Gov. Mark Sanford is right to question recently announced plans to add yet another campus to the University of South Carolina's already over-large system. The decision to build a USC Upstate campus in Greenville warrants more scrutiny, and demonstrates the need for greater oversight of publicly funded universities in general.

Rep. Lewis Vaughn, R-Greer, correctly observed in remarks to The Greenville News that South Carolina simply doesn't have the resources to maintain its extensive system of 33 public universities and colleges.

The governor has made that point repeatedly, calling for cuts to the university system, as well as creation of a board of governors with more authority over higher education. So far, the Legislature has been unwilling to consider the idea.

Comments from Rep. Vaughn and another Greenville legislator offer further evidence why more accountability is needed. Rep. Vaughan told the News it was his understanding that the $1 million allocation to start construction of the new campus was to help the university recover from recent budget cuts.

"To build another campus in Greenville was kind of a shock to me," Rep. Vaughn said.

And Sen. Ralph Anderson, D-Greenville, told the News he thought that the allocation was needed to assist general operations at the university. Nevertheless, he is an enthusiastic supporter of the project.

Supporters of the university note that Greenville is an important economic center of the state and that USC Upstate has outgrown its facilities at the city's University Center.

In comments quoted in a news release from USC Upstate, USC President Andrew Sorensen described the project as an example of the thrifty use of resources. The campus is being built on land owned by adjacent Greenville Tech and will only offer third- and fourth-year classes. First- and second-year classes will continue to be offered at Tech.

The $10 million project, however, will continue to require state appropriations for construction, and an additional $1.4 million for operations will be sought for the new campus.

A spokesman for the governor points out that the new campus never received a review by the state's Commission on Higher Education.

Certainly, the new campus will mean greater convenience to students in Greenville. Indeed, the state's numerous other campuses provide convenience in the towns and cities where they are located. The question is whether the state can afford the system it now operates, much less continued additions. The Greenville campus is about 35 miles from the main USC Upstate campus at Spartanburg and from Clemson University.

The financial situation for state-supported higher education has been described by one observer as "too few dollars chasing too many school budgets." Without stronger controls and oversight for state colleges and universities, that situation will continue, to the detriment of the state's education system.