses in the Lowcountry. The grant project is a significant milestone in expanding enrollment in USCB’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It is a strategic partnership among USCB, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, the City of Beaufort, and Beaufort County. 

Students Observing Sign with Historic InformationUSCB’s Institute for the Study of the Reconstruction Era provides a week-long, hands-on professional learning experience for elementary, middle and high school teachers from across the state. Focusing on region’s history from 1861-1900, the program empowers educators to unlock African American history and inspire their students to engage critically with the past, promoting a deeper understanding of our shared heritage. The program is funded by a grant from the South Carolina Department of Education and presented in partnership with the South Carolina Council for African American Studies.