South Carolina State University College of Business and Information Systems (CBIS) includes two academic departments, the Regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub. The CBIS adheres to the guiding principles of AACSB accreditation as set forth in the 2020 business accreditation standards. The CBIS continue to focus on critical success factors for continuous improvement. Thus, the values of the Business Program are based on developing and maintaining quality students, quality management programs, quality faculty and community outreach. The CBIS is guided by the following principles:
1. Providing a supportive environment to develop quality students.
2. Providing quality management education programs.
3. Maintaining a quality faculty through teaching, research, professional development, and service.
4. Maintaining a strong relationship with the community through outreach and service.
Vision
While maintaining the 1890 legacy of South Carolina State University, the School of Business will be known as a premier business program in the Southeast that provides an environment for students to enhance their potential to become future business leaders.
Mission
The School of Business provides quality management education and leadership development to students who seek an inclusive environment and diverse educational experience. The School develops graduates to successfully compete in a global society, through effective teaching, innovative programs and activities, community outreach, student engagement, and faculty engagement in applied and pedagogical research.
Shared Values
Ethics and Integrity
We incorporate ethics and integrity in courses throughout the business core curricular and specifically in our Leadership and Professional Development (LAPD) curriculum. We expect both faculty and students to adhere to the College of Business Code of Conduct.
Societal Impact
Over the past several years, our strategic focus includes working with small business and farmers to enhance their profitability and sustainability. This is accomplished through several training programs and student engagement. As a result of the 2020 standards, attention is being given to the societal impact of our curriculum, research, and service.
Collegiality
The College maintains a collegiate environment that promotes respect and collaboration between faculty in working on committees, programs, and grant projects.
Agility
Agility is the forefront of the continuous improvement process in the College of Business & Information Systems (CBIS). We continuously assess our curriculum to maintain relevancy in providing the skills and tools that students need to be successful. Any faculty may propose a new course or program which goes through a review process beginning with the Curriculum Committee in the College. During the most recent five-year period some new courses were developed, and modifications made in the MBA curriculum, the undergraduate business core and Management curriculums. Our faculty maintain currency in their fields and how they deliver content to students through training, professional engagement, and attendance at workshops and conferences. This was especially true during the two years the University was closed due to COVID-19.
Global Mindset
The College embrace a global mindset through programs and activities. Our program includes a minor in International Business. All of the majors have developed at least one international course. In addition, marketing and management majors take a required Introduction to International Business course. A Business International Education (BIE) grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education, has allowed faculty and students to travel to Trinidad and Tobago, Kenya and Ghana the past two years, which has resulted in an MOU with the University of West Indies (St. Augustine). CBIS students are collaborating on developing an export venture with their students. Students have also traveled to several other countries with the Office of International & National Student Exchange Program.
Diversity & Inclusion
The College embrace diversity in our faculty and students. Our faculty is very ethnically diverse, and our students come from diverse backgrounds. The majority of our students are African American and come from South Carolina; however, we have students from North Carolina, Georgia, Washington, D.C., Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, and others, as well as international students. The University is currently targeting more students from North Carolina and Georgia by offering them in-state tuition. We also provide diverse experiences for our students to create the next generation of global leaders and entrepreneur through study abroad opportunities and memorandum of agreements with universities in Ghana, Kenya and the University of West Indies. These MOUs will engage faculty and students in research, joint seminars, conferences, and special academic programs.
Mission Focused
Our mission is driven by the mission-focused aspect of AACSB accreditation that allows us to develop policies and guidelines related to faculty qualifications, assurance of learning and intellectual contributions that are unique to our school.
Accreditation
The SC State University Colelge of Business & Information Systems is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) since 2003. Only 5% of business schools around the world have earned this level of recognition, cementing the school’s commitment to exceptional business education. The CBIS is the only HBCU in the State of SC with the AACSB Accreditation.
History
Since 1896, South Carolina State University has maintained a legacy of excellence in education. We have been home to generations of scholars and leaders in business, military service, government, athletics, education, medicine, science, engineering technology and more. Located in Orangeburg, SC, SC State was founded as a land grant college with a mission of providing education and service to the citizens of the state through instruction, research, technology, and service.
South Carolina State University is the only four-year state supported HBCU in South Carolina. Although the agricultural program was terminated and the college farm was transformed into a community recreation center in 1971, the University continued to fulfill its land grant mission through its 1890 Research and Extension program. More recently, the University established the College of Agriculture and Public Service to recommit the academic focus in the area of agricultural science.
The College of Business & Information Systems is one of five academic units at the University. Colonel (retired) Alexander Conyers became the 13th President of South Carolina State University in 2021. He is an experienced servant leader with over 28 years in the U.S. Army, who has led complex organization in areas of leadership, recruitment, retention, training human resources, finance and budget, safety, and accreditation.
In Fall 2022, Dr. Matthew Waritay Guah was appointed as dean of the College of Business. Prior to this appointment, he served as Chair of the Department of Business Administration.