COMMISSION MEMBERS

Pictured above: John Catalano (ex officio), Stan Johnson, T. T. Barnes, Rosa Sansbury, Tim Gause (chairman), Bruce Brumfield, and Charlie Bundy.
Not pictured: Lisa Bridges and Gene Moore

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Lancaster County Commission for Higher Education is to provide post secondary education at the University of South Carolina Lancaster for Lancaster County and the service area of nearby counties. This includes responsibility for a campus and necessary buildings, for the maintenance of facilities, for contracts and agreements with the University of South Carolina, for solicitation of funds and acceptance of donations, for negotiations with the Lancaster County Council, the Lancaster County Delegation and other governmental bodies and for long-range planning for the total needs of the University of South Carolina Lancaster. The Commission may establish advisory committees and support groups that can contribute to this mission as these may be needed.

ENABLING LEGISLATION
Approved the 15th Day of April, 1959

A BILL To Create the Lancaster County Commission for Higher Education and to
Make Provision for its Powers and Duties

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. There is hereby created the Lancaster County Commission for Higher Education. This body, hereinafter called the Commission, shall be composed of seven members who shall be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of a majority of the Lancaster County Legislative Delegation, including the Senator. The commissioners shall be appointed for terms of four years each and shall serve until their successors shall have been appointed and qualify; provided, that three of the seven commissioners initially appointed shall be appointed for a term of two years, with their successors to be appointed thereafter for full four-year terms. The Superintendent of Education for Lancaster County shall, by virtue of his office, be an ex officio member of the Commission. At their first meeting the commissioners shall elect a chairman, vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer from among their members and proceed to organize and adopt such rules and procedures as may seem desirable to carry out their duties. To facilitate its work the Commission is hereby authorized to appoint from Lancaster County, and from such adjacent areas as deemed appropriate, an Educational Advisory Committee consisting of not less than fifteen members which shall meet and consult with the Commission from time to time, as may be required. All members of the Commission and or the Educational Advisory Committee shall serve without compensation or fees.

SECTION 2. The Commission may meet at such times and in such places as to the majority of the members seems most desirable. Meetings shall be called by the chairman of the Commission; provided, that in the event the chairman is unable or unwilling to call a meeting, the Commission can be called into session on the written request and signatures of three members.

SECTION 3. The Commission shall have as its purpose the encouragement of higher education in, Lancaster County and adjacent areas and, more specifically, the establishment in Lancaster County of facilities to offer standard freshman and sophomore college courses, and such other courses as deemed desirable. The Commission shall establish standards for the admission of persons to such courses.

SECTION 4. To carry out this purpose and objective the Commission, with the approval of a majority of its members, shall be empowered to enter into contracts, make binding agreements, negotiate with educators and educational institutions and, generally, to take such actions in its name as are necessary to secure for Lancaster County and adjacent areas the educational facilities above described; provided that the County of Lancaster shall not be bound nor held liable for any acts of omission or commission of the Commission, nor by any provision of any contract or agreement, expressed or implied, except upon the written approval and consent of a majority of the Lancaster County Legislative Delegation, including the Senator. The Commission may solicit funds and accept donations from various sources which it may expend in carrying out its objective.

SECTION 5. The Commission shall keep accurate and detailed records of its meetings and actions and shall, as soon after June thirtieth of each year as is feasible, submit a written report to the Lancaster County Legislative Delegation which shall include an accounting of all funds the Commission may have received and disbursed in the twelve months preceding that date.

SECTION 6. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are repealed.

SECTION 7. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Contact for General Information:
Trina McFadden
P.O. Box 889
Lancaster, SC 29721
(803) 313-7001