Month: January 2018

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Governor McMaster delivered his first State of the State address last Wednesday evening, January 24. The prepared text of the State of the State address may be found here.

H.3068 (Student Athletes and Agents) was passed by the House and sent to the Senate.

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) will host the second in a series of town hall meetings on “College Access and Affordability in South Carolina” on Thursday, February 1 in Columbia.

BUDGET
The 2018-19 State Budget Process

The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) continued the budget hearing process. Institutions making their budget presentations last week include the USC System, MUSC, the College of Charleston and the Citadel.

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) will deliver its budget presentation on Tuesday, January 30.

House Ways and Means Subcommittees that hear Clemson’s budget requests

Higher Education Subcommittee:
Chairman Derham Cole (R-Spartanburg)
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg)
Representative Mike Sottile (R-Charleston)
Representative Kirkman Finlay (R-Richland)
Staff:  A.J. Newton

Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee:
Representative Gary Simrill, Chairman (R-York)
Representative Chip Huggins (R-Lexington
Representative Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston)
Staff: Alyssa Weeks

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

Detailed information on Clemson’s 2018 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2018-19 may be found at these links:

Clemson Education and General (E&G) Priorities
Clemson Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) Priorities

BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.  Click on the bill number for a description of the legislation, along with the bill’s current status.

FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The House and Senate met Tuesday, January 16 in statewide session. The Senate canceled session for Wednesday and Thursday due to inclement weather. The House held committee meetings and met in perfunctory session on Wednesday and canceled session for Thursday.

Governor McMaster’s first State of the State address was scheduled for Wednesday, January 17 but postponed due to wintry weather. He will deliver the State of the State address on Wednesday evening, January 24.

H.3068 (Student Athletes and Agents) was heard in the House Education and Public Works Committee and passed with a favorable report.

BUDGET
The 2018-19 State Budget Process
President Jim Clements, along with Brett Dalton (Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations) delivered Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee last week.

Clemson PSA’s budget hearing before the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee was also held last week.  President Clements, along with Dr. George Askew (Vice President for PSA) presented before the Subcommittee.

The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) will continue the budget hearing process through January. Other institutions making their budget presentations last week include SC State University and the State Technical College System.

House Ways and Means Subcommittees that will hear Clemson’s budget requests

Higher Education Subcommittee:
Chairman Derham Cole (R-Spartanburg)
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg)
Representative Mike Sottile (R-Charleston)
Representative Kirkman Finlay (R-Richland)
Staff:  A.J. Newton

Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee:
Representative Gary Simrill, Chairman (R-York)
Representative Chip Huggins (R-Lexington
Representative Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston)
Staff: Alyssa Weeks

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

Detailed information on Clemson’s 2018 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2018-19 may be found at these links:

Clemson Education and General (E&G) Priorities
Clemson Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) Priorities

BILLS OF INTEREST

The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.  Click on the bill number for a description of the legislation, along with the bill’s current status.

FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The second session of the 121st General Assembly convened in Columbia last week.

The House adjourned debate on H.3722, a $498M Capital Projects Bond Bill. The bill currently includes projects listed below for Clemson University:
–      Daniel Hall Renovation      $10 million
–      Martin Hall Renovation      $15 million

Last week, the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) held the first in a series of town hall meetings on college access and affordability. The meeting was held in Greenville. We will keep you updated.

BUDGET
The 2018-19 State Budget Process
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) began agency budget subcommittee hearings last week and will continue this process through January. Institutions making their budget presentations last week include Winthrop University, Francis Marion University, Lander University and Coastal Carolina University.

President Jim Clements, along with Brett Dalton (Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations) will deliver Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee today.

Clemson PSA’s budget hearing is also scheduled for today before the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee.  President Clements, along with Dr. George Askew (Vice President for PSA) will be presenting before the Subcommittee.

House Ways and Means Subcommittees that will hear Clemson’s budget requests

Higher Education Subcommittee:
Chairman Derham Cole (R-Spartanburg)
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg)
Representative Mike Sottile (R-Charleston)
Representative Kirkman Finlay (R-Richland)
Staff:  A.J. Newton

Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee:
Representative Gary Simrill, Chairman (R-York)
Representative Chip Huggins (R-Lexington
Representative Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston)
Staff: Alyssa Weeks

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

Detailed information on Clemson’s 2018 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2018-19 may be found at these links:

Clemson Education and General (E&G) Priorities
Clemson Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) Priorities

BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.  Click on the bill number for a description of the legislation, along with the bill’s current status.

FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA

The second session of the 121st General Assembly will convene in Columbia tomorrow, January 9.

This is the second year of a two-year session which means those bills introduced in 2017 retain their places on the calendar and in committee and are carried over to this year.  Each legislative session is held from the second Tuesday in January until the second Thursday in May.

2018 is an election year for South Carolina House of Representatives and the state’s constitutional officers.

The House pre-filed legislation on November 9 and December 13, 2017.
The Senate pre-filed legislation on December 6, 2017.

You will recall that at the close of the 2017 session, proviso 11.23 was included in the Conference Committee’s version of the state budget. The proviso removes the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) from the approval of certain capital projects that are classified as auxiliaries (athletics and housing) which by state law MUST be self-supporting and ARE NOT funded by tuition or state appropriations.

The proviso also removes CHE from the approval of projects classified as maintenance and renovation which will allow universities to move more quickly to address the important maintenance and renovations of our existing buildings on our campus.

Governor McMaster vetoed the proviso. We anticipate that the House and Senate will take up gubernatorial vetoes soon after their return to Columbia. Please keep an eye out for important calls to action on this veto.

BUDGET
2017-18 State Budget
Below is a summary of 2017-18 budget items for Clemson University and Clemson PSA:

Clemson E&G –
–      Increase of $1.75 million in Clemson’s current base funding.

Clemson PSA
–      $1.1 million in recurring funding for Agriculture and Natural Resources Programming
–      $1.2 million in recurring funding for Statewide Extension Programming

The 2017-18 budget includes an increase in the cost of health insurance and an increase in retirement contributions for state employees and employers.  The employee portion of both the health insurance and retirement contribution increases will be paid by the state. $145 million from the state’s general fund is also included to cover state agencies’ higher costs for the state pension retirement system.

Governor McMaster Releases FY 2018-19 Executive Budget Proposal
Earlier today, Governor Henry McMaster released his Executive Budget proposal for 2018-19.  Included in the Governor’s budget proposal is $500,000 for Clemson’s Call Me MISTER program. The proposal also includes $32.4M to cover a 1% increase in employer contribution rates for the state’s pension plan.

The 2018-19 State Budget Process
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) will begin agency budget subcommittee hearings this week and will continue this process through January.

President Jim Clements, along with Brett Dalton (Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations) will deliver Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee on Tuesday, January 16.

Clemson PSA’s budget hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, January 16 before the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee.  President Clements, along with Dr. George Askew (Vice President for PSA) will be presenting before the Subcommittee.

House Ways and Means Subcommittees that will hear Clemson’s budget requests

Higher Education Subcommittee:
Chairman Derham Cole (R-Spartanburg)
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg)
Representative Mike Sottile (R-Charleston)
Representative Kirkman Finlay (R-Richland)
Staff:  A.J. Newton

Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee:
Representative Gary Simrill, Chairman (R-York)
Representative Chip Huggins (R-Lexington
Representative Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston)
Staff: Alyssa Weeks

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

Detailed information on Clemson’s 2018 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2018-19 may be found at these links:

Clemson Education and General (E&G) Priorities
Clemson Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) Priorities

BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.  Click on the bill number for a description of the legislation, along with the bill’s current status.

FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter.