S.C. Code Ann. § 2-75-100: Use of matching funds.

(A) The review board may, at its discretion, permit the senior research universities to utilize a portion of the nonstate matching funds of any single award to pay for initial operating costs including, but not limited to, infrastructure improvement, purchase of equipment, and payment of salaries for junior faculty, researchers, technicians, and other support staff directly associated with the establishment of the professorship's research efforts and the creation of the center of economic excellence which the professorship serves. The portion established by the review board must apply equally to all of the senior research universities' centers of economic excellence and endowed professorships created under this act. The portion established by the review board may be modified by the review board in order to facilitate program success.

(B) The full amount of every state award, with the exception of programmatic support proposals, must be placed into and remain in endowment. Should a center of economic excellence be dissolved, withdrawn, or otherwise terminated, the entirety of the state award which has been drawn by the institution must be returned to the Centers of Excellence Matching Endowment.