Meeting Minutes 10/08/2025
Aiken County Commission for Higher Education
October 8, 2025
USCA Business and Education Building, Room 276
ACCHE Members Present: Teresa Haas, Clarence Jackson, Jackie Busbee, Tim Simmons, Chip Marvin, Debra Gantt, Sallye Rich, Sharon Marra, Phil Bridgmon and Dan Heimmermann
USCA Staff Present: Dan Elwell, Ernest Pringle, Nathan Rice, Angela Saxon and Sarah Marie Wiliamson
ACCHE Members Not Present: Corey Murphy, Joe Lewis and LaWana McKenzie
Chair Haas called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. She stated the notice of the meeting had been published in accordance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.
Motion from Clarence Jackson to approve minutes from the 09-10-2025 meeting. Sharon Marra seconded the motion. The motion was approved.
Buildings and Grounds:
Chancellor Heimmermann provided an in-depth presentation regarding the market analysis study conducted by RCLCO Real Estate Consulting to evaluate the university’s 89 acres of undeveloped land.
RCLCO’s findings identified several viable uses for university land, including:
- Retail and entertainment space to serve students and the community (higher priority).
- Hospitality/hotel and conference facilities, citing a need in Aiken for branded accommodations.
- Residential options, such as patio homes or apartments (deemed lower priority).
- Medical or professional office space (acknowledged as useful but outside immediate institutional scope).
The Chancellor emphasized that the university’s priority should center on student-focused development, particularly a retail and entertainment district adjacent to the AMC. Such a project would enhance student life, make the campus more attractive to out-of-area enrollees, and align with the strategic plan’s pillar to improve the student experience.
Discussion and Questions
During discussion, Commission members had several questions related to the proposed P3 development.
Dr. Heimmermann will research the answers to the questions and will get back to the Commission
Finance Committee Report:
Investment performance remains strong; cash reserves are within policy thresholds.
Approximately $110,000 in cash was being rebalanced and transferred to the Security Federal account. Payment of $100,000 had been received and forwarded to the university.
The organization’s finances remain stable and compliant with all requirements.
Chancellor’s Report:
The Chancellor reported continued enrollment growth, projecting a 5–6% increase for the fall term—marking another record year.
Graduate enrollment, particularly in the MBA program, remains strong. This growth reflects successful recruitment strategies and new
academic programs in engineering and cybersecurity.
The South Carolina Supreme Court held sessions on campus, providing valuable learning experiences for students.
The USC Board of Trustees also met at USCA, underscoring institutional visibility.
The Banksia Alumni Event successfully engaged key alumni donors and supporters.
Strom Thurmond was recently appointed to the USC Board of Trustees, giving Aiken local representation at the state level.
The Cyber Integration Center and National Guard Readiness Center projects are progressing, though slightly behind schedule. Groundbreaking is anticipated in the spring semester. Collaboration continues to integrate USC Aiken into national cybersecurity and defense education initiatives. Legislative outreach efforts are underway to keep state officials apprised of USC Aiken’s growing contributions in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence research.
Additional Announcements:
Ernest Pringle briefly reported success with the MOU with Aiken County public schools, which gives USCA cyber students hands-on experience with network and cyber issues. USC is also launching their own SOC.
Chair Haas reminded everyone of important dates:
- October 25 is ManeEvent for USCA equestrian programs
- December 10 is the next official ACCHE meeting
- December 11 is USCA’s December Commencement
Motion to adjourn meeting by Chair Haas, seconded by Chip Marvin. The meeting adjourned at 6:15pm.