Mission & History

Providing Accessible Higher Education for Upstate South Carolina

Mission

To advance the access and attainment of Higher Education degrees for the benefit of the Citizens and Economic Community of Greater Greenville, South Carolina.

In pursuing this mission, UCG:

Assesses regional needs for higher education programs that serve the region’s citizens.
Engages Universities and Colleges in providing academic programming responsive to regional needs.
Implements marketing initiatives to raise awareness of available academic programs.
Provides technology, facilities, and support services that enable and enhance academic program delivery.

The Higher Education Opportunity for Greater Greenville

Greater Greenville is the largest metropolitan area in the State of South Carolina and does not have a public University within its borders. Although Clemson University and the University of South Carolina Upstate are within an hour’s commuting distance of downtown Greenville, neither is accessible to working professionals who cannot afford a two-hour round trip to take day or evening classes.

The University Center of Greenville (UCG) was established in 1987 to bring Bachelor’s Completion and Graduate (Master’s and Doctoral) Degrees from many of the State’s most respected and highest ranked Universities to the citizens and economic community of Greater Greenville.

Meet UCG’s Leadership

leadership

1981

Clemson University began offering graduate-level courses during evening hours on what is now Greenville Tech’s main campus.

1987

Clemson University, with Greenville Tech’s cooperation, invited other state-supported institutions to form a consortium for the Greenville area. The proposed new Greenville Higher Education Center was chartered by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education and officially began its operations on the Greenville Tech campus.

1989

Greenville Tech purchased, renovated and equipped an abandoned factory adjacent to the Tech campus, and the new multi-story University Center of Greenville (as the original consortium was soon renamed) officially opened its doors.

1993-94

By 1993-94, the Center’s member universities had increased to six: Clemson University, Furman University, Lander University, South Carolina State University, the University of South Carolina, and the University of South Carolina Upstate.

1993

The University Center’s enrollment growth reached a critical mass that threatened to exceed the capacity of the current site. Thanks to a local real-estate developer, T. Walter Brashier, Greenville Tech received a $5 million campus site ideally suited to the future growth of the University Center and subsequently leased by the consortium.

1996

After extensive renovation, this new facility was dedicated in September.

2001

Increases in program offerings and enrollments again called for a larger facility. McAlister Square mall was purchased by Greenville Technical College and its Foundation. A completely renovated 123,000-square foot space was leased by the University Center.

2009

Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Community Report Card placed Greenville significantly behind many other similar Southeastern metropolitan areas in terms of the adult population with Bachelor and Master’s Degrees.

2011

The University Center announced its new governing Board of Trustees, comprised of Business, Community, and Higher Education Leaders. In the same year, David A. Taylor joined the University Center of Greenville and serves as CEO and President.

2012

The College of Charleston’s Riley Center completed a Higher Education Study of Greater Greenville for the University Center. The study identified significant academic programming needs and opportunities that the University Center and its Member Universities are addressing. In addition, the University Center’s Board of Trustees accepted highly ranked and growing Anderson University’s request for Academic Membership to the Center.

2013

Anderson University began academic programming at the University Center with its outstanding and accredited Master of Business Administration (MBA), Criminal Justice, Emergency Management Services, and Healthcare Management Degrees. In addition, the University Center and its Academic Member’s Council initiated a broad Academic Program Expansion Initiative to grow existing Academic Programs and to launch and grow new Academic Programs at the Center. Significant technology and facility investments and upgrades were completed.

2014

University Center -College Opportunity Fairs began in July 2014 and are continuing in October, March, and July of each year. The College Opportunity Fairs are an opportunity for potential students to meet representatives from Member Universities and Colleges to discuss academic programs and enrollment processes. In addition, the University launched a broad new marketing and awareness initiative to replace its website and utilize radio, digital/internet advertising, digital billboards, and other media to increase community and potential student awareness of Bachelor Completion and Graduate (Master’s and Doctoral) programs offered at the Center.

2015

University Center -College Opportunity Fairs began in July 2014 and are continuing in October, March, and July of each year. The College Opportunity Fairs are an opportunity for potential students to meet representatives from Member Universities and Colleges to discuss academic programs and enrollment processes. In addition, the University launched a broad new marketing and awareness initiative to replace its website and utilize radio, digital/internet advertising, digital billboards, and other media to increase community and potential student awareness of Bachelor Completion and Graduate (Master’s and Doctoral) programs offered at the Center.

Nine Universities. One Location.