Discovery Drives Success
Double Research Expenditures by 2035, Position for AAU Membership
Initiative 1: Build an AAU-aligned faculty that leverages existing and emerging research strengths and addresses societal needs
Key actions:
- Implement cluster hiring in targeted research areas starting with AI/data science, future advanced materials, human genetics/personalized medicine and human performance.
- Continue to refine other cluster plans, including climate resilience, infrastructure and sustainable environments, future of learning and work, neuroscience, emerging infectious diseases and others.
- Increase instructional tenure/track faculty by 20 percent in the next five years in areas of strategic importance and increase number of National Academy or similarly credentialed/recognized faculty.
- Align all hires with the six broad University thrusts: AI/data science/cybersecurity; human resilience, community advancement and education; energy, transportation and advanced manufacturing; sustainability and biodiversity; biomedical science and health innovation; and future advanced materials.
- Expand Ph.D. production by increasing the Ph.D./faculty ratio.
Initiative 2: Create world-class research infrastructure
Key actions:
- Increase total research space from 995,500 to 1,400,000 square feet by 2028 and 1,700,000 square feet by 2035.
- Align new space additions plus renovations with the cluster hiring strategy.
- Add research administrative staff to provide the foundation and management of the growth.
- Upgrade high-performance computing (HPC) systems and add specialized HPC research faculty.
- Add additional centrally operated research cores.
Initiative 3: Leverage Innovation Campuses and partnerships
Key actions:
- Continue to invest in Innovation Campuses, Research and Education Centers (RECs) and the Clemson Experimental Forest.
- Triple industry research.
- Invest in strategic partnerships (key health partners and new ones) to grow our impact and preeminence.
