COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A bill introduced in the House would remove the University of South Carolina's four two-year campus from the school's control and place the under the control of the state's technical college board.

Rep. Harry Stille has sponsored the legislation three years in a row. The Due West Republican said his proposal could have more momentum this year because it is designed to make the Columbia university concentrate its mission on research.

None of the nationally renowned research universities across the country have two-year branches, Stille said.

The two-year campuses affected by the proposed change would include campuses at Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Union and Sumter, which only offer associate degrees.

University of South Carolina officials say the idea has been looked at and dismissed because they view the two-year branches as essential to the schools mission as the states flagship university.

But Stille said the real reason the university wants to keep the two-year regional campuses is because their locations give the school a dominating political advantage over other institutions.

Information from: The State