Coastal Carolina University has established a new college dedicated to supporting and advancing the institution's graduate and research programs. The College of Graduate Studies and Research will focus on the coordination of graduate recruitment and enrollment across all academic disciplines as well as all the University's research efforts at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

The new college will begin operations in January 2019 and will be led by longtime CCU professor and administrator Robert F. Young as interim dean. The college will include the offices of graduate study; sponsored programs and research services; graduate and undergraduate research; and CCU's research foundation.

The new college was created based on needs indicated in the University's 2016-2021 strategic plan for additional focus on graduate enrollment and grant funding. The strategic plan specifies a July 2019 target date for implementation.

The establishment of a new college to administer graduate and research efforts indicates the level of importance the University attaches to these programs, according to Ralph Byington, CCU provost and executive vice president. CCU has only five other colleges: business; education; science; humanities and fine arts; and the honors college.

"As a comprehensive university, this is a natural step for Coastal Carolina University," said Byington. "We continue to make great strides with our graduate offerings at the master's level and the creation of our second Ph.D. program. We are fortunate to have someone with Dr. Young's experience to take on this role."

Young earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in oceanography from the University of Rhode Island. He has served as chair of CCU's marine science department and of the coastal marine and wetland studies graduate program. He served previously as interim associate provost for grants and sponsored research at CCU and president of the South Carolina Marine Educators Association. He is currently the state coordinator for the South Carolina Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

Young was named the HTC Distinguished Teacher Scholar Lecturer in 2016, and he has been awarded more than $3.5 million for his research from such agencies as the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, North Carolina Sea Grant Consortium and others.

Additional resources:

coastal.edu/research

coastal.edu/graduatestudies