University of South Carolina Renames College of Arts and Sciences After Historic $75 Million McCausland Gift

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina has renamed its College of Arts and Sciences the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, honoring a transformative $75 million gift from alumnus Peter McCausland, his wife Bonnie, and The McCausland Foundation. Announced on April 23, 2025, during a ceremony on the university's historic Horseshoe, this donation marks the largest single gift in USC's history and will enhance academic programs, faculty support, and student opportunities.

"This gift is truly extraordinary," said Joel H. Samuels, dean of the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. "The liberal arts and sciences have always been the foundation of higher education, but our success in preparing students to launch careers is often overlooked. This gift allows us to create programs that will help our students discover their interests and develop skill sets that help them thrive in purposeful careers"

Peter McCausland, a 1971 USC graduate with a bachelor's degree in history, founded Airgas, Inc., a leading supplier of specialty gases. As chairman and CEO, he navigated Airgas through a high-profile hostile takeover attempt from 2009 to 2011 before its sale in 2016. The McCauslands have previously supported USC, establishing the McCausland Center for Brain Imaging in 2006 and the McCausland Faculty Fellowship in 2014.

The donation will fund significant initiatives within the college. It will provide paid internship stipends for up to 150 students per year, creating one of the nation's premier career development programs for liberal arts and sciences students. The gift will also invest in the college's neuroscience major, the university's fastest-growing academic program, by creating funds for student and faculty research. Faculty excellence will be supported through the expansion of the McCausland Faculty Fellowship, recognizing outstanding teaching and research.

"At the University of South Carolina, Peter McCausland discovered his passion for history, which helped him develop the confidence, critical thinking and communication skills necessary to pursue a successful career," Samuels said. "This gift empowers our college to do this for even more students as we begin this next chapter of our history"

With over 10,000 students enrolled in 38 undergraduate and 36 graduate programs, the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences is USC's academic cornerstone. Every USC student takes at least one course in the college to fulfill general education requirements, making it integral to the university's mission of fostering critical thinking and interdisciplinary learning.

This renaming is the third donor-named college at USC since 2023, following the Joseph F. Rice School of Law and the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, each supported by $30 million gifts. The McCausland gift reflects USC's growing philanthropic momentum, with prior donations naming the Darla Moore School of Business and the Arnold School of Public Health.

The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences is poised to become a national leader in liberal arts and sciences education, driving innovation and opportunity for South Carolina and beyond. This historic gift underscores the profound impact of alumni giving on higher education.