GoUpstate.com

This is a printer friendly version of an article from www.goupstate.com
To print this article open the file menu and choose Print.

Back
Article published Dec 6, 2003
State colleges could privatize, Sanford says

BRUCE SMITH
Associated Press

CHARLESTON -- Gov. Mark Sanford said Friday that he wants more coordination of higher education in South Carolina and proposed that if colleges are uncomfortable with that, they can go private.Sanford, speaking with reporters about his executive budget at The Citadel, said South Carolina duplicates programs in higher education that a state of 4 million people can't afford.There are 33 public institutions of higher learning in the state.The state averages 105 percent of the national average for tuition, while North Carolina is at 82 percent and Georgia at 86 percent, Sanford said.Sanford said he would push for better coordination of how the state spends scarce education dollars, whether it is strengthening the existing Commission on Higher Education or creating a board of regents or some similar body."If any institution ultimately feels uncomfortable with our push toward coordination, they can exit the system. We think this is more than fair," said Sanford, who unveiled a list of 13 of the state's larger colleges and universities that would be eligible.Under the Sanford proposal, such institutions would not receive state money and would be free of state regulation.They would be allowed to keep their buildings and land but would have to reorganize as not-for-profits and charge a reduced tuition rate, as state schools now do, for South Carolina students. The tax money saved, Sanford said, could go to other institutions.Any such change would have to be approved by state lawmakers.The University of South Carolina Spartanburg is one of the schools eligible.USCS chancellor John Stockwell said 90 percent of students from the institution come from South Carolina."It's our mission to serve South Carolina," he said. "We are a public institution supported by state funds to ensure students have a chance at a higher education and to further their professional aspirations. We have no interest in privatization."Stockwell thinks the governor's proposal may appeal to universities that attract a substantial number of out-of-state students, and he is interested in hearing the reactions from other institutions.Stockwell said he continues to be concerned about "parity" because USCS does not receive the same amount of funding per student as other four-year schools in the regional system.State funds make up about 32 percent of USCS's operating funds this year.The state contributes even less overall funding at many four-year colleges.Sanford noted less than 20 percent of the funding for Clemson University is state money, while just less than 16 percent of The Citadel's budget comes from state appropriations."Clemson is a public university in terms of its character, personality and values, not just in terms of its funding," said Clemson President Jim Barker, who added Clemson's success can be attributed to its sense of obligation to the state.Barker said Clemson officials have watched the debate about privatizing state universities in other states."Until we have done considerably more research, we cannot know if privatization would be the best way to serve the state, our students, alumni and other constituents," he said."This complex proposal will require comprehensive study and analysis by the university's administration and board of trustees," said Andrew Sorensen, president of the University of South Carolina.Sorensen said he felt the university "will never abandon its fundamental commitment to providing the highest possible educational opportunity to the largest possible number of qualified South Carolinians."Citadel spokeswoman Charlene Gunnells said the school was studying the Sanford proposal and had no immediate comment.Sanford was asked whether the plan wouldn't mean taxpayers would lose an investment they have made over the years in the colleges and universities that decide to go private."I don't think that they would lose the investment," Sanford said. "Clemson is not going anywhere. The physical plant that is in the Upstate will long remain in the Upstate ... and I'm not suggesting they would or would not want to do it."Sanford said the idea is that if the state pushes too hard for a coordinated system of higher education "there is a safety valve" for institutions who have a different vision of their roles.Schools on the list include Clemson, South Carolina, the Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina State, the College of Charleston, The Citadel, Winthrop, Francis Marion, Coastal Carolina, Lander, USC-Aiken and USC-Beaufort.Staff writer Mesha Williams contributed to this report.