A powerful list of speakers has been assembled to present at the SCICU Biennial Retreat scheduled for February 24 and 25 at the Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms. The retreat is open to current and life members of the SCICU Board of Trustees and their guests.
Business and community leader Bill Barnet will be the keynote speaker at Sunday night's reception and dinner. Bill served two terms as mayor of Spartanburg from 2002 to 2010. He is CEO of The Barnet Co. and Barnet Development Co. and was president and CEO of William Barnet & Son, a global textile company founded by his great grandfather in 1898.
An advocate for education, Bill Barnet served as chairman of the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee and is on the Board of Trustees of the Duke Endowment. Most recently, he was named professor of civic engagement and leadership at Wofford College. Bill will talk about the importance of a liberal arts education in the 21st century.
John W. Martin, president and CEO of the Southeastern Institute of 
Research, Inc., will present Ten Transcendent Trends Shaping the Future of Education on Monday morning. John is also the co-founder and CEO of the Boomer Project, a national research- based marketing think tank that tracks major demographic and societal trends and provides strategic consultation on how to understand and effectively communicate with different generations - Silent Generation, Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials.
During his presentation, John will look at five major demographic and five major cultural trends that will drive changes in SCICU's member higher education institutions and classrooms.
Dr. David Warren is no stranger to SCICU. After nearly a decade as president of Ohio Wesleyan University, David has spent the last 20 years as president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. He has been a frequent guest at the Board's retreat.
A tireless crusader for America's private colleges and for increased financial aid funding for all college students, David is widely regarded as one of the most persuasive and influential voices for higher education within Washington, D.C. On Monday morning following the Board's business meeting, David will provide his perspective on the challenges facing independent higher education at the national and federal levels.
State Representative Chandra E. Dillard will assess the business at hand 
in the 2013 General Assembly and the budget prospects for the Tuition Grants and merit grants programs. Elected to her third term in the House in November, Rep. Dillard previously served for 10 years on Greenville City Council. As director of community relations at Furman University, Chandra knows the value of a liberal arts education and the importance of strong independent colleges and universities. She has participated in many SCICU programs and is a champion of independent higher education in the General Assembly.
The retreat will conclude with brief presentations by the presidents of the SCICU member colleges and universities attending the retreat.
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