Representatives Jim Merrill of Berkeley County and Leon Stavrinakis of Charleston County have filed a bill to create a full-scale (undergraduate/graduate) comprehensive research university in Charleston, South Carolina by merging the College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina.
Representatives Merrill and Stavrinakis issued the following statement on the matter, “This proposal is a response to business demands in the Lowcountry to create a workforce to match our growing economy and ensures the long term excellence of the College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina. We have created a measured and responsible process by which leaders from each school are tasked with developing a merger plan that works and will be successful.
The lawmakers say they are confident that the merger would not adversely affect either institution, and ultimately, the merged value and prestige of Charleston University would be greater than the simple sum of its parts.
“The bottom line is, this merger is long overdue – it is right for business; it is right for higher education; it is right for the Lowcountry; it is right for South Carolina; and it is our obligation as legislators to deliver,” they stated.
House Speaker Bobby Harrell offered his full support of the proposal, saying, “Business leaders have strongly embraced the idea of this merger, knowing that a full-scale comprehensive research university in Charleston is not just good for the Lowcountry’s economic future but our entire state’s. I appreciate Representatives Merrill and Stavrinakis’ leadership on this issue and their focus on improving the quality of higher education in our state.”
The proposal also received support from South Carolina Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt, saying, “Business recruitment and expansion in the Charleston region is one of the many keys to continued economic growth here in South Carolina. One of the challenges we face right now is how to better align the needs of the business community with our talent pool. Any proposal to create a full-scale, comprehensive research university in this region clearly makes sense for businesses in Charleston and across South Carolina.”
Representatives Merrill and Stavrinakis say they appreciate the broad bipartisan support the proposal received from many of their Lowcountry colleagues and look forward to working with them to advance this effort.
The legislation was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee and the sponsors will be asking to give the bill consideration as soon as possible.
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