South Carolina State Nuclear Engineering Program

This initiative is an attempt to combat the challenges that the nuclear industry faces in the United States.  Due to an aging workforce and a lack of diversity in the industry, the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (DOE/NE) developed and implemented the Nuclear Engineering University Partnerships (NEUP).  This program solicits proposals where minority institutions partner with institutions offering a nuclear engineering degree to recruit minorities into the field of nuclear engineering.

South Carolina State University is a Historically Black University that was founded in 1896 as an 1890 land grant institution.  It has consistently demonstrated diversity among its students, human capital and programs found throughout the university.  With this existing foundation, South Carolina State University was identified as a potential minority partner institution for the University of Wisconsin – Madison and an alliance was thus formed. Under this alliance students are offered the opportunity to pursue a bachelors or masters degree in nuclear engineering.

 In an effort to address the increasing nuclear workforce requirements, the SCSU Nuclear Engineering Program is expanding its research, teaching and training capabilities by partnering with other SCSU Departments, surrounding universities, national labs and industry.  Through this expansion we will seek to fulfill our mission of producing qualified, minority nuclear engineering graduates to meet the growing demand of the future century.

The mission of the South Carolina State University Nuclear Engineering Program is to enhance excellence and diversity in the field of nuclear energy by increasing the number of minorities prepared for graduate studies and employment within the nuclear industry.

To accomplish our mission, we commit to:
(a) Publicizing and recruiting in areas traditionally underrepresented in the field of nuclear engineering;
(b) Fostering relationships with industry, national labs, and other universities to provide a well-prepared workforce, developed through the promotion of collaborative ideas and opportunities for applied problem-solving, research and advanced studies, that will meet their needs;
(c) Providing an atmosphere for all students to develop academically, professionally and socially, through various campus activities, participation in research and development, conference participation and networking focused on nuclear engineering.