The U.S. Supreme Court ended affirmative action. Will it impact diversity at USCB and TCL?
The U.S. Supreme Court voted to end affirmative action in higher education June, eliminating a four-decade precedent that allowed schools to consider race as one factor in student admissions.
The decision will not have an effect on admissions or class demographics at either of Beaufort County’s two-year higher education institutions, the University of South Carolina Beaufort and the Technical College of the Lowcountry, according to the administrations.
USCB Vice Chancellor of Admissions Mack Palmour said it’s because they use the state’s admissions requirements, a minimum 2.0 grade point average in core high-school classes.
“We’re not a highly selective institution by admission and by funding,” he said. “We’re simply looking for students who can come and benefit from the institution.”
With TCL it’s similar, according to President Richard Gough. In most cases, admission to TCL only requires a high school diploma or equivalent such as a General Educational Development test, designed to measure high school equivalency.
University of South Carolina Beaufort
According to spokesperson Carol Weir, the data for USCB reflects students as of this week and will change as students continue to enroll and depart. Here is the demographic breakdown:
Race and ethnicity
All students
Race/Ethnicity | Number | Percentage |
American Indian or Alaska Native | 6 | 0.31% |
Asian | 16 | 0.81% |
Black or African American | 379 | 19.28% |
Hispanic | 238 | 12.11% |
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.10% |
Non-resident Alien | 38 | 1.93% |
Race/Ethnicity Unknown | 14 | 0.71% |
Two or More Races | 97 | 4.93% |
White | 1176 | 59.82% |
Total | 1966 | 100% |
Freshman class
Race/Ethnicity | Number | Percentage |
American Indian or Alaska Native | 3 | 0.62% |
Asian | 3 | 0.62% |
Black or African American | 90 | 18.63% |
Hispanic | 72 | 14.91% |
Non-resident Alien | 6 | 1.24% |
Race/Ethnicity Unknown | 4 | 0.83% |
Two or More Races | 27 | 5.59% |
White | 278 | 57.56% |
Total | 483 | 100% |
Gender
All students
Gender | Number | Percentage |
Female | 1348 | 68.57% |
Male | 611 | 31.08% |
Neither | 7 | 0.36% |
Total | 1966 | 100% |
Freshman class
New Freshmen | Number | Percentage |
F | 328 | 67.91% |
M | 152 | 31.47% |
Neither | 3 | 0.62% |
Total | 483 | 100% |
Residency
All students
Residency | Number | Percentage |
Foreign | 28 | 1.42% |
In-State | 1630 | 82.91% |
Out-Of-State | 308 | 15.67% |
Total | 1966 | 100% |
Freshman Class
Residency | Number | Percentage |
Foreign | 5 | 1.04% |
In-State | 366 | 75.78% |
Out-Of-State | 112 | 23.19% |
Total | 483 | 100% |
The Technical College of the Lowcountry
The most recent data is for academic programs for the Fall 2022 semester and not the entire academic year.
For that semester, 1,738 of the 2,196 students enrolled, 79.1%, attended TCL part time. Here is the demographic breakdown:
Race/Ethnicity
Ethnicity | Number | Percentage |
American Indian/Alaskan Native | 13 | 0.59% |
Asian or Pacific Islander | 40 | 1.82% |
Black/African American | 628 | 28.59% |
Hispanic | 54 | 2.46% |
Multi-Ethnic | 114 | 5.19% |
Non-Resident | 1 | 0.04% |
Unknown | 179 | 8.15% |
White/Non-Hispanic | 1,167 | 53.14% |
Total | 2,196 | 100% |
Gender
Gender | Number | Percentage |
Female | 1,550 | 70.58% |
Male | 646 | 29.42% |
Total | 2,196 | 100% |
Residency
Residency | Number | Percentage |
Beaufort, SC | 1,519 | 69.17% |
Colleton, SC | 90 | 4.1% |
Hampton, SC | 100 | 4.55% |
Jasper, SC | 263 | 11.78% |
In-State Non-Service Area Counties | 54 | 2.46% |
Out-of-State (includes Effingham and Chatham) | 170 | 7.74% |
Total | 2,196 | 100% |
