Graduate School Case Statement

T h e G r a d u at e S c h o o l o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C h a r l e st o n , S . C .

“As a graduate assistant with the University of Charleston’s Community Assistance Program, I connected closely to our region’s incredibly hardworking and vital non-profit sector, where I gained insight that can only be learned out in the field.”

– Ali Titus ‘10 (M.P. A.), program officer for Coastal Community Foundation in Charleston, S.C.

Boundless is the promise of our graduate students, the distinction of our faculty and the enduring spirit of our supporters, friends and alumni. Boundless represents the next era of the Graduate School of the University of Charleston, South Carolina.

Every world-class liberal arts and sciences college needs an excellent graduate school. Our graduate students are constantly invigorating the campus: They inspire independent thinking among our undergraduates, assist faculty in conducting and completing research and create new knowledge in our laboratories, field stations, seminar rooms, studios and libraries.

Real-world applicability underscores 22 master’s level programs and eight graduate certificates, as students and faculty devote their talents to understanding issues such as coastal and historic preservation, urban planning, business development and educational enhancement. Our students and faculty connect campus to the worldwide community by engaging in relevant research and spearheading economic and professional development programs that spark innovation within local and global industries.

Our students have easy access to diverse ecosystems, a wealth of historic data, a thriving arts scene and an entrepreneurial business community. Boundless will empower the Graduate School of the University of Charleston, S.C., to capitalize on these assets and collaborate with undergraduate students, faculty and programs at the College.

Now is the time to strengthen our signature programs that propel our graduate school to the next level of national distinction.

Boundless: The Campaign for the College of Charleston Boundless is a $125 million comprehensive fundraising initiative and your opportunity to shape the next era of graduate education.

Boundless is the vehicle to achieve our vision for the future: to attract top student and faculty talent and make graduate education a uniquely rewarding experience that benefits our students and the communities of people they serve.

Your gift to the Graduate School of the University of Charleston, S.C., will have an immediate impact on current students, providing grants that enable them to undertake a research or internship project or to present their ideas at a national or international conference. In turn, graduates will use their knowledge to address the environmental, social and economic challenges we face as a society.

We are asking you to consider an investment in one or more of our four strategic priorities:

1 2 3 4

Scholarships and Fellowships to attract and retain exceptional students of talent and promise;

World-Class Faculty who create new knowledge, collaborate across disciplines and inspire national student research;

distinctive academic programs that challenge the intellect of every student through a combination of professional development and community impact; and

The Dean’s Excellence Fund, which has an impact on all programs and supports research, innovation and discovery.

The Power of Partnership Moving boldly forward while preserving our distinctive identity will require dedication and partnership. As federal and state support for higher education declines, a bold move forward requires philanthropy.

By uniting the power of your generosity with the potential of the Graduate School of the University of Charleston, S.C., our graduates will change the world. As an investor in this campaign, you can ensure that our students have the knowledge and proficiencies to promote economic and professional development wherever they go. We invite you to partner with us. Together, we can support the professors and students who will lead us forward.

“Our graduate programs promote creativity, global understanding and citizenship, as well as leadership development. We prepare students to aspire to more than just a job.

We equip our students with skills and the mindset to make their communities a better place.� – Dean Amy McCandless

Carole Baldwin ‘86 (M.S. in marine biology) is a vertebrate zoologist and director of fishes at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Baldwin is a wellrespected authority on marine biology, especially tropicalmarine and deep-sea fishes.

p r io ri t y No. 1

F EL L OWSH IPS AND SCH OL A RSHIPS Boundless will support fellowships and local impact scholarships that allow our graduate students to concentrate on their training without the added pressure of monetary concerns. Fellowships ensure students can devote their full energy to fulfilling their academic promise, preparing for their professional future and gathering valuable experience alongside some of the top faculty experts in their fields.

Immediate-use research fellowships, for instance, empower graduate-level students to travel to research sites across the globe, to embark on international or interdisciplinary thesis projects and to present their findings at local, national and international conferences.

Boundless will also support local impact internships so students can apply what they learn in the classroom to make a substantive difference in the local Charleston community. Your gift can help students intern in nongovernmental organizations, businesses and government agencies or assist a student in designing his or her own community-based internship.

p r io ri t y No. 2

WORLD- CL ASs fac ult y In the Graduate School of the University of Charleston, S.C., students and professors are collaborators and colleagues. The intimate scale of programs and the supportive outlook of professors emphasize personal attention and real-world outcomes.

To compete for the best students, it is critical we recruit and retain outstanding professors and provide them with financial support for their research endeavors. Endowed chairs, professorships and research fellowships are vital tools for attracting top scholars from all over the world, thus making the College’s programs even more attractive in competitive fields.

Boundless will help recruit and retain professors with specializations in the history, traditions, culture and environment of the coastal areas contingent to the city of Charleston and coastal urban cities around the world. A gift to support our faculty will directly influence research that makes an impact on our community and the world.

Azikiwe Chandler ‘14 (M.A.T. in elementary education) plans to open a public charter school that will nurture young black men, allowing them to thrive. Chandler envisions a boarding school with a multicultural focus that offers parents and students an alternative to negative home or community environments and surrounds them with positive role models, loving discipline and high expectations.

“The graduate program in marine biology trained me to think critically and to pay attention to details. It provided a tangible platform to be inquisitive while developing approaches to solve problems and better understand complex processes. These skills—paired with a strong understanding of marine science and important related issues—have opened the door to many opportunities, including my position as a Capitol Hill staffer.”

- Charles “Kolo” Rathburn ‘09 (M.S. in marine biology), staffer for the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations

Tim Callahan (left), director of our M.S. in environmental studies program, prepares students to deal with the complex nature of environmental issues through an interdisciplinary approach that capitalizes on the unique faculty and research strengths of the College of Charleston and Dixie Plantation.

p r io ri t y No. 3

D I STINCTIVE AC ADEMIC PRO G RA M S We pride ourselves on putting classroom theories into practice in very substantive ways. Thus, the human talent pipeline emanating from the Graduate School of the University of Charleston, S.C., is fueling critical sectors of the regional and national economy.

Our faculty and students have a direct impact on communities concerned with urban coastal environments, historic preservation, digital innovations, aerospace technology and human health. Equally as important, graduate programs give back to the community through employment advocacy and assistance programs.

Boundless will augment master’s-level and graduate-level certificate programs in high-growth areas where there is industry demand and demonstrated community need. Sustainability initiatives that leverage a portion of Dixie Plantation transform it into a living and learning interdisciplinary research hub that unites undergraduate and graduate students. Fellowships will also enable more graduate students and faculty to engage in environmental science and sustainability research at Dixie Plantation and Grice Marine laboratory.

p r io ri t y No. 4

D E AN ’S EXCEL LENCE FU ND Through annual giving, everyone can be a philanthropist to the College of Charleston year after year.

The Dean’s Excellence Fund reflects the spirit of our shared experience, as together we preserve the legacy of opportunity we received, strengthening it and passing it on.

These gifts are an immediate source of institutional momentum because they provide funding for graduate fellowships, minority student support, research funding and new academic experiences. With your support, we can offer scholarships, internship stipends and study-abroad opportunities to students right when they are needed.

Equally as important, these gifts provide faculty with flexibility to seize research opportunities as they emerge.

For our alumni, parents and friends, gifts to this fund are the ultimate vote of confidence in everything the Graduate School of the University of Charleston, S.C., stands for and everything it will become.

“To work with Dr. Jon Hale and other premiere scholars at the College of Charleston has been one of the greatest and challenging academic experiences I have had yet.”

- Daron Calhoun ‘15 (M.A. in history) whose research focused on the founding and funding of historically black colleges and universities

J OIN US. Everything the Graduate School of the University of Charleston, S.C., has done in the past leads up to this moment. We are committed to the success of this campaign and hope you are equally as passionate about what it can achieve for all of us who value graduate education. Now is our time to take it to the next level of excellence so this generation of graduate students acquires the knowledge and proficiencies to compete worldwide in a rapidly changing economy.

Your investment in the very best students, faculty, global research and internship opportunities is crucial to nurturing the growth and talents of our graduate-level men and women. Your gift to this campaign is ultimately an investment in the College’s next era of graduate education.

With boundless enthusiasm,

Amy McCandless, Dean

bo undle ss .co fc .edu

Accountancy Business Administration Child Life Communication Computer and Information Sciences Early Childhood Education Elementary Education English E nvironmental Stu dies Environmenta l Studies (Peace corps Master’s International Option) Environmenta l Studies and Public Administration

Historic Preservation History Languages Marine Biology Mathematics Middle Grades Education Performing Arts Public Administration Science and Math for Teachers Special Education Teaching Learning and Advocacy