SC State swings and strikes again with women’s golf and bowling

Board vote brings back women’s teams; recess includes closing on loan for residence hall projects.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Women’s golf and bowling are returning to South Carolina State University. 

On Thursday, the SC State University Board of Trustees unanimously approved restoring the women’s golf and bowling programs to the university’s intercollegiate athletics lineup.

“Our young women deserve every chance to compete, to grow and to take pride in representing SC State,” President Alexander Conyers said. “Bringing these teams back is about opening doors and expanding the opportunities they’ve earned. I’m deeply thankful to our Board of Trustees for recognizing that need and always embracing a vision that puts our students first.” 

Each program will field 6-10 student-athletes, increasing the percentage of women athletes at SC State by 3 percentage points.

Both programs were established in 2000. Women’s golf was discontinued after the 2014–15 season, and bowling concluded after the 2016–17 season.

The bowling alley in the Kirkland W. Green Student Center has been remodeled as part of the facility’s renovation and is set to reopen in January. The historic alley was originally built in response to the Orangeburg Massacre, which stemmed from student demonstrations over segregation at the town’s only bowling alley. Conyers noted that Orangeburg does not have a functioning bowling alley, so SC State’s facility will also serve the local community and families.

“Reopening the bowling alley means more than bringing back a sport — it connects us to a powerful chapter in our history,” Conyers said. “It honors the courage of our students who stood for justice and reminds us of the responsibility we carry to create a campus where every student feels seen, supported and valued. Welcoming a new bowling team into that space adds to that legacy and ensures that what our students fought for continues to shape who we are today.”

A new golf simulator has also been installed at Hillcrest Golf Course, a facility the university owns and has improved in partnership with the City of Orangeburg. The property formerly served as the university’s research and demonstration farm and now includes the golf course and athletic fields.

Alumna Linda Prince Johnson contributed $50,000 to support the women’s golf program, and an additional $40,000 was raised during the President’s Cup Golf Tournament last spring.

Board recess includes major construction financing milestone

During a recess in Thursday’s board meeting, the university closed on a $72 million loan supporting $60 million in new construction. The financing includes $50 million for SC State’s new residence hall and an additional $10 million for Truth Hall’s renovation, bringing its total renovation budget to $25 million. 

The loan was secured through the federal HBCU Capital Financing Program, which provides low-cost capital to finance improvements to the infrastructure of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Conyers praised the work of Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer Gerald Smalls and Associate Vice President for Facilities Management and Operations Ken Davis for guiding the university through the rigorous approval and documentation requirements needed to obtain the funding.

“I want to personally thank Gerald Smalls and Ken Davis for their diligence in navigating the complex HBCU-focused federal process required to secure this loan,” Conyers said. “Their commitment and expertise helped ensure that SC State can move forward with major housing projects that will benefit our students for decades.” 

The new residence hall — the university’s first modern housing facility built in two decades — will add hundreds of beds to accommodate enrollment growth and address long-standing housing needs. The design includes suite-style living, updated safety systems and contemporary amenities intended to strengthen recruitment and support student success.

Renovations to Truth Hall will continue the university’s multiyear effort to modernize existing residence halls. Work on Truth Hall is already underway, supported by the expanded renovation budget. 

“This financing marks a major step forward in providing our students with the modern, safe and welcoming living spaces they deserve,” Conyers said. “These projects reflect our commitment to growing the campus, strengthening student life and preparing SC State for the next generation of Bulldogs.”

Construction on the new residence hall is slated to begin in early 2026. Truth Hall renovations, already underway, are expected to be completed in 2026, and the new residence hall is on track to open for students in fall 2027.