Commission on Higher Education Documents

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education publishes a variety of documents and reports on higher education practices in the state for citizens, higher education facilities, and the General Assembly.

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Recent Submissions

  • Publication
    FY 2024-25 Appropriation Request and FY 2022-223 Annual Report for the EIA Funded Teacher Recruitment Project, Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA)
    (South Carolina State Library, 2023-09-07) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    During the 1986 legislative session, the General Assembly authorized the SC Commission on Higher Education (CHE) to award grants to the public and/or private colleges and universities to improve the recruitment of teacher education candidates, allocating $236,000 in Education Improvement Act (EIA) funds for this purpose. A consortium consisting of teacher training institutions in the State submitted one combined proposal to establish the SC Teacher Recruitment Center. The proposed Center was approved by CHE and has been funded annually since FY 1986-87. Beginning in FY 1990-91, appropriations for the SC Teacher Recruitment Center were made solely through EIA. Beginning in FY 1988-89, the General Assembly required CHE to “monitor the use” of these funds and to report on the “effectiveness of the programs” to certain legislative committees. The FY 1990-91 Appropriations Act included a more comprehensive proviso, which instructed the CHE to “ensure that all funds are used to promote teacher recruitment on a statewide basis … ensure the continued coordination of efforts among the … teacher recruitment projects … review the use of funds and … have prior program and budget approval.”
  • Publication
    Centers of Excellence Competitive Grant Program, FY 2023-24
    (South Carolina State Library, 2023-09-07) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    The purpose of the EIA Centers of Excellence grant program is to enable eligible institutions, or consortia of such institutions, to serve as resource centers in a specific area related to the improvement of teacher education. Teacher education encompasses both in-service and pre-service training. These resource centers develop and model state-of-the-art teaching practices, conduct research, disseminate information, and provide training for K-12 and higher education personnel in the center's specific area of expertise.
  • Publication
    2022-2023 Regional Contract Program Annual Report
    (South Carolina State Library, 2023-09-07) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    The Regional Contract Program (RCP) is one of the Southern Regional Education Board’s 9SREB) first programs. Beginning in 1949, RCP serves as a model through its simple concept: sharing institutional resources. The program enables SREB participating states to share the cost for health profession programs to postpone or even avoid creating programs for a small number of students while still ensuring opportunities for their residents. The health programs authorized for South Carolina residents include Optometry (Southern College of Optometry, University of Alabama Birmingham, and University of Pikeville Kentucky) and Veterinary Medicine (Mississippi State University, Tuskegee University, and University of Georgia).
  • Publication
    Revised Scholarship Funding Project Model for LIFE, HOPE and Palmetto Fellows Scholarships : as of January 2024
    (South Carolina State Library, 2024-01) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    Previously, the CHE used a Compound Growth Rate method to project scholarship needs for the Palmetto Fellows, HOPE, and LIFE Scholarship programs. This approach calculated the average annual growth rate since the onset of the scholarships. Because scholarships historically exhibited a growing trend, this method worked generally well for forecasting purposes. However, beginning in Academic Year 2019-20, COVID-19 adversely affected enrollment. As a result, the previous model began over-projecting scholarship needs. In October 2022, the CHE (Commission on Higher Education) discovered that this historical projection model was not working accurately for its scholarship programs. As a result, CHE adjusted its projections for fiscal year 2023-24 by using a compound annual growth rate based on the previous five years rather than the life of the scholarship programs and requested $10,000,000 less for the LIFE Scholarship program, which had the largest carryforward balance of the three scholarship programs.
  • Publication
    South Carolina Commission on Higher Education Proviso 117.135 Transfer Action Plan Report
    (South Carolina State Library, 2024-04-30) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE), in collaboration with all South Carolina colleges, universities, and lawmakers, is committed to making South Carolina the leader in transfer innovation and success. In recent years, there has been a growing acknowledgment across the nation that successful transfer initiatives are the result of collaborative efforts focused on partnerships and relationship building. These efforts involve leaders and practitioners from various state agencies, public and independent two-and four-year institutions, and other organizations, that are committed to making transfer opportunities more accessible and transparent for students. This has led many states to initiate statewide working groups, bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders to work towards a common goal. Through this collaborative approach, stakeholders can effectively leverage their collective expertise and resources to develop innovative solutions that benefit students, institutions, and states.
  • Publication
    Guidelines for Appeal : Academic year 2024-25
    (South Carolina State Library, 2024-04-19) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    The Commission on Higher Education’s (CHE) Scholarship Appeal Process for South Carolina State Scholarships (Palmetto Fellows, LIFE and SC HOPE) was approved by the Commission in 2001 and is authorized under regulatory authority 62-355, 62-1200.55 and 62-900.120. Students who did not meet the academic requirements (cumulative grade point average and/or credit hours) for regaining or renewing a LIFE Scholarship, renewing a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, or receiving a remaining term of the SC HOPE Scholarship due to extenuating circumstances may file an appeal with CHE.
  • Publication
    Committee on Access & Equity and Student Services Charter
    (South Carolina State Library, 2024-04-09) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    The purpose of the Committee on Access & Equity and Student Services is to review, revise and approve policies and procedures for the administration of state scholarships, grants and programs assigned to the Office of Student Affairs and address statewide issues related to accessibility, affordability, and awareness of postsecondary education on behalf of SC students, service members, and families in compliance with Code Section 59-103-15(b), and attached Code of laws and regulations (Part II).
  • Publication
    Foundations for the future : higher education in South Carolina : a report to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    (South Carolina State Library, 2004-04-27) National Center for the Higher Education Management Systems; Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. Center for Public Trusteeship and Governance; South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges were engaged by the Commission on Higher Education in 2003 to conduct a study in two phases. Phase One consisted of identifying a "public agenda" for higher education to address the major strategic priorities confronting the future of South Carolina in terms of population, economy, and quality of life, and then determining the link between higher education and these priorities. Phase Two consisted of a "policy audit," including an analysis of state statutes, regulations, and policies related to governance and governance-related areas such as finance to ascertain those that support or are barriers to the capacity of higher education to contribute to the state’s strategic priorities.
  • Publication
    South Carolina Commission on Higher Education by-laws, rules, and procedures
    (South Carolina State Library, 2007-06-07) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    This lists the by-laws, rules, and procedures of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.
  • Publication
    SC Commission on Higher Education FY 2017-18 budget priorities
    (South Carolina State Library, 2016-11-23) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    CHE requests an increase in operating funds needed to address and/or fully support each of its legislative mandates.
  • Publication
    Issues in higher education in South Carolina
    (South Carolina State Library, 2017-11-02) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    South Carolina’s institutions of higher education have recently come under scrutiny for key issues, including high tuition rates, declining African-American enrollment, and an outsized percentage out-of-state students receiving tuition discounts. These issues are symptoms of a larger, underlying cause—the universities’ budgets and the current funding model. With future trends for increased competition for a dwindling pool of 4-year college applicants, these issues will worsen.
  • Publication
    South Carolina Course Alignment Project
    (South Carolina State Library, 2010-11-19) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education; South Carolina State Department of Education; South Carolina Technical College System.
    This periodical shows the progress of the South Carolina Course Alignment Project which is a dual enrollment program giving college credit for high school courses.
  • Publication
    Higher education facilities statistical abstract : South Carolina public colleges and universities
    (South Carolina State Library, 2012-05) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    The primary purpose of the Facilities Statistical Abstract is to provide a detailed statistical profile of the facilities at the public colleges and universities in South Carolina. This abstract presents data that can be used for comparative assessments of the use of space for instructional purposes. It is intended, therefore, to serve as an analytical tool for use in facilities planning at the institutional and state levels.
  • Publication
    [SmartState Program audit delay explanation letter]
    (South Carolina State Library, 2023-12-21) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    This letter from the SmartState Program Administrator Argentini Anderson, Ph.D. to the members of the General Assembly explains why the annual report and audit are delayed for 2023.
  • Publication
    FY 2022-2023 lottery expenditure, verification, and audit report
    (South Carolina State Library, 2023-10-02) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    Per Proviso 3.1 of the FY 2023-2024 Appropriations Act, the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) is required to provide a summary report on the FY 2022-2023 lottery fund expenditures and the CHE's audit activity to the Executive Budget Office, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
  • Publication
    Statement of commitment to develop a comprehensive statewide transfer agreement
    (South Carolina State Library, 2023-10-24) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    The signed presidents and chancellors of public institutions of higher education in South Carolina commit their institutions to work in partnership with the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education’s Transfer Leadership Council to develop and sustain a comprehensive transfer process in South Carolina, based on a framework that aligns with the provisions of Proviso 117.135 (2023). They agree to work collaboratively in pursuit of this goal, but they also agree that each institution has the autonomy to adopt its own admission standards, grading policies, and residency and graduation requirements.
  • Publication
    Licensing of nonpublic postsecondary institutions
    (South Carolina State Library, 2022-12-16) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    State law requires that the SC Commission on Higher Education license nonpublic educational institutions that operate or solicit in South Carolina. Licensed institutions are required to meet minimum standards and provide accurate and useful information to prospective and current students.
  • Publication
    Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) policy and procedures
    (South Carolina State Library, 2022-10-19) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    This document contains information on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) policy and procedures for the Commission on Higher Education.
  • Publication
    Frequently asked questions for students
    (South Carolina State Library, 2022-12-02) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    This document contains frequently asked questions and their answers for students concerning the Commission on Higher Education.
  • Publication
    Frequently asked questions for institutions
    (South Carolina State Library, 2022-12-01) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
    This document contains frequently asked questions and their answers by institutions concerning the Commission on Higher Education.