Joint Meeting of the

							                                  Joint Meeting of the
                       Aiken County Legislative Delegation and the
                     Aiken County Commission for Higher Education

                          Tuesday, November 15, 2011, 5:30 pm
                   USC Aiken Student Activities Center, Mezzanine Room


In Attendance:

Aiken County Legislative Delegation: Rep. Roland Smith (chair), Sen. Greg Ryberg, Sen. Shane
Massey, Sen. Nikki Setzler, Rep. Bill Clyburn, Rep. Bill Hixon, Rep. Bill Taylor, Rep. Tom
Young, Jr., and Ms. Jeannie Cadden

Aiken County Commission for Higher Education: Tim Simmons (chair), Ernie Allen, Carlos
Garcia, Teresa Haas, Clarence Jackson, Ren Toole, Ron Wood, Tom Hallman and Suzanne
Ozment

University of South Carolina: Miles Loadholt (USC Board of Trustees) and Trey Walker

Aiken County: Ronnie Young

Aiken Technical College: Susan Winsor

Aiken Partnership Board: Karen Garcia, Jan Hodges Burch, Ken McDowell, Karen Randall, June
Sullivan, Frampton Toole, and Tom Young, Sr.

Inclusion Advisory Council: Wesley Hightower (Chair), Norman Frank, Maggi Morehouse, Jeff
Priest, and Larry Ogletree

USCA Alumni Council: Donald Miles (President), Kristin Allen, Rusty Caldwell, Tammy Cook,
Jacob Cook, Jason Crane, Barbara Fulmer, Kimberly Kirk, Alice Kirkland, Deborah McMurtrie,
Gabrielle Morgan, Erin Smith, Amber Way, Scott Webster, and James Young

USCA Student Government Association: Roberton Aragon, Michelle Billie, Vanessa Capers,
Cori Echols, Blake Leaphart, Jessica Walters, Tripp Warrick, and Tiffany Wise

USCA Page Program: Darius Adams, Lauren Brasington, Amanda Hall, and Sam LaMunion

USC Aiken: Gwen Ashley, Linda Evans, Mike Jara, Sherri Jenik, Jessica Loper, Harry Shealy,
and Deidre Martin

Mr. Tim Simmons called the meeting to order and said that the meeting notice had been posted
as required by the Freedom of Information Act.
ACCHE/Legislative Delegation
November 15, 2011
Page 2 of 2

Mr. Simmons welcomed everyone and thanked them for being in attendance. He introduced
individuals/groups in attendance including Mr. Ronnie Young, Chair of the Aiken County
Council, Dr. Susan Winsor, President of Aiken Technical College, the Aiken Partnership Board,
Inclusion Advisory Council, USCA Alumni Association, and USCA Student Government
Association.

Rep. Roland Smith introduced the members of the Aiken County Legislative Delegation.

Dr. Tom Hallman first showed the USCA 50th Anniversary Video followed by a presentation on
the University. In addition to an update on the campus, his remarks included the following
comments on legislative priorities:

      Despite the much-appreciated support we receive, we continue to have needs amid an
       ever diminishing pool of state funds, with USC Aiken’s additional base cut being 6
       percent this year.
      One item we’re in desperate need of is a new classroom building. To accomplish that,
       there would have to be a capital bond bill - a task that hasn’t been undertaken by the
       General Assembly in more than a decade. We would like to start laying the ground work
       for discussions of such a process in the future.
      Another key request that we have is for regulatory reform. We feel we have been good
       stewards of what we’ve been entrusted with, and adjustments to certain state regulations
       could allow for projects to move forward in a more timely fashion and in some cases at
       lower costs as construction costs are ever increasing.
      We also are seeking to maintain the reciprocal tuition agreement we have with nearby
       counties along the Georgia border. We receive nearly 200 students annually from this
       agreement, so there is value in continuing this agreement.
      A development of particular interest for us that is now being discussed by the Governor
       and others is that of accountability-based or performance-based funding. An important
       consideration is in how this model will be set and whether it will be on a “one-size-fits
       all” metric. Not all institutions can be compared on the same dynamics, and, therefore,
       we feel an institution’s mission and size should be accounted for as part of any
       accountability process. We understand this change is coming, and so we would ask that
       we be included in the process as it moves forward.
      In addition to that, we ask for your continued support of the Endowed Chairs Program,
       which has been referred to as having “a profound and positive impact on the prospects for
       economic growth and diversification in the state of South Carolina,” according to a report
       commissioned by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.
      As we have such discussions, we hope to hit home the fact that we have been fiscally
       responsible and have accomplished much despite lean times. One specific area where we
       have been good citizens and stewards is our continued effort toward energy conservation
       and carbon reduction.
      As you approach the budget for the coming fiscal year, we would ask that you keep in
       mind your University and the difference it makes in the lives of your constituents.

Mr. Simmons thanked everyone in attendance and the meeting adjourned at 6:00 pm.