Driving the Future
Clemson's Commitment to Education and Economic Development 2010
Clemson University is undergoing a transformation into a nationally ranked research university by focusing on academic quality; research that drives economic development; recruiting outstanding faculty, staff and students; and providing students with an exceptional academic experience.
To continue its progress toward being one of the nation’s top public universities Clemson must continue to partner with the State of South Carolina.
Our highest priority is financial stability; therefore, our first request is for Clemson's base funding to be restored to July 1, 2008 levels.
The South Carolina General Assembly has shown a commitment to investing for the future and that investment has helped Clemson continue to make progress toward our goal of becoming one of the nation's top-ranked universities, reaching US News & World Report's Top 25 (#22) in 2009. Increased base funding is critical to making this goal a reality. To ensure that South Carolina is strategically positioned to compete and succeed in the global
economy requires that the state invest in its knowledge base by funding the higher education of the next generation of students who will be responsible for advancing the knowledge-based economy in the state.
Our second request is for levels of ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) Funds to continue at the current levels for Clemson Education and General. Clemson avoided mid‐term tuition increases and directed federal stimulus funding to minimize the impact of a tuition increase for in‐state students in FY2009-10. It is critical that this federal stimulus funding continue into FY2010-11 to again mitigate significant tuition increases. Federal stimulus funding is critical for support at a time when sources are scarce.
Our third request is for a capital bond bill for higher education. Clemson is doing a great job of retaining our state's top students, but we are asking them to be successful in 50- to 70-year-old buildings with classroom technology that is a generation behind what they used in high school. In the past decade South Carolina has invested roughly $250 million in capital and infrastructure funding for its four-year campus facilities. Over this same period Georgia has invested $2 billion and North Carolina has invested $5 billion. A capital bond bill for higher education could begin to close this gap while also providing much-needed jobs and sales tax revenues.
Finally, we continue to seek regulatory reform. The loss of $45 million makes it more imperative than ever that we be given greater flexibility to develop public-private partnerships and be freed from facilities and human resources regulations that add cost but not accountability. We must urge passage of H. 3365, the Higher Education Efficiency and Administrative Policies Act.
Capital Improvement Requests
Lee Hall Expansion & Renovation
Increase and renovate usable space to meet population demands and accreditation requirements.
Hunter Chemistry Building
Construct a 90,000 square-foot research wing to support the Chemistry department’s quest to offer nationally recognized research and teaching programs.
Engineering & Science Building
New construction is necessary to collocate scientists and engineers in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences on the main campus.
Air Quality & Deferred Maintenance
Upgrade air quality and exhaust systems and improve building safety and utility infrastructure across the Clemson campus.