The purpose of the authority is to assist institutions for higher learning in the acquisition, construction, financing, and refinancing of projects, and for this purpose the authority is authorized and empowered to:

(1) adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its affairs and business;

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 59-109-50

  • Authority: means the State Fiscal Accountability Authority, acting as the Educational Facilities Authority for Private Nonprofit Institutions of Higher Learning and serving ex officio. See South Carolina Code 59-109-30
  • Bonds: means revenue bonds of the authority issued under the provisions of this chapter, including revenue refunding bonds, notwithstanding that the same may be secured by a mortgage or the full faith and credit of a participating institution for higher learning or any other lawfully pledged security of a participating institution for higher learning. See South Carolina Code 59-109-30
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Financing agreement: means any agreement entered into by and between the authority and any one or more participating institutions for higher learning for the purpose of assisting a participating institution for higher learning in undertaking a project pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and pursuant to which the participating institution or institutions for higher learning agree to pay to (and to secure if so required) the authority or to any assignee thereof, the sums required to meet the payment of amounts due with respect to any bonds including, without limitation, an agreement whereby the authority shall lease or sell a project to a participating institution for higher learning or any agreement whereby the authority shall loan the proceeds of bonds to a participating institution for higher learning. See South Carolina Code 59-109-30
  • Institution for higher learning: means a nonprofit educational institution within the State authorized by law to provide a program of education beyond the high school level and which does not receive state financial support, but shall not include any state-supported institution. See South Carolina Code 59-109-30
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Participating institution for higher learning: means an institution for higher learning which, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, undertakes the financing and construction or acquisition of a project or undertakes the refunding or refinancing of bonds or obligations or of a mortgage or advances as provided in this chapter. See South Carolina Code 59-109-30
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Project: means any land or any interest therein, one or more structures, buildings, additions, extensions, improvements, or other facilities, whether or not located on the same site or contiguous sites, machinery, equipment, furnishings, and other real or personal property necessary, suitable, or convenient for the instruction of students, the conducting of research, the operation of an institution for higher learning, or the orderly conduct of the affairs of an institution for higher learning, and shall include, without limitation, dormitories or other housing facilities, including housing facilities for student nurses, dining halls, student union facilities, administration or office facilities, academic facilities, libraries, laboratories, research facilities, classrooms, athletic facilities, health care facilities, and maintenance, storage, or utility facilities, and shall also include, without limitation, all necessary, convenient, or related landscaping, site preparation, furniture, equipment, furnishings, machinery, apparatus, appliances, appurtenances, and physical amenities, but shall not include any facility used or to be used for sectarian instruction or as a place of religious worship or any facility which is used or to be used primarily in connection with any part of the program of a school or department of divinity for any religious denomination. See South Carolina Code 59-109-30

(2) adopt an official seal and alter the same at pleasure;

(3) maintain an office at such place or places as it may designate;

(4) sue and be sued in its own name, plead, and be impleaded;

(5) enter into any agreements with any participating institution for higher learning necessary or incidental to the issuance of bonds or the acquisition, construction, operation, maintenance, or improvement of a project;

(6) determine the location and character of any project to be financed under the provisions of this chapter which is to be owned by the authority, and to construct, reconstruct, remodel, maintain, manage, enlarge, alter, add to, repair, operate, lease, as lessee or lessor, and regulate the same, and to enter into contracts for any or all of such purposes, to enter into contracts for the management and operation of a project owned by the authority, and to designate a participating institution for higher learning as its agent, to determine the location and character of a project owned by the authority and undertaken by such participating institution for higher learning under the provisions of this chapter and, as the agent of the authority, to acquire, construct, reconstruct, remodel, maintain, manage, enlarge, alter, add to, repair, operate, lease, as lessee or lessor, and regulate the same, and as the agent of the authority, to enter into contracts for any or all of such purposes, including contracts for the management and operation of such project;

(7) enter into financing agreements with any participating institution for higher learning prescribing the payments to be made by the participating institution for higher learning to the authority or its assignee to meet the payments that shall become due with respect to any bonds, and any terms and conditions relating to the acquisition, construction, and use of a project and the issuance of bonds as the authority may determine;

(8) issue bonds, including bond anticipation notes pursuant to §§ 11-17-10 to 11-17-110, and other obligations of the authority for any of the purposes of this chapter and to refinance or refund the same all as provided in this chapter, and to secure the payment of such bonds, bond anticipation notes, and other obligations as provided in this chapter;

(9) fix and revise from time to time and charge and collect rates, rents, fees, and charges for the use of and for the services furnished or to be furnished by a project owned by the authority or any portion thereof and to contract with any person, partnership, association, or corporation, or other body public or private in respect of any project;

(10) establish rules and regulations for the use of a project owned by the authority or any portion thereof and to designate a participating institution for higher learning as its agent to establish rules and regulations for the use of a project owned by the authority and undertaken for such participating institution for higher learning;

(11) employ consulting engineers, architects, attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts, superintendents, managers, and such other employees and agents as may be necessary in its judgment, and fix their compensation;

(12) receive and accept from any public agency loans or grants for or in aid of the acquisition or construction of a project or any portion thereof, and to receive and accept loans, grants, aid, or contributions from any source of either money, property, labor, or other things of value to be held, used, and applied only for the purposes for which such loans, grants, aid, and contributions are made;

(13) mortgage any project owned by the authority or any portion thereof for the benefit of the holders of bonds;

(14) issue bonds to refinance or refund outstanding obligations, mortgages, or advances issued, made, or given by a participating institution for higher learning for the cost of a project;

(15) charge to and apportion among participating institutions for higher learning its administrative costs and expenses incurred in the exercise of the powers and duties conferred by this chapter;

(16) make and execute contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the exercise of its powers and duties under this chapter, with persons, firms, corporations, governmental agencies, and others;

(17) make the proceeds of any bonds available by way of a loan to a participating institution for higher learning pursuant to a financing agreement;

(18) lease or sell a project to a participating institution for higher learning pursuant to a financing agreement;

(19) pledge or assign any money, rents, charges, fees, or other revenues, including any proceeds of insurance or condemnation awards, pursuant to any financing agreement to the payment of bonds;

(20) do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter.