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Calendar of Events
2011
February 17
Student/Faculty Research Symposium at BMW Zentrum Visitors Center, Greer, SC
February 18
Institutional Research Directors
2:30 p.m. at SCICU Office
February 27 - 28
Biennial Board of Trustees Retreat
Wild Dunes Resort, Isle of Palms
February 28
SCICU Career Connections - Career Fair and Interview Event
8:30 a.m. at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
April 4-8
Independent College & University Week
April 5
Excellence in Teaching Awards Dinner
6:00 p.m. at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
April 6
Independent Higher Education Day at the Statehouse
9:00 a.m.
June 13 -17
Guidance Counselor Campus Tour
August 25
Finance Committee Meeting
11:30 a.m. at SCICU Office
To view more info about these meetings and events, click here
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Business Partners:
Advanced Communication Systems, Inc.
Aramark
Bath Fitter
Benefit Controls of the Carolinas
Benefit Controls of the Midlands, Inc.
CapinCrouse LLP
Coleman Lew & Associates, Inc.
Daniels Graphics - Greenville SC Office
Delta Dental
Edvance360 LMS-SN (Formerly Scholar360)
Elliot Davis
Frank A. Casagrande Consulting, LLC
Gillis Specialty Advertising
Globalpundits, Inc.
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
HRP Associates,Inc.
IronTree Partners
John Hancock
Live2Create
lynda.com
Myers McRae
Pollock Company
PrimeTRUST Advisors
Provista
ScholarBuys
Trane
Unimarket
U.S. Foodservice Charlotte
The Wyche Law Frim
Click here to view a full listing of SCICU Business partners... |
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Dr. Pamela M. Wilson Elected President of Allen University
 On Tuesday, February 8, 2011, the Allen University Board of Trustees unanimously elected Pamela M. Wilson, Ph.D., as the 24th President of Allen University.
Since August 3, 2010, Wilson has served as the Interim President. Her full appointment as the 24th President of Allen University makes Wilson the first woman to serve in that post in the 141-year history of the University.
Wilson has been with the University since 2006 where she has held positions as Chairperson for the Division of Humanities and Social Science, Associate Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and Executive Vice President.
A native of Blair, SC and the daughter of the late Robert and Louise Martin, Dr. Wilson is a graduate of Fairfield Central High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Communications from Voorhees College, Denmark, SC; a Master of Arts in English and American Literature from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN.; and a Doctor of Philosophy in English with an emphasis in Rhetoric and Composition and a concentration in Business and Administrative Communication from The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
To read the complete news release of President Wilson's historic appointment go to www.scicu.org.
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SCICU Biennial Retreat Searches for the New Normal
On February 27 and 28, trustees and guests will gather at the Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms for the Biennial Retreat. This year's theme is "Searching for the New Normal" because few believe that our financial, economic, legislative, and educational institutions will ever return to what we knew as "normal" prior to the Great Recession of 2008.
George Dehne, a national authority on higher education trends, will be the Sunday evening after-dinner speaker. A resident of Mt. Pleasant and president of GDA Integrated Services, Mr. Dehne will look at the future of private colleges.
On Monday, Dr. David L. Warren will address the shifting political and higher education landscape at the federal level. President of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities since 1993, David is widely regarded as one of the most persuasive and influential voices for higher education within our nation's capital.
Mike Shealy, budget director for the State Senate Finance Committee, and Craig Parks, committee senior research and budget analyst, will provide a financial perspective on the state's budget for fiscal year 2011-2012. In addition to reviewing the reasons for South Carolina's loss of billions of dollars in revenues, they will examine the long-term outlook for the financial future of our state, especially in the area of higher education and student financial aid.
Dr. Frank Hefner will be the featured speaker at the Board of Trustees luncheon. A professor of economics and director of the Office of Economic Analysis at the College of Charleston, Dr. Hefner will take a look at the future of the national and regional economies.
For more information, assistance, or to report a last minute change in plans, Trustees may contact Brenda Torrence, vice president for business affairs, at Brenda@scicu.org or 803-799-7122.
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State and Federal Student Financial Aid Threatened
The drive to reduce government spending is threatening student financial aid at both the state and federal levels.
As the South Carolina General Assembly struggles to balance a budget estimated to be $800 million underfunded, the level of support for need-based Tuition Grants and merit scholarships such as Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, and HOPE continues to face close scrutiny.
The House Ways and Means Committee is in the process of writing the state's FY 2012 Appropriations Bill. Earl Mayo, executive director of the Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission, presented the Commission's budget request to the Higher Education subcommittee on January 18. While the Commission documented the need to increase the agency's budget to keep pace with the rising cost of tuitions, the more pragmatic request during another year of diminishing state revenues is to fund the program at the current year's level.
The Ways and Means Committee will consider subcommittee recommendations during the week of February 22. In the meantime, recipients of tuition grants and other state scholarships are engaged in a campaign to write their legislators and express to them how student aid impacts their educational and career aspirations.
Efforts to reduce spending on the federal level jeopardize funding for important student aid programs such as Pell Grants, Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (SEOG), LEAP state grants, and Perkins Loans. Within the next several weeks, Congress will be determining the funding levels for the remainder of FY 2011 and beginning the debate on the FY 2012 budget.
The current level of state and federal support must be maintained to continue to give needy students the opportunity to make long-lasting contributions to national, state, and local economic stability and growth. As NAICU President David Warren points out, "no one questions that reducing [state and] federal budgets is a critical policy objective. But as policy makers undertake this difficult task, they must keep in mind that a highly educated population is crucial to our national security and our competitiveness in the global economy."
SCICU and NAICU are engaged in efforts to make the case that funding state and federal student financial aid is a commitment to the future of our state and nation. During NAICU's annual meeting in Washington earlier this month, SCICU President & CEO Mike LeFever met with staff in each of South Carolina's eight Congressional offices to provide information specific to the state's students and independent colleges and universities.
College presidents, students, and parents should act now to educate members of the General Assembly and Congress on the facts about student aid programs and the public good that comes from them.
Additional information and resources are available on the Advocacy section at www.scicu.org or contact Mike LeFever at mike@scicu.org.
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Fleming Elected to National Board
 Betsy Fleming, president of Converse College since 2005, was elected to a 3-year term as an at-large member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Dr. Fleming is currently the vice chair of the SCICU Board of Trustees and chair of the organization's Council of College and University Presidents. She will join SCICU President Mike LeFever on NAICU's Policy Analysis & Public Relations Committee.
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CIU to Host Higher Education Roundtable
Columbia International University will be the host site for a Higher Education Roundtable sponsored by CapinCrouse, LLP. This "no charge" event is scheduled for March 1 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
Designed for chief financial officers, controllers, executive officers, and audit committee members, the roundtable discussions will focus on key issues and hot topics in the areas accounting, finance, technology, and tax.
For details and registration information, refer to the CapinCrouse announcement, or contact Diane Capin or Dan Campbell at 678.518.5301.
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Purchasing Collaborative Produces Big Dividends
 SCICU's fledgling collaborative purchasing program is starting to produce significant cost savings to its members. Working with ScholarBuys, member colleges and universities saved over $51,000 in FY 2010 when purchasing Microsoft products. The savings will surely increase as 12 members signed aboard a SCICU-Microsoft Consolidated Campus Agreement beginning on September 1, 2010. Select agreements with other members and student select agreements will result in additional savings throughout the year. In addition, the members benefit from a higher level of service and technical assistance from both Microsoft and ScholarBuys.
SCICU members using mobile telephone services under SCICU's agreement with AT&T saved almost $28,000 for the calendar year 2010. Discounts from 10% to 20% on more than 1000 lines of service were reported by 12 participating members.
Six SCICU schools have signed contracts with emergency notification provider e2Campus which makes them eligible to aggregate the number of users and realize savings of 28% or more per user. Even the smallest SCICU school can access the lower rates available only to campuses with 7500 or more users.
Savings opportunities are growing every day. SCICU members are encouraged to look to SCICU Business Partners and contract offerings through SCICU's membership in the Coalition for College Cost Savings whenever in the market for goods or services. |
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New Business Partner
SCICU's on-line network of providers offering goods and services to the independent higher education community in South Carolina grew by one partner in the last month. The Business Partners program provides a convenient marketplace where SCICU member colleges and universities can preview offerings from some of the top companies in the country. We proudly recognize and thank the following company for its support: Delta Dental
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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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