South Carolina State University is among only seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) that have been selected to participate in the 2026 HBCU Policy Academy for Student and Campus Wellness. The academy aims to advance student wellbeing, mental health and crisis response across HBCU campuses.
As part of the national cohort, SC State will assess current campus practices and develop a strategic action plan to improve the coordination, access and effectiveness of behavioral health and crisis response services for students. The university's interdisciplinary team is comprised of five members led by S. Christian Jackson, director of SCSU's Counseling and Self-Development Center.
“This opportunity allows us to build on the work we are already doing while strengthening how we respond to student needs across the entire campus,” Jackson said. “By bringing together key partners from multiple areas, we are creating a more coordinated, proactive approach to student wellbeing.”
SC State made the list of seven out of 35 applicants.
As part of the program, the SCSU team will participate in a national convening at the end of April in Atlanta. This will be followed by several months of technical assistance to support implementation of its action plan.