In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SCICU colleges and universities are changing campus operations to protect students, faculty, staff, and their surrounding communities. Please click on the colleges and universities below to access updated information regarding campus operations:

Allen University

Anderson University

Benedict College

Charleston Southern University

Claflin University

Coker University

Columbia College

Columbia International University

Converse College

Erskine College

Furman University

Limestone College

Morris College

Newberry College

North Greenville University

Presbyterian College

Southern Wesleyan University

Spartanburg Methodist College

Voorhees College

Wofford College

As with everything else, state government has been impacted by COVID-19.

The General Assembly passed and the governor signed into law emergency funding legislation allocating an additional $45 million to DHEC for responding to COVID-19.

Following the vote House Speaker Jay Lucas announced that the House would not be in session for two weeks, and perhaps longer. President of the Senate Harvey Peeler announced the Senate would not be in session last week and did not return this week.

Also passed was a continuing resolution directing the state government to continue operating under the FY 2019-20 budget during the upcoming 2020-21 fiscal year, should the General Assembly be unable to pass a FY 2020-21 budget by June 30, the end of the current fiscal year.

Looking down a dark road, we have yet to see any projections how the many shutdowns during COVID-19 will affect state revenue. The worst case (though not out of the realm of possibility) scenario is similar to FY 2008-09 when the Board of Economic Advisors projected reductions in revenue and thus automatic comparable cuts to state agency budgets. That would include the Tuition Grants Commission.

For his part Governor McMaster has issued numerous Executive Orders including declaring a state of emergency, closing on-campus operations at K-12 schools, closing public universities and colleges until the end of April, directing state employees to work from home, prohibiting restaurants and bars from offering table service (they can provide takeout for food and alcohol), and ordering law enforcement officers to disperse at their discretion gatherings of three or more people.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Dr. Peter T. Mitchell, president of Columbia College from 1988 to 1997, is returning to the institution as its interim president upon Dr. Carol Moore’s retirement announcement, effective immediately.

Dr. Moore served as president of Columbia College for four years and guided the school through significant transitions, including the recent announcement of coeducational day programs beginning fall 2021.

“The Columbia College family thanks President Moore for her tireless effort to make our school a special place for so many. She has taken on repositioning Columbia College with leadership and strength,” Board of Trustees Chair Toby Goodlett said. “Since her arrival in September 2016, Dr. Moore has been invaluable to our mission. We respect her decision to step away at this time to care for her family and her health and we want to express our appreciation for her unwavering dedication to our school and mission,” Goodlett added.

“SCICU is grateful for Dr. Moore’s leadership at Columbia College and with SCICU’s board of trustees,” said Jeff Perez, SCICU President and CEO. “We wish her much happiness in her retirement.”

The challenges associated with transitioning to coeducational programs, combined with the need to provide a comprehensive response to COVID-19, convinced Columbia College trustees to select a familiar voice for their interim president.

Dr. Mitchell served as Columbia College’s fourteenth president, leading the institution for nearly 10 years. Under Dr. Mitchell’s leadership, Columbia College created the Women’s Leadership Institute, built the Johnnie Cordell Breed Leadership Center, and helped secure funding for the Barbara Bush Center for Science and Technology.

In addition to his previous leadership at Columbia College, Dr. Mitchell has significant experience as president at three other independent colleges located in three different geographic regions. Before joining Columbia College, Mitchell was president of Lasell College in Newton, Mass. from 1983 to 1988. After his leadership at Columbia College, Mitchell went on to serve as president at his alma mater Albion College, a Michigan liberal arts college.

After retiring from Albion College, Dr. Mitchell founded Proactive Transition Management, LLC, a consultancy specializing in strategic planning, enrollment management, fundraising, and executive searches for independent colleges and universities.

Mitchell holds an Ed.D. in higher education leadership from Northeastern University. He earned an Ed.S. in information systems technology at Indiana University, an M.A. in English language at the University of Michigan, and a B.A in English and religion from Albion College.

Columbia International University showcased their new William Jones Global Business and IT Center for SCICU’s spring board meeting on February 25.

SCICU trustees and college/university presidents were welcomed by CIU President Dr. Mark Smith. Dr. Scott Adams, dean of CIU’s school of business, highlighted CIU’s investment in and transformation of the Monticello Road corridor surrounding the CIU campus.

Dr. Rusty Monhollon, president and executive director of the S.C. Commission on Higher Education, joined SCICU’s presidents for the semi-annual Council of Presidents breakfast.

The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) vice president for state council programs Carol Schuler led trustees through a presentation on higher education access and affordability, closing with an interactive session on answering the general public’s questions on cost perceptions and myths related to private colleges. Schuler’s presentation gave trustees tools to confidently answer questions regarding the continued and long-term value of independent higher education.

Schuler also announced the selection of SCICU as a recipient of a CIC capacity-building grant. SCICU will use the funding to continue the regional trustee appreciation receptions started in 2019.

Eddie Shannon, SCICU executive vice president, announced that SCICU had also exceeded CIC’s challenge grant for discretionary scholarships. CIC challenged SCICU to raise $20,000 in new or increased gifts designated for support of emergency student financial aid on SCICU campuses. With the help of signature sponsors Comporium, Nephron Pharmaceuticals, Williams & Fudge, and numerous individuals, SCICU exceeded CIC’s challenge and received matching funds of $10,000.

In the business portion of the board meeting, development, finance, and public policy committee chairs updated trustees on fundraising efforts, YTD budget, and legislative advocacy efforts.

Rick Moul, executive director of PASCAL (Partnership Among S.C. Academic Libraries), the meeting’s featured luncheon speaker, shared with trustees the collaboration fostered by PASCAL between academic libraries across South Carolina.

“PASCAL levels the playing field for students and faculty at all member institutions,” Moul explained. “We provide a higher level of academic content at a dramatically lower cost than individual libraries could do on their own.”

Since 2004, PASCAL’s statewide electronic library programs have generated nearly $140 million in cost-avoidance for member libraries.