WELCOME GAMECOCKS! The Out-of- State Guide to Gamecock Country Student Success Center University of South Carolina Dear Out-of-State Student, Welcome to South Carolina! We are so pleased to have you share your undergraduate experience here with us. Your time here will not only be a great experience, but you will find yourself being exposed to so many new and exciting things. Columbia, South Carolina and the University of South Carolina is a great place filled with limitless opportunities for you to explore our great university, but also our city and state! If you are from the northern, western or midwestern states, the southern experience is one you are sure to enjoy. The great weather, great food and the southern hospitality makes you feel right at home. It’s important to get involved! Take advantage of all the activities and opportunities available to you here. We have exciting programs and services available just for out-of-state students like you! The University of South Carolina is your new home away from home, so make your time here exciting and worthwhile. The purpose of this guide is to get you started on your journey and adjustment as well as provide you with the basic essentials you need to make a successful transition into USC. We wish you all the best and congratulate you on your decision to attend the University of South Carolina. Have a great semester. Go Gamecocks! Sincerely, Paul S. Millard Coordinator of Transfer & Special Student Population Services Student Success Center Thomas Cooper Library Twitter: 803-777-4163 @UofSCOutofState [email protected] 1 Table of Contents Transportation Recreation pg 3: General Driving Directions pg 18: Congaree Vista, Five Points, West Vista, pg 4: Airports & Main Street/Downtown Columbia pg 5: Columbia Charlotte Shuttle & Rideshare pg 19: Village at Sandhill, Forest Acres, & pg 6: Highways & Greyhound Harbison pg 7: USC Parking Services pg 20: Southern Attire pg 8: The Carolina Shuttle & APO Escort Arts & Culture Service pg 21: Columbia Museum of Art & Colonial pg 9: Evening Shuttle & Daily Shuttle Routes Life Arena pg 10: Shuttle Routes & Parking Garages Map pg 22: SC State Museum, Koger Center, & pg 11: USC Fun Facts Nickelodeon Theater The Essentials pg 23: SC State House pg 12: Auto Care, Banks, Hospitals, Pharmacies, Sports & Outdoors & Student Health Services pg 23: Congaree National Park pg 13: South Carolina Facts pg 24: Sesquicentennial State Park & Harbison Campus Resources State Forest pg 14: Student Success Center pg 25: West Columbia Riverwalk & Cayce pg 15-16: Office of the Registrar Riverwalk pg 17: Southern Food pg 26: Lake Murray 2 Transportation General Driving Directions To Bush River Road: Take Blossom St. west to Huger. Turn right onto Huger and follow to I-126 westbound. Take the exit to Colonial Life Blvd and then turn right onto Bush River Road to reach Dutch Square Mall, Burlington Coat Factory, and Dutch Square Cinema. To Forest Drive Area: Take Sumter St. north to Taylor St. Turn right onto Taylor St. Follow Taylor east through Allen University and Benedict College. Taylor becomes Forest Drive. Richland Mall is at the intersection of Forest Drive and Beltline. Continue on Forest Drive to find Piggly Wiggly, Trenholm Plaza, Publix, Books a Million, Stein Mart, Fresh Market, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Hobby Lobby, several fast food chains and other specialty shops. To Harbison Boulevard: Take Blossom St. west to Huger St. Turn right onto Huger and follow to I-126 westbound, which becomes I-26 (Spartanburg). Take Exit 103 onto Harbison Boulevard and follow road around curve to Lowe’s, Home Depot, Columbiana Centre, Pier One, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Sam’s Club, Carmike Cinemas, and Columbiana Grande. To Two Notch Road: Take Sumter St. north to Gervais St. Turn right onto Gervais, then left onto Bull St. Bull St. becomes I-277. Take exit I-20 East (Florence), then take Exit #74 off I-20 onto Two Notch Rd. Turn right to go to Lowe’s, Pier One, Best Buy, Columbia Place Mall, and Phoenix Theatres. Take a left to find Target and Home Depot. 3 Airports Students who fly home have the options of three midsize airports in the state of South Carolina and one major airport in Charlotte, NC. The Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE): CAE is the largest airport in the City of Columbia and annually serves more than 1.2 million passengers. The airlines that fly from Columbia are American Eagle Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Air Lines, and US Airways. The Greenville Spartanburg International Airport: GSP is the second busiest airport in the state of South Carolina and serves more than 1.75 million passengers. The airlines that fly from GSP are Allegiant, American Eagle Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways. The Charleston International Airport: CHS is the busiest airport in the state of South Carolina and serves over 2 million passengers annually. The airlines that fly from CHS are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, and Jet Blue. The Charlotte-Douglas International Airport: The major airport located close to Columbia is the Charlotte- Douglas International Airport (CLT). Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is the sixth busiest airport in the world offering more than 140 nonstop destinations around the globe. CLT is US Airways’ largest hub and the second largest airport on the East Coast. All other major airlines are also represented at this airport. 4 Student Success Center University of South Carolina Using Columbia Charlotte & Rideshare Rideshare To use the USC affiliated Rideshare, please follow The Columbia Charlotte Shuttle provides door-to- this link: https://offcampushousing.sc.edu and use terminal passenger transportation between USC your username & password to log in. and the Charlotte Airport. The fares for adults Once you1 have logged in, select “Message Boards”. are $49 and children (12 and younger) are $25. Fares are per person and each way. To make a reservation call 803-783-5123 or toll free at 866- 284-3018. If you reach their voicemail, please leave a message. To visit their webpage please visit www. 2 ColumbiaCharlotteShuttle.com. You can also email Once you have selected Message Boards, select Rideshare. them at [email protected]. 3 You can either type your destination into the search box 4and select “Go” …. or you can select “Add New Post”. If you selected “Add New Post” please fill out the required fields with as a much detailed information as you can. You want to make sure you include: 1. Your destination 2. How much you are willing to pay or contribute5 to gas funds 3. Your contact information (email and/or cell phone number) 4. The date in which you need the ride 5. Location of pick up & drop off 6. Whether or not you need a return ride to get back to campus 7. And lastly, make sure you click SAVE. If you experience any technical difficulties, please contact the Office of Off-Campus Student Services by either calling 5 (803) 777-3366 or emailing [email protected]. SSC RIDSH1 5/13 Highways Greyhound Columbia is connected to many highways including Interstate 20, Interstate 26, The Greyhound bus Interstate 77, Interstate 85, Interstate 95, Interstate 126, and Interstate 277. station is located at 2015 Gervais St. in Interstate 20 is a major thoroughfare cutting across the state of South Carolina, Columbia. To reach the linking the state with important transportation and business hubs to the north, bus station you may west, and south including Atlanta, Georgia, Charlotte, North Carolina (via Interstate call their main line at 77), and Washington, D.C. (via Interstate 95). 803-256-6465. The hours of operation are Interstate 26 is a South Carolina interstate highway running generally east–west subject to change, so from Landrum, in Spartanburg County, to U.S. Route 17, in Charleston, South please call to verify Carolina. It is the longest interstate highway in South Carolina. hours before making travel arrangements. Interstate 77 is a north-south interstate highway that covers 91.2 miles (146.8 km) in the state of South Carolina, and extends from the national southern terminus at an interchange with Interstate 26 near Columbia, north to the North Carolina state line near Rock Hill and Charlotte, NC. Interstate 85 runs northeast-southwest through Upstate South Carolina connecting regionally with Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina. Interstate 95 is a major interstate highway running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In South Carolina, I-95 runs approximately parallel to the Atlantic Ocean shore, although about 50 miles (80 km) inland, from Hardeeville in the south to Dillon in the northeast. 6 University of South Carolina Parking Services Parking Services is responsible for the registration of all vehicles parked on campus and the implementation of all policies and regulations governing parking on campus. Parking on campus is available to all students, faculty, and staff whose vehicle displays a valid parking permit. Permits may be obtained from Parking Services. A valid permit allows the bearer the privilege of parking on campus. Unless otherwise specified, the permit does not guarantee a parking space. Inability to locate a legal space in a parking area does not justify incorrect parking. Handicap parking permits may be obtained by providing appropriate medical documentation. The University assumes no responsibility for the care or protection of any vehicle or its content while it is parked on campus. Valuables should not be left in parked vehicles at any time. Vehicles should be locked when not in use. Thefts or damages that occur should be immediately reported to the University Police Department for investigation (803- 777-4215).