Although South Carolina State University continues to face difficult financial times, President Dr. George Cooper says there are bright spots.

"I'm an optimist. I believe this time will end and we'll be a better university," Cooper said Monday during the annual state of the university address to faculty and staff.

The university has lost $8 million in state funding since last summer, resulting in layoffs, employee furloughs and major cutbacks in spending.

But Cooper noted the S.C. State football team won its conference championship and alumni giving went up 36 percent in the last year.

In addition, he said renovations to historic Lowman Hall are set to be completed by October. And Cooper said "significant movement" on the long-delayed James E. Clyburn Transportation Center will take shape by next March.

He credited university departments for tightening their budgets during tough fiscal times.

Cooper did warn that more budget reductions may come soon due to the possibilities of another state funding cut and an enrollment shortfall.

"We have an enrollment-based budget," Cooper said.

Enrollment numbers thus far have fallen short of the 5,102 students S.C. State officials expected on campus this fall. Cooper said there are about 4,500 students enrolled as of last Friday. Late registration ends on Aug. 24.

Cooper said putting students first, managing enrollment and boosting fund-raising efforts are the institution's top goals going forward.

He said the university will focus on excelling academically in order to take its rightful place among peer and state institutions. He told the audience reaching future fund-raising and enrollment goals will require the efforts of the entire university family.

"As we accept these challenges, let's handle our business quickly and efficiently," Cooper said.

Cooper established diversifying the student population as one of his top priorities. Monday, he said the university is well on its way in that regard.

Cooper noted he and his wife, Diane, recently talked with two freshmen from Romania during a dinner for new students.

He said the university is in the final stages of preparing compliance documents for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. S.C. State is up for reaccreditation by SACS next year.

Cooper said a major emphasis is being placed on student outcomes.

"In looking at our reaffirmation, it impacts us all," Cooper told the audience.

He said documents related to the SACS reaccreditation will be on S.C. State's Web site soon. He said the university is working to ensure the documents are in good order before posting them.

S.C. State political science professor Dr. Willie Legette said Cooper articulated the problems and challenges facing the Orangeburg institution.

"Now, whether or not he is able to generate the resources and mobilize people around those challenges will be a challenge for him," Legette said.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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