UofSC’s Moore School partnering with Benedict College for HBCU master’s pathway program
July 20, 2022
The University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business is creating a new pathway for students from South Carolina’s historically Black colleges and universities to earn Master of Accountancy degrees.
Leaders from Benedict College and the Moore School announced the launch of the MACC Emerging Leaders Program Tuesday, July 19, at a signing ceremony held at the Benedict College Business Development Center.
“As the flagship university in the state of South Carolina, it is our mission to educate the citizens of our state,” says Tracey Weldon, dean of the UofSC Graduate School. “Partnerships like this with our local historically Black colleges and universities will ensure that the state of South Carolina retains diverse, high-performing talent that will contribute greatly to its future growth.”
Three students from Benedict College have been selected for the program’s inaugural fall 2022 cohort, which will provide students with mentors from both institutions and professional mentors.
“The Darla Moore School of Business is an industry standout in producing elite business leaders, just as Benedict College and other South Carolina HBCUs are renowned for graduating top talent,” says Tiara Dungy, director of inclusive engagement for the Moore School’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. “This program’s collaboration can help lead the way in developing institutional relationships with local HBCUs that will enhance South Carolina’s ability to remain competitive as an economic and cultural hub for our region.”
As part of the program, students will receive financial support that covers their tuition for the year-long degree program and a $5,000 stipend to assist with living expenses while they are enrolled.
“Our partnership with the Darla Moore School of Business is unique,” says Tracy Dunn, dean of Benedict’s Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship. “This program represents a significant financial investment in Benedict College accounting graduates who will receive a world-class graduate education in the UofSC Master of Accountancy program.”
The first female dean of Benedict College’s business school, Dunn earned her ’96 MBA and ’03 Ph.D. in business administration from the Moore School.
The inaugural MACC Emerging Leaders Program was made possible by the generous support of accounting firm Dixon Hughes Goodman, now known as FORVIS after a recent merger.
In addition to FORVIS’s support, funding for the MACC Emerging Leaders Program has also been awarded through the University of South Carolina Rising STARS Fellowship, a university-wide initiative to provide funding opportunities for graduates of South Carolina HBCUs to pursue graduate education at the UofSC-Columbia campus.
“We are excited to launch the MACC Emerging Leaders Program, which will increase diversity and foster underrepresented student success in the accounting field,” says Chad Stefaniak, a Moore School accounting associate professor and the MACC program’s academic director. “Our emerging leaders will be able to complete a leading, customizable MACC program that has a proven track record of honing students’ ability to analyze information, identify problems and provide value-added solutions — all while gaining the confidence and communication skills needed to stand out in the accounting field.”
For more information about the program or the signing ceremony, contact Marjorie Riddle Duffie at [email protected] or 803-576-7337.
ABOUT THE DARLA MOORE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
The Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina is among the highest-ranked business schools in the world. Well known for international business education and research, the school also has highly ranked operations and supply chain programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and ensures that all undergraduates and most graduate students leave the school data proficient, analytically capable and functionally based. Founded in 1919, the school has a history of innovative educational leadership, blending academic preparation with real-world experience through internships, consulting projects, study abroad programs and entrepreneurial opportunities. The Moore School offers undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as distinctive executive education programs. In 1998, the school was named for South Carolina native and New York financier Darla Moore, making the University of South Carolina the first major university to name its business school after a woman. Learn more at moore.sc.edu.
ABOUT BENEDICT COLLEGE
Founded in 1870 by Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution, offering 26 competitive baccalaureate degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from all 46 counties in South Carolina, 30 states across America and 26 countries around the world. There are more than 18,000 proud Benedict Tigers throughout the nation. Benedict College has been a community leader for over 150-years and is a significant contributor to South Carolina and the region. Contributing $130 million and 1,218 jobs in total local and annual economic impact, a Benedict graduate working full-time throughout his or her working life can expect to earn $1.1 million in additional income because of their Benedict College degree.
