By Lindsay Street, Statehouse correspondent | Gov. Henry McMaster’s pressure on the University of South Carolina’s board of trustees to hire a president could threaten the school’s federal funding, according to the school’s accrediting association.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is the accrediting body for the university. Accreditation is necessary for it to receive Title IV funds, which helps lower-income students pay for college.
The association outlines standards in its Principles of Accreditation for universities and their governing boards to adhere to earn and maintain accreditation. According to the standards, a governing board “protects the institution from undue influence by external persons or bodies. (External influence)”
SACSCOC President Belle Wheelan said in an email to Statehouse Report that the association is looking into the situation at USC:
“Anyone not affiliated with (employees, students, board members, etc.) is considered external. Yes, gubernatorial influence would count. The (scheduled) vote itself would not threaten the institution’s accreditation; however, the governor’s involvement in the process might.”
When asked whether McMaster’s role as ex-officio board chair exempted him as an “external source,” Wheelan responded: “Not necessarily. It depends on whether he is acting as a board member with only one vote along with the other board members or if he’s pulling rank as governor. It’s complicated, as you can tell.”
McMaster is pushing for the board to hire former West Point leader Robert Caslen, and called for a meeting to happen today. That meeting, however, was ultimately delayed by a state court judge over notification concerns. A court hearing on the trustee meeting is scheduled for July 19. In April, students rallied to oppose hiring Caslen. President Harris Pastides, who has guided the university since 2008, will step down from the post effective July 31.
McMaster’s office has not replied to a request for a comment.
In other news:
DHEC says no to seismic testing applicant. Environmentalists in South Carolina cheered this week after the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control denied a permit to WesternGeco LLC, which sought to use seismic testing off the coast to find oil and natural gas. More than 1,700 South Carolinians weighed in during the agency’s Coastal Zone Consistency review of the permit application, and every comment opposed seismic testing. DHEC determined the proposed seismic activities were not consistent with its coastal management policies. Read the decision here.
Education reform back in Columbia. A panel of state senators met this week to review the massive education overhaul bill, specifically looking at school accountability and state takeovers. Read more.
S.C. ranks well on human trafficking response. South Carolina is among the most improved states when it comes to its response on human trafficking, but more work remains. Read the report.
Review of job agency shows work needed. The Legislative Audit Council reviewed the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce and found that the agency needs improvement, particularly should the jobless rate climb in the state. Findings include:
- DEW has failed its Tax Performance System reviews since 2011, requiring corrective action plans;
- DEW has not implemented recommendations from an independent consulting firm for improvement of financial operations;
- DEW staff is double-keying some of its financial information into two systems, creating efficiency issues since 2016;
- The performance measures used by DEW do not capture the effectiveness of its reemployment programs; and,
- DEW has essentially stopped prosecutions for fraud, having prosecuted only two cases since 2014.
2020 candidate calendar
Throughout the campaign season, we are working to keep South Carolina informed of candidate events in the state. Have an event you want us to know about? Email us at 2020news@statehousereport.com.
Wayne Messum. The candidate will appear 6:30 a.m. July 13 at the Columbia riverfront, 9:45 a.m. July 13 at a meet and greet with Richland Northeast Democrats at Woodlands Golf & Country Club in Columbia, and 10 a.m. July 14 at Second Nazareth Church in Columbia.
Looking ahead
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