April is the month for SCICU events

After the last two weeks we’re pretty tired at SCICU. But it was worth it.

Two weeks ago, we joined with the S.C. Commission on Higher Education and the S.C. Technical College System to hold Higher Education Day at the Statehouse. Students from all three sectors fanned out to meet with legislators in their offices and in the lobby of the Statehouse to thank them for their support of need-based aid programs.

This year students at SCICU member institutions sent more than 6,800 hand-written letters to members of the S.C. House and Senate expressing their appreciation for the Tuition Grants Program. In an age of email, legislators often mention the impact of all those hand-written letters landing in their in-baskets.

Higher Education Day culminated with Lieutenant Governor Evette joining the students on the steps of the Statehouse to read a proclamation commemorating Higher Education Day.

That very evening months of planning culminated in the SCICU’s Excellence In Teaching Awards Dinner, recognizing the dedication and achievements of faculty members from each of SCICU’s 21 member institutions. In academia most professional recognition occurs at conferences or campus functions not typically attended by the public. But family and friends are invited to SCICU’s awards dinner. It’s heartwarming to see the guests beaming with pride as the recipients are recognized. Campus presidents and chief academic officers also make time to attend, underscoring the importance of undergraduate teaching at their institutions.

Just one week later, SCICU held its semi-annual board meeting, which also requires extensive coordination. Many thanks to Claflin University President Dwaun Warmack for the gracious hospitality he and his team provided us.

We kicked off the meeting the evening before with the Trustees Reception at Claflin’s brand-new 80,000 square foot Student Center, which includes a state-of-the art movie theater – something Orangeburg County hasn’t had for more than 15 years. After the reception we were treated to a special showing of highlights from “Top Gun: Maverick.” I felt like I was in Tom Cruise’s back seat.

Our board meeting the next day was also at the Student Center. Along with matters such as approving the audit and the organization’s IRS submissions, we began what will be an ongoing discussion: “The Future of SCICU.”

I’m very proud of what SCICU has been able to accomplish in the last few years, particularly the support we were able to provide our member institutions during the pandemic. We completed “SCICU 2.0” which helped us set priorities for meeting the needs of campuses in an increasingly volatile higher education environment.

Now we must look to the future. How will SCICU continue to grow?

Lewis Carroll famously wrote: “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.”

To help us focus on where SCICU is going, I asked the trustees two questions:

1. How do we define success for independent higher education in South Carolina in five years?
2. How does SCICU help secure that success?

The following conversation was thought-provoking. Trustees considered student success, institutional viability, and respect for independent higher education, and discussed how SCICU might achieve them.

But this was only the very beginning of a critically important dialogue.

I look forward to this effort, but right now, the SCICU staff could use a bit of a rest.