Columbia International University showcased their new William Jones Global Business and IT Center for SCICU’s spring board meeting on February 25.
SCICU trustees and college/university presidents were welcomed by CIU President Dr. Mark Smith. Dr. Scott Adams, dean of CIU’s school of business, highlighted CIU’s investment in and transformation of the Monticello Road corridor surrounding the CIU campus.
Dr. Rusty Monhollon, president and executive director of the S.C. Commission on Higher Education, joined SCICU’s presidents for the semi-annual Council of Presidents breakfast.
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) vice president for state council programs Carol Schuler led trustees through a presentation on higher education access and affordability, closing with an interactive session on answering the general public’s questions on cost perceptions and myths related to private colleges. Schuler’s presentation gave trustees tools to confidently answer questions regarding the continued and long-term value of independent higher education.
Schuler also announced the selection of SCICU as a recipient of a CIC capacity-building grant. SCICU will use the funding to continue the regional trustee appreciation receptions started in 2019.
Eddie Shannon, SCICU executive vice president, announced that SCICU had also exceeded CIC’s challenge grant for discretionary scholarships. CIC challenged SCICU to raise $20,000 in new or increased gifts designated for support of emergency student financial aid on SCICU campuses. With the help of signature sponsors Comporium, Nephron Pharmaceuticals, Williams & Fudge, and numerous individuals, SCICU exceeded CIC’s challenge and received matching funds of $10,000.
In the business portion of the board meeting, development, finance, and public policy committee chairs updated trustees on fundraising efforts, YTD budget, and legislative advocacy efforts.
Rick Moul, executive director of PASCAL (Partnership Among S.C. Academic Libraries), the meeting’s featured luncheon speaker, shared with trustees the collaboration fostered by PASCAL between academic libraries across South Carolina.
“PASCAL levels the playing field for students and faculty at all member institutions,” Moul explained. “We provide a higher level of academic content at a dramatically lower cost than individual libraries could do on their own.”
Since 2004, PASCAL’s statewide electronic library programs have generated nearly $140 million in cost-avoidance for member libraries.