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Calendar of Events
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 3
Public Policy Committee Meeting
10:00 a.m. at SCICU Office
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
September 24
Institutional Research
12:00 p.m. at Furman University
October 5
SCICU Board of Trustees
10:30 a.m. at Columbia College - Breed Leadership Center
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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House Protects Student Financial Aid
 After an all night session, the House of Representatives on Thursday adopted a budget for FY 2010 -2011 that funds higher education tuition grants at the current year's level. The House also fully-funded the state's merit scholarships and appropriated $1 million in excess unclaimed lottery prize money for the Partnership Among South Carolina's Academic Libraries (PASCAL).
The $5.1 billion state budget-down by over $2 billion from two years ago-required significant reductions in agency budgets and other programs to bring into balance. The fact that student financial aid for higher education was maintained for another year indicates that state lawmakers recognize the importance of investing in higher education.
Although the Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission will receive funding roughly equal to each of the past 3 years, maximum grants have been reduced from $3200 in FY 2007-2008 to a projected $2600 for FY 2010-2011 because of a significant increase in eligible students.
During floor debate, Rep. Chip Limehouse (R-Charleston) introduced an amendment that adds PASCAL to a list of programs that will receive unclaimed lottery prize money if the amount exceeds the $8.4 million already certified by the Board of Economic Advisors. PASCAL is second in line behind a $2 million appropriation for Aid to County Libraries. The appropriation is contingent on the availability funds, but in the past, unclaimed prize money has exceeded the certified amount on a regular basis.
The appropriations bill moves to the Senate where it will be sent to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration. SCICU continues to work with our elected officials to maximize support for independent higher education.
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Wofford Basketball in National Spotlight
The Wofford College men's basketball team will make its first appearance in the NCAA Basketball Tournament this afternoon when they play Wisconsin at 2:50 pm in Jacksonville, Fla. With an enrollment of 1,450 students, Wofford is the smallest school in tournament history.
The Terriers enter the tournament as the Southern Conference champion after defeating Appalachian State in the SoCon title game.Wofford finished the regular season with a 26-8 record and earned a No. 13 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Wisconsin Badgers, who earned the No. 4 seed in the East Regional, enter the tournament with a 23-8 overall record.
The winner of Wofford's first-round game will face the winner of the game between No. 5 seed Temple and No. 12 seed Cornell on Sunday, March 21.
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Health Care Reconciliation to Include Education
The House, Senate and White House have decided to include student aid funding in the reconciliation bill on health care. The major ramifications for higher education include the following program changes:
- As of July 2010, all student loans will be direct loans, providing savings of $61 billion over 10 years
- $40 billion will go into the Pell Grant program
- $50 million will go for technical assistance to institutions transitioning to direct lending.
- The Pell grant maximum will stay at $5,550 until FY 2013
- Pell grants will increase above the 2013 maximum by the CPI until FY 2018, which is estimated to reach $5,979
- In FY 2019 and beyond, the maximum Pell grant will remain at the 2018 level
- The bill provides $2.5 billion for Minority Serving Institutions and $750 million for the existing College Access Challenge Grants
H.R. 4872 was made public on the House Rules Committee website at about 2:00 p.m. on Thursday. This means that the Rules Committee will not meet regarding this until Saturday at 2:00 p.m. A vote in the House cannot take place until around Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Once the House votes, the Senate will begin consideration, most likely next week. |
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Fall Board Meeting Set for October 5
President Caroline Whitson and Columbia College will host the fall meeting of the SCICU Board of Trustees on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. Additional details will be sent to all trustees in the weeks prior to the meeting. |
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SCICU Student/Faculty Research Symposium
The SCICU Student/Faculty Research Program began in 1993. The 2009 research symposium was held February 18, 2010, at the Zentrum Visitors Center of the BMW Manufacturing Zentrum Visitors Center located in Greer, SC. Forty-eight (48) undergraduate students representing thirteen (13) South Carolina independent colleges and universities made thirty-six (36) presentations on various research topics at the event. This past year, SCICU raised over $107,000 from very generous donors that was awarded by a Faculty Evaluation Committee to students to complete their research projects. Proposals submitted for funding consideration during 2010 will be evaluated and recipients selected Tuesday, March 23. |
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SCICU Launches Business Partners Program
As a service to our college and university community and the many outstanding companies that provide quality goods and services, SCICU recently launched a Business Partners program via the organization's website. Detailed information and an electronic link to the businesses that qualify for the program are listed in the Business Partners section. The section is accessible directly by a prominent link at the top of each page. Partners are listed by business category and eventually will be organized alphabetically.
SCICU encourages staff, faculty, students, and friends of SCICU to check the Business Partners section first when shopping for or procuring goods and services.
For more information contact Eddie Shannon at 803.799.7122 or eddie@scicu.org. |
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General Assembly Celebrates Independent Higher Education
On February 17, the South Carolina Senate and the House of Representatives passed a Concurrent Resolution recognizing and expressing deep appreciation to independent colleges and universities in South Carolina for their common commitment to promoting critical thinking and creativity by preparing students for full lives, productive careers, and active citizenship. The members of the General Assembly went on to note that these institutions have established an unparalleled record of excellence in teaching and nurturing students and adapting to ever evolving student needs, technological advances, and social trends while providing a full range of educational experiences.
As a tribute to the many outstanding contributions of our independent colleges and universities, the General Assembly proclaimed April 12-16, 2010, as "Independent College and University Week" in South Carolina and April 14, 2010, as "Independent College and University Day."
The resolution was introduced by Representative Phil Owens of Easley. Rep. Owens is chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee and a strong supporter of higher education.
Chairman Owens will address students attending the April 14th SCICU State House Rally and will present the resolution to the student delegations at that time. |
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Furman Mentoring Program Receives Award from Higher Education Commission
The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education presented Furman University the 2009-2010 Commendation of Excellence for Service Learning Award. Since 2001, the commission has presented the award as a way to publicly recognize projects that successfully integrate student learning with community service. Furman won in the independent colleges and universities category.
Furman was recognized for its Advancing Science Education and Wellness in Urban Greenville Schools program, funded in part by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). The program sends an all-volunteer group of Furman students to work with students at Hughes Academy of Science and Technology and at Fuller Normal Advanced Technology Charter School. Furman students are involved in homework assistance as well as in science camps held during the summer. They also provide free tutoring and homework help sessions in the evening hours so parents of students can attend classes in exercise, nutrition and wellness. |
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Seven SCICU Schools Receive Presidential Community Service Award
 Seven South Carolina independent colleges and universities have been named to the 2009 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.
Wofford College was named to the Honor Role with Distinction while Benedict College, Claflin University, Coker College, Converse College, Furman University, and Newberry College received Honor Role recognition.
Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors including the scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service learning courses. Click here for a full list of Honor Roll recipients.
The Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers the annual Honor Roll award, recognized more than 700 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from poverty and homelessness to environmental justice. College students make a significant contribution to the volunteer sector; in 2009, 3.16 million students performed more than 300 million hours of service, according to the Volunteering in America study released by the Corporation. |
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Two SCICU Members Receive Renewable Energy Grants from State Energy Office
 Claflin University in Orangeburg and Furman University in Greenville will increase their creation of renewable energy sources while reducing the amount of fossil fuels they require to operate thanks to a federal renewable energy grant awarded by the S.C. Budget and Control Board's State Energy Office.
Claflin University was awarded $500,000 to install the state's first solar adsorption cooling system on the new Orangeburg Collaborative Renewable Energy Center campus. This equipment will use solar panels to provide heat in the winter and cool water to provide air conditioning in the summer. The university will save more than $933,000 in energy costs over the life of the equipment.
Furman University was awarded $340,000 to install solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of the Physical Activities Center which will provide electricity to the campus. The system will include 304 PV modules as well as an energy metering system to monitor the energy produced in real-time. This project will help the university save more than $487,000 over the life of the project.
These grants are two of nine state-wide renewable energy projects funded by the Energy Office and are part of $2.8 million awarded to non-profit organizations and government entities in South Carolina.
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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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