South Carolina State University President Dr. George E. Cooper has been extremely busy in his first eight months at the institution. In fact, Cooper says he’s only taken three weekends off during that span.

“I’m enjoying my time at S.C. State. I have no regrets,” Cooper said.

Cooper said his family has been welcomed by the Orangeburg community with open arms.

“I like Orangeburg. My wife and I really feel at home here,” he said.

Today, Cooper will be officially inaugurated as the 10th president of S.C. State. The ceremony will be held at the Smith-Hamilton-Middleton Memorial Center on campus starting at 11 a.m.

Thus far during his presidency, there have been challenges like coping with massive state funding cuts and an accreditation warning. And there have been triumphs, such as increased alumni giving, several capital improvement projects moving forward and a championship football team.

But Cooper said his greatest challenge has also been his greatest accomplishment.

S.C. State has lost more than $8 million in state appropriations this fiscal year. Cooper says his most important job is getting the university through tough economic times.

Through it all, S.C. State has been able to maintain the integrity of its academic programs and keep faculty, Cooper said.

He said it’s about, “doing the job we’re supposed to do in fulfilling the needs of our students.”

Cooper assessed his own performance so far as just above average. He feels confident the university will make great strides in the future under his leadership.

The former U.S. Department of Agriculture administrator says his leadership style is that of a patient listener.

“I’m willing to hear different views,” he said. However, Cooper admits he can sometimes get impatient when things don’t move swiftly.

An example is the long-delayed James E. Clyburn Transportation Center project, which Cooper has called his greatest priority. He said the project is finally on the fast track.

Cooper said the university is close to hiring a construction management firm and completing the transportation survey it needs for the center to move forward.

He’s proud to say that construction of the Clyburn Center should begin within three months.

Cooper is pleased another prolonged project, the renovation of historic Lowman Hall, is slated to be finished three weeks ahead of schedule. He said the forthcoming science and engineering building project is moving forward nicely and will address a national priority in creating science and math jobs.

Aside from the budget cuts, Cooper has overseen the university’s 2010 reaccreditation process while simultaneously dealing with a warning from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

He said he is addressing both issues by working with the board of trustees, staff and faculty.

But most importantly, he is assuring all stakeholders that he alone is responsible for running the institution.

“In the short time I’ve been here, the board has worked with me. They have delegated the day-to-day decision making to me,” he said.

Since July, Cooper has traveled throughout the state to promote the university to anyone who will listen such as lawmakers, Gov. Mark Sanford, alumni, business leaders and editorial boards.

“I’ve been telling people this is a great university. We have great programs. I’m encouraging them to send their sons and daughters to S.C. State,” Cooper said.

With the souring financial climate, Cooper believes it’s vital to establish strategic alliances. He’s been reaching out to the community, Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College and Claflin University.

Cooper is also networking with alumni groups to raise funds for scholarships and recruit new students.

He said those efforts resulted in 250 more students being able to attend the university this semester via scholarship donations.

Last fall, Cooper started a fundraising initiative in hopes of raising $4 million from alumni.

In addition to that, Cooper is becoming familiar with the political landscape of the state. He’s told state officials that S.C. State should be considered a valued part of South Carolina’s higher education vision.

“They should be willing to support us because we’re serving their needs,” he said.

Last fall, Cooper said S.C. State should be funded at the same level as the University of South Carolina and Clemson University.

He’s also seeking private sector partners. In recent months, Cooper has met with officials from BMW, Bank of America and Michelin. Those talks have already led Wal-Mart to financially assist with S.C. State’s environmental management program.

“It’s important for us to have these discussions. They’ve been willing to listen,” Cooper said.

All those activities and actions have reduced Cooper’s free time. But he still finds some spare moments to play golf and attend church. Cooper and his wife, Diane, joined Andrew Chapel Baptist Church in Orangeburg.

He is also a member of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce’s executive committee, a position he said highlights S.C. State’s important role in the county.

Cooper said he is thrilled the S.C. State Bulldog football team won the MEAC Championship. A football signed by the entire Bulldog team sits in his office. That football holds special significance for Cooper because it came from the Bulldog’s victory over his alma mater, Florida A&M University.

Cooper does manage to hit the golf links at least once a month. He jokes he will one day make the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods might be safe, however, because Cooper says he usually doesn’t break 90.

In the future, Cooper wants to establish centers of excellence on campus and embark on a sizeable capital campaign. His vision also includes making the student body more diverse to foster a more stable and larger enrollment.

He foresees the university’s ranking and profile being raised among state and peer institutions.

Cooper predicts, “that people outside the university will be bragging about us because of the things we’ve done. That’s what I’d like to see in five years and I think it’s doable.”

Cooper previously served as deputy administrator for science and education resources development with the USDA. In that role, he was responsible for coordinating more than $140 million in grant programs for land-grant universities and other eligible institutions. S.C. State is an 1890 land-grant institution.

He has also served as vice president of academic affairs at Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Ala. and was a dean at Tuskegee University for eight years, where he supervised research and outreach for economics, construction, business and health programs.

Cooper has a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry from Florida A&M University and a master’s degree in animal science from Tuskegee University. He obtained his doctorate in animal nutrition from the University of Illinois at Urbana.

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.

For more on Cooper’s inauguration: http://www.thetandd.com/cooper

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