Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez —

From my years on college campuses, I know how bittersweet graduation is. We’re happy that our students are opening the next chapters of their lives, confident they are equipped to take on the world. But we’ve spent much time with these extraordinary young people and it’s tough to say goodbye.

I think that special relationship is captured in the word “inspiration.”

Interestingly, the Latin origin of the word “inspiration” means both “blow into” and “breathe in.” Those two meanings capture our experience with our students.

First, our faculty and staff are an inspiration for our students. They are role models who, every day, show our students what’s possible in terms of personal achievement. They are mentors and guides who help students navigate the challenges of college, and demonstrate the sense of duty and service we expect our students to embody.

Second, they inspire students to do their best. They exhort them, they push them, they demand of them, more than students thought themselves possible. Many first-generation college students attend our institutions precisely because they know they will be held to the standard of their abilities, regardless of circumstances. They choose the path that may be more challenging, but offers the greatest reward. And students are secure knowing their mentors will be there to guide them along the way.

Because of the mentorship and encouragement students receive, they are empowered to experience the fulfillment that comes from personal inspiration – a revelation that had eluded them. In a moment of clarity, a concept that had seemed incomprehensible, is suddenly understood, almost simple. But that moment is hard-earned – students put in hours of reading, research, discussion and hard thinking.

These inspirations do not occur solely in the classroom or the lab, but during students’ many experiences at our colleges. By exploring new interests and confronting unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations, they discover things about themselves they didn’t know. These inspirations may reinforce their thinking or take them in entirely new directions. Passions are ignited that become lifelong pursuits.

Now, at graduation, after having served as an inspiration, and driving them to new inspirations, our student will go on to become leaders in their professions, fields of study, and communities. Where once they had breathed in, they will now go on to inspire others.

 

SCICU congratulates the thousands of students at South Carolina’s independent colleges and universities whose many accomplishments culminated in earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in 2019.

Please click on your favorite college or university below to read about their 2019 commencement events:

 
 

Allen University – Graduate highlight – Robinson: “I never wanted to give up”

Anderson University – Spring commencement sees 571 new alumni

Benedict College – Benedict honorary degree celebrates friendship of two beloved pastors

Charleston Southern University – CSU celebrates largest graduating class

Claflin University – President Tisdale tells graduates “The world is calling on you” in sesquicentennial commencement message

Coker College – Coker College celebrates 111th spring commencement

Columbia College – Photo highlights available from May 4 commencement

Columbia International University – Former congresswoman Michele Bachmann fires up CIU graduates: “You are God’s handiwork“

Converse College – Converse College celebrates the Class of 2019

Erskine College – Erskine welcomes Andrew Brunson, pastor formerly imprisoned in Turkey, as commencement speaker

Furman University – Furman says goodbye to the Class of 2019

Limestone College – Limestone graduation photo gallery available on Flickr

Morris College – Morris holds 108th graduation

Newberry College – Newberry celebrates graduating class of 2019

North Greenville Unversity – Pereyo tells spring graduates to make God their priority

Presbyterian College – Class of 2019 takes the stage at 136th commencement

Southern Wesleyan University – SWU graduates Class of 2019 in two ceremonies

Spartanburg Methodist College – Photo highlights available from SMC’s 2019 graduation ceremony

Voorhees College – Voorhees Class of 2019 receives powerful message from Rev. Al Sharpton

Wofford College – Wofford holds 165th Commencement Exercises

Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez —

In my short tenure as President & CEO of SCICU, I can say with all confidence last week was one of the very high points, showcasing the finest our campuses have to offer – our students and those who teach them.

Last Tuesday I had the honor of accepting Chairman Jerry Govan’s offer to make a presentation to the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus. The legislators were impressed by the diversity our campuses offer. We expand the array of environments in which students, particularly first generation and minority students, can succeed. We add small campuses, faith-based campuses, and our Historically Black Colleges and Universities, known as HBCUs. I also stressed there are seven other SCICU campuses where African-American students make up more than 20 percent of the enrollment. And we demonstrate the importance of diversity on our Board of Trustees, where 32 percent are African-American.

That night we celebrated the SCICU Excellence In Teaching Awards Dinner (Please click here to see a gallery of photos from the awards dinner.). This is our chance to acknowledge the finest teaching at our campuses. This being my first dinner, I was deeply impressed by the show of support for teaching excellence. About 180 attendees, including seven campus presidents, were on hand to honor the award recipients from each of our institutions. Many thanks to the seven campus presidents who joined us.

As I read the profiles of the Excellence in Teaching Award recipients, I was struck by how each professor had a unique approach to teaching, but they all shared a dedication to the success of each and every one of their students.

The next morning was the opportunity for our students to shine at the annual State House Day, which is the culmination of the annual student letter-writing campaign. I thank the campuses for their participation by sending a total of about 100 students who had received support from the South Carolina Tuition Grant Program (Please click here to view a gallery of photos from State House Day.).

We kicked off the morning by honoring Sen. Vincent Sheheen as our 2019 Legislative Champion. Sen. Sheheen has been a steadfast supporter of higher education, including our private colleges and universities, and read from a legislative concurrent resolution designating April 8-12 as SC Independent Colleges and Universities Week. He also shared with the students the impact on legislators of their letter-writing campaign, and for taking the time to personally thank the legislators.

That impact has never been greater! We announced the stunning results of the legislative letter-writing campaign. I’m very pleased to report that our students wrote more than 9,000 letters to their state senators and representatives! That handily beats the previous record of 8,200 letters. And congratulations to Anderson University students for writing the most letters, and Erskine for having the highest percentage participation.

After the ceremony our students and those accompanying them, including Limestone President Darrell Parker, met with legislators and other public officials. The smiles and enthusiasm of our students was matched by that of legislators who were delighted to share time with these students who are making the most of the opportunity provided them by the Tuition Grants Program.

Thanks to the outreach of Coker College President Robert Wyatt, Speaker Jay Lucas acknowledged our students from the floor of the SC House of Representatives. Speaker Lucas asked our students, who were gathered in the House gallery, to stand by college. There were cheers and applause from the legislators for each our campuses.

We concluded the day with a group photo on the steps of the Capitol. What a great image – our students all wearing the colors of their alma maters.

I capped off the week by serving as a delegate at the investiture of Morris College President Dr. Leroy Staggers. Investitures and inaugurations capture the spirit of an institution by honoring its past and traditions while expressing optimism for the future under new leadership. Dr. Staggers’ investiture conveyed his deep ties to Morris, having worked there for 25 years, and his eminent qualifications to guide the college to a bright future.

SCICU campuses were well represented – thanks to the SCICU campus presidents who were also delegates: Dr. Ernest McNealy (Allen), Dr. Roslyn Artis (Benedict), Dr. Dondi Costin (Charleston Southern), and Dr. W. Franklin Evans (Voorhees). Claflin’s President Dr. Henry Tisdale was a distinguished guest and a member of the platform party.

As I look back on last week, I consider myself deeply fortunate to be associated with the SCICU campuses, our visionary leaders, inspiring faculty and the students who benefit from their knowledge and guidance.

COLUMBIA, SC — Highlighting superior teaching, dynamic student advocacy, and visionary legislative leadership, South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Week demonstrated some of the finest qualities of independent higher education.

As proclaimed by Gov. McMaster and memorialized in a concurrent resolution of the SC General Assembly, April 8-12 was designated Independent Colleges and Universities Week, with April 10 recognized as Independent Colleges and Universities Day at the South Carolina State House.

The week kicked off with the 14th annual Excellence In Teaching awards dinner at the Columbia Convention Center. SCICU’s 20 member colleges and universities gathered on Tuesday, April 9 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center for an evening commemorating the teaching achievements of outstanding professors. Each member college and university selected a leading faculty representative for the SCICU Excellence In Teaching award, with each recipient receiving a $3,000 award for professional development. Please visit scicu.org for a slide show featuring the 20 Excellence In Teaching award recipients. Click here to read more about the award recipients. A photo gallery of 2019 Excellence In Teaching award recipient photos is available here.

“Each award recipient brought a special quality to their teaching,” said SCICU President & CEO Jeff Perez. “But they all shared an unalloyed commitment to their students.”

Within hours after the conclusion of the Excellence In Teaching event, students from SCICU member colleges and universities traveled to Columbia for the annual State House Day on April 10. This rally represents the culmination of a student letter-writing campaign that resulted in members of the SC General Assembly receiving over 9,000 letters in support of the SC Tuition Grants Program, a new record. Please click here to see a gallery of photos from the 2019 Independent Colleges and Universities Day.

Students gathered across from the State House for an early morning warm-up rally and visit with Sen. Vince Sheheen, SCICU’s 2019 Legislative Champion.

“Independent higher education is very important to the growth of South Carolina,” Sen. Sheheen told the students. “Legislators pay close attention to the thousands of letters that you write in support of the Tuition Grants Program.”

Katie Harrison, executive director of the South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission, presented students with an update on tuition grants numbers and projected funding.
Following the warm-up rally, students visited with legislators and other public officials at the State House and in legislative offices.

The day culminated with Speaker of the House Representative Jay Lucas recognizing SCICU college and university groups in the House gallery.

“Our students are our most effective ambassadors,” said Perez. “They remind legislators that South Carolina’s future is only as bright as how much we support our next generation of leaders.”