The University of South Carolina is classified as having "very high research activity" its highest rating and also as a “community engaged” institution by the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching, its highest rating. The university is nationally recognized for its superior student experiences and is committed to developing flexible new models for college access and affordability.
As the university’s chief academic officer, the fundamental priorities of the Provost Arnett are designed to support the university's mission of continued excellence. The provost leads the faculty and allocates approximately $620 million in FY24 resources to promote each student’s academic experience and success.
Major Initiatives of Provost Arnett
Addition of 100 new tenure track faculty in the interests of accelerating our teaching and research in AI and in bringing more tenure track faculty into the first and second year classes in our most sought after majors.
A renewed focus on faculty recruitment and retention, including continued effort to ensure competitive salaries.
Strengthening academic advising by hiring 200 new academic advisors and developing a four year advising system where students can connect with the same advisor throughout their career.
Leading efforts to collaborate across student affairs and academic support to create even more coordinated approaches to academic student success.
Ongoing efforts on improving campus climate.
Support for the Bridge to Faculty Program to increase the number of underrepresented faculty.
Creation of new certificates and majors to meet workforce needs.
Created GARNET to accelerate efforts in student recruitment, retention and graduation with new programs and initiatives including one for first-generation students.
Working with advising and program faculty to decrease unnecessary curricular complexity and working with faculty to create programs that allow more students to graduate in four years.
Developing new programs for faculty advancement across their careers to support and empower our community of faculty to learn, grow, and thrive as teachers, as researchers and scholars and as productive members of our community.
Renewed focus on teaching excellence by bringing together the resources we have to support faculty at all career stages in their continuing growth as practitioners of the complex craft of teaching.
Renewed focus on recruitment and retention of graduate students with increasing stipends, ensuring they all have healthcare, free submission of graduate applications.
Created the US News and World Report Task Force to identify data governance over the areas responsible for reporting data and creation of a standard operating procedure for data governance and reporting.
Re-envisioning Global Carolina for the 21st century.