Three SCICU institutional members welcome new presidents to start the 2012-2013 academic year. On July 1, Beth Dinndorf, an attorney and business executive with 17 years of leadership experience with a private women's liberal arts college in Minnesota, began her tenure at Columbia College. She succeeds Dr. Caroline Whitson who served as president for the past 11 years.

Presbyterian College will have a new leader on July 15. Dr. Claude Lily, dean of the College of Business and Behavioral Science at Clemson University, will move in to the position held by Dr. John Griffith since 1998.

Newberry College will welcome Dr. Maurice William Scherrens to become the college's 22nd President, effective August 13, 2012. Dr. Scherrens is currently the senior vice president and chief operating officer at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. He will succeed Dr. John Hudgins who has been serving as Newberry's president since the resignation of Dr. Scott Koerwer on November 12, 2011.

We wish all our presidents the best of success and encourage them to join their peers and colleagues at the next meeting of the SCICU Board of Trustees on October 11 on the campus of Benedict College in Columbia.

With the approach of the end of SCICU's fiscal year on August 31, both the Annual Fund drive and Trustees Challenge will come to an end.

The Trustee Challenge encourages current trustees, with the exception of the college presidents, to secure unrestricted gifts from new donors who have not given to SCICU in the past year. Funds received through the Unrestricted Program are distributed each year to the member colleges and universities based on a formula approved by the Board of Trustees. A $5000 grant from the Foundation for Independent Higher was used to sponsor a series of 5 donor receptions to introduce potential donors to SCICU and its member colleges and universities.

The Annual Fund is an opportunity for trustees, staff, and friends of independent higher education in South Carolina to contribute unrestricted gifts for distribution to SCICU member institutions. Each year the goal is to have 100% of the SCICU board members and staff contribute to the fund.

To make a gift, go on-line to the SCICU website or contact Eddie Shannon at eddie@scicu.org or 803-799-7122.

Section 41-35-20 of the 1976 Code of Laws of South Carolina denies unemployment benefits to individuals employed in an instructional, research, or principal administrative capacity in an institution of higher education for any week of unemployment which begins during the period between two successive academic years, or during a similar period between two regular terms, whether or not successive, or during a period of paid sabbatical leave provided for in the individual's contract, if the individual has a contract or a reasonable assurance that the individual will perform services in this capacity for both these academic years or both these terms.

House Bill 4786 extended the higher education exclusion to include individuals who performed services for a private employer holding a contractual relationship with the educational institution and is providing the services to or on behalf of an educational institution or an institution of higher education. These individuals are ineligible to receive benefits for any week which commences during a period between two successive academic years or terms if the individual performs these services in the first of those academic years or terms and there is a reasonable assurance that the individual will perform these services in the second of those academic years or terms. In addition, benefits are not payable to any individual for any week which commences during an established and customary vacation period or holiday recess if the individual performs these services in the period immediately before the vacation period or holiday recess, and there is a reasonable assurance that the individual will perform these services in the period immediately following the vacation period or holiday recess.

The new provisions are effective June 18, 2012. Please consult your institution's legal counsel or the Department of Employment and Workforce for additional information.