The South Carolina House of Representatives and the South Carolina Senate honored the contributions of University of South Carolina Beaufort Chancellor Jane T. Upshaw with resolutions in during their respective session on March 18, 2015.

House Resolution 3499, led by Representative Bill Bowers and supported by Representatives Jeff Bradley, Shannon Erickson, Bill Herbkersman, Kenneth Hodges, and Weston Newton, expressed “their gratitude to Dr. Jane T. Upshaw for her significant contributions to the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB).”  Specifically cited was her outstanding leadership to the university as first female chancellor in the USC system:  “Under her guidance the university received the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Initial Baccalaureate Level II Accreditation in 2004, national accreditation of the USCB nursing degree from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in 2009, and national accreditation of the education degree from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in 2010.    

Senate Resolution 487, sponsored by Senator Tom Davis and supported by Senators Chip Campsen and Clementa Pinckney noted “under her leadership, the USCB main campus in Bluffton was conceived and built, including Hargray, Science and Technology, and library buildings, the Campus Center, Recreation Center, and seven student housing buildings. In addition, under her tenure, the Beaufort College Building was restored, the Beaufort campus was expanded, the funding and design of the Hospitality Management and Osher Lifelong Learning Building on Hilton Head Island were developed, the academic programs expanded from five to over twenty five areas of study, and the USCB Sand Shark Intercollegiate athletics program was founded and began competing in the NAIA.

Dr. Upshaw, who has served USCB as dean and then chancellor for 15 years and as a faculty member for an additional 15 years responded, “USCB’s accomplishments are exceptional. The strong faculty and leadership teams that have been built at the institution and the collaboration with our local and state officials has made this success possible.”

Dr. Upshaw’s retirement date is August 15, 2015.