Welcome from President Michael Amiridis

August 18, 2022

Dear Carolina Community,

Welcome back to campus! I have been looking forward to this since the first day of my appointment on July 1, and I hope you are as eager as I am to begin the new academic year together.

The last few weeks have been an exciting time for me, returning to this university after being away for seven years. Some things have changed – some of the faces are new, and some of the places look different. But wherever I go – and I have been all over the state – I am finding the welcoming and vibrant Carolina spirit that makes this university special.

It’s the same spirit that defines our campus and drives us to excel in teaching and learning, in advancing science and culture, in serving our communities, and in respecting each other. And I’m looking forward during my first semester back at USC to learning about your aspirations and celebrating your successes.

As you come back to campus, you may also discover some things that are familiar, while others are brand new.

• One of my first priorities is to hear our students’ perspectives and feedback on our university – what we are doing well and how we can improve. For this purpose, we are inviting our undergraduate students to join us in conversations during a special retreat, Imagine Carolina, on Sunday, Sept. 11. We will follow up with similar campus-wide graduate and professional student events later this fall.
• The health and wellbeing of our community members are very important, and we will always strive to provide the best services in this area. Please take advantage of the university resources available to assist you. I also strongly encourage you to follow all recent guidelines for COVID-19 as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and implemented on our campus.
• And if you have some free time, go explore the newly renovated retail and communal spaces at the Russell House, including an upgraded dining area on the second floor with a variety of new restaurant options.

It is an honor to be serving as your 30th president, and I am committed to working with all of you to take this outstanding university to even greater heights. I hope you will take the opportunity to say hello if we should meet on campus; it will be my great pleasure to reconnect with friends and colleagues from a few years ago and to get to know our more recent Gamecocks.

With best wishes for a very successful semester,

Michael D. Amiridis