Volume 12 | Issue 8
October 30, 2020
October 2020 News and Notes
News highlights include:

  • SCICU files amicus brief with S.C. Supreme Court to clarify access to CARES Act funding
  • Washington update - Next round of CARES Act funding still up in the air
  • The top five majors will surprise you - Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez
  • Furman senior neuroscience major named 2020 McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year
  • SCICU celebrates banner fundraising year; new programs established
  • SCICU elects eight business leaders during first-ever virtual board meeting Oct. 7.
  • 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 October 26

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.
South Carolina Update
SCICU files amicus brief with S.C. Supreme Court to clarify access to federal CARES Act funding
SCICU has filed an amicus brief with the S.C. Supreme Court supporting Gov. McMaster's motion to rehear Adams v. McMaster, hopefully clarifying access for SCICU member institutions to CARES Act funding.
Washington Update

We continue to see the follow-up CARES Act stimulus legislation batted back and forth like a tennis ball. 
The top five majors will surprise you
Message from Jeff Perez
Jeff Perez, Ph.D.
SCICU President and CEO
For just a few moments let’s give ourselves a break from COVID-19 and focus on what the SCICU member institutions are so good at – preparing students for success in life. And you may be surprised to learn how students look at the future based on the majors they choose.
Furman senior neuroscience major named McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year
Furman University President Elizabeth Davis (right) presents the 2020 McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year award to Furman senior Roberta Moran (left).

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Roberta Moran, a senior honors neuroscience major at Furman University, was announced as the 2020 McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year at SCICU’s board meeting on Oct. 7.

Honoring the combined legacies of leadership at SCICU and the S.C. Tuition Grants Commission, the award recognizes academic achievement and campus/community involvement made by S.C. Tuition Grants recipients. The award includes a $3,000 scholarship.

SCICU celebrates banner fundraising year; new scholarship programs added

Despite the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, generous donors helped SCICU exceed fundraising goals for fiscal year 2019-2020. Faithful, long-term donors, new scholarship programs, and an over-subscribed matching grant challenge helped SCICU raise nearly $600,000.



Eight S.C. business leaders elected as SCICU trustees during first-ever virtual board meeting Oct. 7
Eight South Carolina business and civic leaders were elected to SCICU’s board of trustees at the company’s first-ever virtual board meeting on Oct. 7.

New SCICU trustees initially serve a three-year term and are eligible upon board re-election to serve a consecutive three-year term.




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 the following new business partner:


SCICU thanks the following Business Partners 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 | Affinity LTC, LLC (Genworth Financial) | Aramark Higher Education | Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC | 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 | 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 [email protected] or 803-799-7122. Mailing address: PO Box 12007, Columbia, SC 29211.