Consideration of the Citadel, Lt Col James B. Near, Jr., USAF, '77

ACAP, 3/25/2021 4 NEW CENTER, INSTITUTE, OR CONSORTIUM PROPOSAL FORM

Name of Institution:

The Citadel (http://www.citadel.edu)

Name of Proposed Center/Institute:

Lt Col James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies

Proposed Date of Implementation:

August 15, 2021

Site: Department of Physics (http://www.citadel.edu/root/physics), Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics (https://www.citadel.edu/root/ssm)

Program Contact Information (name, title, telephone number, and email address):

Dr. Scott Curtis Dr. John Lining Professor of Physics Director of the Lt Col James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies Phone: 843-953-6781 or 252-414-8602 Email: [email protected]

Institutional Approvals and Dates of Approval (include Provost/Chief Academic Officer, President and Board of Trustees approval):

Provost: December 1, 2020 President: December 15, 2020 Board of Visitors: February 1, 2021

Background Information

State the nature and purpose of the proposed center/institute and its centrality to institutional mission.

The Lt Col James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies (a.k.a. the “Center”) serves the students and faculty of The Citadel and citizens of South Carolina by enhancing understanding of climate and its variability, change, and risks. It will guide curriculum development in atmospheric and climate science, conduct place-based research with undergraduates, and inform and promote the design of scientifically sound, technologically feasible, economically efficient, and ethically defensible climate risk management strategies. The Center’s mission is consistent with The Citadel’s mission of educating and training principled leaders, and its establishment appears as Objective 6.3 within The Citadel’s strategic plan, Our Mighty Citadel 2026: Advancing Our Legacy of Leadership. The Center is named after an alumnus of The Citadel (1977) who passed away in 2020. Lt Col Near served twenty years in the USAF as a meteorologist and in fall of 2014 returned to The Citadel as an adjunct professor of Physics. Near demonstrated extraordinary generosity by providing The Citadel Foundation (TCF) with a $1.865 million

ACAP, 3/25/2021 4 gift to initiate the Center. Ever humble and not wanting to receive any recognition for his donation, he specified to TCF that his gift remain completely anonymous until his passing.

Vision: The Lt Col James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies will be nationally recognized as an academic leader in interdisciplinary climate science.

Mission: To promote climate science through education, research, and outreach and the development of public-private partnerships. The scope of the Center’s activities will consist of the relation of Earth’s climate to (a) national security, (b) coastal environment and infrastructure, and (c) public health and welfare.

List the goals of the proposed center/institute.

In order to realize the stated mission, the Center will: a) facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty, students, and external constituents; b) foster partnerships between industry, government agencies, and the academy; c) provide students, faculty, and external constituents access to data, emerging technologies and research, and other resources related to climate science; d) facilitate innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to real-world concerns related to climate science by developing the technical and non-technical knowledge and skills of its constituents.

Assessment of Need

Provide an assessment of the need for the proposed center/institute for the state, the region, and beyond, if applicable.

The Center will address climate science through education, outreach, and research. The Center will be unique in South Carolina higher education, serving as a catalyst for information exchange between faculty and students in the college and external constituents in the Lowcountry. The general public often has misconceptions about climate or equates climate with political persuasions. Climate is not a thing, like a cloud, or a physical characteristic, like temperature, or even an environmental hazard, like a flood or wildfire. At its core, climate is a statistical understanding of weather, usually over a period of 30 years or more. However, it is too simplistic to view climate as an immovable “average”. Climate changes, because the atmosphere is a fluid, receiving various amounts of energy from the sun and the surface of the Earth and interacting with the ocean and land. Therefore, while climate science’s underpinnings are physics and math, it is also an applied science that deals with how weather events and trends are interconnected to the Earth system and society.

With these guiding principles, the Center will inform climate science curriculum and programs to enhance the learning environment at The Citadel (especially in the themes identified and described below) and prepare cadets to better understand their environment and its challenges. Currently Meteorology and Applied Climatology are being offered in the Department of Physics (which fit the first box in Figure 1), but climate related topics are also covered across the college in Biology (Environmental Science), Education (Introduction to Earth Science), and History (World Geography). The Center will provide direction to coalesce these offerings into a cohesive curriculum of study. Initially, this can be accomplished through supporting an interdisciplinary minor. There is one related interdisciplinary minor at The Citadel: Sustainability and Environmental Studies, which is appropriate for students interested in sustainable agriculture, environmental degradation, supply chain sustainability environmental history, or environmental economics (related to the third box in Figure 1). However, this minor does not suppose a foundation in meteorology and climatology. 2

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We expect the Center to increase enrollment in STEM majors, as the Center will serve as a catalyst for interdisciplinary climate science research and outreach. The Center will also engage cadets in summer and course-based research projects for observing and modeling local climate events that impact their everyday lives. A background (minor) in climate studies will also increase the marketability of students from all majors. Climate extremes can cause shockwaves through the global marketplace, and businesses and industry must be prepared to understand and respond to these effects. Also, as mentioned later, the military is managing current climate threats and preparing for new ones. In addition to undergraduates, the Center will reach out to K-12 students through the Zucker Family School of Education, to grow the numbers of STEM students, especially in underrepresented populations, and foster the next generation of climate scientists. The objective is to support K-12 teacher training in climate science.

Understanding climate science is important locally and nationally due to the societal and economic ramifications. For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports an upward trend in weather-related damages to South Carolina (accounting for inflation). In the 2010s there were 27 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters that had some impact on the state with a total price tag of up to 17 billion. Some notable examples in the state during the decade were (courtesy of the SC Dept. Natural Resources): • 2011 Drought o Lasted from 2011 to 2013. Depletion of water stored in aquifers with severe impacts on water costs, vegetation and health. • 2012 Heat Records o High pressure caused scorching summer heat. Columbia University (SC) recorded 113°F during June 29 – July 2 heat wave. • 2014 Severe Ice Storm o From February 11-12 a strong winter storm swept through the state. Freezing rain, snow, sleet, and ice accumulated causing tree damage on par with Hurricane Hugo. • 2015 Extreme Rain Event o From October 1-5 a historic rain event caused significant flooding throughout the state. More than 50 state-regulated dams were breached. • 2016 Hurricane Matthew o First hurricane landfall since 2004. Triggered an evacuation of the entire South Carolina coast. 10-17 inches of rain led to rivers topping major flood stage. • 2018 Hurricane Florence o Second evacuation of coastal counties in three years. Unprecedented rainfall and riverine flooding in the northeast. This far exceeds the situation a decade earlier when South Carolina suffered 15 of these types of disasters, amounting to up to $4 billion in damages. 2020 continues this upward trend with 10 billion- dollar disasters affecting the state in some way (a record going back to 1980). It should be noted that extreme weather events in coastal areas cause an average of $35 billion in insured property damage in the US annually, which increases insurance costs and disrupts communities. Homeowners are often unable to return to their homes and workplaces for months, which impacts individual incomes and local government and business revenues. The recent rise in sea surface temperatures has led to increased intensity and greater inland reach of coastal storms. As a result of devastating damage from recent hurricane seasons, increased reporting linking severe storms to climate change, and predictions for more frequent and more severe storms, homeowners have a greater appreciation for the risk, even if they are not deterred from moving to the coast. However, 43% cannot afford adequate insurance coverage for damage from these events. On the other hand, nuisance flooding is endemic to coastal regions of South Carolina, and while this hazard is not as extreme as the earlier examples, it is more 3

ACAP, 3/25/2021 4 frequent, so that the total societal and economic costs on an annual basis are comparable (Moftakhari et al. 2016).

Other centers in the state (see table below) are focused on understanding hazards and their effects on people and the environment, but the Citadel’s proposed Center for Climate Studies is unique in that it will analyze the large-scale dynamics of the atmosphere and ocean that influence weather patterns, which will in turn lead to improved research on the role climate variability has on important sectors of the South Carolina economy such as the military, coastal resources, and public health. This “pathway to prediction” (see Figure 1) will help better prepare emergency managers, planners, engineers, health professionals, and elected officials take proactive measures and invest in appropriate education and adaptation, potentially saving lives and property. Thus, the Center’s activities have a potential cost savings for the state.

How does climate Why do weather improved affect sectors patterns change? prediction Climate important to the What are the causes? state?

Figure 1. Pathway to prediction. Initial priority sectors are described below.

The Center will build capacity around three initial themes based on present 1) gaps in national climate science research, 2) capacity at The Citadel, and 3) conversations with leaders in the Lowcountry and the state. An initial listening tour with the following stakeholders: • Mark Wilbert, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Charleston • Bill Haynie, Mayor of Mount Pleasant • Lt Col Rachel Honderd, Commander USACE Charleston District • David Johnston, Charleston Resilience Network • Tom Mullikin, SC Floodwater Commission identified national security, coastal environment and infrastructure, and public health and welfare as being socio-economic sectors greatly affected by climate variability in the Lowcountry (examples are given below). While remaining aligned to the mission, the research topics may change in the future based on recommendations from the Advisory Board.

The Center will engage with an Advisory Board at least annually. Membership will be nominated by the Executive Committee and will include outside experts in environmental, climate, oceanic, atmospheric and other closely-allied sciences. Advisory Board members will also include educators, policymakers, and members of the community and industry whose skills and background would inform the Center on activities and direction, as well as provide networking opportunities for Fellows of the Center (see faculty section). In that way, the Center can be strategic and co-develop research projects that stay relevant and beneficial to the evolving climate concerns of the state.

National Security Climate effects are a “threat multiplier” for the US military and a critical issue into the foreseeable future. In the 2019 “Report on Effects of a Changing Climate to the Department of Defense”, 79 mission assurance priority installations were experiencing some effect of climate or would realize vulnerabilities within the next 20 years. Most installations (53) identified recurrent flooding as a priority concern. Of these, Parris Island, SC (located 76.4 miles from The Citadel campus) may be the worst case. In 2018,

ACAP, 3/25/2021 4 when Citadel President General Glenn Walters was Assistant Commandant of the USMC, he testified to a congressional committee on rising seas and repeated flooding on Parris Island (Petersen 2018). He is quoted as saying “I’ve taken two briefs in the last eight months on what I consider our most critical vulnerability, and that’s Parris Island, SC”. That same year The Citadel hosted a national conference: Sea Level Rise & Security in South Carolina: Implications for Military and Civilian Communities. The Department of Defense, as well as many other federal agencies, are prioritizing investments in research that focus on environmental risks, for example improving computer models that resolve interactions among sea level rise, extreme precipitation, and storm surge. Thus, the Center will partner with the Department of Cyber and Computer Sciences for building climate models, the Department of Intelligence and Security Studies to meet the challenge of future uncertainty in national security and ROTC to link with the needs of the branches of the military.

Coastal Environment and Infrastructure Recurrent flooding is also a priority issue for policy makers in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. According to the Charleston National Weather Service (NWS), coastal flood events in Charleston occurred 89 times in 2019, which far exceeded any other year in the record dating back to 1980. Nuisance flooding is costly to coastal communities through loss of revenue and degradation of infrastructure. In his 2018 State of the City address, Charleston Mayor Tecklenburg was quoted as saying “we must simply make flooding and drainage our city’s top long-range priority”. Several climate science research projects related to this theme are currently in progress at The Citadel. For example, the Center director is lead-PI on a NOAA funded grant: “Preparing for, Responding to, and Mitigating Compound Coastal Water Hazards for Resilient Rural Communities”. However, flooding is not the only climate related problem facing this region of South Carolina. Severe heat waves are detrimental to coastal tourism, rising sea surface temperatures affect fish populations, and acute drought events can decrease freshwater supply and increase salinity levels affecting agricultural productivity and ecosystem services. Solutions to these problems, e.g. green and grey engineering projects, require an interdisciplinary approach, which is not possible within traditional academic programs. Thus, the Center will partner with the Department of Physics to understand tidal flow and heights, Biology to assess coastal ecosystem health, and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for climate- resilient coastal infrastructure.

Public Health and Welfare The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the necessity of science literacy. Like public health science, climate science is inherently global, involves many feedback loops and requires the critical analysis of data trends. Climate extremes also can be linked to health disparities. For example, The Post and Courier recently reported that in Charleston “flooding can cause transportation hardships that lead to lost workdays and health risk for those who have to slog through water teeming with E. coli and toxic chemicals.” In addition, temperature and humidity extremes lead to heat stress for field workers. In fact, Martinich and Crimmins (2018) find that the worst-case scenario of future greenhouse gas emissions will have the greatest economic impact in the southern states related to loss of labor and heat mortality. The Citadel already is engaged in public health impacts of climate change. Dr. John Weinsein, Department Head for Biology at The Citadel, is a Co-PI of the University of South Carolina NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions. He is investigating microplastics and tire wear particles in Charleston’s coastal water ways. In addition, the Center is a collaborator on an EPA grant: “Predicting Drinking Water Contamination from Extreme Weather to Reduce Early Life Contaminant Exposure”. The Center will also partner with the nearby Medical University of South Carolina to address climate-health issues. In addition to current contributions from Biology, the Center will partner with the Department of Chemistry to monitor atmospheric pollutants, Department of Health and Human Performance to relate climate to physical activity and exertion, the Swain Department of

ACAP, 3/25/2021 4 Nursing to better understand climate-related health outcomes, and the Department of Mathematics for big-data mining and interpretation.

In summary, the Center will make connections with faculty and students across The Citadel and with the local community to provide positive solutions to address climate concerns. Since about 30% of Citadel graduates are commissioned by a branch of the armed forces, and many climate issues are important to national security and the economic prosperity and well-being of coastal South Carolina, the Center is ideally placed at The Citadel and recognized as a priority for the college.

Will the proposed center/institute impact existing programs or services at the institution? If yes, explain. Yes No

The proposed center will have no negative impact on any current academic programs at the Citadel but will, instead, promote greater interdisciplinary collaboration among departments and schools. The proposed center will make research, curriculum, and student accomplishments in climate science more visible and valued. For example, the Center will include Fellows comprised of faculty, students, staff, and industry partners who have an invested interest in climate. The Center will give fellows an organizing structure to appreciate methodologies and findings outside their disciplines and engage in collaborative research, which will lead to interdisciplinary publications and funding proposals.

Describe any similar centers/institutes in South Carolina.

There are several centers in South Carolina that focus on water, the environment, and hazards, but none have climate as their central mission.

Name Institution Similarities Differences Belle W. Baruch University of South The overarching themes There is no central Institute for Marine and Carolina at Columbia are coastal ecosystems, focus on climate Coastal Sciences global change, and food science. webs. Hazards and University of South Conducts basic research While, hurricanes Vulnerability Research Carolina at Columbia on hazards vulnerability and other weather- Institute and resilience. related disasters are important, there is no focus on their climatology or predictions for the future. NIEHS Center for University of South Develops tools to better Climate is identified Oceans and Human Carolina at Columbia inform the public of as an important Health and Climate health risks associated contributing factor, Change Interactions with toxins and waste in but the scope of this coastal waters, and center is limited to enhance knowledge of four research the role climate change projects related to (temperature, salinity, public health: algal and pH) plays in these bloom, health risks. microbiology, 6

ACAP, 3/25/2021 4 toxicology, and water chemistry. Center for University of South Investigates the effects There is no central Environmental Carolina at Columbia of manufactured and focus on climate Nanoscience & Risk natural nanoparticles in science. the environment and subsequent effects on environment and human health and develops low hazard low risk nanotechnologies. S.C. Water Resources Clemson University Research emphases on There is no central Center water policy and focus on climate management strategies. science. Clemson Environmental Clemson University Promotes the There is no central Institute participation of faculty focus on climate from across the science. university in research related to environmental issues. One focal point is sustainable natural resources. Belle W. Baruch Clemson University Coastal environmental There is no central Institute of Coastal research to help public- focus on climate Ecology and Forest policy decision-makers science. Science manage growth issues. Lowcountry Hazards College of Charleston Integrates and While, hurricanes Center communicates and other weather- knowledge in natural related disasters are and social sciences to important, there is increase disaster no focus on their resilience in the climatology or Lowcountry. predictions for the future. The Center for College of Charleston Supports teaching, The theme for the Sustainable learning, and research in 2020-21 academic Development sustainability literacy. year is global warming and climate change, but the mission is much broader than climate. There is also no central focus on climate science. Burroughs & Chapin Coastal Carolina Focus on the coastal There is no central Center for Marine and University environments and focus on climate Wetlands Studies processes where land, science. ocean, atmosphere and society interact – 7

ACAP, 3/25/2021 4 touching on a wide range of sub-disciplines, basic and applied research, science and policy. Sea Islands Institute University of South Supports efforts to There is no central Carolina at Beaufort sustain the region’s focus on climate economic, ecologic and science. cultural vitality.

Faculty

Provide a brief explanation of any changes in faculty, staff and/or administrative assignment that may be required as a result of the proposed center/institute.

The only new hire is Dr. Scott Curtis as Director of the Lt Col James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies. Members of the Center are designated Fellows and will consist of current Citadel faculty, staff, and students, industry partners, and community partners. The initial list of Fellows is being determined. Four steering committees will be formed from the Fellows: Academics, Outreach, Research, and Industry. There are plans for the Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics (SFSSM) to divide an existing administrative assistant FTE line among three Centers, including this one.

Resources

Identify any new library, instructional equipment and facilities needed to support the proposed center/institute. For facilities, identify any new facilities or modifications to existing facilities needed to support the proposed center/institute.

Library Resources: None Equipment: None Facilities: As part of the Campus Master Planning effort, the SFSSM hired an architecture firm to design a reconfiguration of Grimsley Hall, which will identify permanent space for the Center. Money from the endowment is budgeted to retrofit current classroom/lab space into a collaborative research space.

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Financial Support

Sources of Financing by Year Category 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Total Tuition Funding 86,445 86,445 86,445 86,445 86,445 432,225 Special State 0 0 0 0 0 0 Appropriation Reallocation of 23,167 23,167 23,167 23,167 23,167 115,835 Existing Funds Federal and/or Other 232,555 112,555 112,555 112,555 112,555 682,775 Funding Total 342,167 222,167 222,167 222,167 222,167 1,230,835 Estimated Costs Associated with Implementing the Center/Institute by Year Category 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Total Program Administration and 162,167 162,167 162,167 162,167 162,167 810,835 Faculty/Staff Salaries Facilities, Equipment, 120,000 0 0 0 0 120,000 Supplies and Materials Library Resources Other (specify) 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 300,000 Total 342,167 222,167 222,167 222,167 222,167 1,230,835 Net Total (i.e., Sources of Financing Minus 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Estimated Costs)

ACAP, 3/25/2021 4 Budget Justification Provide a brief explanation for all costs and sources of financing identified in the Financial Support table.

The Director is a tenured faculty in the Department of Physics, so tuition funding accounts for $86,445 per year for the Director’s salary ($62,191 salary + $24,254 fringe). $23,667 in salary and fringe is being reallocated for 1/3 FTE administrative assistant to support the Center. The Center was established with an endowment comprised of a $1.315 million investment and ~$500,000 in cash funds. The total budget from “Federal and/or Other Funding” to the center in the first five years ($682,775) is 38% of this initial gift. We expect to maintain a minimum level of external funding ~$100,000 per year through additional gifts and federal grant F&A return. The Citadel’s strategic plan calls for the Center to grow external funding at a rate of 5% per year. Under costs, the salary figure is a combination of the Center Director ($100,000+fringe) and administrative assistant ($16,667+fringe). In year-1 there will be a reconfiguration of space in Grimsley Hall to house the Center, which is estimated at $120,000. The other category denotes Center support for an internal mini-research grant competition (5 x $12,000) open to Citadel faculty studying climate issues.

Evaluation and Assessment

Provide an outline of how the proposed center/institute will be evaluated and explain how assessment data will be used.

Assessment will be integrated into the Citadel’s annual assessment process. First, the Lt Col James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies will submit an annual report to the Executive Committee and Advisory Committee (see descriptions below). The following key performance indicators (KPI) are drawn from the college’s strategic plan: Our Mighty Citadel 2026: Advancing Our Legacy of Leadership • Increase the number of students enrolled in climate studies related curriculum by 3% each year. This will include current courses and new courses and programs (minor, graduate certificate) proposed by the Center. The Academic Steering Committee will monitor this KPI. • Grow external funding for the center 5% each year. The Industry Steering Committee will monitor this KPI. • Publish three scholarly publications, technical-reports, undergraduate research projects, or conference proceedings per year. The Research Steering Committee will monitor this KPI. • Have at least three engagements with community partners (K-12 schools, community colleges, community centers, elected officials, non-profits, etc.) The Outreach Steering Committee will monitor this KPI. Assessment data will be used to redirect resources (hires, equipment, facilities) in the areas of academics, outreach, research, and industry on an annual basis.

In addition to the Advisory Board, the Center will have an internal Executive Committee consisting of the Center Director, Associate Provost for Academic Operations, Dean of the Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics, Dean of the School of Engineering, Assistant Provost for Research and Policy, Head of the Department of Physics, and Head of the Department of Biology. The Executive Committee has responsibility for the evaluation and oversight of Center activities as they pertain to fulfillment of Center purposes.

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Organizational Chart

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NEW CENTER, INSTITUTE, OR CONSORTIUM PROPOSAL FORM

Name of Institution:

The Citadel (http://www.citadel.edu)

Name of Proposed Center/Institute:

Lt Col James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies

Proposed Date of Implementation:

August 15, 2021

Site: Department of Physics (http://www.citadel.edu/root/physics), Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics (https://www.citadel.edu/root/ssm)

Program Contact Information (name, title, telephone number, and email address):

Dr. Scott Curtis Dr. John Lining Professor of Physics Director of the Lt Col James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies Phone: 843-953-6781 or 252-414-8602 Email: [email protected]

Institutional Approvals and Dates of Approval (include Provost/Chief Academic Officer, President and Board of Trustees approval):

Provost: December 1, 2020 President: December 15, 2020 Board of Visitors: February 1, 2021

Background Information

State the nature and purpose of the proposed center/institute and its centrality to institutional mission.

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gift to initiate the Center. Ever humble and not wanting to receive any recognition for his donation, he specified to TCF that his gift remain completely anonymous until his passing.

Vision: The Lt Col James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies will be nationally recognized as an academic leader in interdisciplinary climate science.

List the goals of the proposed center/institute.

Assessment of Need

Provide an assessment of the need for the proposed center/institute for the state, the region, and beyond, if applicable.

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frequent, so that the total societal and economic costs on an annual basis are comparable (Moftakhari et al. 2016).

How does climate Why do weather improved affect sectors patterns change? prediction Climate important to the What are the causes? state?

Figure 1. Pathway to prediction. Initial priority sectors are described below.

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when Citadel President General Glenn Walters was Assistant Commandant of the USMC, he testified to a congressional committee on rising seas and repeated flooding on Parris Island (Petersen 2018). He is quoted as saying “I’ve taken two briefs in the last eight months on what I consider our most critical vulnerability, and that’s Parris Island, SC”. That same year The Citadel hosted a national conference: Sea Level Rise & Security in South Carolina: Implications for Military and Civilian Communities. The Department of Defense, as well as many other federal agencies, are prioritizing investments in research that focus on environmental risks, for example improving computer models that resolve interactions among sea level rise, extreme precipitation, and storm surge. Thus, the Center will partner with the Department of Cyber and Computer Sciences for building climate models, the Department of Intelligence and Security Studies to meet the challenge of future uncertainty in national security and ROTC to link with the needs of the branches of the military.

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Nursing to better understand climate-related health outcomes, and the Department of Mathematics for big-data mining and interpretation.

Will the proposed center/institute impact existing programs or services at the institution? If yes, explain. Yes No

Describe any similar centers/institutes in South Carolina.

There are several centers in South Carolina that focus on water, the environment, and hazards, but none have climate as their central mission.

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toxicology, and water chemistry. Center for University of South Investigates the effects There is no central Environmental Carolina at Columbia of manufactured and focus on climate Nanoscience & Risk natural nanoparticles in science. the environment and subsequent effects on environment and human health and develops low hazard low risk nanotechnologies. S.C. Water Resources Clemson University Research emphases on There is no central Center water policy and focus on climate management strategies. science. Clemson Environmental Clemson University Promotes the There is no central Institute participation of faculty focus on climate from across the science. university in research related to environmental issues. One focal point is sustainable natural resources. Belle W. Baruch Clemson University Coastal environmental There is no central Institute of Coastal research to help public- focus on climate Ecology and Forest policy decision-makers science. Science manage growth issues. Lowcountry Hazards College of Charleston Integrates and While, hurricanes Center communicates and other weather- knowledge in natural related disasters are and social sciences to important, there is increase disaster no focus on their resilience in the climatology or Lowcountry. predictions for the future. The Center for College of Charleston Supports teaching, The theme for the Sustainable learning, and research in 2020-21 academic Development sustainability literacy. year is global warming and climate change, but the mission is much broader than climate. There is also no central focus on climate science. Burroughs & Chapin Coastal Carolina Focus on the coastal There is no central Center for Marine and University environments and focus on climate Wetlands Studies processes where land, science. ocean, atmosphere and society interact – 7

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touching on a wide range of sub-disciplines, basic and applied research, science and policy. Sea Islands Institute University of South Supports efforts to There is no central Carolina at Beaufort sustain the region’s focus on climate economic, ecologic and science. cultural vitality.

Faculty

Provide a brief explanation of any changes in faculty, staff and/or administrative assignment that may be required as a result of the proposed center/institute.

Resources

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Financial Support

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Budget Justification Provide a brief explanation for all costs and sources of financing identified in the Financial Support table.

Evaluation and Assessment

Provide an outline of how the proposed center/institute will be evaluated and explain how assessment data will be used.

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Organizational Chart

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January 15, 2020

Letter of Support for the Lt. Col. James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies

Dear South Carolina Commission on Higher Education:

The Charleston Metro Chamber is pleased to support the Lt. Col. James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies at The Citadel. The Center’s three focuses, national security, coastal environment and infrastructure, and public health and welfare, are all important to the Chamber and its members to ensure our region continues to thrive.

The first step in addressing problems in our region is to understand holistically what the problem is and how it is affecting our local communities. The Center for Climate Studies will address these questions and work to create a “pathway to prediction” to improve weather predictions and better prepare businesses and healthcare providers during natural disasters. We value the critical importance of preparing our organizations to minimize the potential economic impact.

By partnering with the Center for Climate Studies, the Chamber will ensure that Charleston businesses have all the information necessary to best prepare. We offer our full support to the Citadel’s Center for Climate Studies.

My Best,

Bryan Derreberry President & CEO Charleston Metro Chamber

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January 6, 2021

Dear South Carolina Commission on Higher Education:

The South Carolina State Climatology Office is very pleased to affirm its support for the creation of the Lt. Col. James B. Near, Jr., USAF ’77 Center for Climate Studies at The Citadel. This Center is unique in the state of South Carolina and stands to address many of the pressing, complex challenges related to climate variability. The Center’s focus on climate effects on national security, coastal environment and infrastructure, and public health and welfare, are critical issues facing South Carolina and the nation.

The weather extremes South Carolina experience can cause substantial damage, loss of life, and loss of livelihood for its citizens. Enabling effective responses and building resilience to climate extremes and variability require innovative partnerships among a spectrum of interests (industry, government, and academia). The Citadel’s expertise within the Department of Physics, ROTC, Department of Cyber and Computer Sciences, and the Department of Intelligence and Security Studies provide important interdisciplinary input needed to better understand climate-related security risks and the accumulated impacts of weather over time to oceans and wetlands, land, people, and the built environment.

The South Carolina State Climatology Office welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with the Center in the development of innovative science and technology related to climate science and the study of climate change. We can offer internship opportunities for their students and are available to provide assistance or guidance as the Center becomes established. The Center has presented a well thought program for achieving success. Therefore, I strongly recommend that the Commission approve and endorse the Lt. Col. James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies.

Sincerely,

Hope P. Mizzell, Ph.D. South Carolina State Climatologist 1000 Assembly Street Columbia, S.C. 29201

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CHARLESTON RESILIENCE NETWORK A collective resilience effort for the Charleston, S.C. region

September, 15, 2020

TO: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education Re: Letter of Support for the Lt. Col. James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies

I am pleased to provide this letter of support for the creation of the Lt. Col. James B. Near, Jr., USAF ’77 Center for Climate Studies at The Citadel. This Center is unique in the state of South Carolina and stands to address many of the pressing, complex issues related to climate variability. The Center’s focus areas of national security, coastal environment and infrastructure, and human health and welfare are critical to South Carolina’s residents and the long-term future of our state and our nation.

The Charleston Resilience Network is willing to collaborate with the Center for Climate Studies team, as it has outlined in the project description. The mission of CRN, to foster science-based forums fostering resilient strategies in service to the region and its communities, is consistent with the Center’s. The leadership team has presented a well thought program for achieving success. Therefore, we recommend that the Commission approve and endorse the Lt. Col. James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

David Johnston Chairman of the Steering Committee E: [email protected]

The Charleston Resilience Network (charlestonresilience.net) is a collaboration of public, private, and non-profit organizations seeking to enhance the resilience of our region and communities. Our mission is to foster a unified regional strategy and provide a forum to share science-based information, educate stakeholders, and enhance long-term planning decisions that result in resilience. ACAP 3/25/2021 ACAP 3/25/2021 ACAP 3/25/2021 ACAP 3/25/2021

September 17, 2020

Dr. Rusty Monhollon President and Executive Director S.C. Commission on Higher Education 1122 Lady Street Columbia, SC 29201

Dear Dr. Monhollon:

I am very pleased to provide this letter of support for the establishment of the Lt. Col. James B. Near, Jr., USAF ’77 Center for Climate Studies at The Citadel. This Center is unique in the state of South Carolina and stands to address many of the pressing, complex issues related to climate variability. The Center’s focus areas of national security, coastal environment and infrastructure, and human health and welfare are critical to South Carolina’s residents and the long-term future of our state and our nation.

The weather extremes South Carolina and other coastal states are experiencing are causing immense damage, loss of life, and loss of livelihoods. Forecasting hurricanes, heat waves, ice storms, flooding events, and other such hazards is difficult. However, a more complex challenge, which requires the input of many academic disciplines, is understanding the accumulated impacts of climate and weather over time and their relation to oceans and wetlands, land, people, and the built environment. The Center’s mission “to promote climate science through education, research, outreach, and the development of public-private partnerships” is consistent with The Citadel’s mission of educating and training principled leaders. The Center’s leadership team has presented a well-thought program for achieving success.

The Center’s work would form the basis for enhanced collaborations with the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, as its research findings and resultant data and technologies would be of great value to many of our stakeholders and constituents. We look forward to opportunities to share information via workshops and other public outreach activities, and to enhance our knowledge of climate change and its impacts on the people and places of South Carolina and beyond.

Therefore, I strongly recommend that the Commission endorse and approve the Lt. Col. James B. Near, Jr., USAF, ’77 Center for Climate Studies. Thank you.

Sincerely,

M. Richard DeVoe Executive Director