H 5177

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 5177
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING
SECTION 59-103-15, RELATING TO THE MISSIONS AND FOCUSES OF INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER LEARNING, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE an Applied Baccalaureate in Culinary Arts
Management degree at Trident Technical College approved FIRST by the Board for
Technical and Comprehensive Education and then the Commission on Higher
Education, AND TO PROVIDE the degree program is allowed so long as new state
general funds are not appropriated for the operations of the degree program.
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  Section 59-103-15(B) and (C) of the S.C. Code is
amended to read:
       (B)
The General Assembly has determined that the primary mission or focus for each
type of institution of higher learning or other post-secondary school in this
State is as follows:
       (1)
Research institutions
  (a)
college-level baccalaureate education, master's, professional, and doctor of
philosophy degrees which lead to continued education or employment;
  (b)
research through the use of government, corporate, nonprofit-organization
grants, or state resources, or both; and
  (c)
public service to the State and the local community;
       (2)
Doctoral/professional universities
  (a)
college-level baccalaureate education, master's, professional, and no more than
a combined five professional doctorate or doctor of philosophy degrees, that
lead to continued education or employment;
  (b)
limited and specialized research; and
  (c)
public service to the State and the local community;
       (3)
Four-year colleges and universities
  (a)
college-level baccalaureate education and selected master's degrees which lead
to employment or continued education, or both, except for doctoral degrees
currently being offered;
  (b)
bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering approved by the Commission
on Higher Education at South Carolina State University;
  (c)
bachelor of science degree in Electrical Engineering approved by the Commission
on Higher Education at South Carolina State University;
  (d)
doctoral degree in Marine Science approved by the Commission on Higher
Education;
  (e)
subject to subsection (C), doctoral degree in Nursing Practice approved by the
Commission on Higher Education at Francis Marion University;
  (f)
subject to subsection (C), doctoral degree in Nursing Practice approved by the
Commission on Higher Education at the University of South Carolina Aiken;
  (g)
subject to subsection (C), doctor of philosophy degree in Education
Administration approved by the Commission on Higher Education at Coastal
Carolina University;
  (h)
subject to subsection (C), doctor of philosophy degree in Computer and
Information Science approved by the Commission on Higher Education at the
College of Charleston;
  (i)
limited and specialized research;  and
  (j)
public service to the State and the local community;
       (4)
Two-year institutions-branches of the University of South Carolina
  (a)
college-level pre-baccalaureate education necessary to confer associates
degrees which lead to continued education at a four-year or research
institution;  and
  (b)
public service to the State and the local community;
       (5)
State technical and comprehensive education system
  (a)
all post-secondary vocational, technical, and occupational diploma and
associate degree programs leading directly to employment or maintenance of
employment and associate degree programs which enable students to gain access
to other post-secondary education;
  (b)
up-to-date and appropriate occupational and technical training for adults;
  (c)
special school programs that provide training for prospective employees for
prospective and existing industry in order to enhance the economic development
of South Carolina;
  (d)
public service to the State and the local community;
  (e)
continue to remain technical, vocational, or occupational colleges with a
mission as stated in item (4) and primarily focused on technical education and
the economic development of the State;  and
  (f)
subject to subsection (C), an Applied Baccalaureate in Advanced Manufacturing
Technology degree approved first by the Board for Technical and Comprehensive
Education and then the Commission on Higher Education.; and
  (g) subject to subsection (C), an
Applied Baccalaureate in Culinary Arts Management degree at Trident Technical
College approved first by the Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education
and then the Commission on Higher Education.
    (C)
Notwithstanding subsection (B), the degrees set forth in subsection (B)(3)(e),
(f), (g), and (h), and subsection (B)(5)(f) and (g)
are only allowed so long as new state general funds are not appropriated for
the operations of the degree program.
SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on February 12, 2026 at 11:32 AM