S.C. Sea Grant Consortium
Ocean waves at sunrise.

About the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium is a state agency established in 1978 to manage the NOAA National Sea Grant College Program for South Carolina.

What We Do

Our purpose is to generate and provide science-based information on issues and opportunities to improve the social and economic well-being of coastal residents while ensuring the optimal use and conservation of marine and coastal natural resources.

Core Values

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium operates on a core set of values that are essential for successful performance.

The Consortium values:

  • Trust, Honesty, and Respect in our professional interactions.
  • Integrity and Objectivity of Program activities.
  • Partnerships and Teamwork critical to meet increasing demands for products and services.
  • Excellence in quality of work by staff and partners.
  • Public Service to our stakeholders throughout the state, region, and nation.
  • Inclusion of diverse perspectives in an intentional and impactful way.

To learn more about how we operationalize diversity, equity, and inclusion in our organizational effort, please visit our DEI page.

Member Institutions

The Consortium member institutions are Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, College of Charleston, Francis Marion University, Medical University of South Carolina, S.C. Department of Natural Resources, S.C. State University, The Citadel, and University of South Carolina.

Our member institutions serve as our partners in research and outreach, and an executive officer of each institution serves on our board of directors.

South Atlantic Sea Grant Region

As part of the South Atlantic Sea Grant Region, the Consortium partners with North Carolina Sea Grant, Georgia Sea Grant, Florida Sea Grant, and Puerto Rico Sea Grant to implement regional research and outreach programs.

Legislation

The Consortium was created in 1978 as an independent state agency through Act No. 643 of South Carolina’s Code of Laws.

National Sea Grant College Program Act, 1966

South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium enabling legislation, S.C. Code of Laws, 1978