Dear Clemson:
 
As you know from following Inside NOW and news media reports about state funding, we face the prospect of another budget cut for 2008-2009, and we have yet to fully recover from previous cuts. Our current level of state funding is roughly equal to what we received in 1995.
 
But I do not write to discourage or alarm you. Instead, I want to remind you that we have been here before. We have survived much more severe funding problems than the ones we face today, and we have managed to emerge as a stronger, more focused, more efficient university.
 
In 2000, we developed a set of guiding principles to help us make good decisions and stay on track to reach our goals even in difficult budget times. I recently reviewed those and, with a few minor adjustments, believe they can serve that same purpose today.  I submit these guiding principles as the ones we will follow in these uncertain budget times:
 
1.  We are committed to reaching the Top 20.

2.  Students are our top priority. We reaffirm our commitment to individual student success and achievement.
 
3.  We will focus on a combination of internal reallocations, increased private support, tuition and fees, and all other sources of revenue.
 
4.  We will have an open process throughout.
 
5.  We will find opportunities to come out of this better positioned for the future.
 
6.  We will work to protect faculty and staff. Position cuts will be our last resort.
 
7.  We will not whine. We will be aggressive but positive.
 
8.  We will work together as “One Clemson.”
 
Our message to state leaders is this: Clemson University has a long-term strategic plan aimed at improving academic quality, building a knowledge-based economy, and serving the needs of industries and communities throughout the state. We’re making enormous strides, and state support is absolutely vital to our success.
 
We recognize that this is shaping up to be a tight budget year, and that the Legislature has a difficult task ahead. But we believe that higher education is part of the economic solution, and we will work hard to make that case in Columbia.
 
We will continue to keep you informed as the budget cycle moves forward.
 
Sincerely,
Jim Barker