USC renames College of Arts and Sciences after $75M donation

The University of South Carolina has renamed its College of Arts and Sciences as the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences following a record $75 million donation from alumnus Peter McCausland and his wife Bonnie. This landmark gift, the largest in the university's history, will fund paid internship stipends for 150 students annually, expand research and teaching in neuroscience, and support faculty excellence through recruitment, retention, and fellowships. The donation builds on previous support from the McCauslands, including the establishment of the McCausland Brain Imaging Center and a faculty fellowship. University leaders have characterized the gift as transformational for the college, which is the largest at USC and impacts nearly all students through general education requirements. The renaming marks the third major academic unit at USC to be named for a donor in the past two years. Peter McCausland, founder of Airgas Inc., credits his USC liberal arts education with preparing him for business success and expressed hope that the gift will continue the college's legacy of excellence.