Governor Mark Sanford and the South Carolina General Assembly recognized the week of April 12- 16 as Independent College and University Week. The independent college community celebrated the week in several ways.
Recognizing a Legacy of Teaching and Learning
On April 13, faculty from each of SCICU’s 20 institutions of higher learning were honored at the 5th Annual Excellence in Teaching Awards Dinner held in Columbia. Selected for their ability to teach and inspire, these outstanding faculty were recognized with a certificate and a $3000 stipend for professional development. According to Sara Fisher, chair of the SCICU Board of Trustees, “this year’s award recipients demonstrated a remarkable blend of scholarship, passion, commitment, and the ability to motivate students to new heights, hallmarks of a liberal arts education.” [See attached list of Award Recipients below]
State House Day
April 14 was also declared Independent College and University Day. In honor of the event, 90 students and staff from 13 member colleges and universities gathered in Columbia. Rep. Phil Owens from Easley welcomed the students to Columbia and the State House and spoke to them about the importance of higher education in moving South Carolina forward and the significant role that private colleges play in this journey. Rep. Owens is chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee and sponsor of the 2010 Concurrent Resolution.
Following their meeting with Chairman Owens, the students visited the State House where they met with members of the House and Senate. The students personally thanked their local legislators for their support of student financial aid such as the needs-based Tuition Grants program and the Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, HOPE and Tuition Assistance merit scholarships. Last year students attending South Carolina’s independent colleges and universities received over $73 million in state financial aid. The students also asked the legislators to fund the Partnership Among South Carolina’s Academic Libraries with $1 million in unclaimed lottery prize money. PASCAL allows all of the state’s public and private colleges, universities and technical schools to share resources through a central catalogue and lending program.
A Note of Thanks
Prior to the celebration at the State House, students attending SCICU’s colleges and universities wrote almost 2500 personal letters to their local senators or representatives. Each letter thanked the legislators for supporting the Tuition Grants program and encouraged them to continue funding this and other programs that make it possible for many students to attend the independent college or university of their choice. Over 90% of the Tuition Grant recipients at North Greenville University wrote nearly 1000 letters to lead all SCICU schools. Spartanburg Methodist College placed second with a participation rate of 47%.
 Excellence in Teaching Award Winners |