South Carolina State University receives $8 million state allocation for STEM research

(Courtesy: SC State University)

(WCIV) — South Carolina State University is set to receive an $8 million state allocation for STEM research and Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) workforce development. The school says this will help take the University to a new level of education and research within their College of Science Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Transportation (STEM-T College).

SC State’s historic Hodge Hall is one of three STEM buildings on campus dedicated to instruction and research.

The state has allocated an initial $40 million proviso, and $8 million of that proviso will go to SC State with the promise of more funding as objectives are met.

“I thank Gov. Henry McMaster and the General Assembly for supporting this visionary milestone in the development of SC State and our partners in this critical endeavor,” SC State President Alexander Conyers said.

SC State says the initial $8 million in state funding is a game changer for both research initiatives and the marketability of its graduates in STEM fields.

“This investment underscores the state’s commitment to preparing our students for the jobs of tomorrow, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving STEM world,” said Dr. Frederick Evans, SC State provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Expanding access to STEM education empowers our youth to innovate, create, and drive our state’s future economic success.

According to Elbert R. Malone, SC State associate provost for research and sponsored programs, SC State’s share of the proviso will support:

• The employment of 12 new research faculty in such areas as environmental engineering; the basic sciences of biology; chemistry and radiochemistry; health physics; nuclear engineering; cybersecurity and networking.
• Scholarships and internships for undergraduate students.
• Three Centers of Excellence — The Center for Energy and Environmental Solutions; the Center for Nuclear Criticality, Radiochemistry and Spectroscopy; and the Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.
• Placing faculty jointly appointed at SRNL in mission-relevant areas.
• Establishing two pre-college institutes – the Summer Bridge Program for young students and the Summer Science Institute for teachers.

STEM lab enhancements including equipment and modifications to conduct cutting-edge research and provide high-quality educational experience to STEM students. In addition, SC State is using other funding sources to renovate labs in Hodge Hall for the program

“These funds will be transformational to the STEM-T College because it will provide an opportunity to build a robust research infrastructure that will allow the university to compete in the research arena on national and international levels, particularly as we move toward Research II status,” Malone said.

According to the University, of each new faculty member’s time, 75% will be devoted to research with the remaining 25% dedicated to instruction. The faculty members eventually would be responsible for bringing in their own research funding, keeping the initiative alive after the grant period expires.

SC State President, Alexander Conyers has set a goal for SC State to reach Research II (R2) status, which would position the university to compete for more federal and corporate funding for research-driven initiatives.

SC State is the only institution in South Carolina and the nation’s only HBCU (historically Black college or university) offering a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering, which is why they say it’s important to fund SRNL.