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News & Notes 
Information for South Carolina's Independent Colleges & Universities 

Volume 3 Issue 3                                                                                        February 26, 2010

In This Issue...
Calendar of Events
 
2010 
 
February 15 -26
SCICU Virtual Job Fair
Online
 
February 26
Institutional Research Directors Meeting
12:00 p.m. at Columbia International University
 
March 4
Public Policy Committee Meeting
10:00 a.m. at SCICU Office
 
March 11
Chief Finance Officers
10:30 a.m. at Erskine College
 
March 16
Prospective Donor Reception
5-7 p.m. at the Harbour Club
Charleston, SC

April 12 - 16
South Carolina Independent College and University Week       
 
April 13
Excellence in Teaching Awards Dinner
6:00 p.m. at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center             
 
April 14
South Carolina Independent College and University Day
9:30 a.m. at the State House
  
April 28
Prospective Donor Reception
5-7 p.m. at Devereaux Restaurant
Greenville, SC
 
May 18
Prospective Donor Reception
5-7 p.m. at Capitol City Club
Columbia, SC
 
May 25
Student Affairs Officers
10:00 a.m. at SCICU Office
 
August 5
Development Committee 
10:30 a.m. at SCICU Office
 
August 26
Finance Committee
9:30 a.m. at SCICU Office
 
October 20
Human Resource Directors
10:00 a.m. at SCICU Office
 
To view more info about these meetings and events, click here
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SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Ways and Means Committee Recommends Level Funding for Tuition Grants 
Commission Sets Maximum Award at $2600
Statehouse

February 26 - The House Ways and Means Committee voted to fund the Higher Education Tuition Grants program for the fiscal year beginning July 1, at the current year's level. This is a significant investment in independent higher education at a time when many agencies and programs sustained deep cuts. Unfortunately, the committee did not restore the $2 million cut from PASCAL (Partnership Among South Carolina's Academic Libraries) two years ago.
 
Since FY 2007-2008, the Tuition Grants Commission has received annually approximately $37.5 million in state general funds and lottery appropriations. This number will be sustained for the fourth year in a row if the committee's recommendations for FY 2010-2011 hold true through the rest of the long budget process. During this same four-year period, state revenues have decreased by more than $1.5 billion and many agency budgets have been slashed by 25% or more.
 
Ways and Means also recommended full funding at their statutory levels for other state higher education scholarships, such as the Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, HOPE, and Lottery Tuition Assistance. It is estimated that more than 20,000 students attending one of South Carolina's independent colleges or universities will qualify for over $45 million in merit-based scholarships.
 
Based on the actions of the Ways and Means Committee, the South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission voted on Thursday to set the 2010-2011 initial maximum award for the need-based grants program at $2600. Although total program funding has remained virtually level for several years, an increase in the number of eligible students has forced the commission to reduce individual awards.  
 
The current year's maximum award is $2800, down $350 from the initial grant of $3150 because of an unexpected 11% increase in the number of students qualifying for assistance. The maximum grant during the 2008-2009 academic year was $3200. More than 14,000 students received tuition grants this year, and next year's $2600 maximum is based on another expected increase of 7%.
 
Rep. Chip Limehouse (R-Charleston), chairman of the Higher Education subcommittee, led the effort to hold harmless the funding levels for higher education tuition grants and scholarships from budget reductions. He was joined unanimously by the other members of the subcommittee: Rep. Denny Neilson (D-Darlington), Rep. Jim Merrill (R-Charleston), and Rep. Liston Barfield (R-Charleston).
 
The hundreds of personal letters and other contacts from students and supporters of independent higher education to members of the General Assembly were tremendously effective in making the case for continued funding of the grant and scholarship programs. In the weeks to come, as the budget moves through the House to the Senate and eventually to the Governor, this grass roots support will be very important. SCICU thanks all those who have worked in support of this issue and ask that you continue to advocate for a sustained level of funding.
 
The Ways and Means Committee will prepare a formal appropriations bill which will be debated on the floor of the House during the week of March 15. In the meantime, subcommittees of the Senate Finance Committee are meeting to prepare the Senate's version of the state budget. The recommendation of the Ways and Means Committee is an important and positive first step, but there is still a long way to go before an appropriations bill is signed into law. We encourage you to stay informed, engaged, and supportive as the bill moves forward.

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 [email protected] or 803-799-7122. Mailing address: P.O. Box 12007, Columbia, SC 29211