COLUMBIA, S.C. ― The new Board of Trustees for South Carolina State University is in place.
The old board was fired last week when Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law a bill prompted by financial problems at the state’s only public historically Black university.
Lawmakers nearly unanimously approved the bill after S.C. State’s financial problems reached a critical point. Declining enrollment combined with a failure to cut spending will have the university more than $23 million in debt by the summer.
The school hasn’t set a date for the new board’s first meeting. But in a statement, acting president Franklin Evans said he looked forward to working with the new board to stabilize the school’s finances and make sure it retains its accreditation so it can stay open.
“I look forward to the members of the interim board bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience and meaningful relationships with individuals and corporations. These assets, I am certain, will prove helpful as we collectively work to advance the legacy of SC State University,” Evans said in a statement released by the school.
The new trustees will serve until 2018.
The new board is:
