Clemson trustees hold quarterly meetings at Sandhill REC

Published: February 11, 2010

COLUMBIA — Clemson University trustees held their quarterly meetings at the Sandhill Research and Education Center in Columbia this week to see firsthand some of the school’s facilities and programs in the Midlands.

In a meeting of the full board Thursday, the trustees also addressed education, research and economic development issues in various parts of the state.

The board approved acquisition of land and buildings from the Charleston Naval Complex Redevelopment Authority to support the wind turbine drive train test facility project. The S.C. Budget and Control Board had approved the transfer of the land and buildings at no direct cost to the university. The property consists of 11.211 acres with two buildings.

The board also approved the related construction and renovation project, budgeted at $64 million, at the former Charleston Naval Complex in North Charleston. The wind turbine drive train facility will be a part of the Clemson University Restoration Institute research campus. The test facility will promote industry-government-university collaboration in research and work force education

In action related to Clemson’s education mission on campus, the trustees approved establishing two new degree programs and terminating three programs with low enrollment. The new programs include a Ph.D. in engineering and science education and a Master of Education in teaching and learning. The programs terminated include the Master of Science in biotechnology, modern languages as an option in secondary education and the Bachelor of Science in industrial management.

The provost reported that student applications to Clemson again are at record numbers.

In other action related to facilities, the trustees approved:

• an addition of approximately 1,900 square feet for dining space at Schilletter Dining Hall on campus.
• improvements and expansion of the West End Zone northwest concourse at Memorial Stadium.
• lease of office space on the Clemson University bioengineering floor at Greenville Hospital System’s Patewood campus to Thomas Pace, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and founder and director of the Carolina Orthopedic Research Foundation.

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