South Carolina Centers of Excellence

There are more than 20 Centers of Excellence sponsored by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Three of those centers are at USC Aiken: Educational Technology (CEET); Advancement of Rural, Under-Performing Schools (CERUPS); and Middlelevel Interdisciplinary Strategies for Teaching (CE MIST).

The purpose of the Centers of Excellence grant program is to enable eligible institutions, or groupings of institutions, to serve as "state-of-the-art" resource teacher preparation programs. These "resource centers" develop model programs, conduct research, disseminate information, and provide training for K-12 and higher education personnel in the center's specific area of expertise. Center activities must focus on pre-service preparation programs and staff development activities. Typical activities include:

• developing model pre-service training programs for other institutions of higher education to emulate;
• developing innovative school pilot projects;
• conducting statewide school-based and campus-based faculty development activities;
• conducting research and evaluation activities;
• serving as a state (and/or regional and national) clearinghouse for information dissemination;
• providing demonstration, outreach, and technical assistance programs for schools and institutions of higher education as requested.

Projects are substantially funded by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education with matching institutional and/or external funding. Projects are approved for two years. Upon completion of the first year, an annual program and financial report is required by the Commission on Higher Education.