South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities

A Voice for Independent Higher Education in South Carolina

SCICU President & CEO
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SCICU distributes $64,000 in CIC/UPS Scholarships to 20 S.C. private colleges and universities

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – S.C. Independent Colleges & Universities, Inc. (SCICU) is distributing $64,000 in CIC/UPS Scholarships to assist 20 students at private colleges and universities in South Carolina for academic year 2021-2022. The scholarships are 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 supporter of independent college higher education, not only in South Carolina, but nationwide,” said Jeff Perez, president and CEO of SCICU. “We are very appreciative of their support and recognize that the lives of many worthy students have been changed for the better.”

Nationally, CIC provides 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.

The 20 colleges and universities in South Carolina that are receiving CIC/UPS Scholarships from SCICU for the 2021-22 academic year include Allen University, Anderson University, Benedict College, Charleston Southern University, Claflin University, Coker University, Columbia College, Columbia International University, Converse University, Erskine College, Furman University, Limestone University, Morris College, Newberry College, North Greenville University, Presbyterian College, Southern Wesleyan University, Spartanburg Methodist College, Voorhees College, and Wofford College.

“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, DC. 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. Please click here to learn more about The UPS Foundation.

About SCICU
SCICU supports and promotes the values of independent higher education in South Carolina. SCICU seeks to advance higher education through fundraising, scholarships, and research, as well as by facilitating collaborative activities among the 21 member institutions. SCICU also enhances a positive public image and encourages government policies that support independent higher education.

Bob Jones University joins SCICU

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today (July 21), the board of trustees of the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities voted unanimously to approve the request of Bob Jones University to become a member institution.

The SCICU board includes the presidents of the 21 member institutions and up to 42 at-large members who are community and business leaders.

All eligible colleges and universities are now members of SCICU whose by-laws require that institutions be:

  • two or four-year colleges or universities, with primary emphasis upon the liberal arts;
  • accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges;
  • a not-for-profit institution; and,
  • headquartered in South Carolina.

Jerry Cheatham
Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

“Our review of Bob Jones University’s membership request included meetings with SCICU leadership at the Bob Jones University campus,” said SCICU Board of Trustees Chair Jerry Cheatham. “We wanted to ensure we would be a good fit for one another. During my time on campus I was impressed by the diversity and enthusiasm of the students I met and the commitment expressed by President Pettit and his leadership team to move the university forward in meeting the needs of their students.”

As an SCICU member, Bob Jones University joins 20 other institutions across South Carolina, with an array of missions, including those that are secular, faith-based and religiously-affiliated, as well as five private historically Black colleges and universities in South Carolina.


Steve Pettit
President
Bob Jones University

“We’re thankful for the opportunity to join SCICU,” said Bob Jones University President Steve Pettit. “Membership in SCICU enables us to more effectively serve our students while collaborating more fully with independent colleges and universities in providing quality, affordable private education options for all students across South Carolina.”

SCICU’s mission is to strengthen South Carolina’s independent colleges and universities through collaboration, governmental advocacy, fundraising, and public engagement so that every student may choose, afford, and earn an independent college education that fits their personal values, approach to learning, and professional and social aspirations.


L. Jeffrey Perez
SCICU President and CEO

“We welcome Bob Jones University to the community of SCICU member institutions,” said SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez. “Our strength is the variety of missions and environments our campuses offer. SCICU member institutions greatly expand the higher education options in South Carolina, helping to ensure that students and their families will find a setting in which they are most comfortable and best equipped to provide for success in life.”


Converse moves university status July 1

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. (courtesy converse.edu) — On July 1, 2021, Converse College acknowledged its long-held university status with an official name change to Converse University, in a major step towards targeted growth and competitive advantage in South Carolina’s higher education market.

“For more than 130 years, Converse has held true to its mission: to empower its students to become transformative leaders who see clearly, decide wisely, and act justly,” said Converse President Krista L. Newkirk. “Just as when Converse was founded, South Carolina and the nation today need transformational leadership to take us into the future. As we become Converse University, we have never been in a better position to lead the charge for educational and economic excellence in our region and beyond.”

Universities can significantly contribute to the growth of local, state, and regional economies through contributions to a highly skilled workforce, as well as through entrepreneurship and innovation. As the labor market in South Carolina continues to grow, Converse continues its history of developing a workforce that employers can depend upon to fill highly skilled roles in STEM fields such as healthcare, business (including data analytics), and life sciences, as well as in-demand roles in government, education, and the arts. As a doctoral university, Converse is positioned to attract out-of-state and international students to the Upstate, enhancing the diversity of South Carolina’s workforce and connecting the dots of the region’s emerging role in the global market.

The Converse Board of Trustees announced in February 2020 that the historic Spartanburg institution would make the transition from the name Converse College to Converse University to recognize the school’s 55-year history of offering strong master’s programs, its recent accreditation as a doctorate-granting institution, and its sizable international student population. Along with the February 2020 university announcement, Converse declared that it would add a co-educational undergraduate residential program alongside the Converse College for Women and continue to expand its international programs. These efforts will ensure a thriving future for Converse as it continues to build on its history of academic excellence.

With the transition to university complete, President Newkirk passed the baton to Dr. Jeff Barker on July 5, as she moved to become president of the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. Dr. Barker most recently served as Converse’s provost and now will guide the university into the future during the 2021-2022 academic year. This fall, as Converse welcomes its largest incoming undergraduate class in Converse history, Dr. Barker will draw on his more than 20 years of experience at Converse to oversee the transition that will position the university to attract exceptional students from all over the United States and internationally.

SCICU campuses celebrate in-person commencement exercises for spring 2021

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Joy and excitement returned to commencement exercises in spring 2021 as SCICU colleges and universities persevered through the 2020-21 academic year and held in-person ceremonies for the Class of 2021 graduates.

Fair weather allowed most colleges and universities to hold their graduation ceremonies outside, many on athletic fields with graduating students seated socially distanced on the field and their guests sitting in pod groupings in the stadium grandstands.

The commencement photos and videos tell the story of the happiness of graduates who made it through more than one academic year impacted severely by COVID-19. Please click on the links for your favorite college or university to view their commencement photos and videos.

Allen UniversityPhotosVideo
Anderson UniversityPhotosVideo
Benedict CollegePhotosVideo
Charleston Southern UniversityPhotosVideo
Claflin UniversityPhotosVideo
Coker UniversityPhotos
Columbia CollegePhotosVideo
Columbia International UniversityPhotosVideo
Converse CollegePhotos
Video
Erskine CollegePhotosVideo
Furman UniversityPhotosVideo
Limestone UniversityPhotosVideo
Morris CollegePhotosVideo
Newberry CollegePhotosVideo
North Greenville UniversityPhotosVideo
Presbyterian CollegePhotosVideo
Southern Wesleyan UniversityPhotosVideo
Spartanburg Methodist CollegePhotosVideo
Voorhees CollegePhotosVideo
Wofford CollegePhotosVideo

Independent Higher Ed — Its impact is even greater than you think

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SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez

Jeff Perez, Ph.D.
SCICU President and CEO

Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez –

Though I have attended more than 30 graduation ceremonies in my career, hearing “Pomp and Circumstance” still brings a lump to my throat. I think of all the wonderful students I’ve known. Graduations are bittersweet – we must say goodbye to students we’ve mentored, but we know bright futures lay ahead for them.

To say the least, the SCICU member institutions have a deep and lasting impact on the students who they prepared and inspired for success on whatever path they choose. But that impact is much broader than you may realize.

As a new report from the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) reveals, independent higher education is vitally important to their students as well as the communities and states in which they’re located.

The NAICU report, Private, Nonprofit Higher Education: Shaping Lives and Anchoring Communities, details the national and regional contributions of private colleges and universities. The total national economic impact is $591 billion. They employ 1.1 million people, create another 2.3 million jobs and generate nearly $78 billion in federal, state and local taxes.

Now let’s focus on South Carolina. The SCICU member institutions have an extensive economic impact on our state. The 20 colleges and universities, with 33,000 students, employ more than 7,200 people and their payroll and business expenses total $844 million – that makes independent higher education one of the biggest businesses in South Carolina!

But as the NAICU report notes, the United States is a “nation of college towns,” and that is certainly true here in South Carolina where many SCICU member institutions are located in small towns. SCICU member institutions are often one of the largest employers in their communities.

The impact of private colleges and universities goes beyond dollars and cents. As former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder put it: “Colleges are the anchors for their community – not just an
economic catalyst, but a cultural catalyst. Their presence changes the dynamic of those towns.”

Private colleges and universities improve the quality of life in their communities through the volunteering by campus community members which inspires a philanthropic spirit in students that lives beyond their college years. The campuses work with community leaders to identify and meet public needs. SCICU campuses are good neighbors, and so are their students who become leaders in their communities and careers.

I urge you to take just a few minutes to read through Shaping Lives and Anchoring Communities. You’ll soon see that private colleges and universities not only educate and equip their students to succeed, they also sustain their communities and fortify their states.

South Carolina update

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Bet you didn’t know…

Yesterday (Thursday, May 13) was the official end of the 2021 session of the General Assembly, but they will be back. Unfinished business includes redistricting, allocating the federal COVID-19 relief funds, and the state budget, which includes a couple of items that are important to colleges and universities but fly under the radar of most citizens.

One of the big legislative victories for the SCICU member institutions was passage of the COVID-19 limited liability legislation, which protects from lawsuits businesses, including private colleges and universities, that have complied with state or federal safety guidance.

While there’s still much work to be done on the state budget, we are deeply appreciative for the support the Tuition Grants Program has received. The Senate included an additional $10 million in lottery funding for Tuition Grants, which are awarded to South Carolina residents attending a private college or university in the state. The extra funding will allow the maximum grant to increase from $3,600 to $4,390, the largest one-year supplement in the long history of the program.

While many may know about the financial aid the Tuition Grants Commission administers, I bet you didn’t know that it’s responsible for the digital storage of every FAFSA form submitted by South Carolina residents, regardless of what college or university they attend, public and private. “FAFSA” stands for the “Free Application for Federal Student Aid” and is the form completed by nearly every current and prospective college student in the United States to determine their eligibility for financial aid. Without the Tuition Grants Commission, every year thousands of students would run the risk of losing the information critical to receiving the financial aid on which they depend to attend college.

The Senate version of the budget includes $200,000 for new software and equipment to securely retain the FAFSAs, and $270,000 in recurring funding for maintenance of the system. Again, we deeply appreciate the Senate’s acknowledgement of the importance of the Tuition Grants Commission to the higher education aspirations of South Carolinians.

And I bet you don’t know about PASCAL, the Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries – a consortium of South Carolina’s libraries at both public and private colleges and universities that fosters cooperation and cost saving. PASCAL serves nearly 200,000 students at 56 colleges and universities by coordinating the sharing of library resources through a statewide rapid print-delivery service and core electronic resources, including a robust shared e-book program. By leveraging collective licensing and purchasing power PASCAL enhances the scope of collections while driving costs down and reducing duplication.

Since its creation in 2004 PASCAL has saved campuses a whopping $138 million. Both SCICU and the Commission on Higher Education sought $1.5 million for PASCAL, and we thank both the House and Senate for including the funding in their versions of the state budget.

Washington update

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Double Pell!

SCICU’s top priority in D.C. is to double the Pell Grant, a federal financial aid program for the most economically disadvantaged students. Both sides of the political aisle support the Pell Grants Program, and the maximum grant amount currently stands at $6,495.

Doubling the Pell Grant to $13,000 would further empower students to attend the college of their choice – to choose the college or university that provides the atmosphere in which they are most likely to succeed. At the same time it would prove a highly effective means of reducing student debt for those who can least afford the burden. Pell Grants are the fairest and most efficient way to get education funding to those who need it most.

Unfortunately, President Biden’s American Families Plan proposes increasing the Pell Grant by only $1,400 while allocating substantial funds to provide for free community college. This plan dramatically advances community colleges at the expense of four-year colleges and universities. By doubling Pell Grants, community college education would essentially be free for the neediest students who choose that higher education route. Doubling Pell would also expand the opportunity for all other financially-disadvantaged students to attend the four-year institutions that best meet their needs.

SCICU member institutions appreciate the support Congress has provided the Pell Grants Program in the past. Now we seek a strengthened partnership by doubling Pell Grants. The SCICU colleges and universities are far away the largest providers of student aid, as the following pie chart illustrates:
 

Expanding the Pell Grants slice (light green slice, located at the top of the pie chart) to 20% would no doubt substantially trim down the student loan slice (red slice, middle right side of pie chart).

We will continue to work with our friends in Washington to advocate on behalf of making a good thing – Pell Grants – even better. In fact, twice as good.