(Columbia) — Governor David M. Beasley today hailed as a “major step forward for South Carolina’s economy” the University of South Carolina’s decision to create a new information technologies major and a Department of Information Technologies in its College of Engineering.
 “This is a fine example of how our public sector can work together with the private sector to meet the demands of the marketplace,” Governor Beasley said. “This fits in with the vision we have for higher education, and matches what I have been saying for a long time.”
 Earlier this year, the Governor told the USC Board of Trustees that South Carolina colleges and universities need to pay closer attention to the need for graduates in the fields of mathematics, science and computer science. In that speech, the Governor lamented that a high demand for science-related skills was not being met by colleges and universities.
USC’s new major is being started with major gifts from Larry and Pat Wilson and Policy Management Systems Corp. in Blythewood.
“The gift from the Wilsons and PMSC, and the cooperative spirit at USC and its College of Engineering, represents a major step forward for South Carolina’s economy, as well as our higher education system,” the Governor said.
“The College of Engineering’s new department will do much to enhance opportunities in higher education,” the Governor said. “I commend Dean Craig Rogers and President Palms for their vision, and I hope that other colleges and universities in South Carolina are taking a cue from today’s announcement.”
Dean Rogers said today, “PMSC’s gift opens up new opportunities for South Carolina and our industrial and business partners. We will collaborate with industry in providing educational programs that respond to the changing needs of industry.”