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2009
January 22
Finance Committee Meeting
10:00 a.m. at SCICU Office
February 5
Executive Committee Meeting
10:00 a.m. at SCICU Office
February 12
Interview Day for College Seniors (Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center)
February 13
Public Policy Committee Meeting
10:00 a.m. at SCICU Office
February 13
Institutional Research Directors Meeting
12:00 p.m. at CIU
February 19
Student/Faculty Research Symposium (BMW Zentrum Visitors Center)
February 22-23
Board of Trustees Meeting and Retreat (Wild Dunes Conference Center, Isle of Palms, SC)
February 27
Career Services Directors Meeting
10:30 a.m. at SCICU Office
March 4
Business Affairs Officers Meeting
12:00 p.m. at SCICU Office
April 20-24
Independent Higher Education Week
April 21
Excellence in Teaching Awards Dinner (Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center)
April 22
Independent Higher Education Day (State House) June 15-19
Guidance Counselor Campus Tour |
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General Assembly Returns to Columbia
 The 118th General Assembly of South Carolina convened on January 13. The House welcomed 20 new members, and the Senate welcomed 9 new members. This is the first year of a two year session and one that will be dominated by the economy and the state budget.
The Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee met on the afternoon of the session's first day to consider the 2009-2010 budget request from the Tuition Grant's Commission. Because revenues are predicted to be more than $1 billion below last year's level, all state agencies have been asked to prepare budget requests that are 15% less than the rescinded amounts set by the General Assembly in October.
Commission Executive Director Earl Mayo made a persuasive presentation in which he asked that the Commission be funded at this year's current level in order to avoid cutting student grants. A 15% cut could mean that the average tuition grant would be reduced by $300.
The legislative team at SCICU is already hard at work meeting and writing individual legislators in an effort to preserve sustained funding for tuition grants, other need and merit-based scholarships, and PASCAL. For more information on SCICU's legislative priorities and plan and how you can help, contact Mike LeFever at mike@scicu.org.
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Owens Heads House Education Committee; Barfield Added to Panel
Rep. Phillip Owens (R-Pickens) of Easley was elected chair of the House Education and Public Works Committee during the House's organizational session in December. He succeeds Rep. Bob Walker who lost a primary race earlier last year. A member of the House since 2002, Rep. Owens previously served on the Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee.
Rep. Liston Barfield (R-Horry) has been assigned a seat on the Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. He replaces Rep. Lanny Littlejohn (R-Spartanburg) who was reassigned to the Public Education Subcommittee.
Returning to the Higher Education Subcommittee as chair is Rep. Chip Limehouse (R-Charleston). He is joined again this year by Rep. Denny Neilson (D-Darlington) and Jim Merrill (R-Berkeley). |
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Student Letter Writing Campaign Begins
 Representatives from all 20 SCICU members met in Columbia on January 16 to launch a student letter writing campaign. Over the course of the next few weeks, students who receive tuition grants will be writing their legislators to thank them for supporting independent higher education and request that they fund the tuition grants program at the current year's level. After introductory remarks by SCICU Board of Trustees Chairman Mike Brenan, the campus representatives heard presentations from the Tuition Grants Commission, a grassroots consultant, and from SCICU staff and government relations team. On April 22, students from across the state will meet in person with state elected officials as part of Independent Colleges and Universities Day at the State House. |
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Higher Education Included in House Stimulus Bill
 The $825 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act released by the House last week contains a number of programs that will benefit postsecondary students and our nation's colleges and universities. Specifically, the proposal includes:
Construction funds will be distributed to the governors who will make funding decisions based on Congressional guidelines. The details are not yet available. Given Gov. Sanford's opposition to the stimulus package, it is unclear exactly how the program will be administrated in South Carolina.
The bill is moving quickly, but still must go through the House floor and over to the Senate, so there will be changes along the way. SCICU is working with our national organization (NAICU) and our Congressional delegation in support of legislation that will benefit students and higher education institutions. |
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Presidents Meet CHE Director Walters
President Mick Zais of Newberry College, President Jim Dawson of Coker College, and SCICU President Mike LeFever met with Dr. Garry Walters, executive director of the SC Commission on Higher Education, and CHE staff member Julie Carullo last month. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss expanding the role of independent colleges and universities in the action plan Leveraging Higher Education for a Stronger South Carolina being prepared by the Higher Education Study Committee. Last September a number of SCICU college presidents and chief academic officers met with Dr. Walters and Study Committee Chair Dan Ravenel to preview the plan. SCICU's written response to the draft action plan framework can be found under the current events section of www.scicu.org. CHE's new chairman, Ken Wingate, will address the SCICU Trustees at the Board Retreat on February 23. A Columbia attorney and former acting State Treasurer, Mr. Wingate was appointed to the chairmanship by Governor Mark Sanford in November. |
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Dr. Evans Whitaker Elected to SACS Commission
 Dr. Evans P. Whitaker, president of Anderson University, has been elected to the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools effective January 2009. As a commissioner, Dr. Whitaker is one of a 77-member body elected to represent approximately 800 institutions that are members of the Commission on Colleges. Commissioners determine Commission policy, review and make decisions regarding the accreditation of higher education institutions in the Southeast, conduct initial review for any significant dues or fee changes, and forward proposed modifications of accreditation standards to the membership for final vote. Dr. Whitaker has been the president of AU since 2002. |
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Dr. Griffin Starts Rehab
We are pleased to report that Dr. Walt Griffin, president of Limestone College, is making steady progress after sustaining a serious heart attack on January 2. Earlier this week he was moved to the Restorative Care Unit of the Spartanburg Regional Heart Center.
Your continued prayers and support for Walt and his family are very much appreciated. You may contact Dr. Griffin through his executive assistant, Ms. Nani Lou Cooper, at 864-488-4617 or 1115 College Drive, Gaffney, SC 29340. |
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Register Now for the 2009 Board of Trustees Retreat
 The 2009 Board of Trustees Retreat will take place next month on February 22 and 23. This year's meeting will include presentations by Furman University President Dr. David Shi, Speaker of the House Rep. Bobby Harrell (invited), Dr. David Warren, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and Mr. Ken Wingate, chairman of the SC Commission on Higher Education. The retreat will conclude on Monday afternoon following a meeting of the Board of Trustees.
If you have not already registered, please contact Brenda Torrence at brenda@scicu.org. Trustees and guests who want to play golf at Wild Dunes prior to the beginning of the conference should contact Eddie Shannon at eddie@scicu.org.
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News & Notes is published by the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, Inc. Please send all comments or questions to SCICU President & CEO Mike LeFever at mike@scicu.org or 803-799-7122. Mailing address: P.O. Box 12007, Columbia, SC 29211 |
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