CofC President Thanks Faculty, Staff for Another Extraordinary Year

Dear Campus Community,  

Now that the spring semester is over, I wanted to share – for brevity’s sake – just a few updates and highlights from the 2024-25 academic year. Our faculty, staff and students are extraordinary, and I am proud of the many amazing things they accomplished this year. Because of their work, the College’s brand continues to rise on the national stage, where it truly belongs. 

Phi Beta Kappa 

Certainly, the induction of our first cohort of Phi Beta Kappa scholars this spring is a highlight. For decades, we have been wanting to host a Phi Beta Kappa chapter on our campus, and this past year, we were one of just three universities asked to join Phi Beta Kappa, the most prestigious academic honor society in the country. Being a member is affirmation of our growing academic reputation among the top universities in the country.  

Another Record Year for Applications 

I am proud to say that we broke last year’s record for applications – with more than 32,000 applications for roughly 2,250 spots in our first-year class. Interest for a College of Charleston education is at an all-time high. To put that in perspective, before 2019, we averaged between 10,000 and 12,000 a year for those same 2,250 spots. That increase is due to a lot of factors – certainly the hard work of our admissions and marketing and communications offices – but also the great work of our faculty and staff who are doing remarkable research and scholarship, inside and outside of the classroom. Prospective students and their families are seeing the many opportunities we have to offer – plus Charleston is a pretty incredible place in which to live and study! 

^{Check out the Speaking of … College of Charleston podcast for President Hsu’s Year in Review!}

Our Academic Portfolio 

I am proud of the progress we have been making on our strategic plan toward our goal of becoming a national university. This year, we reorganized our STEM programs into two schools – the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and the School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics. The rationale for splitting them was to allow targeted curriculum development, better research and funding alignment, increased community and industry partnerships and find more ways to enhance the student experience through mentorship, career services and internships. In short, splitting STEM into these two schools gives our university more precision, flexibility and visibility across diverse scientific and technological domains, while still allowing for interdisciplinary collaboration where it makes sense. 
 
As for the introduction of new academic programs, our Faculty Senate approved a B.S. in entrepreneurship, a B.A. in general engineering, a B.S. in engineering and business, a geospatial graduate certificate and an RN-to-BSN nursing program. In addition, we are launching two new professional doctorate programs – an Ed.D. in Learning and Inquiry in Practice (this summer) and an Executive Doctorate of Business Administration (this fall). Together, these programs are answering critical workforce-development needs for our industry partners in the Lowcountry and the state. 

Our institution remains committed to study-abroad experiences in Spain. Unfortunately, we had to end one of our longtime study-abroad programs in Trujillo. After many months of extensive deliberation, multiple viability assessments and various efforts to resolve ongoing legal and financial challenges, the College ended its academic programs in the city. The CofC Foundation, with the endorsement from the benefactor who originally donated property there, voted this spring to sell its properties. Proceeds from the property sale will go into a scholarship endowment to provide even more opportunities for students to study in Spain.

More Highlights  

Of course, there are many other brag points from throughout the year, such as our CofC Orchestra playing at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Grace-Miller Moody’s performances on The Voice, another successful CofC Day of Giving and the return of Homecoming. With the help of philanthropic partners, we were able to break ground on the new Tuccio Student Success Center and enhance the Turner Tennis Center at the Patriots Point Athletics Complex. And, of course, last fall, we completed our multi-year renovation project of the Simons Center. 

As I hope you will see, extraordinary things happen here every day because of the collaborative spirit of our students, faculty and staff. Our institution continues to make history, as we position ourselves for our next 250 years. Thank you for another great year and enjoy the summer! 

Best, 
Andrew 

Andrew T. Hsu, Ph.D.
President
College of Charleston