South Carolina State reports 35% enrollment growth, presses for $100 million-plus in campus projects

President Alex Conyers of South Carolina State University told the South Carolina House Education and Public Works Committee that the university’s enrollment has risen 35% since 2019 and the school was recently designated a Carnegie R2 research institution, but aging buildings and limited student housing are constraining further growth.

Conyers, who introduced himself as president of South Carolina State University, said “the university is in great shape” and highlighted gains in fundraising, research funding and freshman class size while asking lawmakers to support several capital projects. He told the committee the R2 designation “will significantly enhance our opportunities to compete for grants and research opportunities.”

The recognition and enrollment gains matter because they increase the university’s ability to win competitive research grants and expand programs, Conyers said. But the university’s physical condition and housing shortage limit how many students it can admit and retain, a constraint that also affects faculty recruitment and student affordability.

Conyers said that since 2019 South…