As the nation and the world watch the horrible images of the war in Ukraine, please know that the University of South Carolina is supporting members of our community who may be impacted by the tragedy unfolding now, and in the weeks ahead.

The events of the past week, though thousands of miles away from our Columbia campus, have had major ramifications on many within our Gamecock community. We have students on our campus today whose families and homes are in affected European nations. And we have many in our campus community with strong emotional ties to affected areas.

As a university, it is our mission to ensure that our community members feel supported and safe in times of hardship, and we will always do what we can to provide resources to those in our community who are in need.

This past week, multiple units across our university have been providing coordinated support to those affected by the evolving conflict in Ukraine.

We’ve been in touch with all students from both Ukraine and Russia to offer support, and we have contacted faculty and staff that we know have a strong connection to the area.

We have confirmed that the small number of students who were studying abroad in Russia have left the country. None of our students were studying in Ukraine.

In addition, our Education Abroad Office has contacted all students studying abroad in Europe, providing them guidance to ensure their safety while continuing their studies. The International Student Services office also has contacted all students on our campus who are from Europe, reminding them of our mental health resources and support.

I wish to thank our dedicated and caring staff who will continue to offer this support to our community for as long as it’s need.

Sincerely,

Stephen Cutler
Interim Provost, University of South Carolina