COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina announced Tuesday, Nov. 17, a partnership with Apple Inc. to open an Apple Authorized Campus Store (AACS) in early 2021 on the USC campus.
According to the release, this will be the only store of its kind in the region and the second store in the nation to be run by students.
According to USC, the store will be located on the first floor of the Byrnes Building on the corner of Sumter and College streets. The store will have Apple products for sale and will be available for anyone affiliated with the university such as students, faculty, staff, or alumni.
Jeffrey Campbell, chair of the Department of Retailing within the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management (HRSM), and Matt Brown, interim dean of HRSM, will lead the project, according to USC. HRSM faculty will help manage the store, but day-to-day operations will be conducted by students. The students will receive credit for experimental learning.
Apple authorized staff will be able to conduct in-house service and repairs.
“The student-run Apple Campus Store concept is a tremendous opportunity for our students,” Brown said. “UofSC is only the second university in the country to adopt this model, and our HRSM students will gain invaluable experience working with a global retail leader in Apple.”
The partnership with Apple was led by the USC Office of Innovation, Partnerships, and Economic Engagement (OIPEE). According to the university, proceeds from sales will pay for the store and then "ultimately look for opportunities to fund research for faculty and students."
“UofSC’s partnership with Apple is a continuation of our commitment to offering our students the very best experiential learning opportunities,” said Bill Kirkland, Executive Director, OIPEE. “The future of higher education is moving in the direction of closer collaboration between industry and academia, and there is no better example for our students to follow than one set by one of the world’s most innovative companies, Apple.”
The store is set to open in early 2021.
