Volume 15 | Issue 5
May 24, 2023
May 2023 News and Notes
'Angels'
Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez
Jeff Perez, Ph.D.
SCICU President and CEO
May is always graduation season, but this month marks a particularly significant “commencement,” made possible by certain “angels.”


Dominion Energy renews commitment to SCICU with $105,000 for merit scholarships
Extending its nearly 70-year relationship with South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU), Dominion Energy is renewing its $105,000 scholarship investment – 105 scholarships worth $1,000 each – for eligible SCICU students beginning fall 2023.

Milliken & Company Charitable Foundation renews STEM scholarship program benefiting five SCICU HBCUs
Academic year 2023-24 will mark the second consecutive year Milliken & Company has supported undergraduate STEM students at SCICU’s five HBCUs – Allen University, Benedict College, Claflin University, Morris College, and Voorhees University.  

Power:Ed awards SCICU $48,135 for student completion grants
S.C. Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) is pleased to announce the receipt of a Power:Ed award that will provide completion grants for students at financial risk for dropping out of college. This will be fourth consecutive year Power:Ed has extended completion grants to SCICU.

Sonoco Foundation awards SCICU $32,000 designated for need-based scholarships
SCICU is pleased to announce that the Sonoco Foundation has renewed its $32,000 needs-based scholarship program for students attending SCICU member colleges and universities.

Spring 2023 Commencement photo highlights
It's a wrap! Spring 2023 commencement ceremonies at all SCICU campuses are complete. Take a few moments and enjoy commencement photo highlights from our 21 member colleges and universities.

South Carolina legislative update
The end of the legislative session is often hectic, but this year is a deck of wild cards.

Federal update
While the negotiations over the debt ceiling limit are getting all the attention in Washington, the U.S. Department of Education last week released more than 1,000 pages of proposed regulations, and provided only a 30-day comment period.

SCICU College/University Campus News 

SCICU presents news from its 21 member colleges and universities. Click here to read college news in the newsroom on the SCICU website.

The following is a sampling of recent news from SCICU campuses:

Allen University and Benedict College

Anderson University

Bob Jones University

Charleston Southern University

Claflin University

Coker University

Columbia College

Columbia International University

Converse University

Erskine College

Furman University

Limestone University

Morris College

Newberry College

North Greenville University

Presbyterian College

Southern Wesleyan University

Spartanburg Methodist College

Voorhees University

Wofford College

Click below to access important information from each of the SCICU member colleges and universities:

The SCICU Business Partners program provides a convenient marketplace in which SCICU member colleges and universities can preview offerings tailored to the needs of the higher education community in South Carolina.
GMK is an S.C.-based, multi-disciplinary planning, design, and construction services firm focused on the education, government, healthcare, utility, and senior living industries.



McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture is a studio-based, regional architecture, interior design and planning firm with three South Carolina offices – Charleston, Greenville, and Spartanburg. The firm has supported 35 colleges and universities in the southeast, enhancing educational attainment and the social experience with vibrant, flexible and cost-effective facilities to meet academic, athletic, housing, library and dining needs.

A value added reseller of software, hardware, and peripherals, ScholarBuys is committed exclusively to the academic market. Our unique focus is partnering with decentralized academic entities throughout the country including; Consortia, University Systems, and academic cooperatives.

SCICU Business Partners: Renewing


SCICU thanks the following business partner for their renewal:


Directory - Click here for a complete list of SCICU Business Partners.
School counselors, parents, family members, and friends - It's CRUNCH TIME for college decisions!

The SCICU College Guide is the BEST online tool for making the college decision EASY!

The SCICU College Guide is the best ONE-STOP resource for campus tours, admissions, scholarships, campus life, sports, and more at SCICU's 21 member colleges and universities.

Click here to download your copy of the SCICU College Guide today! Please share it with friends and family, too!
SCICU is a member of the Coalition for College Cost Savings (CCCS). This organization, comprised of 35 member organizations in 33 states, serves more than 1,000 higher education institutions and over 3 million students across the United States. The organization and staff are dedicated to helping private higher education institutions improve processes and reduce costs through collaboration.

All SCICU member colleges and universities have access to CCCS's national contracts and services. More information on this important benefit may be found here.
News & Notes is published by the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, Inc. Please send all comments or questions to SCICU President & CEO Jeff Perez at jeff@scicu.org or 803-799-7122. Mailing address: PO Box 12007, Columbia, SC 29211.