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GENERAL INFORMATION
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When he died on April 6, 1888, a series of events began that marked the start of a new era in higher education in the state of South Carolina, especially in the study of science, agriculture, and engineering. Mr. Clemson's passing set the stage for the founding of the university that bears his namethe beginning of a true "people's university," which opened the doors of higher education to all South Carolinians, rich and poor alike. In his will, Mr. Clemson bequeathed the Fort Hill plantation and a considerable sum from his personal assets for the establishment of an educational institution of the kind he envisioned. He left a cash endowment of approximately $80,000 as well as the 814-acre Fort Hill estate to South Carolina for such a college. The biggest obstacle in the creation of an agricultural collegethe initial expensewas removed by Mr. Clemson's bequest.
In November 1889, Governor Richardson signed the bill accepting Thomas Clemson's gift. Soon after a measure was introduced to establish the Clemson Agricultural College, with its trustees becoming custodians of Morrill Act and Hatch Act funds made available for agricultural education and research by federal legislative acts. The founding of Clemson Agricultural College supplanted the South Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanics, which had opened in Columbia in 1880.
Thomas Green Clemson came to the foothills of South Carolina when he married Anna Maria Calhoun, daughter of South Carolina's famous statesman John C. Calhoun.
Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Clemson was educated at schools
both in the United States and France, where he attended lectures at the
Royal School of
Mines, studied with prominent scientists in the private
laboratories of the Sorbonne Royal College of France, and received his
diploma as an assayer from the Royal Mint in Paris. Mr. Clemson, then in
his mid-20s, returned to America greatly influenced by his European studies.
He became a great advocate of the natural sciences, achieving a considerable
reputation as a mining engineer and a theorist in agricultural chemistry.
He also was a gifted writer whose articles were published in the leading
scientific journals of his day, an artist and a diplomat who represented
the U.S. government as chargé d'affaires to Belgium for almost seven
years.
Mr. Clemson had a lifelong interest in farming and agricultural affairs. He served as the nation's first superintendent of agricultural affairs (predecessor to the present secretary of agriculture position) and actively promoted the establishment and endowment of the Maryland Agricultural College in the 1850s. Though remembered today for these accomplishments, Thomas Clemson made his greatest historical contribution when, as a champion of formal scientific education, his life became intertwined with the destiny of educational and economic development in South Carolina. Although he never lived to see it, his dedicated efforts culminated in the founding of Clemson Agricultural College.
At the time of his death, Mr. Clemson was living at the Fort Hill homeplace, which today is a national historic landmark and provides a historic centerpiece for the Clemson University campus. He had inherited the house and plantation lands of his famous father-in-law, Senator Calhoun, upon the death of Mrs. Clemson in 1875.
Clemson College formally opened in July 1893, with an enrollment of 446. From the beginning, the college was an all-male military school. It remained this way until 1955, when the change was made to "civilian" status for students, and Clemson became a coeducational institution. In 1964, the college was renamed Clemson University as the state legislature formally recognized the school's expanded academic offerings and research pursuits.
On November 27, 1989, the University observed the 100th anniversary of the State's acceptance of the terms and conditions of Mr. Clemson's bequest.
The enrollment of Clemson has grown from 446 students at the opening of the University to 17,016 for the first semester 2003-2004. Of this number, 3,203 were graduate students. Approximately 1,931 were classified as full-time graduate students and 1,272 as part-time students. Since the opening of the University, 90,583 students have been awarded Bachelor's degrees. During this same period, 426 Associate degrees, 24,866 Master's, 315 Education Specialist, 2,399 Doctor of Philosophy, and 95 Doctor of Education degrees have been awarded, a total of 118,684 degrees.
Today, more than a century later, the University is much more than its founder ever could have imagined. With its diverse learning and research facilities, the University provides an educational opportunity not only for the people of the State, as Mr. Clemson dreamed, but for thousands of young men and women throughout the country and the world.
The Norfolk and Southern Railway and U.S. Highways 76 and 123 provide easy access to the City of Clemson and to the University. Oconee County Airport is four miles from the library. Both Atlanta and Charlotte are two hours driving time away.
Campus architecture is a pleasing blend of traditional and modern facilities enhanced by a beautiful landscape of towering trees, grassy expanses, and flowering plants. Academic, administrative, and student service buildings on campus represent an insured value of $627 million. Clemson University's real estate holdings include over 32,000 acres of forestry and agricultural lands throughout the state, the majority of which are dedicated to Clemson's research and public-service missions.
Fort Hill, the former home of John C. Calhoun inherited by Thomas Clemson, and the Hanover House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are open to the public. The campus also has two recognized Historic Districts.
The Strom Thurmond Institute houses the institute offices, Senator Thurmond's papers and memorabilia, and the special collections of the Cooper Library. The Institute is a part of an instructional and public-service district that includes the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts and the Madren Center for Continuing Education.
LIBRARIES
Clemson's main library, the Robert M. Cooper Library, is located at the center of campus and provides students with a variety of services and up-to-date collections. More than 1.6 million items are available including books, periodicals, microforms, government publications, and electronic materials.
Many library resources are available both on and off campus via the on-line catalog and the Libraries' Web site. The Libraries provide access to several thousand electronic journals as well as a number of electronic indexes, many of which link to full-text journal and newspaper articles.
Among the services the Libraries provide are circulation, reference, interlibrary loan, class instruction, and tours. Equipment available includes photocopiers, scanners, fax machines, and wireless laptops. Cooper Library houses two computer laboratories maintained by DCIT. There is also Java City Cyber Café and a popular reading and audiobooks collection in the library.
In addition to the Cooper Library, the University Libraries include the Emery A. Gunnin Architectural Library in Lee Hall and the Special Collections Unit located in the Strom Thurmond Institute. A small reading room containing periodical literature related to chemistry is located in the Hunter Chemistry Laboratory.
Detailed information regarding facilities, hours of operation, loan privileges, policies, and fines is available at the circulation and reference desks and on the Libraries' Web site.
DCIT's Educational Technology Services (ETS) provides computer training and support to faculty, staff, and students in the use of MyCLE, the Clemson computer network, creating E-portfolios, and many desktop applications. MyCLE is the portal that provides managed class and work file space, Web tools, and services that facilitate the use of information technology in teaching and research. It is also a forum for collaboration among classroom and work place participants. These Web-based tools are provided both on and off campus. Information about MyCLE is available on the Web.
An extensive array of computer hardware is housed at the
Information Technology Center (ITC) in the Clemson Research Park. DCIT
operates a statewide computing network incorporating processors from a
variety of vendors. The major general purpose computers are an IBM z800
running the OS/390 operating system and a SUN E3000 UNIX system. A host
of Novell and Solaris servers provide computing resources for client-server
computing. Ap
proximately 3,500 PCs and work stations are connected
to the campus FDDI/Ethernet network.
Computer training is available through the ETS to all students and employees as part of regular University courses, through short courses, through special training programs, and through E-learning courses. A complete list of services is available on the Web. For face-to-face assistance, the Help Desk is open seven days a week and is centrally located in Martin Hall M section. Students may also call 656-3494, send e-mail to consult@clemson.edu, or check on the Web.
The campus computer network can be accessed through wired network connections found in all on-campus dorm rooms and apartments or through the University's extensive wireless network. This wireless access network provides 802.11b coverage to most areas of Clemson's campus. Students wishing to connect to the wireless network are encouraged to buy the recommended Cisco AIR-PCM352 adapter. Details can be found on the Web at wireless.clemson.edu.
While students may bring any laptop that meets the minimum specifications, there is a recommended laptop posted on the Web. Students using the recommended laptop will receive both software and hardware support. Students electing to purchase and bring their own laptops will be responsible for their support. See the Web for more information or e-mail LAPTOP-L@clemson.edu.
Originally chartered in 1933, the Foundation is a primary component of the Advancement Program at the University. There are 37 elected members of the Board of Directors. Currently, 35 of the 37 elected directors are alumni of the University. In addition, the Board is comprised of seven automatic directors as well as 16 honorary directors.
The Foundation operates through an effective committee structure that reports through an Executive Committee to the Full Board. Committees direct their attention to investments, policy and bylaws, investment strategic planning, budgets, nominations, and audits. Fund-raising is managed by the Development Committee and a Campaign Executive Committee, if applicable, and is responsible for major gifts, planned gifts, college initiatives, and corporate and foundation solicitations. Affiliated foundations are the Clemson University Continuing Education and Conference Complex Corporation, Clemson University Real Estate Foundation, Wallace F. Pate Foundation for Environmental Research and Education, and AMREC, LLC. As of June 2002, the Foundation managed over 1,000 endowments valued at $236.8 million.
In conjunction with volunteers and traveling University staff, Clemson Clubs and Clemson activities are conducted around the world. Alumni are kept informed through the award-winning Clemson World magazine and on the Web. Students, alumni, and constituency programs, as well as publications and electronic resources, form the basis for an array of services offered to alumni, students, parents, and friends of the University.
All services of the National Alumni Association are coordinated out of the Alumni Center, a campus focal point built, furnished, and equipped entirely by gifts from alumni specifically for that purpose. The University Visitors Center, a gift of the Class of 1944, is adjacent to the Alumni Center and is an excellent stop for anyone visiting or returning to campus.
Alumni-sponsored awards programs such as Alumni Distinguished Service, Alumni Fellows, professorships, scholarships, and awards for outstanding teaching, research, and public service are among the prestigious awards given by the University.
Alumni employees coordinate the Alumni Career Services program and the activities of the open-membership student organization, Student Alumni Association. From the Welcome Back Festival held each August to the Senior Picnic held each May, the Alumni Association provides a lifelong connection to Clemson.
Guided walking tours of the campus, which last about one and one-half hours, are led by students who are members of the all-volunteer University Guide Association. Tour times are Monday - Saturday at 9:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. and Sunday at 1:45 p.m. Tours begin and end at the Visitors Center. Visitors should try to arrive 10-15 minutes early. Tours are offered throughout the year except on University holidays. Reservations are recommended. For current information, call 864-656-4789 or visit the Web.