UofSC Aiken Celebrates 60 Years

Aiken, SC (09/13/2021) — The University of South Carolina Aiken (UofSC Aiken) celebrated its 60th anniversary on September 10.

The university has a rich history starting with its inception in 1961 when the Aiken community voiced the need for a local institution of higher education. In a demonstration of grassroots organizing, the community rallied to show their support for a college to be founded in the area. A governing body was formed through state legislation - The Aiken County Commission for Higher Education, which continues to oversee the university's mission.

The University of South Carolina, the state's flagship university founded in Columbia in 1801, began offering courses for Aiken students interested in completing their degrees in Columbia. UofSC Aiken became the fourth campus founded of the eight that would eventually comprise the UofSC System. Three full-time faculty members, a secretary, and 139 students joined for the university's first academic semester in September of 1961.

Classes took place in Banksia, a former winter-colony mansion in downtown Aiken. For 11 years, the university's first students attended college in a structure that was developed as living quarters, studying composition in an area that was once a ballroom and algebra in a former sitting room.

Over the years, the student population grew, and the need for a new campus location arose. The university purchased property from the Graniteville Company and moved from Banksia to its present site in 1972. One multipurpose building was constructed, which was later named the Robert E. Penland Administration Building. This building's open courtyard features one of the campus's most notable landmarks, the Double Knot sculpture by artist Charles Perry, which symbolizes the university's close ties with the local community. At the time, most assumed that this would be the only building ever needed for the campus; however, the university grew to occupy more than 20 buildings and athletics facilities in the years that followed.

As a natural next step, UofSC Aiken began to seek autonomy within the UofSC System so students could start and complete their degrees in Aiken. In 1977, the university was fully accredited as a senior college by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges, now known as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and granted its first baccalaureate degrees. Master's degree programs began being offered in 1994.

The institution began forming a limited number of sports teams as part of the NAIA in the 1960s. UofSC Aiken student-athletes adopted the Pacers as their mascot, named for Aiken's well-known status as an equestrian community. In 1990, UofSC Aiken achieved NCAA Division II status and became a charter member of the highly competitive Peach Belt Conference. Today, Pacer Athletics hosts 11 varsity men's and women's sports teams, including the three-time national champion men's golf team.

Since 1961, six leaders have navigated the university's path. Mr. Chris Sharp (1961-1962), Mr. Bill Casper (1963-1983), Dr. Robert Alexander (1983-2000), Dr. Thomas Hallman (2000-2012), Dr. Sandra Jordan (2012-2021), and Dr. Daniel Heimmermann (2021-present) have overseen the campus as it has grown from a commuter institution to a more traditional, residentially-based campus.

Today, UofSC Aiken has ranked in the top three public baccalaureate colleges in the South by U.S. News & World Report's guide "Best Colleges" for twenty-four consecutive years. With a student body nearing 4,000, approximately 500 students graduate each year. UofSC Aiken provides bachelor's and master's degrees in over 50 programs of study while delivering many of the offerings of a large university on a small, friendly campus with intimate class sizes and personal attention.

Essential Dates in UofSC Aiken History

1961

• The Aiken County Commission for Higher Education is created by the South Carolina General Assembly. Francis Townsend is named the first chairman.
• The University of South Carolina Aiken is founded. The campus is housed in the historic Banksia mansion in downtown Aiken. Chris Sharp serves as the first director.

1962

• Bill Casper is named the second Director of the Aiken campus.

1966

• Robert Penland is named chairman of the Aiken County Commission for Higher Education.

1968

• The campus receives accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees.
• The first associate degrees were awarded in June 1968.
• The South Carolina Legislature authorizes a bond issue to purchase a new site for UofSC Aiken.

1970

• The Aiken County Commission for Higher Education purchases property from the Graniteville Company for a new campus location.

1972

• The first building on the new campus, the administration/classroom building, opens its doors to students. The Double Knot sculpture by Charles Perry is placed in the building's open courtyard.
• A $400,000 gift from the Gregg-Graniteville Foundation and the Swint Foundation establishes the Gregg-Graniteville Library. It was the largest contribution ever made to a library in the state at that time.

1974

• The UofSC Aiken Alumni Association is founded, with Mike Graybill as the first president.

1975

• The Gregg-Graniteville Library was completed in 1975.

1976

• The Student Activities Center opens its doors to students. It includes a gymnasium, bookstore, and food services facilities.

1977

• UofSC Aiken is fully accredited as a senior college by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and given authority to award baccalaureate degrees.
• The estate of Cecil and Virginia Etherredge provides a gift of $1.25 million to UofSC Aiken, which is later used for construction of the Etherredge Center.

1978

• Classes are first held in the dedicated classroom building (now named the Humanities and Social Sciences Building).
• Construction is completed on the Operations/Maintenance Building.

1980

• The Aiken Partnership, an affiliate of the USC Educational Foundation, is created to guide fundraising efforts for UofSC Aiken, with C. Marshall Cain as the first chairman.

1983

• Chancellor Bill Casper announces his retirement.
• Robert E. Alexander is named chancellor of UofSC Aiken.
• An addition to the Gregg-Graniteville Library is completed, doubling the size of the facility.

1984

• Pacer Downs opens to provide campus housing for UofSC Aiken students.

1985

• The Etherredge Center for the Fine and Performing Arts was completed.

1986

• Opening night at the Etherredge Center for the Fine and Performing Arts features Metropolitan Opera star, Roberta Peters.
• Gasper L. Toole III is named the Chairman of the Aiken County Commission for Higher Education.
• The historic Pickens-Salley House (now Alumni House) is given to UofSC Aiken by Ronnie Bolton and moved to the campus.
• UofSC Aiken celebrates its silver anniversary.

1990

• The Academy for Lifelong Learning is established to offer educational opportunities to senior citizens in the area.
• UofSC Aiken's athletic programs join the Peach Belt Athletic Conference in the NCAA Division II.
• The Sciences building is dedicated.
• The Children's Center was completed.

1991

• Local students and teachers enjoy the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center's new facility.

1994

• The Business and Education Building is completed.
• UofSC Aiken begins offering its first master's degree in elementary education.

1995

• The DuPont Planetarium begins offering programs to local schools and the community.
• The UofSC Aiken campus expands to 453 acres through a donation/purchase from the Graniteville Company.

1996

• The estate of Vernon and Wava Ford creates a $1.25 million endowment for scholarships.

1997

• The Natatorium is added to the Student Activities Center.

1999

• UofSC Aiken is listed in U.S. News & World Report's College Guide as a top-three public liberal arts college in the Southeast.
• Construction is completed on the Alan B. Miller School of Nursing Building.
• The administration/classroom building was renamed the Robert E. Penland Administration and Classroom Building.
• The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center was expanded by 30,000 square feet.

2001

• Dr. Thomas L. Hallman is named the third chancellor of UofSC Aiken.

2003

• Robert Hernandez Baseball Stadium is dedicated.

2004

• Pacer Commons student housing complex is dedicated
• UofSC Aiken Golf Team wins NCAA Division II National Championship and repeats this accomplishment in 2005 and 2006.

2007

• The UofSC Aiken Convocation Center is dedicated.

2008

• Pacer Crossings student housing complex, designed for freshmen, is dedicated.

2010

• UofSC Aiken Chemistry Professor Dr. Chad Leverette, named South Carolina Governor's Professor of the Year.

2011

• UofSC Aiken celebrates its 50th anniversary.
• Dr. Thomas Hallman announces his retirement at the 50th-anniversary celebration.

2012

• Dr. Hallman retires.
• Dr. Sandra Jordan becomes UofSC Aiken's fourth chancellor and the university's first female chancellor.

2013

• Investiture ceremony held officially installing Dr. Sandra Jordan as chancellor.

2021

• Dr. Sandra Jordan retires.
• Dr. Daniel Heimmermann becomes UofSC Aiken's fifth chancellor.

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