For 37 high school counselors, teachers, and coaches, their summer vacations were spent touring unique and varied independent colleges and universities in South Carolina. Every year since 1994, SCICU and its member institutions have sponsored a week-long tour of 10 campuses in order to introduce high school professionals to the outstanding educational opportunities at private non-profit colleges and universities.
Under the auspices of the South Carolina Department of Education and the South Carolina Counseling Association, participants in the SCICU Campus Tour program qualify for renewal credits or recertification hours upon completion of the tour and a media-based project that can be used in the workplace to improve students’ understanding and knowledge of the academic, extracurricular, and personal growth opportunities at any one of the state’s independent liberal arts colleges or universities.
This year’s program started on June 16 with a general orientation on the campus of Columbia International University which was followed by a tour of CIU before a visit to Morris College in Sumter and dinner at Coker College in Hartsville. The next day, the participants completed their tour of Coker College before travelling toAllen University in Columbia and Newberry College in Newberry. On Wednesday, the group was introduced toAnderson University in Anderson, Limestone College in Gaffney, and Spartanburg Methodist College in Spartanburg. On the last day of the program, the educators visited Wofford College and Converse Collegebefore leaving Spartanburg to return to Columbia International University.
Transportation, rooms, and meals were provided by SCICU and the host colleges and universities. SCICU is grateful for additional financial support from Mrs. Joan Coker, Mr. and Mrs. James C. Fort of Hartsville, and the Spinx Company in Greenville. Bill Brown of Columbia International University and Sami Baird of Newberry College served as guides for the group’s whirlwind tour of the state.
