South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities
A Voice for Independent Higher Education in South Carolina
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (courtesy converse.edu) — On July 1, 2021, Converse College acknowledged its long-held university status with an official name change to Converse University, in a major step towards targeted growth and competitive advantage in South Carolina’s higher education market. “For more than 130 years, Converse has held true to its mission: to empower its …
Joy and excitement returned to commencement exercises in spring 2021 as SCICU colleges and universities persevered through the 2020-21 academic year and held in-person ceremonies for the Class of 2021 graduates. Fair weather allowed most colleges and universities to hold their graduation ceremonies outside, many on athletic fields with graduating students seated socially distanced on …
Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez – Though I have attended more than 30 graduation ceremonies in my career, hearing “Pomp and Circumstance” still brings a lump to my throat. I think of all the wonderful students I’ve known. Graduations are bittersweet – we must say goodbye to students we’ve mentored, but we …
Bet you didn’t know… Yesterday (Thursday, May 13) was the official end of the 2021 session of the General Assembly, but they will be back. Unfinished business includes redistricting, allocating the federal COVID-19 relief funds, and the state budget, which includes a couple of items that are important to colleges and universities but fly under …
Double Pell! SCICU’s top priority in D.C. is to double the Pell Grant, a federal financial aid program for the most economically disadvantaged students. Both sides of the political aisle support the Pell Grants Program, and the maximum grant amount currently stands at $6,495. Doubling the Pell Grant to $13,000 would further empower students to …
COLUMBIA, S.C. — SCICU on April 14 joined the federal lawsuit, Bishop of Charleston, a Corporation Sole, dba Diocese of Charleston v. Adams, to strike down post-Civil War “Blaine Amendment” language from the South Carolina Constitution. The suit was filed by attorneys at the Liberty Justice Center, a nonprofit, public-interest litigation center that fights to …
Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez – For my column this month I thought I’d share with you my comments at the press conference announcing SCICU’s participation in the federal lawsuit to strike the “Blaine Amendment” from the S.C. Constitution. My organization is a party to this lawsuit in order to strike from …
COLUMBIA, S.C. — SCICU 2021 Legislative Champion Rep. Gary Simrill and more than 90 SCICU students celebrated the successful 2021 student letter-writing campaign during the April 13 Virtual Statehouse Day gathering. “Gary Simrill has successfully tackled the major issues facing South Carolina by working with both sides of the aisle,” said SCICU President and CEO …
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Members of the S.C. General Assembly once again had their mailboxes filled by thousands of thank-you letters from SCICU students during the 2021 legislative session. S.C. Senators and Representatives received nearly 7,200 student letters thanking them for their continued support of the S.C. Higher Education Tuition Grants program. These need-based grants are …
