Dr. Fred Carter, President of Francis Marion University and longtime friend of the Council, led Council staff and board members in a constructive discussion about the current role of SC Humanities in South Carolina and how to move the Council into the future.
Executive Director Randy Akers organized the strategic planning meeting to respond to a five-year assessment of the Council made by the National Endowment for the Humanities. An assessment team visited South Carolina in May to evaluate the operations and programs of SC Humanities. The resulting report praised the Council for its “masterful job in maximizing resources and raising its state profile through partnerships and statewide initiatives” and offered numerous suggestions for continued success and visibility.
Dr. Carter used the report from the National Endowment for the Humanities as the basis for the discussion at the strategic planning meeting. He asked the group to consider such issues as whether SC Humanities should lead the state humanities agenda through major initiatives or respond to local agendas through small community grants, whether the Council should seek state funding, and what the next major project of the Council should be.
Akers said, “We are fortunate to have had someone of Dr. Carter’s visionary insight lead us through this intense and exciting discussion.”
A board committee of SC Humanities will review the notes from the strategic planning meeting, prioritize goals, and set a timeline for new projects and initiatives. The new five-year plan will be introduced to coincide with the 35th anniversary celebration of SC Humanities.
For more information about the strategic planning meeting and the creation of the new five-year plan, please contact us at 803-771-2477, or make your voice heard by taking this short survey.
