AIKEN, S.C. – Savannah River Site (SRS) management and operating contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions has given $550,000 to the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) to endow its faculty professorship as part of a new bachelor’s degree program in industrial process engineering. 

   “The gift by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions to fund an endowed professorship will tremendously help with recruiting and retaining the best faculty in this discipline," said USCA Chancellor Sandra Jordan.

   The program will be a source of engineering talent for SRS. More than half of its workforce is already eligible to retire, and well-trained engineers are among the most valuable recruits. 

   In response to regional workforce demands, USCA launched the Industrial Process Engineering Bachelor of Science degree program in the fall of 2015. The first class of students for this four-year program will begin in the fall of this year. No longer will residents in the greater Aiken area seeking this degree have to travel more than 50 miles to Columbia, currently the closest campus within the University of South Carolina system to offer an engineering degree program.

   The industrial process engineering program is designed to provide students with technical knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, engineering and management to analyze and solve problems in today’s team-oriented business environment. Students who graduate from the program will have the knowledge of the processes of industry from multiple viewpoints: mechanical, manufacturing, and business.

   "We are proud to partner with USC Aiken on this initiative,” SRNS President and CEO Carol Johnson said. “We hope that our contribution will create professional opportunities for our region’s students and faculty, and will strengthen the workforce of this region and beyond. This gift will bring a unique opportunity to partner with USC Aiken, and we look forward to working more closely with the university."

   The donation to USC Aiken is the largest single gift provided to date for this initiative.