COLUMBIA, S.C. (courtesy allenuniversity.edu) — The Boeing Company and Allen University announced Nov. 11 a new $1.5 million partnership to establish the Boeing Institute on Civility at Allen University. The Boeing Institute will be a national hub for teaching and provide programming aimed at advancing civil discourse in America and across the globe.

“The Institute on Civility will become a powerful catalyst for helping to promote thoughtful, civil discourse,” said Boeing president and CEO David Calhoun. “Empowering students and the broader community to debate public issues with civility and respect is an important step on the journey to developing lasting societal solutions.”

“The reach of The Boeing Company is particularly compatible with the University’s aspiration to demonstrate that service to the greater good does not stop in one’s own community, but has the obligation to be expansive,” said Allen University president Ernest McNealey. “While the Institute is the centerpiece of the Waverly Project, all aspects of it will confidently pursue a better future and honor those who did so in the past.”

“I want to thank Dr. McNealey, Mr. Calhoun, and Bishop Green for their support of this Institute on Civility. We are at an inflection point in this great country and we must learn to share our lives together,” said Congressman Jim Clyburn (SC-6). “This Institute means a whole lot to me, this institution, this state, and this nation.”

Boeing funding will support the renovation of the historic Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital, which will house the Institute once construction is complete. The Institute will include a memorial to honor the nine victims of the 2015 Mother Emanuel AME Church tragedy in Charleston and be the home to the South Carolina African American Hall of Fame.

This investment builds on Boeing’s commitment to advancing racial equity and compliments the company’s recent $10 million investment in similar causes. Over the last five years, Boeing has invested more than $17 million in organizations to expand access and address inequities for communities of color across South Carolina.

ANDERSON, S.C. (courtesy andersonuniversity.edu) — The Anderson University School of Nursing has received the PASCAL SCALE Affordable Learning Grant for the development of an Open Education Resource (OER). The grant will significantly reduce textbook costs for students participating in NUR 453: Leadership and Management.

Dr. Andrea Raines, project lead for the implementation of the grant, said the faculty in the School of Nursing constantly look for ways to reduce the cost of textbooks for their students.

“This grant will open up many opportunities for School of Nursing students,” Raines said. “The goal is to reduce textbook expenditures, provide students with relevant and authentic information and provide nursing students with a centralized location for all course learning materials.”

The current required textbook for NUR 453: Leadership and Management costs over $100, which is difficult for some students to afford. Raines said that with the creation of an Open Education Resource, students nationwide could save nearly $85 million.

Dr. Carol Archuleta, dean of the Anderson University School of Nursing, said the decision to create the OER largely had to do with constructive feedback from students. The School of Nursing faculty has been receptive to the voices of students throughout this process, and the grant team is working to produce the material for student use as soon as possible.

Research and composition for the OER will begin in December 2020 and is projected to continue through April 2021. The grant team hopes to have a finished resource to provide to students by the 2021 fall semester.

“This grant helps us realize ways we can significantly impact the cost savings we desire to have for our students,” said Dr. Donald Peace, dean of the Anderson University College of Health Professions. “I’m very proud of the team that helped write and coordinate this successful grant application for the School of Nursing.”

The entire grant team is excited for the benefits that the OER will provide the School of Nursing, and especially the students within it.

“This resource has the potential to significantly improve upon the retention of course content,” Raines said. “But it will also increase the skills needed in rapidly changing career pathways in the field of health care.”

COLUMBIA, S.C. (courtesy benedict.edu) — Benedict College is partnering with Blaze Fire Games to launch a new eSports Club on the Midlands campus. The Tigers join a large and growing world of electronic sports, and they recently hosted the first eSport Madden and NCAA College Football Tournament with two first-place winners.

“Esports is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. It is a billion-dollar industry with a combined projected global audience of 557 million by 2021,” said Benedict College President Roslyn Clark Artis.

Isaiah Reese, CEO and co-founder of Blaze Fire Games, said the 360 partnership would emphasize content creation, innovation, and how to leverage gaming and technology as a professional career pathway. As part of the program, participants will have access to industry micro-credentialing certificates in subjects including intro to esports, coaching, broadcasting, esports digital marketing, esports project management, AI gaming analytics, and health and wellness.

“We are extremely excited to launch the esports and competitive team community with Benedict College as its partner.” said Reese, “This agreement will allow our company to break down barriers and introduce the Benedict Tigers to the two billion dollar gaming esports industry.”

The College’s Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) organized the football tournament under the leadership of Dr. Paula Shelby, eSports Club program director.

First­-place winners were eSports Club President Keivonte Gallman in the NCAA College Football category and Jayden Lockett in the Madden category.

“Congratulations to Jayden Lockett and Keivonte Gallman on their first-place wins during our inaugural eSports Tournament,” said Dr. Artis.

The Benedict College eSport Club is accepting new gamers. Interested gamers are invited to contact the college via douglas.elliott@benedict.edu or paula.shelby@benedict.edu or call 803-705-4775.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (courtesy charlestonsouthern.edu) — The challenges of the year 2020 did not hold the Charleston Southern University campus back from achieving another record-setting goal. Last night, students, faculty and staff packed Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes until every last stuffed animal, pencil, jump rope and toothbrush had a home.

This year’s goal was set at 7,000 packed boxes. CSU packed 7,095, not only beating last year’s national record when the campus hit 5,249 shoeboxes, but surpassing the new goal by 95 boxes Nov 12.

“God is certainly bigger than any pandemic,” Laurie Diel, executive administrative assistant for the VP of Student Life, said. Diel helps lead the OCC project for the university. “You just have to have faith in the promise that He will do immeasurably more than we can ever imagine.”

More than 3,000 stuffed animals, 10,000 t-shirts, and thousands of other hygiene and school supplies were donated throughout the year. Several opportunities were shared with the campus community and university supporters, including Dental Health Month in February, Squeaky Clean (hygiene) Month in April, School Supplies Month in August, and Socks for the Box in September.

Operation Christmas Child has delivered shoebox gifts to more than 178 million children in more than 150 countries since 1993. For many, the shoebox is their first gift ever received. According to their website, an OCC shoebox is also a tangible expression of God’s love—a complete stranger clear across the world gave selflessly so that a child could feel joy. It also brings the opportunity to reach every child with the Gospel.

Stay involved with the CSU’s ongoing OCC efforts year-round by checking out charlestonsouthern.edu/OCC.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (courtesy claflin.edu) — Claflin University’s Pathways from Prison Program was recently awarded a one-year $40,000 planning grant from the Laughing Gull Foundation.

The Laughing Gull Foundation “is a progressive family foundation rooted in the U.S. South.” The organization’s programming efforts are in the areas of Higher Education in Prison, LGBTQ Equality, and Climate and Environment. In 2019 the Laughing Gull Foundation approved over $1.6 million in grants to over 25 organizations that increase “access to high quality, accredited college courses in prisons.” Laughing Gull Foundation Board President Meg Baesmith noted in 2019, “LGF is proud to continue our investment in the field of higher education in prison. We are excited to see the higher education in prison field grow in the South.”

“Given the Laughing Gull Foundation’s deep commitment to higher education in the South, it is especially exciting for them to recognize Claflin’s work in this space,” noted Dr. Belinda Wheeler, director of Claflin’s Pathways from Prison Program and Claflin’s Center for Social Justice. “This particular grant, coupled with our U.S. Department of Education Second Chance Pell Program grant, will go a long way to ensuring we are offering currently incarcerated individuals throughout the state of S.C. with exceptional course programming and advising. We look forward to having a very long and successful partnership with this outstanding organization.”

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (courtesy coker.edu) — John Florence, Jr., vice president for human resources, general counsel, and secretary for Sonoco Products Company, was recently elected to the Coker University Board of Trustees. He will serve a three-year term.

“Mr. Florence brings thoughtful experience and unique perspectives to the board,” said Dr. Natalie Harder, president of Coker University. “His knowledge and skills will contribute greatly to navigating the current and future Coker University environment. We are excited for Mr. Florence to join the Coker University Board of Trustees.”

Florence joined Sonoco in 2015 as the company’s corporate attorney. In addition to managing legal work for the company, Florence manages Sonoco’s corporate secretary and governance functions.

Prior to Sonoco, Florence worked as an attorney at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A., in Columbia, S.C., where he handled legal work for Sonoco and other clients. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina, a J.D. from Samford University, and a B.A. in English from Presbyterian College.

Florence is a member of the American Bar Association, South Carolina Bar Association, Richland County Bar Association, and the Association of Corporate Counsel. He is a member of the U.S.C. Moore School of Business Partnership Foundation and a 2018 graduate of Liberty Fellows. He serves on the board of trustees for the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics.

The Coker University Board of Trustees meets quarterly and maintains broad responsibility for the mission, long-range direction, policies and financial condition of the institution.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (courtesy columbiasc.edu) — Columbia College has announced the appointment of Dr. Jeff Bowe as Dean of Online Education. He begins his role on November 9, 2020.

“Dr. Bowe brings extensive experience in all facets of online education—including the development of high-quality programs and teaching, recruiting students, forging partnerships with two-year institutions, and much more, said Dr. Madeleine Schep, Columbia College provost. We are excited that he is joining Columbia College to strengthen our growing online program offerings with an early focus on providing superior quality programs and a great student experience.”

Prior to joining Columbia College, Dr. Bowe served as dean of Distance and Online Learning at Catawba College, in Salisbury, N.C. He has an academic and professional background in business, having earned his MBA in management from Indiana University and DBA in marketing from Anderson University (Indiana).

Bowe says that he’s thrilled about his role at Columbia College. “Columbia College is in an outstanding position today,” he said. “It is geographically in a high population growth area, and it is culturally and structurally poised to leverage the explosion in online learning. I’m thrilled to join the Koala team at this time, and look forward to helping grow its regional and then national online presence. Online education today is about both access and enhancement. It allows so many more desiring and deserving students to access higher education to improve their personal and career opportunities, and the online technology and resources today can enhance learning in traditional classrooms as well.”

In his new role, Bowe will provide leadership in online undergraduate and graduate programs by assessing and enhancing current online programs. He will also oversee the virtual learning environment and provide engaging student development initiatives.