South Carolina State University (SCSU) received a $223,983 Project Grant award from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) under the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training (RLTT) program (CFDA 84.129) on October 1, 2025, with completion scheduled for September 30, 2026. The award supports the Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling (MARC) program, an academic training initiative designed to address personnel shortages in vocational rehabilitation services. The program prepares qualified rehabilitation counseling professionals to provide specialized services to individuals with disabilities, enabling them to achieve competitive integrated employment and independent living outcomes.
The MARC program at SCSU's Orangeburg, South Carolina campus delivers comprehensive graduate-level training that develops rehabilitation counseling expertise in accordance with federal priorities identified by the Secretary of Education. As an historically Black college and university (HBCU) and 1890 land-grant institution, SCSU leverages its established experience in workforce development and educational support to implement a master's degree curriculum addressing critical gaps in the rehabilitation services workforce. The grant supports the development and delivery of specialized instruction and training components that prepare graduates to serve individuals with various disability conditions, including physical disabilities, mental health disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and sensory impairments.