Dodging thunderstorms and suffering through 100 degree days, 50 school counselors and teachers completed a week's long tour of 10 SCICU colleges and universities today.  The purpose of the tour is to give secondary educators a better understanding of independent higher education in general and more specifically, an in-depth look at 10 unique SCICU campuses. The teachers and counselors will use this information when they return to school this fall and meet with students and parents who are considering higher education opportunities.
 
This year's tour included visits to Columbia College, Benedict College, Claflin University, Charleston Southern University, Voorhees College, Presbyterian College, Erskine College, Southern Wesleyan University, North Greenville University, and Furman University. Columbia International University hosted the orientation and generously allowed the tour group to park their cars on campus for a week.
 
Brenda Torrence, SCICU's vice president for business affairs, did an excellent job of coordinating travel arrangements, hotel rooms, meals, and a million other details necessary for a group of 50 to move from one end of the state to another on a very tight schedule.

We are grateful for the hard work and good cheer of this year's volunteer tour guides: Tobe Frierson, associate director of admissions at Erskine College, and Wes Daniels, director of annual giving at Coker College,
 
Plans are already underway for the 2010 tour to the other half of the SCICU colleges and universities.