Core Principles

While the formal mission, organizational structure, projects, funding and administrative support remain to be developed, a few core principles can be described:

1. The Clemson Caribbean Initiative should encompass all elements of the land grant mission—teaching, research, and service. Clemson University should act as a catalyst and enabler for sustainability, via partnerships with host communities and institutions.

2. The Initiative should be university-wide, and engage the sciences, arts and humanities, and professional and applied fields.

3. It should be a partnership between the faculty and administration, link to ClemsonForward and the University’s aspirational goals, and reflect a faculty-driven process of development and governance.

4. It should reflect the needs of the Caribbean region, bring regional stakeholders into its priorities, planning, and activities, and develop partnerships based on mutual respect and cooperation.

5. It should foster planning, funding, collaboration, governance, and evaluation strategies that help ensure its long-term sustainability as a University initiative. Over the coming decade, the Caribbean region will become more important to US interests. Universities will play an important role in meeting these interests, and Clemson University can be a leading American land grant institution in the Caribbean. The proposed Clemson Caribbean Initiative can encourage, empower that leadership.

Over the coming decade, the Caribbean region will become more important to US interests. Universities will play an important role in meeting these interests, and Clemson University can be a leading American land grant institution in the Caribbean. The proposed Clemson Caribbean Initiative can encourage, empower that leadership.