The Post Courier January 26, 2016 * Protect this asset: S.C. State Many of the country's 100 historically black colleges and universities (HCBUs) are struggling to survive. In Dallas, private, religiously affiliated Paul Quinn College shut down its football program a few years ago and transformed the field into an organic community farm. Earnings from that project account for about $1 million toward the school's almost $10 million budget. Norfolk State, after being placed on academic probation in 2014 for administrative failings, eliminated 97 jobs to deal with a $16.7 million deficit. The plight of HCBUs has raised the question of whether they are an asset worth continuing. Charles Way, chairman of the board of South Carolina State, is quick to say "yes." As a successful businessman and former S.C. secretary of commerce, he should know. A guest on "Carolina Business Review" (PBS) recently, he said it is important that the state's only public HCBU continue - and that the state do its part to support it. He is right about that. Let's hope he is wrong about his fear that legislative support will not be adequate or equitable to what other state colleges, like Clemson, receive. Here's why Mr. Way is optimistic for the college. It is operating on a balanced budget - and seeing a surplus. He believes the current administration has the ability and the will to see that it recovers from years of mismanagement. Despite well-publicized upheaval, the school enrolled 2,835 students last fall - 250 more than expected. In December, the Executive Leadership Council and Foundation gave the university $50,000 toward a student-driven enrollment and recruitment program. The ELC is comprised of current and former black CEOs to empower black corporate leaders. And just recently Toyota gave S.C. State $10,000 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his goals. Last year at this time, the school's finances looked dreary. Its projected deficit for the fiscal year was $23.5 million. Legislators agreed to lend it $12 million, but S.C. State is in a bind to make up the rest of the debt - including what it owes the state. It was - and still is - on academic probation because of its fiscal and management problems. Legislators last year even considered shuttering the school and starting anew in 2017. Wisely, the lawmakers dropped that notion. Instead, they dismissed the board and appointed some of the state's impressive business leaders to a temporary panel. And indeed, with a new board and new president, the situation improved, albeit with painful adjustments. Scholarships were cut, more than 20 jobs were eliminated and a 12-day furlough was imposed on all employees. S.C. State shut down nine buildings to save about $2,500 a day. It paid down about a third of the debt it owed to vendors and negotiated new agreements to save the school $2.7 million this school year. Asked whether the school should remain a state agency, Mr. Way said, "It's a state agency" just like the departments of transportation and commerce. It's the state's obligation to tend to it. Besides, S.C. State University offers an educational opportunity that isn't offered elsewhere in South Carolina. It accepts many students who need extra help academically to succeed at college-level work. And its low student-to-professor ratio helps students, many who are the first in their family to attend college, adjust to that challenge. It is understandable that the General Assembly was frustrated with S.C. State for its years of fiscal failure and administrative malfeasance. But things are moving in the right direction. Legislators should applaud the turnaround and give South Carolina State University the fair chance it needs to thrive. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.