Last week the House passed its version of the state budget, and it contains plenty of good news for SCICU member institutions.
At the top of the list is the Tuition Grants Program, which retained its $20 million allocation from the state lottery. This along with its other state funding has permitted the Tuition Grants Commission to approve increasing the maximum grant, now $4,800, and expanding eligibility. This year, more than 12,500 South Carolina residents qualified for a Tuition Grant, up from 500 the previous year.
The House also fully funded the state Merit Scholarships (Hope, Life, and Palmetto Fellows), as well as PASCAL, the shared library services system that saves campuses millions of dollars while providing students at small campuses with the same academic resources available at large research institutions.
The House budget now moves to the Senate for consideration.
SCICU 2024 Infographics for State House advocacy