The SC EPSCoR/IDeA Program has a firm commitment to increase outreach and diversity in the sciences and engineering. South Carolina has six 4-year Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), 5 private and 1 public, and one 2-year private junior college, all with NSF HBCU-UP programs. Substantial EPSCoR/IDeA investments have been made at SC State and Claflin. South Carolina also has 16 technical colleges individually accredited by SACS to award 2-year associate degrees, providing significant opportunities for workforce development and diversity enhancement.
Diversity is a critical component emphasized throughout the management and portfolio of South Carolina’s EPSCoR and IDeA programs. The Vice President for Academic Affairs at South Carolina State University, the state’s largest public HBCU, has been a member of the State Committee since 1992 and a member of the Executive Committee since 2000. The South Carolina EPSCoR/IDeA State Office regularly requests external review of its programs and management by those with nationally and internationally recognized expertise on diversity in research and education.
South Carolina EPSCoR/IDeA has established a Diversity Advisory Board to provide oversight for the diversity initiatives. This board consists of leadership from the state's major HBCUs, internal leadership, and external experts.