[NTA] Fwd: Subcommittee Votes to Close SC State University
- From: "Ericsson, Aprille J. (GSFC-5040)" <aprille.j.ericsson@xxxxxxxx>
- To: undisclosed-recipients:;
- Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2015 01:47:52 +0000
Begin forwarded message:
From: AMY T BILLINGSLEY <amytate@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:amytate@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Date: February 11, 2015 at 2:24:27 PM CST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Fwd: Subcommittee Votes to Close SC State University
So sad! We need to protect our institutions.
Amy
“We can't control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond.”
Begin forwarded message:
Date: February 10, 2015 at 8:55:17 PM EST
Subject: Subcommittee Votes to Close SC State University
Peace and Blessings,
It is so sad that another HBCU will apparently soon close their doors. We need
to protect our institutions and see that they thrive and profit. This is sad,
sad news.
Peace,
Arthur Turner
http://<http://www.wltx.com/story/news/education/2015/02/10/subcommittee-votes-close-sc-state-university/23179483/>www.wltx.com<http://www.wltx.com/story/news/education/2015/02/10/subcommittee-votes-close-sc-state-university/23179483/>/story/news/education/2015/02/10/subcommittee-votes-close-<http://www.wltx.com/story/news/education/2015/02/10/subcommittee-votes-close-sc-state-university/23179483/>sc<http://www.wltx.com/story/news/education/2015/02/10/subcommittee-votes-close-sc-state-university/23179483/>-state-university/23179483/<http://www.wltx.com/story/news/education/2015/02/10/subcommittee-votes-close-sc-state-university/23179483/>
Arthur Turner
Subcommittee Votes to Close SC State University
Tony Santaella, WLTX 7:32 p.m. EST February 10, 2015
[sc state university south carolina state university]
(Photo: WLTX)
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Columbia, SC (WLTX) - A House subcommittee has approved a measure that would
temporarily close South Carolina State University to allow the school to
correct its finances.
The Higher Education and Technical Colleges subcommittee approved the measure
on a 3-1 vote Tuesday afternoon. The bill still must go to the full House Ways
and Means committee, and potentially the entire House, for consideration.
<http://www.wltx.com/story/news/education/2015/01/28/sc-state-seeking-additional-14-million-in-2015-16/22477417/>
[cid:2DEA4C7D-99A4-4B8E-A159-7C14D892B793@hsd1.dc.comcast.net.]
WLTX NEWS
SC State Seeking Additional $14 Million
Another House panel met later in the day to discuss the matter further, but
after nearly an hour of conversation, tabled their work until Wednesday.
If approved, the school would shut down July 1st, would remain closed for the
entire 2015-2016 school year, and would reopen in fall of 2017. All programs,
both academic and athletic, would be affected. The school's president and board
of trustees would be fired, and faculty and staff would be dismissed.
The state would assume all debt and pay off all outstanding debts to vendors
and loans made from the Contingency Reserve Fund.
Students who have a 2.5 GPA or higher and qualify to transfer to another
in-state school would have their tuition paid for up to four years.
A Blue-Ribbon panel would then come up with a plan to reopen the school.
Late in the evening, however, SC State University President Thomas Elzey said
he and other supporters of the university would fight the effort to close the
school.
"I want to make one thing clear: South Carolina State University will not
close," Elzey said.
The Associated Press reports that Rep. Jim Merrill said it's time to stop
"messing around the edges" when it comes to South Carolina State University's
financial mess. Merrill wants the state to take on the university's debts,
which could climb past $100 million.
"The governor certainly understands the frustrations of the House Committee,"
said Cheney Adams, a spokeswoman for Governor Nikki Haley. "SC State's
leadership has been unable to provide straight answers on the condition of the
schools finances for months, something she finds totally unacceptable."
State Senator John Matthews, who represents Orangeburg and is an SC State alum,
said the House's vote was a mistake.
"I think it's the most irresponsible vote that I've ever seen come out of the
House," said Matthew. "They know they're not going to be able to close that
institution, the Senate's not going to support that position, and so all
they're doing is damage to the institution.
The university has been mired in financial trouble for years. Just last month,
Elzey told a House budget committee that the school still owes $17.5 million, a
figure that includes a previous state loan the school has yet to repay.
Late last year, South Carolina's financial oversight board agreed to give the
school $12 million over three years.
<http://www.wltx.com/story/money/2014/12/08/sc-state-to-receive-12m-from-state-reserves/20093361/>
[cid:5DFDFB5E-DBA6-4A81-ADA2-E11B25079ADA@hsd1.dc.comcast.net.]
WLTX NEWS
SC State To Receive $12M From State Reserves
The school is on probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
for financial and governance issues. In an effort to increase revenue, the
university's board of trustees approved a tuition hike last summer. The
increase was 3.2 percent for in-state students, and 5 percent for those from
out-of-state.
<http://www.wltx.com/story/news/local/2014/06/25/south-carolina-state-university-tuition-increase/11369047/>
[cid:DAB360B7-7065-4E0C-82DE-680A2B7D3113@hsd1.dc.comcast.net.]
WLTX NEWS
SC State Approves Tuition Hike; Cuts Still Loom
The school acknowledged on its social media accounts the committee's actions,
and said school supporters "are vowing to fight to kill the measure."
"The University is encouraging all students, alumni, supporters, and parents to
remain calm," the school posted on its Facebook account. "The proviso is simply
a recommendation. The administration and university supporters are fighting to
have the bill killed. If you want your opinion to be heard, call your state
legislators and governor's office. Call 803-734-2100."
<http://www.wltx.com/story/news/education/2015/02/10/south-carolina-state-university-possible-closure/23188555/>
[cid:6E33037E-D397-4BC1-929E-A93943D34BBB@hsd1.dc.comcast.net.]
WLTX NEWS
Impact of SC State Closure Could Be Large
South Carolina State is the only public historically black college or
university in the state.
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