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Board of Trustees

Committees and Task Forces

The Board of Trustees operates through eight standing committees. As the need arises, the Board may — by resolution — create special committees and task forces with such functions, power and authority as it may determine. Unless otherwise provided in a resolution of the Board, the Board Chair shall determine the number of committee members, appoint its members, and designate the committee chair and vice chair.

All committees of the Board will make recommendations for action to the Board, with their activities limited to advisory service to the Board on matters of policy. The Board Chair also appoints trustees to ad hoc advisory trustee task forces as well as trustee participants in working groups of the administration.

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Tillman hall with flowers blooming out from

Task Forces

As needed, the Board of Trustees will establish task forces to develop actionable recommendations in an area of need in pursuit of an outcome beneficial to the entire Clemson Family. A task forces engages in a multi-month process with students, faculty, staff and alumni to gather feedback in pursuit of better understanding and, ultimately, impactful recommendations. Goal-driven tactics with short-term and long-term recommendations are typical outcomes of these hands-on exploratory groups. 

Committees

There are eight standing committees of the Board of Trustees designed for the consideration and recommendation of all policies governing the key activities, programs and procedures of the University.

Chair Wilkerson and a colleague smiling while in a BOT meeting

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee

    The Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee shall consider and recommend policies relating to the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Public Service Activities (PSA) of the University.

    Members

    • Louis Lynn, Chair.
    • David Dukes, Vice Chair.
    • Patti McAbee.
    • Nicky McCarter.
    • Bob Peeler.
    • Tom McTeer, Emeritus.
  • Compensation Committee

    The mission of the Board of Trustees Compensation Committee is to ensure that Clemson University has a compensation policy that is market-level competitive and supports maintaining top 20 status, achieving Carnegie Research Very High status and continuing to achieve excellence in our athletic programs. Such policy must apply to all faculty, staff, administrators and coaches. The Board expects Clemson University's compensation policy and implementation procedures to be consistent, to be driven by budgetary constraints and good fiscal stewardship, to be tied directly to employee performance that is linked to objective standards, and to be targeted at competitive market levels for similar jobs in local, state, regional or national markets as appropriate.

    The Compensation Committee Charter can be found in the Board of Trustees Manual in Appendix G.

    Members

    • Smyth McKissick, Chair.
    • Nicky McCarter, Vice Chair.
    • Bob Peeler.
    • Kim Wilkerson.
    • Cheri Phyfer.
    • Bill Hendrix, Emeritus.
    • David Wilkins, Emeritus.

     

  • Educational Policy Committee

    The Educational Policy Committee shall consider and recommend policies governing the educational activities of the University.

    Members

    • Bob Peeler, Chair.
    • Joe Swann, Vice Chair.
    • Ronnie Lee.
    • Bill Smith.
    • Mark Richardson.
    • Nikki Haley.
    • J.J. Britton, Emeritus.
    • Allen Wood, Emeritus.
  • Executive and Audit Committee

    The Executive and Audit Committee is composed of the Board Chair and the chairs of the standing committees. The Board chair is chair of the Executive and Audit Committee.

    The primary purpose of the Executive and Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Trustees of Clemson University in discharging its responsibility relative to monitoring the University's system of internal control, accounting policies and financial reporting procedures. The Committee serves as the focal point of communication between the Board of Trustees, outside auditors, the Internal Auditor and state and federal agency auditors.

    Members

    • Kim Wilkerson, Chair.
    • David Dukes.
    • Ronnie Lee.
    • Louis Lynn.
    • Bob Peeler.
    • Cheri Phyfer.
    • Bill Smith.
    • David Wilkins.
  • Finance and Facilities Committee

    The Finance and Facilities Committee shall consider and recommend policies and procedures governing all aspects of the University's budgeting, financing, expenditures, financial reporting, construction and maintenance facilities, acquisition and disposal of capital assets, and human resources. The Committee maintains authority to establish policy direction of the investment of University funds.

    Members

    • David Dukes, Chair.
    • Smyth McKissick, Vice Chair.
    • Nicky McCarter.
    • Mark Richardson.
    • Nikki Haley.
    • Bill Hendrix, Emeritus.
    • David Wilkins, Emeritus.
  • Institutional Advancement Committee

    The Institutional Advancement Committee shall consider and recommend policies to govern fundraising activities of the University and shall maintain continuous policy review over the public affairs, public relations and alumni relations activities of the University.

    Members

    • Cheri Phyfer, Chair.
    • Mark Richardson, Vice Chair.
    • Ronnie Lee.
    • Patti McAbee.
    • Smyth McKissick.
    • Nikki Haley.
    • J.J. Britton, Emeritus.
    • David Wilkins, Emeritus.
  • Research and Economic Development Committee

    The Research and Economic Development Committee shall consider and recommend policies to support the research mission of Clemson University. These policies adopted foster the growth of research both in quality and quantity.

    Members

    • Ronnie Lee, Chair.
    • Bill Smith, Vice Chair.
    • Joe Swann.
    • Cheri Phyfer.
    • Louis Lynn.
    • Tom McTeer, Emeritus.
  • Student Affairs Committee

    The Student Affairs Committee shall consider and recommend policies related to student development programs and to services for students and related constituent groups.

    Members

    • Bill Smith, Chair.
    • Patti McAbee, Vice Chair.
    • Joe Swann.
    • David Dukes.
    • Louis Lynn.
    • Allen Wood, Emeritus.