South Carolina State University President Dr. George Cooper says the university must work diligently to reverse the preferential treatment state lawmakers give to Clemson University and the University of South Carolina.
“We should be treated the same way as any institution in the state of South Carolina,” Cooper said to thunderous applause Monday in his first address to all faculty and staff. He said S.C. State’s funding must increase for it to reach its full potential.
Cooper said he also wants to improve infrastructure, establish the university as a research institution and graduate students at a faster pace.
“I’ve been a little embarrassed as I’ve walked around campus,” Cooper said of the university’s $100 million backlog of deferred maintenance projects.
Cooper also views the fact that only 45 percent of students complete their bachelor’s degree in six years as unsatisfactory.
“I believe we have to do better,” he said.
Cooper warned that if the university doesn’t tackle these issues, the state could use that as leverage to continue funding S.C. State at a low level.
He pointed out that half of the student body comes from low-income families, saying they are “diamonds in the rough.”
“If you look around this room, this is who we were as students,” Cooper said. He said the time has come to create a new generation of accomplished Bulldogs.
Cooper said S.C. State accepts students that Clemson and USC reject, however he said the historically black university outclasses both institutions in terms of social mobility.
With a new crop of students descending on campus, Cooper said he is impressed with their enthusiasm.
“I hope we can embrace this enthusiasm,” he said.
S.C. State professor Dr. Margaret Felder-Wilson called Cooper a man on a mission.
She said, “I’m impressed, he seems sincere. He’s done his homework.”
Cooper joined the university this summer as its new president. During his hour-long speech, he touched on his experience dealing with higher education institutions as an administrator at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he was in charge of distributing more than $100 million in federal funds to colleges and universities each year.
Before Cooper was introduced, S.C. State Board Chairman Maurice Washington gave a special recognition to former interim President Dr. Leonard McIntyre.
“He has far exceeded our expectations,” Washington said.
McIntyre said it was an extreme honor and privilege to serve as interim president.
He then turned and looked at Cooper and said, “I look forward to supporting your vision for greater academic heights.”
T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.