Volume 11 | Issue 8 - October 2019
October 2019 News and Notes
October 2019 news highlights include:

  • SCICU board elects Sonoco VP as new chair and taps six new trustees at Oct. 8 meeting hosted by Coker University
  • My first year - Message from SCICU President and CEO Dr. Jeff Perez
  • Federal update - NACAC decision and HEA reauthorization
  • Newberry College senior named 2019 SCICU Student of the Year
  • Two 50-year donors celebrated by SCICU
  • SCICU honored with $50,000 Power:Ed grant for student retention scholarships
  • Links to athletics websites for SCICU member campuses
  • Member college/university news
  • 2019 upcoming events
  • Business partners
SCICU elects Sonoco VP as board chair and taps six new trustees
Jerry Cheatham
SCICU Board Chair
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) is proud to announce the election of Jerry Cheatham, a long-time advocate for education in South Carolina, as its new chair of the board of trustees.

Cheatham succeeds Russell Cook as board chair. Cook, managing director of Comporium Ventures, led SCICU during the leadership transition from retiring President and CEO Mike LeFever to Dr. Jeff Perez as SCICU’s new president and CEO in 2018. Cheatham served as chair of the executive search committee.

Please click here to read more about new trustees and recognition of outgoing trustees.
(L-R) Jerry Cheatham, new SCICU Board chair, presents Russell Cook, outgoing chair, with framed artwork of Wofford College’s iconic Main Building. Cook is a 1983 graduate of Wofford College.
My first year

Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez
Jeff Perez, Ph.D.
SCICU President and CEO
October 29th will mark my first year as President & CEO of SCICU.

I used my president’s report at the SCICU board meeting earlier this month to reflect on that year. I talked about where we were, where we are and where we’re going.

Where we were - When I started at SCICU we were blessed with strong leadership, and I’m fortunate that remains the case. The presidents had command of their campuses and the SCICU board included experienced and dedicated members who provided me with guidance and support.

Federal Update
NACAC agreement -
The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) voted last month to remove provisions that the U.S. Department of Justice investigated for possible antitrust law violations. There are significant implications for SCICU's member colleges and universities.

HEA Authorization -
We now have dueling approaches to reauthorizing the Higher Education Act.

(L-R) Russell Cook, SCICU board chair, Dr. Maurice Scherrens, Newberry College president, Andrea Getz, 2019 SCICU Student of the Year, and Dr. Jeff Perez, SCICU president and CEO.
Newberry College senior named 2019 SCICU Student of the Year
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Andrea Getz, an outstanding Newberry College student and accomplished community volunteer, is SCICU’s 2019 Student of the Year. She was recognized at SCICU’s board of trustees awards luncheon on October 8th at Coker University (Hartsville, S.C.).

“The SCICU Student of the Year scholarship means so much to me,” Getz said. “The $3,000 award will help me pay for my senior year at Newberry.”

Please click here to read more about the 2019 SCICU Student of the Year.
SCICU celebrates two 50-year donors

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Long-term relationships with donors have helped SCICU provide scholarships and financial aid to students at member colleges and universities since its inception in 1953. In 2019, SCICU is honored to recognize 50-year donor relationships with the Alwinell Foundation and the Vulcan Materials Company. Both long-term donors were recognized at SCICU’s board of trustees awards luncheon on October 8th at Coker University.

Alwinell Foundation
(L-R) Russell Cook, SCICU Board Chair, Allison Heath, Alwinell Foundation, and Dr. Jeff Perez, SCICU President and CEO.
The Alwinell Foundation, based in Charlotte, N.C., has supported higher education and the advancement of science, religion, and financial assistance for deserving persons since its inception in 1951. It has contributed more than $283,000 towards SCICU’s financial aid initiatives, including the Discretionary Scholarship Program, which provides financial support to students at SCICU institutions to help them persist through unexpected financial hardships and complete their degrees.

The foundation was started and endowed by Henry Allison and John Erwin, founders of the Allison Erwin Company, a furniture and electronics distribution wholesale enterprise. The company grew from local and regional distribution and expanded its reach internationally before closing its doors in 2010 after 116 years of operation.
Vulcan Materials Company
(L-R) Russell Cook, SCICU Board Chair, Jimmy Fleming, Vulcan Materials Company, Dr. Jeff Perez, SCICU President and CEO.
Vulcan Materials Company, the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates (primarily crushed stone, sand, and gravel), has contributed more than $213,000 to SCICU and its member colleges and universities. Funds received from Vulcan support SCICU’s Discretionary Scholarship Program, which helps SCICU students persist through financial difficulties and stay in school to complete their degree programs.

SCICU honored with $50,000 Power:Ed grant for student retention scholarships
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) is pleased to announce the receipt of a $50,000 grant from S.C. Student Loan Corporation’s new Power:Ed program. SCICU is honored to be the inaugural award recipient in this program designed to support higher education in South Carolina.

The 20 SCICU member institutions will use the new Power:Ed funding to support rising juniors and seniors at risk of dropping out due to financial difficulties.

“Having worked on college campuses, I know there are successful students who have completed a couple of years who financial aid officers worry may not come back because they have no financial cushion,” said Dr. Jeff Perez, SCICU president and CEO. “The Power:ED grant will provide the support that will help keep these students on track to graduate.”

SCICU Campus Sports
From football and soccer to esports and rodeo, SCICU member colleges and universities offer great opportunities for student athletes.

Click on the links below to learn more about sports teams at your favorite SCICU colleges and universities.

Member College 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 member college / university news:

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 College

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:

2019 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 the following new Business Partner:


SCICU thanks the following Business Partner for their renewals:


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  |  Acumen IT, LLC  |  Affinity LTC, LLC (Genworth Financial)  |  Aramark Higher Education  |  Argent Financial Group | Blackboard   |  Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC | Cantey Tech Consulting  |  CapinCrouse LLP  | Cherry Bekaert, LLC |  Church Mutual Insurance Company  |  Coleman Lew Canny Brown  |  Collegiate Financial Services (IOA)  |  Colonial Life | Craig Gaulden Davis  |  CSI Leasing, Inc.  |  Diligence, LLC | Dominion Energy |  Duke Energy | Elliott Davis  |  Enterprise Holdings | Find Great People, LLC  |  First American Education Finance  | Gillis Specialty Adverstising  |  Giraffe Web Design  |  Harper Corporation General Contractors  |  Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA  |  HillSouth iT Solutions  |  Howard Technology Solutions  |  HRP Associates, Inc.  |  Hypersign, LLC  | Immedion LLC  |   The LearningHouse, Inc.  |  MB Kahn Construction Company, Inc.  |  McAllister & Quinn  |   McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture  | Met@data IT LLC  |  Metz Culinary Management  |  Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting  |  National Management Resources Corporation  | Nephron Pharmaceuticals | P2Ops, LLC  |  Paymerang (fka AP Advantage)  |  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 | Stroz Friedberg  |  Tallo (formerly STEM Premier) | Thompson & Little  |  Timely MD | Total Comfort Solutions  | UnitedHealthcare Student Resources  |  USI Insurance Services, LLC | VEMO Education | 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 [email protected] or 803-799-7122. Mailing address: PO Box 12007, Columbia, SC 29211.