ACCHE

Meeting Minutes 9/10/2025

Aiken County Commission for Higher Education
September 10, 2025,
Business and Education Building, Room 276

ACCHE Members Present: Teresa Haas, Clarence Jackson, Jackie Busbee, Tim Simmons, LaWana Mckenzie, Corey Murphy, Sharon Marra, Debra Gantt, Sallye Rich, and Phil Bridgmon, Dan Heimmermann

USCA Staff Present: Dan Elwell, Ernest Pringle, Cam Reagin, Ahmed Samaha, Todd Wilkinson, Christen Engel, Nathan Rice and Julie Radford.
ACCHE Members Not Present: Joe Lewis and Chip Marvin

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 Mr. Tim Simmons to approve minutes from the last meeting. Mr. Clarence Jackson seconded the motion. The motion was approved.

Chair’s Report:
During a recent campus visit for the ribbon cutting, Chair Haas noted that the Advanced Manufacturing Collaboration (AMC) ribbon-cutting event was significant for USCA. Key federal, state and local officials and community leaders were in attendance, including Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, US Senator Lindsey Graham and US Congressman Joe Wilson. Chair also highlighted the university’s Downtown Takeover for the rebranding. She encouraged everyone to explore the newly redesigned website, which features a compelling video that showcases the rebranding impact.

Executive Committee: No Report

Finance Committee Report:

The fiscal year ending June 30 closed on a strong note with a balance just under $4.3 million dollars. This was largely due to investment gains of $357,225.68 across Vanguard funds and money market accounts. While the account is temporarily out of compliance with the cash target, this is not a concern as there are no significant pending disbursements.

The quarterly balance showed an available annual spending allowance of $134,594 as of August 25. This represents the maximum that can be spent under the 4% annual rule, though it does not have to be fully expended. By August 31, the total balance increased to $4.427 million dollars, reflecting strong investment performance and interest earnings. Expenditures included the commission’s share of the RCL Company report, totaling $25,868. Additional small expenditures are expected to appear in the next financial report.

The commission approved a motion to allocate the standard $100,000 from the county’s mileage for the university’s operations and maintenance budget. This funding is requested annually, invoiced by the university to the county, and passed through the commission. Historically, it has supported equipment, facilities, and campus grounds maintenance needs.

Buildings and Grounds:
RCL Co. conducted an assessment of USCA that analyzed income levels, traffic flow, and community needs, identifying four parcels with development potential.

The report noted that mixed-use university villages are increasingly common, and modern apartment-style housing is in higher demand than traditional dormitories. Redevelopment of existing housing areas may be considered in the future. While developers have shown interest, any project would require a competitive bidding process under state regulations. The Commission emphasized the importance of balancing development with the university’s limited land resources and long-term priorities. The Commission will review the market analysis and discuss potential steps at their next meeting on October 8, 2025.

Facilities updates included progress on the Greenway Project, with Phase I estimated at $1.1 million and Phase II extending the connection toward the quad, completion of the Etherredge Center HVAC system, continued SAC roof replacement (expected by November), and preparations for the new soccer field, with construction expected to begin soon.

Chancellor’s Report:
Chancellor Heimmermann opened the meeting by introducing Dan Elwell as the new Vice Chancellor for Development. Mr. Elwell brings extensive fundraising and advancement experience from Rutgers University, The Ohio State University, and the YMCA of New Jersey, the largest YMCA in the state. He and his family have recently relocated, and the university looks forward to his leadership in development efforts.

The Chancellor then provided several summer updates. He noted the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Cyber Integration Center in May, attended by Lieutenant Governor Evette, with construction pending coordination with the National Guard. The project will involve removal of the former softball field and tennis courts, creating green space and providing opportunities for future expansion, including potential growth of the nursing program. He also reported on the August opening of the Advanced Manufacturing Center, which will house USCA’s engineering program and serve as an important community and institutional resource.

The fall semester opened with convocation and a variety of student engagement activities. In September, the Student Activities Center was formally dedicated to Dr. Robert Alexander in a well-attended ceremony. Enrollment is trending approximately
five percent higher than last year, positioning the university for another record enrollment exceeding 4,000 students.

The Chancellor highlighted the launch of the university’s new branding and marketing campaign, including updated institutional and athletic marks. He emphasized the importance of consistent branding and broader market outreach, noting demographic trends that will reduce the number of college-bound students nationwide by 15 percent in the coming decade. He stressed the importance of reaching students from outside the local area, many of whom will require campus housing, and referenced the work of Strategic Enrollment Management in targeting high school sophomores and juniors. He further underscored the importance of enhancing the residential student experience through additional retail and dining options and making the campus more accessible to the community.

Looking ahead, the South Carolina Supreme Court will hold sessions at the Etherredge Center on September 22–24, providing a unique opportunity for the public to observe live court proceedings. The Chancellor also announced that Julie Radford, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, will be leaving the university for a position with the Savannah River National Laboratory, with her last day on Friday.

Additional Announcements:

Chair Haas concluded with a few final announcements, including Coach Mike Carlisle’s upcoming induction into the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame in January, and reminders about upcoming events such as the next meeting on October 8 and the December commencement on the 11th.

Motion to adjourn meeting by Tim Simmons, second by Clarence. The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.