As recognized by the General Assembly and the Governor (see related articles), the week of April 4-8 is Independent College and University Week and April 6 is Independent College and University Day.

Governor Nikki Haley recently issued a Proclamation recognizing April 4-8, 2011 as Independent College and University Week and April 6, 2011 as Independent College and University Day. In her Proclamation, Governor Haley commends South Carolina's private, non-profit colleges and universities for their "common commitment to promoting critical thinking and creativity by preparing students for full lives, productive careers and active citizenship."

 

The Governor observes that our state's independent institutions of higher learning have "established an unparalleled record of excellence in teaching and nurturing students." She encourages all South Carolinians to recognize independent colleges and universities "for their positive contributions to ensuring our continued status as leaders in higher education."

 

Ted Pitts, Governor Haley's Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Budget and Cabinet Affairs, will present the Governor's Proclamation to the students attending Statehouse Day at noon on the south steps of the Capitol. Ted is a 1994 graduate of SCICU-member Presbyterian College and a former member of the House of Representatives.

The Senate and House adopted a Concurrent Resolution that honors private, non-profit colleges and universities for providing an outstanding education to students from all walks of life. The resolution, sponsored by Sen. John Courson, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, was adopted by the House just moments before the House concluded its work on a state budget which reaffirmed the members' commitment to student aid.

 

The Concurrent Resolution also establishes the week of April 4-8 as Independent College and University Week and April 6 as Independent College and University Day. As part of this week-long celebration, SCICU will recognize outstanding faculty at a dinner on April 5 and host a student rally at the Statehouse on April 6.

[Link Resolution S 688 http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess119_2011-2012/bills/688.docx]

The House gave third reading on March 16 to the FY 2011-2012 Appropriations Bill. The bill funds the Tuition Grants Commission at a level similar to the current year's budget. Funding at this level will allow the Commission to continue maximum grant awards at $2,600.

 

The state's merit scholarships will be fully-funded under the House's proposal. Using a combination of lottery and general fund appropriations, the House bill guarantees that each student who qualifies for a Palmetto Fellow, LIFE, HOPE, or Tuition Assistance scholarship will receive the full statutory award.

 

The Partnership Among South Carolina's Academic Libraries (PASCAL) will receive about $10,000 less starting July 1. PASCAL was given first priority for excess unclaimed lottery prize money up to $1.5 million. This money is tenuous as the unclaimed amount must exceed $12.4 million before PASCAL becomes eligible. 

 

With the exception of student financial aid and a few other programs, state agencies suffered cuts between 6%-10% as the House wrestled with a deficit that was estimated to be in excess of $800 million at the beginning of the process.

 

The budget moves to the Senate where the Finance Committee will put together its own version for consideration by the full Senate. Advocates for independent higher education are urged to encourage senators to fund student financial aid at the levels established by the House.

The South Carolina Senate on Thursday confirmed Gov. Nikki Haley's appointment of Furman University President Rod Smolla to serve a four-year term on the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

 

The 14-member Commission serves as the state's coordinating board for higher education.  Its mission is to promote quality and efficiency in the state system of higher education with the goal of fostering economic growth and human development in South Carolina.

 

Smolla became Furman's 11th president on July 1, 2010.  A nationally recognized legal scholar, teacher, advocate and writer, he is one of America's foremost experts on issues relating to freedom of speech, academic freedom and freedom of the press.  He is a graduate of Yale University and Duke University Law School.

 

Before coming to Furman, Smolla served three years as Dean and Roy L. Steinheimer Professor of Law at Washington and Lee School of Law.  He has also been Dean and Allen Professor at the University of Richmond School of Law as well as Director of the Institute of Bill of Rights Law at the College of William & Mary.

The Student Aid Alliance, a coalition of 61 higher education organizations committed to protecting the federal student aid programs, today unveiled a new website (www.studentaidalliance.org) to help students and higher education leaders make the case for protecting Pell Grants and other core federal student aid programs from drastic budget cuts.

 

The new site highlights student success stories, integrates the Student Aid Alliance's new Facebook page (facebook.com/studentaidalliance) and Twitter account (twitter.com/stuaidalliance), provides an action center for contacting policymakers, and gives access to data on the prevalence of federal student aid by state and congressional district.

The new site is being launched as Congress continues to work on a budget deal for the current fiscal year.  The House of Representatives passed legislation (H.R. 1) on February 19 that deeply cuts the core student aid programs, including reducing the maximum Pell Grant by 15 percent and reducing grants for more than 9 million low-income students, and eliminating the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and Leveraging Education Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) programs. 

 

The federal budget for the remainder of the current fiscal year beyond mid-March is still up in the air, and student aid is still on the table for more cuts.

 

 "Federal student aid funding is at risk of being cut at the worst possible time for low-income students and the nation," said David L. Warren, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and co-chair of the Student Aid Alliance. "Students and college leaders need to continue the drumbeat of support for student aid, explaining how important these funds are to low-income students, regional economies, and the future of the United States."

On Thursday, March 21, the South Carolina House of Representatives extended the privilege of the floor to the North Greenville University Crusaders football and cheerleading teams. During the morning's ceremony, members of the House honored the football team for its 2010 Victory Bowl Championship (National Christian College Athletic Association). The cheerleaders were named 2011 Grand Champions in a national competition hosted by the Christian Cheerleaders of America. NGU President Jimmy Epting led the contingent of students and coaches into the House chambers and accepted a House Resolution memorializing the teams' accomplishments.

 

SCICU is a member of the Coalition for College Cost Savings. CCCS is comprised of 24 member organizations in 22 states that collectively serve 579 private colleges and over 1.1 million students across the United States. The organization and staff is dedicated to helping private institutions of higher education improve processes and reduce and contain costs through collaboration.

 

Because of their membership in SCICU, all of our member schools have access to CCCS's national contracts and services. We are pleased to offer all of the resources of CCCS to our members. Links to the CCCS website can be found in this newsletter and on the Business Partners pages of the SCICU website.