Dr. Samhat, Senator Scott, and Dr. Hunter discuss Independent Higher Education in SC.
Independent college and university presidents from around the country took their message to Capitol Hill earlier this month. Organized by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Advocacy Day is an annual event that brings private non-profit college presidents together with their members of Congress.
President Jairy Hunter of Charleston Southern University, President Nayef Samhat of Wofford College, and SCICU President Mike LeFever met with Senator Tim Scott, Congressman Joe Wilson, and staff from the office of Congressman Trey Gowdy. Topics of discussion included the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965, campus-based student aid, the Department of Education’s proposed college rating system, and the additional burdens placed on institutions of higher education by an ever-increasing array of federal reporting, disclosure and compliance requirements.
The discussions were frank and helped to frame the higher education issues before the members of the South Carolina Congressional delegation and open the door for more dialogue in the months to come.