CSU named Large Business of 2020

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And the 2020 Large Business of the Year winner is…

… Charleston Southern University.

The university was recently recognized by the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce. The annual award spotlights local businesses, nonprofits and individuals for their dedication, achievement and entrepreneurial spirit.

President Dondi Costin said CSU’s product is “prepared people” and the return on investment for their education is immeasurable.

“Helping our graduates pursue significance is why we are so passionate about student success, and why we are so excited about the university’s future,” Costin said. “We are humbled and honored to have been named Large Business of the Year, and we are more confident than ever that the best is yet to come.”

Originally founded in 1964 as Baptist College at Charleston, CSU is one of the largest private universities in the state and annually enrolls almost 3,400 students. This past year, it faced challenges resulting from the pandemic, pivoting to online classes and creating initiatives that successfully reopened the campus in August.

The university launched a COVID-19 Student Emergency Care Fund, directly helping more than 200 students. It also developed a University Pandemic Task Force, led by academic health care experts, to plan the safe return in August.

Located in North Charleston, CSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. It offers more than 60 undergraduate programs and more than 15 graduate and doctoral programs. Last month, U.S. News of the World ranked CSU as No. 21 on its list of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.

“These impressive national rankings showcase the extraordinary value of the Charleston Southern experience,” Costin said in a previous statement. “By equipping our graduates at the highest levels in the midst of a pandemic, we demonstrate the grit of a CSU Buccaneer —trailblazers who conquer unprecedented challenges to make a world-changing difference in their own spheres of influence.”