South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities - SCICU

10/13/2026

🎓 **Meet Alex Melgar, SCICU’s 2026 Student of the Year!**

South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) is proud to recognize Presbyterian College senior Alex Melgar as the recipient of the 2026 McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year award.

A first-generation college student double majoring in Political Science and History, Alex serves as Student Body President and has demonstrated a strong commitment to campus leadership, civic engagement, and public service.

Congratulations to Alex on this well-deserved honor!

Read more about Alex’s accomplishments and future plans on our website:

🔗 https://scicu.org/presbyterian-college-senior-alex-melgar-named-2026-mclean-smith-scicu-student-of-the-year/

08/31/2026

🎓 SCICU is proud to announce that we have received a $74,000 grant for the 2026–2027 SCICU Scholars Program!

The grant is provided by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) through its CIC/UPS Educational Endowment. Most importantly, 100% of these funds will go directly to students, helping support students with demonstrated financial need as they pursue their education at SCICU member colleges and universities.

“The Council of Independent Colleges is proud to support nearly 400 students demonstrating financial need in 23 states through the CIC/UPS Scholarships,” said Marjorie Hass, president of the Council of Independent Colleges. “Through our partnership with South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, these scholarships help individual students pursue their education at one of South Carolina’s superb independent colleges and universities.”

We are grateful for CIC and its continued investment in students and independent higher education in South Carolina. ❤️🎓

08/31/2026

Welcome to the 2026–27 Academic Year!

A new academic year is officially underway, and there is nothing quite like the excitement of students returning to campus.

Across South Carolina, our member colleges and universities are once again filled with the energy of students reconnecting with friends, moving into residence halls, attending campus events, and beginning another year of learning and growth.

Take a moment to watch the video and see students from SCICU’s member institutions as they return to campus for the 2026–27 academic year.

We are proud to support the students, faculty, and staff who make our independent colleges and universities such special places to learn, grow, and succeed. We look forward to seeing all that this academic year will bring and celebrating the many achievements along the way.

Welcome back, students! We wish everyone a successful and memorable 2026–27 academic year.

08/06/2026

🎉 Thank You, Security Federal Bank! 🎉

SCICU is proud to recognize Security Federal Bank for its generous $6,000 gift to the SCICU Scholars Program!

This marks the seventh consecutive year of Security Federal Bank's support, helping make higher education more affordable for students attending SCICU's 20 member institutions across South Carolina. Best of all, 100% of every dollar donated to the SCICU Scholars Program goes directly to student scholarships.

We are incredibly grateful for Security Federal Bank's continued investment in South Carolina students and their commitment to expanding educational opportunities across our state.

Thank you for helping students achieve their academic goals and build brighter futures! 💙🎓

06/15/2026

🎉 SCICU is grateful to announce the renewal of a $42,000 gift from Sonoco In Action in support of the SCICU Scholars Program!

For more than 70 years, Sonoco has been a dedicated partner in advancing higher education in South Carolina, contributing over $2.8 million to SCICU and its students. This latest investment will provide scholarship support to deserving students attending SCICU member institutions across the state, helping them pursue their educational goals and prepare for successful careers.

Sonoco’s continued investment reflects its commitment to strengthening communities, expanding access to higher education, and empowering students to reach their full potential. Through this generous gift, Sonoco In Action continues its legacy of creating opportunities and fostering student success across South Carolina.

Read the full press release here: https://scicu.org/sonoco-in-action-renews-42000-commitment-to-south-carolina-independent-colleges-universities/

Sonoco In Action Renews $42,000 Commitment to South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities June 15, 2026 by SC Independent Colleges & Universities Columbia, S.C. — South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) is pleased to announce a $42,000 gift from The Sonoco Foundation, ...

06/05/2026

SCICU was proud to host the 2nd Annual Legislative Conference for Higher Education Leadership on June 4 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, bringing together higher education leaders from across South Carolina for a day of professional development, collaboration, and policy discussions.

Attendees participated in breakout sessions led by Wade Kolb of Wyche, P.A., Carrie Mata, Ph.D., SCICU Coordinator for Data & Research, and CapinCrouse, LLC, with opportunities to earn up to 4.5 hours of CPE credit.

The conference concluded with a luncheon program featuring keynote speaker Stephanie T. Giesecke of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), followed by presentations from Katie Stevens, Executive Director of South Carolina Tuition Grants Commission, and Macey Webb, Counsel, SC House Education and Public Works Committee on issues impacting higher education in South Carolina.

Thank you to our generous sponsors—CapinCrouse, LLC, Collegiant Financial Group, PrimeSource, NFP, TIAA, Protocall, and Instructure—for making this event possible.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to a successful day dedicated to advancing independent higher education in South Carolina.

06/01/2026

We are excited to announce that South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities received a grant from the Milliken & Company Charitable Foundation for our Student Lifeline Program. Lifeline Grants help SCICU students persevere through financial crises, stay in school, and complete their degrees.

05/11/2026

🎉 Congratulations to the 20 outstanding faculty members recognized at the 2026 SCICU Excellence in Teaching Awards Dinner!

These educators exemplify excellence in undergraduate teaching, mentorship, and student engagement across SCICU’s member colleges and universities. Each recipient received a $3,000 professional development grant in recognition of their dedication to shaping future leaders.

Read the full story: https://scicu.org/39832-2/

04/16/2026

Today, students from across SCICU member institutions—including Allen University, Anderson University, Benedict College, Bob Jones University, Charleston Southern University, Columbia College, SC, Columbia International University, Converse University, Erskine College, North Greenville University, Presbyterian College, Southern Wesleyan University, Spartanburg Methodist College, and Wofford College gathered at the SC State House for Higher Education Day.

We are especially grateful to Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette for speaking and for reading the proclamation in support of this important day. Continued support of the South Carolina Tuition Grants Commission helps make higher education more accessible and affordable for students across our state.

04/06/2026

SCICU is excited to share a new partnership with E&I Cooperative Services, bringing additional value and support to our member institutions.

This collaboration builds on an existing connection many of our colleges and universities already use, while creating a more unified and strategic approach to accessing vetted purchasing solutions tailored to higher education. The goal is simple: help institutions operate more efficiently, make informed decisions, and stretch resources further.

Together, SCICU and E&I will focus on increasing awareness, offering training opportunities, and providing helpful insights so members can take full advantage of available resources.

This is another step forward in our ongoing work to support independent colleges and universities across South Carolina with practical tools that strengthen operations and reduce unnecessary complexity.
Learn more:

E&I Cooperative Services (E&I) is the only member-owned, non-profit procurement cooperative focused exclusively on education. For more than 90 years, and as former procurement officers, we’ve helped our membership of more than 6,400 education institutions with best-in-class contracts, strategies, ...