The Lowcountry Graduate Center (LGC) is a public higher education

consortium A consortium () is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations, or governments (or any combination of these entities) with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a ...

located in

North Charleston, South Carolina North Charleston is a city in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina.City Planning Department (2008-07)City of North Charleston boundary map. City of North Charleston. Retrieved January 21, 2011. As ...

and established in 2001 to expand opportunities in graduate-level education to the

Charleston, SC Charleston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean formed by the confluence of th ...

region.

History

In the late 1990s, local business and legislative leaders were concerned that the region was losing high-tech companies because of the limitations in graduate education available in the area. They believed that Charleston should be a perfect setting for economic growth in the new economy – with the nation’s fourth largest seaport, a center of Homeland Security activity, and a region of ecological and historical richness. Yet, the idealized concept was hampered, at the time, by the lack of graduate opportunities needed to attract and retain employees and new businesses. Established in 2001, the LGC brings together the power of local,

Lowcountry The Lowcountry (sometimes Low Country or just low country) is a geographic and cultural region along South Carolina's coast, including the Sea Islands. The region includes significant salt marshes and other coastal waterways, making it an impor ...

public universities – the

College of Charleston The College of Charleston (CofC or Charleston) is a public university in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1770 and chartered in 1785, it is the oldest university in South Carolina, the 13th-oldest institution of higher lea ...

, the

Medical University of South Carolina The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is a public medical school in Charleston, South Carolina. It opened in 1824 as a small private college aimed at training physicians and has since established hospitals and medical facilities acros ...

and

The Citadel The Citadel Military College of South Carolina (simply known as The Citadel) is a public senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Established in 1842, it is the third oldest of the six senior military colleges ...

to help provide accessible graduate-level programs and courses. With these institutions, plus the

University of South Carolina The University of South Carolina (USC, SC, or Carolina) is a Public university, public research university in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1801 as South Carolina College, It is the flagship of the University of South Car ...

and

South Carolina State University South Carolina State University (SCSU or SC State) is a public, historically black, land-grant university in Orangeburg, South Carolina. It is the only public, historically black land-grant research university in South Carolina, is a member o ...

, the LGC formed new partnerships and ways to bring graduate-level education to the area. The LGC consistently focuses on the

economic development In economics, economic development (or economic and social development) is the process by which the economic well-being and quality of life of a nation, region, local community, or an individual are improved according to targeted goals and object ...

needs of the Charleston Metro Area, keeping in contact with local Chambers of Commerce and organizations associated with three focus sectors: 1) advanced manufacturing and IT; 2) healthcare and community wellness; and 3)

K-12 education K-1 is a professional kickboxing promotion established in 1993 by karateka Kazuyoshi Ishii. Originally under the ownership of the Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG), K-1 was considered to be the largest Kickboxing organization in the world. ...

. The LGC has previously partnered with

Clemson University Clemson University () is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university near Clemson, South Carolina, United States. - The blue-shaded pattern denotes university property. This shows Clemson University is ''out ...

and Anderson University. In August 2020 the LGC moved from the College of Charleston North Campus previously located on Paramount Dr. in North Charleston, SC, which previously housed CofC's School of Professional Studies, to Trident Technical College.

External links

The Lowcountry Graduate Center
{{University of South Carolina Public universities and colleges in South Carolina Education in North Charleston, South Carolina Education in Charleston County, South Carolina