Spring 2006 -- Vol. 59, No. 2

Myths and facts about Clemson’s rising reputation

At a Clemson City-University banquet a year ago, I described the “state of Clemson University” as one of transformation — from a good, regionally respected institution to a top-tier, nationally recognized research university. Today, I believe that transformation is occurring more rapidly than ever.

Consider changes in just one year:

• The average freshman SAT score rose by 21 points to 1225;
• The percent of Palmetto Fellows enrolled at Clemson increased by 24 percent;
• The African American freshman enrollment increased by 34 percent;
• Graduation rates hit an all-time high of 75 percent;
• We launched three new economic development initiatives — in Greenville, Greenwood and Charleston — and we recruited a new major partner to CU-ICAR;
• We were named the No. 1 place to work in academia by The Scientist magazine;
• We were ranked No. 24 among the nation’s best values in higher education by Kiplinger magazine;
• We were one of only 81 institutions to be included in a new guidebook of Colleges with a Conscience;
• We introduced both the Palmetto Pact and the Bridge to Clemson programs to ensure that Clemson remains affordable and accessible as it improves in quality;
• And, thanks to the city in which we live, we were included in a new book by Forbes magazine publisher Rich Karlgaard as one of the best places to live in America.

All that and much, much more took place within 12 short months. Clemson University is on a roll. If momentum were a physical force, we would all be having difficulty just hanging on.

But as Clemson’s star rises, some old misperceptions are resurfacing. Here are some of the most popular myths and actual facts about what’s driving Clemson’s rapid rise in academic quality.

Myth No. 1: The quality of the student body is increasing because we’re taking in more out-of-state students at the expense of South Carolinians.

Fact: The enrollment mix of 65 percent in-state and 35 percent out-of-state has not changed in almost two decades. Today, Clemson accepts more S.C. students than ever. In 1997, just over 50 percent of S.C. applicants were accepted for admission; today, it’s nearly 70 percent. The quality of in-state applicants has increased significantly. The average SAT score of S.C. students has risen 16 points since 2002, narrowing the gap between the in-state and out-of-state student profile. Overall, the increase in quality at Clemson is being driven by in-state students.

Myth No. 2: Rising academic standards are preventing many S.C. students from making the admissions cut.

Fact: The demand for a Clemson education has increased significantly. Since 1997, total applications have increased by 48 percent. In 2005, there were nearly 13,000 applications for 2,800 freshman slots. As the size and quality of the applicant pool have increased, admission has become more competitive. However, new programs such as the Bridge to Clemson are intended to ensure that Clemson remains accessible to talented students who might not make the initial cut.

Myth No. 3: Clemson is putting too much emphasis on research instead of undergraduate education.

Fact: Clemson is a research university. Experimentation, discovery and scholarship are important parts of our mission; however, Clemson is determined to take each of our undergraduate students with us as we expand our research expertise. This is why we have built a commitment to undergraduate research into each student’s curriculum. In the past five years, we have devoted substantial resources to increase the quality of the undergraduate experience through programs such as the Academic Success Center, Living and Learning Communities, more study-abroad opportunities and a new undergraduate research initiative called Creative Inquiry. We also have revamped the undergraduate curriculum to focus more on core competencies such as communication, critical thinking and ethical judgment.

Myth No. 4: Clemson’s quest to be one of the nation’s top-20 public universities is responsible for the large tuition increases over the past few years.

Fact: It’s true that Clemson’s unwavering commitment to academic quality has a price tag. The programs mentioned above require resources, as do the libraries, computing facilities and laboratories. However, less than a third of the revenues generated by tuition increases since 2000 have been invested in quality. The majority of new funds from tuition increases have gone to offset inflation and mandatory cost increases (30 percent) and state budget cuts (38 percent). It should also be noted that Clemson has cut or reallocated $15.6 million during that same time period to avoid additional fee increases.

Myth No. 5: The top-20 ranking is mostly about research and building academic reputation, not students.

Fact: Clemson’s vision to be one of the nation’s top public universities is not really about a magazine ranking: It’s about improving the quality of education, helping students succeed, and improving the economy and quality of life in South Carolina and the nation. Top-tier research universities have higher retention and graduation rates, smaller classes and lower student-to-faculty ratios, and more full-time, tenured faculty in the classroom. Their graduates are more likely to get into top medical, law and graduate schools, and they report higher starting salaries than their counterparts at lower-ranked institutions.

States with top-tier universities have a higher standard of living, greater per capita income, a more educated population and lower crime rates. We believe South Carolina deserves to have that kind of university.

Clemson students, parents, alumni and friends can be assured that while much is changing at Clemson, its central values — a strong commitment to the core mission of teaching, research and public service, to maintaining a sense of community while increasing diversity and to contributing to the public good — remain constant.