Representative Chandra E. Dillard of Greenville was named SCICU 2013 Legislative Champion at a recent meeting of the SCICU Board of Trustees. Rep. Dillard's support for independent higher education has been unflinching. She has worked tirelessly to keep higher education affordable for all students and to promote not only access but higher retention and graduation rates.

 

A public servant at heart, Rep. Dillard was elected to Greenville City Council in 1999 where she served until her election to the South Carolina House of Representatives in November 2008. Rep. Dillard serves on the Environmental Affairs subcommittee of the Agriculture committee and the Invitation and Memorials Committee. She is also a member of the newly established South Carolina Housing Commission, created by a bill she co-sponsored in her first term. Rep. Dillard is Deputy Leader for the South Carolina Democratic House Caucus, treasurer for South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, and Second-Vice President of the General Assembly Women's Caucus. In 2010, she was selected as the elected official of the year by the South Carolina Housing and Finance Development Authority. Rep. Dillard was elected by her peers to serve on the House Ethics Committee beginning in the 2013 session.

A Business Administration graduate of Winthrop University, Rep. Dillard also holds a Masters of Public Administration from Walden University. She is a graduate of the Richard W. Riley Diversity Leadership Academy of Furman University 2004, Leadership Greenville Class XXVI, and Leadership South Carolina 2007. Rep. Chandra Dillard is employed by Furman University as Director of Community Relations.

 

Students from SCICU member schools will gather at the State House for Independent Higher Education Day on April 17. At that time, Rep. Dillard will receive the 2013 SCICU Legislative Champion Award during a noon ceremony on the south steps of the State House.

The House of Representatives will begin crafting the state budget for FY
2013-2014 on March 11 at 1:00 p.m. At this point in the budget process, both Governor Haley and the House Ways and Means Committee recommend that the Tuition Grants Commission receive an additional $1.6 million in recurring state appropriations.

 

Earlier this week, the Tuition Grants Commission voted to increase next year's maximum grant from $2800 to $2900 provided that the current funding recommendations and latest projection of eligible students do not change.

 

The budget adopted by the Ways and Means Committee fully funds the Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, HOPE, and Tuition Assistance scholarship programs.  PASCAL, the Partnership Among South Carolina's Academic Libraries, is first in line to receive $1.5 million if there is a sufficient excess of unclaimed lottery prize money at the end of the year. Last year, PASCAL received $1.25 million from the same funding source.

 

The independent colleges and universities on this year's tour include Benedict College, Charleston Southern, University, Claflin University, Columbia College, Erskine College, Furman University, North Greenville University, Presbyterian College, Southern Wesleyan University, and Voorhees College.

 

Cost for this year's tour is $200.00 (or early bird $175, for those who register before March 30th) and includes lodging (double rooms), meals and snacks, transportation, and course registration fees. Participants are eligible for SDE recertification or LPC credit upon the successful completion of all course requirements. 

 

For more information, contact Stephenie Bergen at stephenie@scicu.org or 803-799-7122. Visit Registration or Events Page online. 

SCICU features some of its member colleges and universities' news on our website each month. Here are some of the articles we featured this month:

• B.I.G. Offers Unique Perspective on Education at Annual Youth Empowerment Summit
• Benedict Tigers Repeat As SIAC Men's Basketball Champions
• Anderson University Interior Design Student Wins Award  

To have your school featured in the "Member College News" section, please send your press releases to Stephenie Bergen at stephenie@scicu.org. 

 
To see all of our Member College News, please click here. 

SCICU's on-line network of providers offers goods and services to the independent higher education community in South Carolina. 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.