Most leaders vow to fight plan to close USC-Salk

By LAURA G. CARLSON And VIC WHETSTONE, T&D Correspondents

ALLENDALE -- "USC-Salkehatchie is higher education in the poorest part of South Carolina, and they're talking about doing away with it? It doesn't make sense," Denmark businessman John McCain says, echoing the reactions of many residents of The T&D Region to Gov. Mark Sanford's proposal to phase out state funding to the University of South Carolina's campus in Allendale over the next three years.

Ann C. Carmichael, dean of USC-Salk, said she's received numerous calls from residents expressing concerns about the future of the region if Salkehatchie is forced to close and asking what they can do to prevent it.

"If they have concerns they want to express, they should contact their legislators and their county leaders to make their opinions known," Carmichael said.

USC-Salkehatchie has an economic impact on the Lowcountry and Augusta-Aiken region of $11.9 million, according to a study by a USC School of Business brochure titled, "The University of South Carolina and Its Economic Impact on the State of South Carolina." This same study reported the employment impact in the region to be 182 jobs.

Most lawmakers and county leaders contacted in Salkehatchie's service region support the school remaining open.

Rep. Thomas Rhoad said he won't vote to do away with Salkehatchie or the Clemson Extension Service.

"USC-Salk provides a great service for students in our tri-county area," Rhoad said. "If the lottery money had been used for education, we wouldn't have the mess we have now but the money went directly into the general fund."

Sen. Brad Hutto of Orangeburg said, "Salkehatchie does a tremendous job in the Allendale, Barnwell, Bamberg area providing a wonderful opportunity for students to get an education close to home, and I oppose any attempts to close the Salkehatchie campus. I have been in touch with several of my legislative colleagues to make sure that we are going to stand united to oppose this. The governor didn't approach any of us about this proposal. As far as I know, he hasn't done any serious study of the matter, hasn't visited the campus to learn what it is about. I feel we will be successful in making sure it stays open."

Rep. Lonnie Hosey of Barnwell said he was shocked by Sanford's proposal.

"I heard rumors of this two years ago in the previous administration that something might happen to Salkehatchie but didn't think that was going anywhere until Sen. Matthews and I talked (Thursday) and he told me the governor would announce in his news conference that he was proposing to close Salkehatchie. ... I am going to work with citizens in Allendale, Barnwell and Hampton counties as well as legislators to support us in this effort. Many things have happened in Allendale, and they can't keep jobs there. We need Salkehatchie, and I'm not going to let that happen."

High school students, business leaders, professionals, as well as citizens who want to learn new skills, benefit from a variety of programs available through USC-Salk. The Salkehatchie Consortium links USC-Salk with 17 school districts in nine counties. High school students have the opportunity to take college courses for credit while still in high school.

The Salk Consortium also serves 2,400 teachers and administrative personnel with graduate courses and staff development activities. An expanded selection of distance education and ETV classes adds to the curriculum that is available. The Leadership Center provides advanced leadership or county leadership training for professionals, and the Coalition for Workforce Development carries out a partnership with business and industry in Colleton County to help re-train local employees by offering non-credit courses in computers, leadership, public speaking and math.

Flowe Trexler, a member of Barnwell County Council, made it clear where he stands.

"I don't want USC-Salkehatchie closed. I didn't vote for Sanford, and I think he has been a terrible governor, and I am against his entire budget, Trexler said.

J.W. Wall, former chairman of the Allendale County Council, said, "It would be very bad for the students of this entire area ... The enrollment at Salk has continuously increased over the years. It would be disastrous, and I hope he (Sanford) is not seriously considering this. We are going to try to do everything we can to keep it open."

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg said, "Any time you talk about closing a college in a community, there's going to be opposition. But I have long maintained we've just got too many institutions of higher education in the state. We cannot afford them."

Cobb-Hunter said she had not examined the governor's budget proposal and her remarks were "not a position on USC-Salkehatchie," but a recognition that "at some point the General Assembly has to make a decision about reforming higher education in a meaningful way."

Salkehatchie serves both traditional college students and older, non-traditional students. The Fall 2003 enrollment of 829 students was an increase over fall 2002 of 3.89 percent full-time equivalent students. The student body is comprised of 99.5 percent in-state students, 41.8 percent of whom are minority students. Of the total enrollment, 46.9 percent are full-time students while the remaining 53.1 percent are part-time students who are also working to support themselves and pay for their education. Sixty-seven percent of the students enrolled at Salk during the 2002-2003 fiscal year received some financial aid.

"The majority of students I come in contact with work one or more jobs in addition to going to school We have a hardworking student population," Carmichael said. "These students really want an education. They are determined and grateful for the opportunity Salkehatchie offers them. They are diligent in pursuing their studies. You want to help students who are serious minded like ours are. They are taking advantage of the opportunity given them by this institution of higher education."

She said Salkehatchie's location in the heart of rural South Carolina helps keep the area's best and brightest in the area. Students who go to USC Salkehatchie are more likely to get jobs in the area than those who leave for school, Carmichael said. She said transportation access is a widespread problem for many students, noting that the dual burden of cost and time would prohibit some students from traveling the hour or so it would take to reach another college.

Currently, Salkehatchie works with USC-Aiken to have classes on the Allendale campus that lead to four-year degrees so students can continue to study at home and work part-time to pay their bills.

"While I applaud our governor on his desire to balance the state budget, it disappoints me to think of the future of his rural constituents' ability to get an education. USC-Salkehatchie has afforded a large number of disadvantaged students a jump start on careers that would otherwise have been unrealized," said Lee Early of Denmark, a member of the Western Carolina Higher Education Commission. "Many of these present and former students are paying state taxes at a rate ... equal to those of students who could afford to go anywhere to school."

She said it appears that a majority of the governor's economic advisers "have impressed upon him to look to the immediate future rather than to do what is best for South Carolinians in the long run. It sounds like 'reverse Robin Hood' to me: Take from the struggling poor and give to the comfortable rich. I would urge a rethinking of this part of the budget."

Denmark businessman John McCain said, "When you look at that lawsuit going on in Manning about poorer school districts not being served fairly by the state, this is the same sort of thing on the higher education level."

J. Bentley Rivers of Denmark who served on the Western Carolina Higher Education Commission said he was "shocked to hear that the less fortunate in this area of our state may soon be denied the opportunity of a college education at a nearby institution. Education needs in this area are essential to economic growth. Without a better educated populace, businesses will continue to locate elsewhere. The accessibility of USC Salkehatchie makes higher education available to high school graduates who cannot afford dormitory or apartment living at faraway schools and to education professionals who are seeking additional qualifications."

Wanda Mears of Ehrhardt said that having the option to attend USC-Salk made a tremendous difference in shaping her son's future.

"My son and many of his friends chose to go to USC-Salkehatchie for their first year or two of college after they graduated from Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. It was less expensive for us for him to live at home and commute to Allendale," she said. "The small classes and the wonderful instructors helped my son get a good start on his college studies. The guidance counselor helped him take the classes that enabled him to go on to USC in Columbia. He hopes to graduate from USC Columbia with a degree in Fine Arts in 2005. So many of our friends' children have grown through their experience at USC-Salkehatchie ... "

T&D Correspondent Laura G. Carlson can be reached by e-mail at Laura@carlsonclan.com or by phone at 803-793-3336. Correspondent Vic Whetstone can be reached by e-mail at vwhets@earthlink.net or by phone at 803-793-3402.

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