Dear Clemson:
On Wednesday, August 1, I made our annual presentation to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE).
We were asked to discuss our institutional role and mission, strategic planning, and E&G funding request for FY2008-2009. Public Service (PSA) requests are made separately from the CHE process.
In my remarks, I outlined these priorities for recurring funds:
- $9.8 million for Academic and Student Operations, including $4.8 million for continued Road Map support, $4 million for IT infrastructure and $1 million for Safety and Security upgrades.
- $10.2 million for Economic Development priorities, including $4.2 million for Cluster Faculty Initiatives in priority areas, $1.5 million for the South Carolina Light Rail computer network, $1.5 million for CU-ICAR and $3 million for the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI).
We also requested $65 million in non-recurring capital funds for:
- an Information Technology Center ($25 million).
- an addition to Hunter Chemistry Laboratory ($30).
- Air quality improvements and deferred maintenance ($10 million).
The full text of my remarks can be found at http://www.clemson.edu/president/speech/2007-08-01-CHE.html if you are interested in more information.
This was an important meeting because we welcomed Dr. Garrison Walters as new Executive Director of CHE. Dr. Walters is well-known to many at Clemson as chair of the SC Research Centers of Economic Excellence (endowed chairs) Review Panel for the past three years. (More information on Dr. Walters can be found at http://www.che.sc.gov/InfoCntr/GarrisonPg.htm)
He knows Clemson and the other research universities well. The panel’s most recent report (May 31, 2007) is very positive about South Carolina’s program, saying it is one of the nation’s best, that it is “well-organized,” “exceptionally strong” and “focuses state resources on strategic goals, exploits natural advantages, and leverages private funds.” The panel recommends doing even more to provide up-front support for faculty and graduate students in key areas.
Thank you all for making it so easy for me to stand before a State panel like this and brag about the remarkable progress Clemson University has made, and will make, in achieving our goals. Whatever success we enjoy is attributable to your hard work, and I appreciate it.
Sincerely,
James F. Barker, FAIA
President