Message From the Lowcountry Graduate Center

In the late 1990s, Charleston business and legislative leaders were concerned that the region was losing high-tech companies because of the limitations in graduate education available here. What should have been the perfect setting for economic growth in the new economy - the nation's fourth largest seaport, a center of Homeland Security activity  and a region of ecological and historical richness - was hampered by the lack of graduate opportunities needed to attract and retain employees and new businesses.

The creation of the Lowcountry Graduate Center in 2001 brought together the power of our local public universities- MUSC, College of Charleston and The Citadel. Through the LGC, these institutions, plus USC and Clemson, have formed new partnerships and new ways to bring graduate education to the Lowcountry, focused on economic development needs.

In just five years, we have brought to the region a master's in electrical engineering from USC, certificate and master's programs in communication from the College of Charleston, a certificate program in technical project management from The Citadel, a doctoral program in higher education administration from Clemson and more.

We've done it all incredibly economically. Because the LGC programs take advantage of resources throughout the state, the need for new faculty has been dramatically reduced, saving money for the taxpayers of South Carolina.

There is still much more to do - expanding engineering and other high-tech programs and adding doctoral programs to serve the region. Our efforts are based on specific needs expressed during extensive research with community leaders, employers and employees.

Our mission is to determine what the needs of the community are - and will be - and to meet them It's that simple.

Based on the incredible success of the past five years, I am confident that we can continue to achieve this vision. We look forward to growing to serve you for many more years to come.