South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities

A Voice for Independent Higher Education in South Carolina

SCICU President & CEO
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Social media messages for Higher Education Day

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Please help SCICU extend the messages in your “Thanks for my Tuition Grant!” legislator letters by going to Facebook and Twitter.

A picture is worth a thousand words! Make sure to include selfies and videos in your Higher Education Day posts.

Suggested Tweets for Higher Education Day

You can copy and paste the following verbiage into a Tweet:
(Just make sure to replace [insert @college/university name] with your institution’s name and replace [first name last name] and I’m a [class level] [major name] with the appropriate language.):

General message:

Students from [insert @college/university name] and other #SCICU member colleges & universities are at the SC State House today saying “Thank you for my #TuitionGrant!” to Gov. @HenryMcMaster & members of the @SCSenate and @SCHouse.

If you want to make it personal:

I’m [first name last name] and I’m a [class level] [major name] at [insert @college/university name]. I’m at #HigherEd Day at the S.C. State House saying “Thank you for my #TuitionGrant!” to Gov. @HenryMcMaster & members of the @SCSenate and @SCHouse.

 

Suggested Facebook posts for Higher Education Day

You can copy and paste the following verbiage into a Facebook post:
(Just make sure to replace [insert @college/university name] with your institution’s name and replace [first name last name] and I’m a [class level] [major name] with the appropriate language.):

General message:

Students from [insert @college/university name] and other #SCICU member colleges & universities are at the SC State House today saying “Thank you for my #TuitionGrant!” to Gov. @HenryMcMaster & members of the SC Senate and SC House.

If you want to make it personal:

I’m [first name last name] and I’m a [class level] [major name] at [insert @college/university name]. I’m at #HigherEd Day at the S.C. State House saying “Thank you for my #TuitionGrant!” to Gov. @HenryMcMaster & members of the SC Senate and SC House. My #TuitionGrant makes it possible for me to attend the #SouthCarolina independent college of my choice.

SCICU’s pages on Facebook and Twitter:
SCICU Facebook page link: https://www.facebook.com/scindependentcollegesanduniversities
SCICU @reference for tagging on Facebook: @scindependentcollegesanduniversities (Copy/paste this @reference into your Facebook post to tag SCICU.)

SCICU President Jeff Perez Twitter handle: @SCICU_JeffPerez
Link to Jeff’s Twitter page: https://twitter.com/SCICU_JeffPerez

SCICU Comms. Director Shay West Twitter handle: @SCICU_ShayWest
Link to Shay’s Twitter page: https://twitter.com/SCICU_ShayWest

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2022 Higher Education Day – Schedule of Events

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Time
Activity
Location
9:00 a.m.Students and campus representatives assemble at Satterlee HallSatterlee Hall at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Trinity GPS address - 1100 Sumter St., Columbia
Satterlee Hall is the 9 a.m. venue – located on Senate St. near intersection of Sumter & Senate (one block south of Gervais St.)
9:00-9:15Student Orientation
1. Purpose of visit
2. Discussion points
3. Sequence of events
4. Maps to locations

Promptly at 9:15 - Students depart Satterlee Hall for visits with Senators and Representatives.
Satterlee Hall
9:30Students visit with legislators in Blatt (House), Gressette (Senate), and State House
Blatt (House), Gressette (Senate), and State House
See State House grounds map for building locations
10:15Students must be on State House second floor lobby no later than 10:15State House – Second floor lobby outside House Chamber balcony entrance
10:25Students to pre-stage in front of the House Chamber balcony entranceState House – Second floor lobby outside House Chamber balcony entrance
10:30Students will be ushered as a group from the second floor lobby onto the balcony for House Resolution reading and recognition of colleges and universities.House Chamber balcony
11:00Students leave House Chamber and assemble on State House steps on North side (Gervais St. side) for Higher Education Day Proclamation ceremony with Gov. McMaster.State House steps – Gervais St. side (north side)
11:15Students must be in place on State House North side steps (Gervais St. side) by 11:15.State House steps – Gervais St. side (north side)
11:30Students participate in Higher Education Day Proclamation ceremony with Governor McMaster.State House steps – Gervais St. side (north side)
11:50
Media and photo opportunities - Great opportunities for students to tell the media how important Tuition Grants are to them!State House steps – Gervais St. side (north side)
12:15 p.m.Participants receive box lunches (grab and go) provided by host organizations and return to campus.

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2022 Higher Education Day – Talking Points

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Talking Points

  • Your top message – If you only have a matter of seconds (meeting your legislator in passing): “My name is _______, and I go to (name of college or university). Thank you for my Tuition Grant! It makes it possible for me to attend the independent South Carolina college/university of my choice.”
  • Thank your legislators for the need-based SC Tuition Grants Program and the $10 million increase last year.
  • Point out that a SC Tuition Grant allows you to attend the independent college of your choice and makes it more affordable for you and nearly 12,000 other South Carolina residents. TELL LEGISLATORS YOUR STORIES!
  • Thank both House and Senate members for their support of retaining the $10 million increase from last year.
  • Thank your legislators for any other state scholarship you receive (Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, HOPE, or Lottery Tuition Assistance).
  • Let them know it’s exciting to be joined today by students from the public universities.

SC Tuition Grant Program Facts

  • The SC Tuition Grants Program was created in 1970 and provides need-based grants to eligible SC residents attending in-state, independent colleges on a full-time basis.
  • Maximum Tuition Grant for 2021-22 is $4,390.
  • SC Tuition Grants are made to individual students, not the colleges.
  • SC Tuition Grants can only be used toward tuition and fee charges, and are contingent on satisfactory academic progress.

General SC Independent Higher Education Facts

  • SCICU’s 21 member schools enroll over 35,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
  • About 67% of students enrolled at SCICU member schools are South Carolina residents and 45% are minorities.
  • Independent Higher Education students account for nearly one-quarter (23%) of the bachelor’s degrees awarded in SC.

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2022 Higher Education Day – Maps

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Two maps you will need for today:

  1. State House grounds
  2. State House interior map

Important times to remember:
After you leave Satterlee Hall at 9:15 a.m., you will have time to meet with your respective Senators and Representatives. Please be mindful of our time requirement of assembling on the State House 2nd floor lobby by 10:15.

By 10:15 a.m. – Please be in place on the State House 2nd floor lobby outside the House chamber balcony entrance. As a group you will be ushered onto the balcony for the reading of the Joint Higher Education Day Resolution and recognition by the Joint Session of the House and Senate.

By 11:15 a.m. – Please be in place on the State House North steps (Gervais St. side) for the Higher Education Day Proclamation Ceremony with Gov. McMaster and opportunities to share your story with the media.

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2022 Higher Education Day – Find Your Legislator

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How to find your S.C. Senator and S.C. Representative

  1. We will use “Find my legislator” on the S.C. State House website.
  2. When you type in your full home address (address, city, and zip code), the name of your S.C. Senator and S.C. Representative will appear.
  3. When you click on their names, you will go to their profile page, which will give you their respective office locations and bio information (Tip: See “Columbia address” section just to the right of the legislator’s photo.). Please refer to our State House Grounds Map for the location of the Blatt Building (House of Representatives members) and the Gressette Building (Senators).

Click here to locate your S.C. Senator and S.C. Representative.

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