Volume 12 | Issue 9
November 23, 2020
November 2020 News and Notes
News highlights include:

  • SCICU goes to court - Combined South Carolina and Washington updates
  • Three reasons to major in the liberal arts - Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez
  • SCICU renames emergency student aid program to Student Lifeline Grants program
  • Presbyterian College President Bob Staton to retire Dec. 31
  • Dr. Matthew vandenBerg named president-elect at Presbyterian College
  • Fall campus operations/response to COVID-19 at SCICU colleges and universities
  • SCICU college/university campus news
  • 2020 upcoming SCICU events
  • Business partners
SCICU COVID-19 resources - updated November 19

Click here for a curated list of COVID-19 advisories for colleges and universities, including updates and resources for South Carolina and the United States.
SCICU goes to court
South Carolina and Washington update
This is a combined state and federal update, as it involves a South Carolina Supreme Court decision that impacts the access of SCICU member institutions to federal CARES Act funding.
Three reasons to major in the liberal arts
Message from Jeff Perez
Jeff Perez, Ph.D.
SCICU President and CEO
Last month I shared the five most popular majors at SCICU member colleges and universities, which were surprising for liberal arts institutions in that they tended to be more career oriented.

Of course, every student at an SCICU institution receives a grounding in the liberal arts, and I think that’s vitally important. But this month I want to pay tribute to the students who choose to focus their studies in these fields by presenting the top three reasons to major in the liberal arts.
SCICU renames emergency student aid program to Student Lifeline Grants program

SCICU has renamed its emergency funding to students the “Student Lifeline Grants Program” to more accurately capture the initiative’s capacity to help students whose unexpected financial challenges might result in their dropping out.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has rendered students and their families even more financially vulnerable, making Student Lifeline Grants all the more important,” said SCICU president and CEO Jeff Perez. “We are excited that the new name will help prospective donors appreciate the value of the program and enhance our already active fundraising.”


Robert Staton to retire as president of Presbyterian College Dec. 31
Presbyterian President Bob Staton and First Lady Phyllis Staton
Following five decades of dedicated service to Presbyterian College, Robert (Bob) Staton will retire as the college’s 18th president on Dec. 31. In addition to his five-year presidency, Staton’s roles at the college include executive vice president for external relations (2007-2012) and member of the PC board of trustees 1997-2006.


Presbyterian College names Dr. Matthew vandenBerg as 19th president
Dr. Matthew vandenBerg
President-elect
Presbyterian College

Presbyterian College has named Dr. Matthew vandenBerg, an accomplished leader and fundraiser in independent higher education, as its 19th president. He will start his leadership at Presbyterian on February 1. VandenBerg will succeed Bob Staton, who will retire as PC president on Dec. 31.
Campus operations and response to COVID-19 pandemic at SCICU colleges and universities

SCICU College/University Campus News 

SCICU curates news from its twenty 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

Anderson University

Benedict College

Charleston Southern University

Claflin University

Coker University

Columbia College

Columbia International University

Converse College

Erskine College

Furman University

Limestone University

Morris College

Newberry College

North Greenville University

Presbyterian College

Southern Wesleyan University

Spartanburg Methodist College

Voorhees College

Wofford College

Click below to access important information from each of the SCICU member colleges and universities:
2020 Upcoming Events

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.

SCICU welcomes new business partners:



Directory - Click  here  for a complete list of Business Partners, or access information on individual Business Partners via the links shown below.

ABM Building Solutions, LLC | Affinity LTC, LLC (Genworth Financial) | Aramark Higher Education | Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC | Brown Edwards CPA | Brown & Brown South Carolina | CampusLogic | Cantey Tech Consulting | CapinCrouse LLP | Cherry Bekaert, LLC | Coleman Lew Canny Brown | Colonial Life | Craig Gaulden Davis | Diligence, LLC | Dominion Energy | Duke Energy | Elliott Davis | Enterprise Holdings | Find Great People, LLC | First American Education Finance | Gillis Specialty Advertising | Giraffe Web Design | GMK Associates | Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA | Hallmark Management Service | HRP Associates, Inc. | Hypersign, LLC | Immedion LLC | Jenzabar | Lower Cost Models Consortium | Lockstep Technology Group | MB Kahn Construction Company, Inc. | McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture | Metz Culinary Management | Nephron Pharmaceuticals | P2Ops, LLC | Paymerang (fka AP Advantage) | Pharos Resources, LLC Pioneer College Caterers | Pollock Company | Purple Briefcase | PVC Fittings Online | Regions Bank | Resource Financial Services | S2K Group, Inc. | SC Student Loan Corporation | ScholarBuys | SEGRA (formerly Spirit Communications | Sodexo | Spinx Company | Tallo (formerly STEM Premier) | Timely MD | Total Comfort Solutions | UnitedHealthcare Student Resources | VEMO Education | Victor Shoreline | Vulcan Materials Company | Walsh Consulting Group LLC | Williams & Fudge | Wyche, PA | 


SCICU is a member of the Coalition for College Cost Savings (CCCS). This organization, comprised of 33 member organizations in 32 states, serves close to 900 higher education institutions and 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.