USC’s board of trustees met on Feb. 21 for the first of its two semesterly meetings to discuss federal funding, mental health services, economic development and research. The board also approved a resolution for compliance with non-discrimination laws.
Federal funding
Multiple speakers discussed the topic of federal funding. Vice Chancellor at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, Eric Skipper, updated the board on issues the Beaufort campus is facing with federal funding.
Ten other federal grants are at risk and one has been revoked, he said.
“A few weeks ago, we dug in and figured, ‘Okay, what is it going to look like if these things start getting canceled?’,” Skipper said. “And the immediate impact was a $95,000 impact that would be on our teacher quality partnership wrap from the Department of Education.”
The University of South Carolina Beaufort will cover the cost of the teacher quality partnership with institutional funds, Skipper said.
USC’s Federal Legislative Liaison Steven Beckham gave an update on university relations with the federal government.
Many USC students across the university system receive financial assistance from the federal government, Beckham said.
“A staggering fact for me was that 75% of our students at the university, and this is a system number by the way, receive some form of federal financial assistance, loans, grants, etc,” Beckham said.
USC conducts $100 million in federally-funded health research, and two South Carolina congressional delegates are on the appropriations committee in Congress, Beckham said. The appropriations committee handles bills that determine federal spending.
The university is also awaiting an appropriations bill that would provide $50 million to $60 million for congressionally directed projects, Beckham said.
Multiple USC buildings also have federal investment, Beckham said. This includes buildings such as the Hollings Library, Booker T. Washington Auditorium and John M. Palms Center for Graduate Science Research, he said.
Beckham did not say if any federal funding is at risk.
Approvals and presentations
The board approved a resolution that declared USC's compliance with non-discrimination. This comes after an executive order from President Donald Trump directing institutions of higher-education that receive federal funding to comply with Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The Supreme Court decision ruled that most affirmative action programs are violations of the fourteenth amendment.
The resolution stated that the university would comply with any federal or state laws "designed to protect students from unlawful discrimination".
The resolution acknowledged the "Dear Colleague" letter from the Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. The letter supports the ruling of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.
"Given the seriousness of the penalties the US Department of Education has proposed, this resolution makes clear that USC does not discriminate," University Spokesperson Collyn Taylor said in a statement. "We don’t anticipate we’ll need to make significant changes, if any; however, we will always review policies and programs to ensure they are consistent with the law."
Senior Associate Dean for Research, Leonardo Bonilha, gave a presentation to the board about the USC Brain Health Network. Its research involves Alzheimer's disease and dementia, he said.
“The southeast part of the United States has a relatively higher prevalence of Alzheimer's disease, particularly South Carolina, as you may have seen in the news, Orangeburg County ranks eighth highest across the entire United States,” Bonilha said.
USC received legislative support to develop the Brain Health Network, and they have built five clinics across the state, he said. The next clinic will be in Orangeburg, he said.
Associate Vice President for Student Health & Well-Being Stacy Fritz updated the board on USC’s mental health programs. Brian Lusk was selected as the new executive director of mental health, she said.
Fritz spoke about some misconceptions involving USC’s mental health services. These included lack of access, long wait times and a need for more counselors. These claims are inaccurate, she said.
“We have emergency appointments where students can be seen (the) same day, and we also have the 24/7 call-in hotline,” Fritz said. “There is availability immediately for students that need it.”
Vice President for Economic Development Stephen Cutler, provided an economic development update to the board.
PHENOGY AG, a Swiss battery maker, was recruited to establish its North American headquarters in Columbia, Cutler said. The company was impressed by the university’s College of Engineering, he said.
During his tenure, USC’s contracts with companies have increased from $200 million to $400 million, Cutler said.
The board of trustees will meet again on March 17.