South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities

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SCICU awards $421,000 in merit and need-based scholarships at 21 private colleges and universities

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — With generous support from philanthropic organizations and major corporations, S.C. Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) is proud to announce a total of $421,000 in merit and need-based scholarships for undergraduate students attending its 21 member private colleges and universities.

“We are extremely grateful for the investment our donors make in developing SCICU students into South Carolina’s next generation of business and civic leaders,” said Jeff Perez, SCICU President and CEO.

During 2023-2024 academic year, more than 270 students at SCICU’s 21 member campuses are benefitting from the generosity of corporate and philanthropic donors. Benefactors supporting the SCICU Scholars Program this year include:

  • The Bailey Foundation
  • CIC/UPS Foundation
  • Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation
  • Duke Energy Foundation
  • Milliken & Company Charitable Foundation
  • Power:Ed, a philanthropy of South Carolina Student Loan Corporation
  • Sanders Family Foundation
  • Sonoco Foundation
  • South Carolina Student Loan Corporation
  • Truist Foundation
  • Unum / Colonial Life

Emma R. Reabold, SCICU Vice President for Development and Campus Services, works with current and prospective donors in making college more accessible and affordable for students who choose to attend SCICU’s 21 member institutions located throughout South Carolina. Emma is always available to discuss your support of independent private education in South Carolina. She can be reached at emma@scicu.org and 803-799-7122.

‘Am I being artificial?’

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SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez

L. Jeffrey Perez, Ph.D.
SCICU President and CEO

Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez –

 

“Am I being artificial?”

I cheated.

In my defense I’ve been really busy travelling the last week and got behind on my writing.

I just returned from the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Annual Summit during which there was a very interesting panel discussion on the use of Artificial Intelligence. The panel included Dr. Nathan McNeese, an assistant professor of Human Centered Computing at Clemson.

Dr. McNeese observed that the writers of AI algorithms have focused on performance and overlooked that AI doesn’t understand us as humans. He stressed that AI must do a better job of accounting for human needs and wants.

Well, I’m a human and I needed a column for the SCICU Newsletter. With a sense of irony I asked ChatGPT to write 750 words on the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence.

I must say that in 533 words (not the 750 I requested) ChatGPT gave me a variety of perspectives on the ethical implications of AI. The writing was pedestrian but clear with only one typo. The paragraph and sentence structure were repetitive to the extent that I think I could have picked this writing out as artificially generated.

I should add there were no footnotes, so it’s impossible for me to divine what was generated and what might have been plagiarized. I’ve read that ChatGPT is so eager to please that it may gloss over academic or journalistic standards to provide what it’s been asked for.

Of course, I didn’t ask for footnotes, so I revised my query to request them. The new essay covered the same issues but added eight footnotes. One of them: Diakopoulos, N. (2016). “Accountable Algorithmic Decision-Making: A Medium for Design.” Data Society Research Institute.

I googled that reference and indeed there was an article by a Nicholas Diakopoulos in February of 2016 on the topic, but its title was “Accountability in Algorithmic Decision Making,” and it was written for the Communications of the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery).

If I was grading the paper, I’d give credit for the footnote but take off points for the sloppy citation.

To test how thorough ChatGPT had been I did my own Google search: “ethical use of artificial intelligence.” It pulled up several good sources including an article in the Harvard Gazette and a 44-page set of recommendations by UNESCO. I must give credit to ChatGPT for succinctly covering all the ground covered in these sources.

ChatGPT did present me with angles I had not considered. This isn’t surprising as my graduate work was on 18th century Virginia, at which time software referred to a satin brocade waistcoat.

I had thought about the capacity for AI to improve our lives. The S.C. Chamber panelists all agreed that AI would make dramatic changes in our world in the next few years, noting the possibility for more highly personalized health care. But I also thought about decisions regarding level of care that may be the product of an algorithm rather than a human review.

ChatGPT added that care must be taken that any biases of the programmer not be integrated into the AI, and stressed the importance of creating global standards for ethical practices.

For all its power AI is the same as any other technology – it’s how people build it and use it that will define its capacity to improve our lives or threaten them.

Interestingly, ChatGPT didn’t note plagiarism of AI generated content as an ethical concern. That’s at the top of the list for professors.

Well, I ended up relying on ChatGPT to get me started, and I certainly used some issues it identified as ethical challenges. Nevertheless, the words were my own.

Did I cheat? I’m not sure.

I’ll ask Alexa.

Federal Update

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Federal Budget —

After Thanksgiving the House of Representatives will be voting on the FY2024 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, which currently proposes flat funding for the Pell Grant Program and eliminates both the Federal Work-Study Program and Supplement Educational Opportunity Grants. Literally thousands of moderate and low-income students at SCICU member institutions rely on this funding to focus on their studies and not be distracted by financial concerns.

We understand that President Biden intends to veto this bill should it contain these provisions. It’s good to know that’s where we likely will end up, but the House passing a bill with these draconian cuts is not a good way to start.

FAFSA —

The U.S. Department of Education announced this week the new FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form will not be available for students until December 31 of this year, barely meeting the end-of-year requirement set by Congress.

With this late date for FAFSA to be available, students will be submitting their information later than usual and financial aid officers will be hustling to complete financial aid packages for students intending to enroll for Fall 2024. The Department of Education will be making their jobs even harder – it also announced that there will be a four-to-six-week delay in when it gets the processed information back to financial aid officers. In the past the lag has been only a few days.

Shutdown averted —

With government funding set to expire Nov. 17, Congress passed a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown that is being referred to as “laddered” because it contains two blocks of spending bills.

The first block of bills expires on January 19, 2024, and covers less controversial funding areas, such as Agriculture, Energy and Water, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD. The second block expires on February 2, and includes funding for areas more likely to inspire debate, including Commerce-Science-Justice, Defense, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior-EPA, Labor-HHS-Education, the Legislative Branch, and State-Foreign Ops.

SCICU Fall sports – Teams winning back-to-back championships and breaking records

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Breaking records? Check! Winning multiple championships? Check! Check!
It’s a championship-winning, record-breaking fall on SCICU campuses! Enjoy the following photo highlights and click on the names of your favorite colleges and universities to read the latest sports news.


Benedict Tigers celebrate back-to-back undefeated seasons and back-to-back SIAC conference championships.

Benedict College President Roslyn Artis (left of trophy, in white jacket) and Benedict Tigers Head Coach Chennis Berry (to right and holding trophy) celebrate with their team and SIAC leaders upon winning the 2023 SIAC championship. Photo credit: Dennis Switzer, Benedict College.

The BJU Bruins Men's Cross Country team continues its dominance with eight straight NCCAA national championships.

The Bob Jones University Bruins Men’s Cross Country team continues its dominance with eight straight NCCAA national championships. Photo credit: Kaitlyn Unruh, Bob Jones University.

Furman HBC Clay Hendrix and team celebrate the 2023 SoCon championship.

Furman Paladins HBC Clay Hendrix and team celebrate the 2023 Southern Conference football championship. 2023 marks the Paladins’ 15th conference championship. Photo credit: FurmanPaladins.com

With an 8-1 regular season conference record and sharing South Atlantic Conference leadership with Lenoir-Rhyne, the Limestone Saints punches a ticket to the NCAA DII playoffs. The Saints travel to Georgia to take on No. 3 seed Valdosta State.

With an 8-1 regular season conference record and sharing South Atlantic Conference leadership with Lenoir-Rhyne, the Limestone Saints punch a ticket to the NCAA DII playoffs. The Saints travel to Georgia to take on No. 3 seed Valdosta State Nov. 18. Photo credit: GoLimestoneSaints.com.

SCICU Business Partner spotlight — November 2023

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SCICU salutes the businesses that participate in the SCICU Business Partner program. For November 2023, we are spotlighting The Budd Group, Duke Energy, and Total Comfort Solutions. Please see the links below to learn more about these partners. The SCICU Business Partner directory lists all partners currently participating in the program. Emma Reabold, SCICU vice president for development and campus services, is always available for businesses interested in learning more about SCICU’s Business Partner program (email: emma@scicu.org / office: 803-799-7122).

 
 
The Budd Group provides integrated facilities management for private elementary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities. In 2023 The Budd Group celebrates 60 years of incredible service and continuous growth.

SCICU Business Partner profile
Company website: BuddGroup.com
 


Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States, providing electricity to 8.2 million customers in six states. They have approximately 50,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Their natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.

SCICU Business Partner profile
Company website: DukeEnergy.com
 

 
 
Total Comfort Solutions offers the skilled development and delivery of innovative Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) solutions to clients across South Carolina and eastern Georgia. We serve all industries with a specialization in mid- to large-sized facilities in the healthcare, industrial, technology, institutional, and office markets.

SCICU Business Partner profile
Company website: TotalComfortSolutions.com
 

 

 

‘What’s your major?’

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SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez

L. Jeffrey Perez, Ph.D.
SCICU President and CEO

Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez –

 

“What’s your major?”

That’s the icebreaker question that begins many a campus conversation.

It’s also the choice students make that is key to their futures. And by looking at majors we get a sense of how our students approach college and what they expect to get out of it.

SCICU collects from the member institutions their top five most popular majors. Following are the majors reported most often by the campuses:

Business/Business Administration (21)
Biology (11)
Criminal Justice (8)
Psychology (8)
Education (tie-7)
Sports Management (tie-7)

While they’re all very different they share a common quality – these majors are all career focused. Biology comes closest to being a classic humanities major, but students typically major in it because they have specific career aspirations, for example becoming a doctor.

But there’s more to it than a major. Why do these students choose to attend SCICU member institutions? Because they are forward-looking. They want more than a career – they seek to prepare themselves for an unpredictable future. Regardless of major, students at SCICU campuses receive a grounding in the liberal arts that equips them with the capacity to think, analyze, communicate and adapt.

While their majors may put them on a career track, they will be able to seize the opportunities presented by jobs that don’t even exist yet.

That’s the ultimate kind of workforce development.

North Greenville senior elementary education major named 2023 SCICU Student of the Year

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Abigail McGillis, a North Greenville University senior elementary education major, is the 2023 McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year.

(L-R) Dr. Gene Fant, North Greenville University President; Abigail McGillis, 2023 McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year; Dr. Jeff Perez, SCICU President and CEO.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) is pleased to announce Abigail McGillis, a North Greenville University (NGU) senior majoring in elementary education, as the 2023 McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year. The award was presented to McGillis at SCICU’s Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 10 at Anderson University.

Honoring the combined legacies of leadership at SCICU and the S.C. Tuition Grants Commission, the award recognizes academic achievement and campus/community involvement of S.C. Tuition Grants recipients. The award includes a $3,000 scholarship.

“I am very thankful for my S.C. Tuition Grant,” said Abigail. “The grant allows me to focus more on my education, extracurricular activities, and future plans, rather than worrying about finances.”

Along with maintaining a 4.0 GPA each semester at NGU, Abigail, the daughter of Justin and Michelle Wright of Columbia, has demonstrated significant personal and professional leadership in the classroom, in student leadership roles, and in the community. Her leadership roles include co-president of the Teacher Education Association, secretary for the Student Body Council, and secretary for Young Americans for Freedom.

Abigail merges her faith and her passion for education in her campus, local, and international mission work. Earlier in 2023, she taught English in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Her local ministry includes leading worship, teaching Sunday School, helping with Vacation Bible School, working with youth retreats, and more. Abigail is also involved with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Delight Ministry, and the NGU Homeless Ministry.

In addition to teaching elementary school, Abigail plans on pursuing a master’s and doctorate in educational leadership, both supporting her aspirations of founding a classical school for training students in the Trivium and Quadrivium.

“SCICU is proud to honor Abigail with the Student of the Year scholarship,” said Jeff Perez, SCICU president and CEO. “Her academic achievements and leadership in the community are an inspiration to all of us and demonstrate the superior preparation students receive at North Greenville and all SCICU member institutions.”

Each year the McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year scholarship recipient is selected from rising junior or senior applicants attending one of SCICU’s 21 member colleges and universities. All applicants must also be S.C. Tuition Grant recipients. Applications are accepted by the Center for Scholarship Administration in Greenville, and an independent three-person panel annually selects the student who will receive the SCICU Student of the Year scholarship.

The scholarship program honors J. Lacy McLean and Sterling L. Smith. McLean advocated for independent higher education in S.C. for over 34 years. Smith was instrumental in the development of the S.C. Tuition Grants program.

SCICU elects Willis Cantey board chair, announces additional board leadership

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Willis Cantey, a Charleston business and civic leader, was elected board chair by the trustees of the S.C. Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) at their October 10 board meeting, hosted by Anderson University. Cantey will serve a two-year term as board chair.

“SCICU is very fortunate to benefit from Willis Cantey’s leadership and experience,” said SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez. “Willis will provide the guidance to help SCICU better serve its 21 member institutions and their 36,000 students.”

Prior to being elected board chair, Cantey served as president-elect of the board for two years and chaired the SCICU Finance Committee.

Lucy Grey McIver, outgoing SCICU board chair and Sumter-based attorney with the McLeod Law Group, passed the gavel to Cantey at the end of the SCICU board meeting. McIver will continue her service on the SCICU board with a two-year term as immediate past board chair and chair of the SCICU Nominating Committee.

Dr. Gene Fant, president of North Greenville University, currently serves as vice-chair of the SCICU board and chair of the SCICU Council of Presidents. He will continue in both leadership roles through August 2024.

The board elected Ben Porter to a two-year term as president-elect. Porter previously chaired the SCICU Finance Committee.

As board chair, Cantey announced his committee leadership, and the board voted to confirm the appointments:

Audit Committee
Chair – Willis Cantey (Cantey Tech Consulting)
Committee members – Susan Amick (South State Bank), Kristi Eidson (Total Comfort Solutions), Dr. Gene Fant (North Greenville University), Lucy Grey McIver (McLeod Law Group), Ben Porter (First Citizens Bank)

Development Committee
Chair – Trey Simon (SC Student Loan Corporation)
Vice chair – Danna Vetter (Milliken & Company)

Finance Committee
Chair – Steve Hall (FGP- Find Great People)
Vice chair – Brent Weaver (Wells Fargo)

Nominating Committee
Chair – Lucy Grey McIver (McLeod Law Group)

Public Policy Committee
Chair – Brandolyn Pinkston (Retired SC Consumer Advocate)
Vice chair – Michael Jackson (SC Ports Authority)

The chairs of SCICU committees all serve on the SCICU Executive Committee. Three presidents of SCICU’s 21 member institutions also serve on the Executive Committee. SCICU college/university presidents serving on the Executive Committee for the 2023-24 term are Coker University President Natalie Harder, Morris College President Leroy Staggers, and North Greenville University President Gene Fant.

SCICU elects 12 South Carolina business and civic leaders to its board of trustees

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At its Oct. 10 board meeting hosted by member institution Anderson University, SCICU elected 12 South Carolina business and civic leaders to serve three-year terms on its board of trustees.

“Hailing from all regions of South Carolina, our new trustees bring a great depth and breadth of leadership experience to our board,” said SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez. “This group complements our existing board leadership, and we look forward to their many contributions supporting our 21 member colleges and universities.”

SCICU is pleased to present the Class of 2026 trustees (Click here for new trustee bios.):

Ms. Susan Padget Amick
Senior Vice President – Commercial Banker
SouthState Bank, N.A.
Lexington

Ms. Ava L. Ayers
CEO
APS Firm, LLC
Charleston

Ms. Jerry Bentley
Retired Educator and Mental Health Practitioner
Elgin

Mr. Wade Kolb
Member/Attorney
Wyche, P.A.
Greenville

Mr. Tom Kutyla
SVP Commercial Division Manager – Columbia Metro Service Area
United Community Bank
Columbia

Mr. Donny McElveen
Employee Benefit Sales Leader – SC
Brown and Brown, Inc.
N. Charleston

Ms. Adela Mendoza
Executive Director
Hispanic Alliance
Greenville

Mr. John Ramsey
Chair
Diamond Hill Plywood Co.
Darlington

Ms. Kalisha Richardson
Associate Director of Minority Research
South Carolina Senate
Columbia

Mr. Mark Robbins
Senior Director – Global Human Resources
Sonoco Products Company
Elgin

Mr. Patrick Z. Sapp
Chief Operation Officer
Universal Therapeutic Services, LLC
Greenville

Mr. Kevin Short
SVP –Middle Market Banking – Mid-South Region
TD Bank
Greenville

SCICU also thanks outgoing trustees for their distinguished service:

Michael Allen
LaJoia Broughton
Jerry Cheatham
Mark Felk
Ted Gentry
Steven Johnson
Montague Laffitte
Brad Love
James McFadden
Daniel Sulton
Shannon Stephens
Dale Willis