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Bill 5144

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      5144
Type of Legislation:              House Resolution HR
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  20000530
Primary Sponsor:                  Harvin
All Sponsors:                     Harvin
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\swb\5289djc00.doc
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:     20000530
Subject:                          Mr. R. Austin Gilbert, Jr., Resolutions


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
House   20000530  Introduced, adopted


              Versions of This Bill

TO COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE MR. R. AUSTIN GILBERT, JR., OF FLORENCE, FOR HIS SPLENDID CONTRIBUTIONS AND OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AS A MEMBER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, AND TO EXTEND HEARTFELT THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR HIS DEVOTION AND SERVICE TO HIS NATIVE STATE ON THE OCCASION OF THE COMPLETION OF HIS SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION.

Whereas, a native of Florence, Mr. R. Austin Gilbert, Jr., graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor of science in Construction Management Science. He is a general building contractor and the owner and president of Gilbert Construction Company in Florence. Mr. Gilbert is married to Beth Young of Florence and has two daughters, Lisa and Hunter; and

Whereas, Mr. Gilbert has been a member of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) since 1975. He served as chairman, Carolinas AGC Education Committee in 1979 and was named the 1991 Carolinas AGC Chairman of the Year; and

Whereas, Mr. Gilbert serves as a local board member of the National Bank of South Carolina. He is also a member of the board of the South Carolina Research Authority, and is a past member of the Medical University of South Carolina Board of Visitors. He formerly served as a member of the Board of the Young Pecan Company, was a member of the board of the Home Builders Association of the Pee Dee, where he served as secretary/treasurer in 1978, as vice-president in 1979, and as president in 1980; and

Whereas, Mr. Gilbert was appointed to serve a four-year term on the Commission on Higher Education beginning in July of 1992. He was reappointed to a second term in 1996, and has served as Chairman of the Commission of Higher Education from July 1996 and until his term expires in June 2000; and

Whereas, while a member of the Commission on Higher Education, Mr. Gilbert also served as a Governor's appointee on the 1995 Joint Legislative Committee to study the governance, operation, and institutional structure of higher education in South Carolina. The work of that committee resulted in Act 359 of 1996, which restructured the Commission on Higher Education, defined missions for four sectors of public higher educational institutions, and instituted performance funding as the means of allocating the state's higher education resources among the thirty-three public colleges and universities; and

Whereas, as the first gubernatorial appointed chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, Mr. Gilbert implemented the provisions of Act 137 of 1995 and Act 359 of 1996 that restructured the commission with respect to its membership and authority. As chairman, Mr. Gilbert has fostered a spirit of cooperation and togetherness within the higher education community involving the commission, the State Board of Technical and Comprehensive Education, the state's thirty-three public colleges and universities, and the Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission; and

Whereas, throughout his service on the Commission on Higher Education, Mr. Gilbert has worked tirelessly as an advocate for the higher education community, representing their interests and needs to the Governor and the General Assembly. As chairman, he worked to strengthen the Commission's Access and Equity Program, which promoted increased minority enrollment and minority faculty representation within higher education institutions, and guided the commission through the expansion and implementation of student scholarship and grant programs that provide over $50 million dollars annually to the students of South Carolina; and

Whereas, while serving as chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, Mr. Gilbert was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Performance Funding System. This approach to funding our colleges and universities has strongly enhanced the use of accountability in allocating resources among the higher education institutions. As chairman, he was also instrumental in the creation of the commission's Business Advisory Council whereby representatives from business and industry can provide valued advice and input regarding how the commission can help the higher education community meet the needs of the business community. Mr. Gilbert was very active in promoting international student, faculty, and economic exchanges and cooperation and was the official higher education representative at the Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, trade show featuring South Carolina and promoting the international sister-state agreement between the two states; and

Whereas, the members of the House of Representatives genuinely appreciate the splendid contributions and outstanding leadership of this fine individual as a member and chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, and in other positions of public service, and wish to publicly recognize and thank him for his unselfish devotion and service to his native state on the occasion of the completion of his service as a member of the Commission on Higher Education. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives, by this resolution, commend and congratulate Mr. R. Austin Gilbert, Jr., of Florence, for his splendid contributions and outstanding leadership as a member and chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, and extend heartfelt thanks and appreciation for his devotion and service to his native state on the occasion of the completion of his service as a member of the Commission on Higher Education.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. R. Austin Gilbert, Jr., of Florence.

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