South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities

A Voice for Independent Higher Education in South Carolina

SCICU President & CEO
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SCICU distributes $67,200 in CIC/UPS scholarships to South Carolina private colleges and universities

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — SCICU has distributed $67,200 in CIC/UPS Scholarships to assist 21 students at private colleges and universities in South Carolina. The scholarships were made possible by a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) in Washington, D.C., through the CIC/UPS Educational Endowment.

“The UPS Foundation has been a long-time and generous champion of independent college higher education, not only in South Carolina, but nationwide,” said Jeff Perez, president and CEO of South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU), the advocacy organization for independent colleges and universities in South Carolina. “We deeply appreciate the UPS Foundation’s support and recognize it has changed for the better the lives of many students at SCICU member institutions.”

Nationally, CIC provided more than $1.4 million in student scholarships through state-based associations to make private colleges and universities more affordable and accessible to underserved students.

Colleges and universities (and their respective CIC/UPS scholarship recipients) in South Carolina that received CIC/UPS Scholarships this year from SCICU include:

  • Allen University – Malik Sherode (Bishopville, SC)
  • Anderson University – Jazmyne Washington (Starr, SC)
  • Benedict College – Dejaniya Jackson (Orangeburg, SC)
  • Bob Jones University – Eli Solomon (Travelers Rest, SC)
  • Charleston Southern University – Allison Brown (Patrick, SC)
  • Claflin University – Kristina Pelzer (Orangeburg, SC)
  • Coker University – Christopher Maroney (Anderson, SC)
  • Columbia College – Jemeia Ayeni (Pikeville, NC)
  • Columbia International University – Reid Warga (Piedmont, SC)
  • Converse University – Luci Martinez-Olivares (Greenville, SC)
  • Erskine College – Jasmine Douglas (Powdersville, SC)
  • Furman University – Deljony Meralus (Greenville, SC)
  • Limestone University – Qualiza Anderson (Marietta, SC)
  • Morris College – Endayah Hanior (Warrenville, SC)
  • Newberry College – Riley Potter (Columbia, SC)
  • North Greenville University – Christopher Jackson (Inman, SC)
  • Presbyterian College – James Crim (Camden, SC)
  • Southern Wesleyan University – Keisha Holcombe (Walhalla, SC)
  • Spartanburg Methodist College – Shawn Motto (Spartanburg, SC)
  • Voorhees University – Inga Colclough (Sumter, SC)
  • Wofford College – Hayden Jones (Honea Path, SC)

“The Council of Independent Colleges is proud to support nearly 450 low-income, first-generation, minority, and new American students in 26 states through the CIC/UPS Scholarships,” said Marjorie Hass, president of the Council of Independent Colleges. “Through our partnership with SCICU, these scholarships help individual students pursue their education at one of South Carolina’s superb independent colleges and universities.”

The CIC/UPS Scholarships Program has made a private college education possible for more than 21,000 low-income, first generation, and minority students and has had a transformative impact on individuals, families, and communities across the country.

About the Council of Independent Colleges
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of 758 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility. CIC also conducts the largest annual conferences of college and university presidents and of chief academic officers in the United States. Founded in 1956, CIC is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit cic.edu.

About The UPS Foundation
Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, the UPS Foundation leads its global citizenship programs and is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. The foundation’s philanthropic approach centers on four focus areas: health & humanitarian relief, equity and economic empowerment, local engagement, and planet protection. To UPS, giving means combining employees’ skills, passion and time with the company’s logistics expertise, transportation assets, and charitable donations to make a measurable difference in society.

Look at me!

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SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez

L. Jeffrey Perez, Ph.D.
SCICU President and CEO

Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez –



What is an “influencer?”

According to Merriam-Webster it’s “a person who is able to generate interest in something (such as a consumer product) by posting about it on social media.”

To me, that means making a living from yelling, “Look at me!” They are famous for being famous. They then monetize that manufactured fame.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with that. Influencers can be entertaining and share useful information. The problem becomes when so many young people think “influencer” is a viable career path. According to a survey conducted by IZEA Worldwide, 67 percent of social media consumers said they’d like to be a paid social media influencer, but 30 percent said they already considered themselves to be an influencer.

To be an influencer means constantly seeking content, and constantly checking for hits, likes, and retweets. They are emblematic of the behaviors at the root of the increase in serious mental health issues born of social media overuse.

Imagine peering at yourself in a mirror countless times a day. You’d become fixated on every little imperfection and absorbed with what you’d think of as your attractive features. And when you’re not looking in the mirror you’re looking to see if others are looking at you and comparing yourself to them.

Social media is a mirror with a scoreboard.

There’s a term for this: narcissism. And it isn’t healthy.

According to Dr. Louis Tay at Purdue University a study of about 1,700 U.S. young adults found that the amount of time and frequency of social media use both related to greater levels of depression. On the other hand restricting the amount of time spent on social media improved happiness.

Cognitively, there isn’t a difference between dwelling on yourself on social media and unhappiness.

I don’t think we should be surprised that the increasing mental health issues young people struggle with correlate to the increasing popularity of social media. Let’s remember, Facebook was founded in 2004, Twitter in 2006 and Tik Tok just six years ago, in 2017. They became embedded in popular culture as Gen Z (born after 1995) were growing up. And that’s why it’s hard for previous generations to understand the gravity of the matter.

Am I a caveman? Absolutely. I still marvel that I can make a call without finding a payphone and having 10 cents in my pocket. For me the generational divide is knowing what “calling collect” means.

It’s hard for me to appreciate the immense pressures that young people feel to keep up with the unrealistic ideals presented as the norm on social media. But the pressures are very real and I believe they are a leading cause of the mental health issues that students at our campuses wrestle with every time they look at their cell phones.

What’s the remedy? Prescribing “don’t look at your phone so much” is easy to say but hard to do without appearing to wear a bear skin and drag a club.

Spending time not thinking about oneself is the key. It’s no accident that those who are charitable – thinking about the well-being of others – are happier. Studies have found that people who give money to charity tend to be happier. While it may seem contradictory, the more we think about others, the happier we are. Mohandas Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr. faced great struggles but strike me as having been happy and at peace with themselves.

Students at SCICU member institutions have a leg up on happiness in that they have the opportunity to learn the ideas and values that inspired these great people, and others like them.

They are the most important influencers of all.

2023 sports photo highlights from SCICU’s 21 member colleges and universities

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Spring semester 2023 sports are here! Basketball courts, wrestling mats, indoor tracks, and more sports arenas are extra busy at SCICU’s 21 member colleges and universities located from the S.C. mountains to the sea! Scroll to see sports photos from SCICU’s 21 member campuses. Learn more about spring sports and other news for each campus through their respective campus newsrooms, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and athletics websites.

Allen University Yellow Jackets Track and Field

Allen at HBCU Classic - photo courtesy Leisha Bodrick

Photo credit: Leisha Bodrick

Allen University campus newsroom

Allen University Facebook page

Allen University Twitter feed

Allen University Yellow Jackets athletics website

 

Anderson University Trojans Basketball

Anderson University women's basketball
Anderson University campus newsroom

Anderson University Facebook page

Anderson University Twitter feed

Anderson University Trojans athletics website

 

Benedict College Tigers Basketball

Benedict College Tigers women's basketball

Photo credit: Nate Salley

Benedict College campus newsroom

Benedict College Facebook page

Benedict College Twitter Feed

Benedict College Tigers athletics website

 

Bob Jones University Bruins Basketball

Bob Jones University Bruins men's basketball
Bob Jones University campus newsroom

Bob Jones University Facebook page

Bob Jones University Twitter feed

Bob Jones University Bruins athletics website

 

Charleston Southern University Buccaneers Tennis

Charleston Southern University women's tennis - Jim Killian

Photo credit: Jim Killian/CSU Sports

Charleston Southern University campus newsroom

Charleston Southern University Facebook page

Charleston Southern University Twitter feed

Charleston Southern University Buccaneers athletics website

 

Claflin University Panthers Track and Field

Claflin University womens track and field
Claflin University campus newsroom

Claflin University Facebook page

Claflin University Twitter Feed

Claflin University Panthers athletics website

 

Coker University Cobras Basketball

Coker University basketball
Coker University campus newsroom

Coker University Facebook page

Coker University Twitter page

Coker University Cobras athletics website

 

Columbia College Koalas Basketball

Columbia College Women's basketball
Columbia College campus newsroom

Columbia College Facebook page

Columbia College Twitter feed

Columbia College Koalas athletics website

 

Columbia International University Rams Track and Field

Columbia International University track and field
Columbia International University campus newsroom

Columbia International University Facebook page

Columbia International University Twitter feed

Columbia International University Rams athletics website

 

Converse University Valkyries Track and Field

Converse University track and field
Converse University campus newsroom

Converse University Facebook page

Converse University Twitter feed

Converse University Valkyries athletics website

 

Erskine College Flying Fleet Volleyball

Erskine College men's volleyball
Erskine College campus newsroom

Erskine College Facebook page

Erskine College Twitter feed

Erskine College Flying Fleet athletics website

 

Furman University Paladins Tennis

Furman University women's tennis - photo courtesy Jeremy Fleming

Photo credit: Jeremy Fleming

Furman University campus newsroom

Furman University Facebook page

Furman University Twitter feed

Furman University Paladins athletics website

 

Limestone University Saints Track and Field

Limestone University women's track and field
Limestone University campus newsroom

Limestone University Facebook page

Limestone Twitter feed

Limestone University Saints athletics website

 

Morris College Hornets Basketball

Morris College Hornets basketball
Morris College campus newsroom

Morris College Facebook page

Morris College Twitter feed

Morris College Hornets athletics website

 

Newberry College Wolves Wrestling

Newberry College men's wrestling - Ernest Allen

Photo credit: Ernest Allen

Newberry College campus newsroom

Newberry College Facebook page

Newberry College Twitter feed

Newberry College Wolves athletics website

 

North Greenville University Crusaders Track and Field

North Greenville University Crusaders track and field
North Greenville University campus newsroom

North Greenville University Facebook page

North Greenville University Twitter page

North Greenville University Crusaders athletics website

 

Presbyterian College Blue Hose Wrestling

Presbyterian College Blue Hose women's wrestling
Presbyterian College campus newsroom

Presbyterian College Facebook page

Presbyterian College Twitter page

Presbyterian College Blue Hose athletics website

 

Southern Wesleyan University Warriors Track and Field

Southern Wesleyan University Warriors track and field - photo credit: John Bolton

Photo credit: John Bolton – Bolton Photo

Southern Wesleyan University campus newsroom

Southern Wesleyan University Facebook page

Southern Wesleyan University Twitter feed

Southern Wesleyan University Warriors athletics website

 

Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers Basketball

Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers women's basketball
Spartanburg Methodist College campus newsroom

Spartanburg Methodist College Facebook page

Spartanburg Methodist College Twitter feed

Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers athletics website

 

Voorhees University Tigers Basketball

Voorhees University men's basketball
Voorhees University campus newsroom

Voorhees University Facebook page

Voorhees University Twitter feed

Voorhees University Tigers athletics website

 

Wofford College Terriers Track and Field

Wofford College Terriers men's track and field - Sebastian LaTorre

Photo credit: Sebastian LaTorre

Wofford College campus newsroom

Wofford College Facebook page

Wofford College Twitter feed

Wofford College Terriers athletics website

 

South Carolina update

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It’s January, which means the start of another legislative session for the General Assembly.

Forecast
The General Assembly will be wrestling with some major issues that will occupy a large portion of its time. Last year, the General Assembly came close to passing legislation authorizing “education savings accounts” for certain students at private K-12 schools, and that legislation is already garnering attention. The S.C. Supreme decision in which it ruled against the state’s “fetal heartbeat” law means that abortion legislation likely will be addressed. Workforce development is also a high priority.

And, of course, there’s the state budget – yet again, legislators have more money than last year. They’ve got an additional $754 million in recurring funds and $2.7 billion in non-recurring funds.

Tuition Grants Commission testimony
The Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee has seen some turnover. Rep. Nathan Ballentine (R-Richland) is the new chair, and he’s joined by Rep. Bill Taylor (R-Aiken). Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) remains on the subcommittee.

First impressions are important and Katie Harrison, executive director of the S.C. Tuition Grants Commission, made a great first impression during her presentation to the subcommittee. All three subcommittee members expressed appreciation for the clarity of her remarks, during which she thanked the General Assembly for its support of the Tuition Grants Program. For the upcoming budget year Katie requested that, along with the other state funding, the $20 million in lottery funding be retained.

SCICU launches 2023 Infographics Series for State House advocacy

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — SCICU is launching its 2023 Infographics Series for State House advocacy efforts, featuring issue/topic-focused messages delivered regularly and directly to members of the S.C. General Assembly.

“We received great feedback from S.C. Representatives and Senators for our Infographics Series in 2021 and 2022,” said SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez. “I am especially looking forward to sharing the good news about the collective strength of our 21 member institutions with the 27 new House members. We are also sending the 2023 infographics to our board members and other higher education stakeholders in South Carolina.”

SCICU's 21 member colleges and universities educate over 36,000 students. Two-thirds of those students are South Carolina residents.

The first 2023 infographic sent to members of the S.C. General Assembly presents the combined statewide strength of SCICU’s 21 member colleges and universities – over 36,000 students across the state, with two-thirds of the undergraduates calling South Carolina home.

More infographics will be sent to representatives and senators throughout the 2023 legislative session and will be highlighted on the SCICU website, monthly newsletter, and on SCICU’s Facebook page and Twitter handles (SCICU President Jeff Perez and SCICU Communications – Shay Shealy West).

If you would like to receive SCICU’s infographics directly in your email, please contact Shay Shealy West at shay@scicu.org.

SCICU Legislative Spotlight: Senator Ronnie W. Cromer

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S.C. Senator Ronnie W. Cromer

S.C. Senator Ronnie W. Cromer

Senator Ronnie W. Cromer —
Republican (District 18-Lexington, Newberry, and Union Counties)

First elected to the S.C. Senate in 2003

Chair – Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
Chair – Senate Higher Education Budget Subcommittee

Senate Committee Assignments:
Banking and Insurance (Chair), Finance, Fish, Game and Forestry, Rules
 
1973 graduate of The University of South Carolina

Pharmacist – Cromer Medical Services/LoRex Drugs (Newberry)

SCICU’s 21 member colleges and universities are deeply grateful for the tremendous support we receive from the South Carolina General Assembly. In our newsletter we will feature members of the General Assembly who are notable for their affiliations with and encouragement of independent colleges and universities in the state.

We are honored to feature S.C. Senator Ronnie Cromer in this month’s SCICU Legislative Spotlight. We asked Sen. Cromer eight questions about himself, his career, and the role higher education played in it.

1. How did attending college prepare you for your successful career?

The old adage of “College is 10% knowledge and 90% confidence” is pretty much true. I do believe you learn more than 10% through your studies in college but I also believe that a college education puts you on an equal level with all your peers and instills in you the confidence that you need in dealing with people on a day-to-day basis to become successful.

2. Do you have a particular professor or class that made an impression on you? If so, how?

One of the professors I remember most is Dr. Carl Baugess. Dr. Baugess was one of my pharmacy professors at The University of South Carolina who was very hard in the classroom but was also very fair in his dealings with his students. I can remember that I had to drop out of school for almost two years to join the U.S. Army Reserves (during the Vietnam war) and go off to basic and Advanced Individual Training. When I came back to Carolina, Dr. Baugess got several of my professors together along with the Pharmacy School Dean so that we could plan out my course schedule for the next year and a half to allow me to graduate. I can truthfully say had it not been for Dr. Baugess, my graduation would have been extended.

3. Why did you decide to become a state legislator?

In South Carolina, we take a course in the third grade called South Carolina State History. Most of those classes include a field trip to the S.C. State House as mine also did. I can remember sitting in the balcony of the State House and thinking how one day I would love to be a State Representative or State Senator working on the floor of the State House. It took me quite a few years to build a business and to raise a family before having the opportunity to run for an office. I ran an unsuccessful campaign for the House in 1998 but was successful for the State Senate in 2003 thus fulfilling a dream I had in the third grade.

4. Of what achievement in the S.C. Senate are you most proud?

I am one who does not dwell on personal achievements but I can say that achievements we (and I say we because I have never been able to do it all alone) have been able to make in helping others is what I am most proud of. If it was the day we were able to help the brother of a deceased sister obtain parental rights on his twin one year old nephews, or the day we were able to navigate state agencies to help a widow be able to negotiate down a tax lien on her home, or to help in repairing someone’s road, then all those issues we were able to resolve is what made me proud of our achievements.

5. Why do you consider it important to support students attending SCICU member institutions?

Not all students wish to get a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. Some want to learn a trade such as underwater welding or draft design or computer programming which they can do locally at one of our community colleges and be able to do it while they work and also avoid the high costs of housing.

6. Why are SCICU member institutions important to the future of South Carolina?

SCICU member institutions are very important to the economic welfare of the State of South Carolina because so many of our new businesses and industries require new and evolving technologies which local community colleges can adapt into their curriculum in a very timely manner and in some cases the ability to train a new work force can mean the difference in a business or industry locating in a particular community.

7. You’ve been a successful pharmacist, but if you could pick another job, what would it be?

I am not sure I would want to change vocations but if I could, it probably would be something in the aviation field since I am a private pilot. One other possibility would be as an attorney since I have enjoyed working on and passing different legislation.

8. What advice do you have for students attending SCICU member institutions?

If you are attending a SCICU member institution, I would encourage you to not take only the courses required for graduation but take some other courses which interest you because I can tell you that I have made some interesting moves in my career. Not only am I a pharmacist but I also have been serving in the Senate for twenty years. I used my degree to get a direct commission in the military and served for 30 years in the military. I am a boat captain and love going from Edisto Beach to the Bahamas by water in my boat. I am a licensed private pilot and enjoy flying to different locations. I also enjoy doing my own carpentry work, my own electrical work (small jobs) and my own plumbing. So you see, you can never take too many courses because over a lifetime you will probably use all of those course skills.

Federal update

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Omnibus bill —
The $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill passed by Congress in December and signed by the president contained much good news for students in need of financial and other support.

Of greatest impact is the $500 increase in the maximum Pell Grant, to $7,395. This new level takes effect July 1, 2023 and will be available to students for the upcoming 2023-24 academic year.

Other programs that benefitted in omnibus bill:

  • $15 million increase for Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), for a total of $910 million. The SEOG program assists students in great need of financial aid.
  • $20 million increase for Federal Work-Study, for a total of $1.2 billion.
  • $54 million increase for student support programs through TRIO to $1.2 billion. TRIO includes outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO refers to the three original programs that were funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act – Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, and Special Services.
  • $10 million increase for early college preparation through GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) to $388 million.