S.C. REACH Act

Does the S.C. REACH Act apply to me?

• The REACH Act applies to all new first-year undergraduate students who enter the University during summer 2021 or later, unless the following exemption is met:
  • Students who passed an AP or dual enrollment course in US government or US history while enrolled in high school are exempted from having to complete a REACH Act course while enrolled at Clemson.
    • A student with an AP exam score sufficient to be awarded course credit for HIST 1010 and/or POSC 1010 is NOT exempted from the requirement simply by having a high enough score.
    • Passing the AP or dual enrollment course in US government or US history is what exempts the student, not the AP exam score.
• The REACH Act applies to all new transfer undergraduate students who enter the University during spring 2022 or later, unless one of the following exemptions are met:
  • Students who enrolled at any higher education institution as a degree-seeking undergraduate student prior to summer 2021 are exempt from the requirement.
  • Students who passed an AP or dual enrollment course in US government or US history while enrolled in high school are exempted from having to complete a REACH Act course while enrolled at Clemson.
    • A student with an AP exam score sufficient to be awarded course credit for HIST 1010 and/or POSC 1010 is NOT exempted from the requirement simply by having a high enough score.
    • Passing the AP or dual enrollment course in US government or US history is what exempts the student, not the AP exam score.

What is required to satisfy the REACH Act if I am not in one of the exemption categories listed above?

Students must enroll in and pass one course approved as meeting the South Carolina REACH Act requirement.

• Clemson courses that currently satisfy the REACH Act requirement:
  • HIST 1010 — History of the United States, 3 Credits (3 Contact Hours)
  • POSC 1010 — American National Government, 3 Credits (3 Contact Hours)
  • POSC 1030 — Introduction to Political Theory, 3 Credits (3 Contact Hours)
• The South Carolina Technical College system courses that currently satisfy the REACH Act requirement:
  • HIST 201
  • PSC 201

Additional REACH Act Clarifications

• Students may select any Clemson course that meets the REACH Act requirement, regardless of catalog year. This course may also count as a requirement in any part of the program of study, including the major, minor, general education or as a free elective.
• Students can verify their compliance with the REACH Act in iROAR: Student Records > REACH Act Graduation Requirement: Request Review
• While additional courses may be approved in the future that will satisfy the REACH Act requirement, it is highly unlikely that the majority of courses students have taken elsewhere and are presenting for transfer credit evaluation, including courses that transfer to Clemson as HIST 1010, POSC 1010, and POSC 1030, incorporate the complete set of readings required to satisfy the law. In other words, unless it is an official REACH Act-compliant course completed at another public South Carolina college or university, the prospect of gaining approval for a course taken elsewhere to be approved as a REACH Act course, is highly unlikely.
• The SC REACH Act requirement is listed in DegreeWorks with the following statuses:
  • REACH Act Not Required: Students who enrolled at Clemson or any institution as a degree- seeking undergraduate prior to summer 2021.
  • REACH Act Met Prior: Students who are exempt from the REACH Act because they completed dual enrollment or AP/IB coursework in U.S. government or history while in high school.
  • REACH Act Met Transfer (process forthcoming – currently a manual review): Students who transfer a course into Clemson that meets the SC REACH Act requirement.
  • REACH Act Not Met New First-Year: Students who enrolled Summer 2021 or after and have not completed a REACH Act course.
• The designations listed above are subject to change.
• Leaders at Clemson University and other South Carolina universities and colleges are continuing to receive legislative updates and guidance about the REACH Act. Updates with be shared with the advising community as leadership receives them.
• S.C. REACH Act is listed in the Undergraduate Catalog: Academic Regulations > Graduation Requirements

Clemson University Designated Contacts for the S.C. REACH Act:

James Jeffries
S.C. REACH Act Program Manager
jjeffri@clemson.edu

Rock McCaskill
Interim University Registrar
registrar@clemson.edu

For questions related to student-specific S.C. REACH Act degree requirements, please contact your advisor or email registrar@clemson.edu.