The 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching winners are First row (Seated L-R): Allen University – Dr. Daniel T. Hembree, Anderson University – Dr. Joni M. Criswell, Benedict College – Dr. Adrien M. Ratsimbaharison, Bob Jones University – Dr. William P. Lovegrove, Coker University – Dr. Meredith Sims, Columbia College – Dr. Marla S. Sanders, Columbia International University – Dr. Karen Grant, Converse University – Dr. Reed Martin Chewning, Erskine College – Dr. John Harris, Furman University – Dr. Mary Elizabeth Anderson.Second row (Standing L-R): Limestone University – Dr. Virginia Rackley Scates, Morris College – Ms. Terri L. Kenely, Newberry College – Ms. Aslynn C. Halvorson, Presbyterian College – Dr. Laura J. Crary, Southern Wesleyan University – Dr. Jeffrey Mohr, Spartanburg Methodist College – Dr. Adam Siegfried, Voorhees College – Dr. Anastasiya Yakunina, and North Greenville University – Dr. Christina Eddy. Not pictured are Charleston Southern University – Dr. Carissa Turner Smith, Claflin University – Dr. Mitali P. Wong, and Wofford College – Dr. Lori Cruze.

Twenty-one faculty leaders – one per SCICU member institution – were celebrated at the April 5 event. More than 150 guests, including college/university presidents, gathered to honor faculty members nominated by their respective institutions for the Excellence In Teaching award. Each recipient was presented a framed award certificate and a $3,000 professional development grant.

“At SCICU we’re honored to have the chance to recognize our campuses’ deep commitment to their students, embodied by these fine educators,” said Jeff Perez, SCICU president and CEO. “Faculty members don’t often have the chance to be honored in the presence of families and friends. We’re delighted to provide that opportunity.”

Award recipients represented a wide range of academic disciplines – from art history and biology to political science and religion. SCICU is proud to recognize the 2022 Excellence In Teaching award winners:

• Allen University – Dr. Daniel T. Hembree
• Anderson University – Dr. Joni M. Criswell
• Benedict College – Dr. Adrien M. Ratsimbaharison
• Bob Jones University – Dr. William P. Lovegrove
• Charleston Southern University – Dr. Carissa Turner Smith
• Claflin University – Dr. Mitali P. Wong
• Coker University – Dr. Meredith Sims
• Columbia College – Dr. Marla S. Sanders
• Columbia International University – Dr. Karen Grant
• Converse University – Dr. Reed Martin Chewning
• Erskine College – Dr. John Harris
• Furman University – Dr. Mary Elizabeth Anderson
• Limestone University – Dr. Virginia Rackley Scates
• Morris College – Ms. Terri L. Kenely
• Newberry College – Ms. Aslynn C. Halvorson
• North Greenville University – Dr. Christina Eddy
• Presbyterian College – Dr. Laura J. Crary
• Southern Wesleyan University – Dr. Jeffrey Mohr
• Spartanburg Methodist College – Dr. Adam Siegfried
• Voorhees College – Dr. Anastasiya Yakunina
• Wofford College – Dr. Lori Cruze

The 2022 Excellence In Teaching Dinner Awards program details the achievements of the 21 award winners and the sponsors who make the celebration possible.

Presentation photos from the awards dinner are available for viewing here.

SCICU is grateful for the generous financial support of the 2022 Excellence In Teaching Program sponsors:

• ABM Building Solutions, LLC
• Allegiance Industries
• Aramark Higher Education
• CapinCrouse
• Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
• Sodexo
• S.C. Student Loan Corporation
• TD Bank
• Total Comfort Solutions
• Varsity Health

The Senate Finance Committee last week delivered its proposed state budget and we received good news.

The Finance Committee recommends retaining from last year the $10 million increase in lottery funding for the Tuition Grants Program.

Now that the governor, House and the Senate Finance Committee have all endorsed the Tuition Grants funding, we can be optimistic of it passing the full Senate. But there’s still a way to go between now and the governor signing the budget. As mentioned, it must pass the Senate, whose version of the budget differs from the House in a number of ways, including the magnitude of an income tax cut and the size of the salary increase for teachers.

No doubt the House will not concur with the Senate’s version of the state budget, which will necessitate the creation of a conference committee with representatives from both the Senate and House which will hammer out a compromise.

Once passed by both houses, the budget goes to the governor, who in recent years has vetoed aspects of the General Assembly’s budget. The General Assembly must then return to the State House to override the vetoes.

So we’re not there yet.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Beginning with the Fall 2022 semester, significant changes are planned that are intended to expand the depth and breadth of the South Carolina Tuition Grants program for in-state students attending private colleges and universities in the state. The combined effects of these changes could result in approximately 1,000 additional S.C. resident students qualifying for or retaining their Tuition Grants.

“We are excited that we now have the ability to expand the reach and the value of the Tuition Grants Program to additional students by implementing these significant changes,” said Katie Harrison, executive director of the S.C. Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission. “Our mission is to provide our state residents with the opportunity to attend the postsecondary institution of their choice, while placing an emphasis on their individual needs and career goals.”

At its March meeting, the Tuition Grants Commission, chaired by Limestone University President Darrell Parker, approved increasing the maximum per-student Tuition Grant amount for the 2022-2023 academic year by $110 to $4,500 at all eligible institutions and for programs serving both traditional and non-traditional students. This amount, subject to and contingent upon the General Assembly’s final budget, would be the highest award amount in the program’s history.

“SCICU is deeply thankful that the governor proposed, and the House has approved, for 2022-23 retaining the $10 million increase in Tuition Grants funding included in last year’s budget,” said Perez. “We also appreciate the positive reception this funding has received in the Senate.”

The commission also approved aligning the Tuition Grants Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy with the federally-accepted academic progress policy used for Pell Grants recipients and the recipients of other federal Title IV student aid.

“These new rules streamline the financial aid process at campuses and create a better environment for students to retain their Tuition Grants,” said Perez.

Recognizing that some Tuition Grant recipients need additional time beyond the traditional eight semesters to graduate, the commission also voted to allow their appeals committee to begin accepting requests from students needing additional semesters to complete their degrees.

“The changes coming to the South Carolina Tuition Grant are monumental in making higher education more affordable for students attending eligible non-profit in-state colleges and universities,” said Tuition Grants Chair Darrell Parker. “The South Carolina Tuition Grant is making it even more affordable to attend our outstanding institutions – either on-campus or through the non-traditional programs such as online higher education. We greatly appreciate the annual appropriation by the State General Assembly for the South Carolina Tuition Grant that lessens the financial burden of our future scholars and our leaders of tomorrow.”

President Biden has delivered to Congress his Executive Budget and clearly he heard our message.

The Executive Budget includes an additional $2,175 for the maximum Pell Grant, increasing it to $8,670 for the 2023-24 award year. He also resolved to double the Pell Grant, to $13,000, by 2029.

The Department of Education proposed budget includes level funding for both Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and Federal Work Study but does include increases for both TRIO (+ $200 million) and GEAR UP (+ $40 million). The Fund for the Improvement of Secondary Education (FIPSE) includes funding for two new programs: $110 million for Retention and Completion Grants, and $450 million for Research Infrastructure at HBCUs, TCUs and other MSIs.

It should also be noted that the president made no mention of free community college, however that end is achieved by increasing the Pell Grant.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — SCICU honored faculty acheivement at the 2022 Excellence In Teaching Awards dinner. Please enjoy the presentation photos from the dinner.

The 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching winners are (L-R) First row): Allen University – Dr. Daniel T. Hembree, Anderson University – Dr. Joni M. Criswell, Benedict College – Dr. Adrien M. Ratsimbaharison, Bob Jones University – Dr. William P. Lovegrove, Coker University – Dr. Meredith Sims, Columbia College – Dr. Marla S. Sanders, Columbia International University – Dr. Karen Grant, Converse University – Dr. Reed Martin Chewning, Erskine College – Dr. John Harris, Furman University – Dr. Mary Elizabeth Anderson.
(L-R) Second row: Limestone University – Dr. Virginia Rackley Scates, Morris College – Ms. Terri L. Kenely, Newberry College – Ms. Aslynn C. Halvorson, Presbyterian College – Dr. Laura J. Crary, Southern Wesleyan University – Dr. Jeffrey Mohr, Spartanburg Methodist College – Dr. Adam Siegfried, Voorhees College – Dr. Anastasiya Yakunina, and North Greenville University – Dr. Christina Eddy.
Not pictured are Charleston Southern University – Dr. Carissa Turner Smith, Claflin University – Dr. Mitali P. Wong, and Wofford College – Dr. Lori Cruze.

(L-R) Dr. Toni Muhammad, Allen University Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Daniel T. Hembree, Allen University 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Dr. Ryan Neal, Anderson University Provost; Dr. Joni M. Criswell, Anderson University 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Dr. Janeen Witty, Benedict College Vice President of Academic Affairs; Dr. Adrien M. Ratsimbaharison, Benedict College 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Dr. Steve Pettit, President, Bob Jones University; Dr. William P. Lovegrove, Bob Jones University 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Coker University President Natalie Harder, Dr. Meredith Sims, Coker University 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Columbia College President Tom Bogart, Dr. Marla S. Sanders, Columbia College 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Dr. James Lanpher, Columbia International University Provost; Dr. Karen Grant, Columbia International University 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Converse University President Boone Hopkins, Dr. Reed Martin Chewning, Converse University 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Dr. Tom Hellams, Erskine College Provost, Dr. John Harris, Erskine College 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Furman University Chemistry Department Chair Dr. Tim Hanks, Furman Chemistry professor Dr. Paul Wagenknecht, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Anderson, Furman University 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching award winner; Furman Provost Dr. Ken Peterson, Furman Chemistry professor Dr. Laura Wright, SCICU Board Chair Lucy Grey McIver.

(L-R) Dr. Michelle Phillips-Meek, LImestone University Chair of Behavioral Science Department; Dr. Virginia Rackley Scates, Limestone University 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) S. C. Rep. and Morris College trustee David Weeks, Ms. Terri L. Kenely, Morris College 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Newberry College Vice President for Academic Affairs Sid Parrish, Ms. Aslynn C. Halvorson, Newberry College 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) North Greenville University Provost Nathan Finn, Dr. Christina Eddy, North Greenville University 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Presbyterian College President Matthew vandenBerg, PC First Lady Melissa vandenBerg, Dr. Laura J. Crary, Presbyterian College 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Presbyterian College Provost Kerry Pannell, Dr. Justin Brent, director of the PC Media Studies program

(L-R) Southern Wesleyan University Interim President William Crothers, Dr. Jeffrey Mohr, Southern Wesleyan University 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Spartanburg Methodist College Interim Provost Kris Neely, Dr. Adam Siegfried, Spartanburg Methodist College 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees

(L-R) Dr. Xiqiang Zheng, Voorhees associate professor of mathematics and computer science; Dr. Zhabiz Golkar, Voorhees Dean of the School of Science, Technology, Health and Human Services; Dr. Anastasiya Yakunina, Voorhees College 2022 SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award Winner; Lucy Grey McIver, Chair, SCICU Board of Trustees