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 charge 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 17,101 for the first semester 2001-2002. Since the opening of the University, 85,621 students have been awarded Bachelor's degrees. During this same period, 426 Associate degrees, 23,532 Master's, 306 Education Specialist, 2,207 Doctor of Philosophy, and 91 Doctor of Education degrees have been awarded, a total of 112,183 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.
Clemson University is a selective, public, land-grant university in a college-town setting along a dynamic southeastern corridor. The University is committed to world-class teaching, research, and public service in the context of general education, student development, and continuing education. Clemson's desire is to attract a capable, dedicated, and diverse student body of approximately 12,000 to 14,000 undergraduate and 4,000 to 5,000 graduate students, with priority to students from South Carolina.
Clemson offers a wide array of high quality baccalaureate programs built around a distinctive core curriculum. Graduate and continuing education offerings respond to the professions, while doctoral and research programs contribute to the economic future of the state, nation, and world. The University emphasizes agriculture, architecture, business, education, engineering, natural resources, science, and technology. The University also promotes excellence in education and scholarship in selected areas of the creative arts, health, human development, the humanities, and social sciences. In all areas, the goal is to develop students' communication and critical-thinking skills, ethical judgment, global awareness, and scientific and technological knowledge. Students remain the primary focus of the University.
Just as Clemson values its students, the University also values its faculty and staff who have committed their talents and careers to advance its mission. Clemson pledges to support their work, to encourage their professional development, to evaluate their professional performance, and to compensate them at nationally competitive levels.
Many library resources are available both on and off campus via the online 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 Building.
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 Collaborative Learning Environment (CLE) provides computer training and support to faculty, staff, and students in the use of MyCLE, the Clemson computer network, 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, and a forum for collaboration among classroom and work place participants. Access to MyCLE services for each course section is automatically maintained through the class enrollment system. These Web-based tools are provided both on and off campus. Information about MyCLE is available from the CLE home page .
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 HDS Pilot 25 running the OS/390 operating system and a SUN E3000 UNIX system. A host of Novell and Solaris workstations are connected to the campus FDDI/Ethernet network.
Computer training is available through the CLE to all students and employees as part of regular University courses, through short courses, and through special training programs. A complete list of services is available on the Web.
For entering freshmen, admission is by invitation, based on a combination of criteria, including high school grade point average, class rank, and SAT or ACT score. No single factor is sufficient for admission. In considering candidates, the Honors Office invites those students who show promise of meeting the high academic standards of Calhoun Honors College. In general, honors freshmen rank in the top five percent of their high school class, have a grade point average of 3.75 or higher, and present SAT scores of 1350 and higher.
Entering freshmen who are not invited to join Calhoun Honors College may petition for admission if they meet at least two of the three general criteria above. A complete petition consists of the Petition for Membership Form, two letters of recommendation from high school guidance counselors or teachers, and a transcript of the high school academic records through the fall semester of the senior year.
Enrolled students may join the program if they have a cumulative grade-point ratio of 3.40 or higher as full-time students at Clemson and have at least four semesters remaining to graduate. To continue membership, students must maintain a cumulative grade-point ratio of 3.40 or higher and must complete at least one honors course each semester.
The honors curriculum consists of two distinct programs of study. To earn General Honors students must complete at least six honors courses of no less than three credits each. Most of the courses honors students take for General Honors also satisfy Clemson's General Education requirements. Departmental Honors provides opportunities for in-depth study and research within the student's major. To receive honors credit, whether for General Honors or Departmental Honors, each honors course must be completed with a grade of A or B. Detailed information can be found in the Honors Student Handbook.
Students completing both General Honors and Departmental Honors are recognized at an awards ceremony on the eve of commencement, at which time they are presented the B. C. Inabinet Honors Medallion. This medallion, as well as the student's diploma, transcript, and commencement program, recognizes Honors graduates as Calhoun Honors College scholars.
In addition to the intellectual challenge of Honors, advantages of membership include priority course scheduling, honors housing (on a space-available basis), extended library loan privileges, and special lectures and cultural events.
Calhoun Honors College is institutionally responsible for administering the Dixon Fellows Program which helps students prepare to compete for Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Fulbright, and other prestigious extramural fellowships.
Students qualify for participation in the Cooperative Education Program by satisfactory completion of 30 semester hours of academic work. Transfer students may qualify in one semester. Three, four, or five co-op work periods are projected and included in each student referral. Usually two students from the same academic area are paired to fill a full-time work position.
Students enrolled in the Cooperative Education Program pay a nominal registration fee each semester or summer session which coincides with their work period. That fee enables students to maintain student status and participate in student activities and services that are normally associated with enrollment at the University. However, the fee does not cover the cost of tuition for academic courses, health service, or any of the other benefits normally associated with the standard University fee. In responding to insurance, tax, loans, and other questionnaires about status, the University classifies a student on work assignment as a full-time continuing student. The work assignment is considered an integral part of the student's education, but no academic credit is awarded for this experience.
Internships and work abroad programs are also available. Applications are usually due in October for spring programs, in February for fall and academic year programs, and in April for summer programs. Interested students may contact the Study Abroad Advisor, E-306 Martin Hall, at the beginning of each semester.
The Departments of the Air Force and the Army maintain ROTC units at Clemson University. Their mission is to produce officers of high quality for technical and nontechnical careers in the U.S. Air Force and Army. Two, three, and four-year programs are available. The four-year program consists of the basic course for freshmen and sophomores and the advanced course for juniors and seniors.
Scholarships, available to selected ROTC students, pay for tuition, books, and laboratory expenses, in addition to a variable stipend ranging from $250-400 per month during the school year. Nonscholarship advanced cadets also receive a stipend. Basic course credit may be awarded to students having prior military service.
Selected advanced Air Force cadets receive flight training at government expense. Reserve or National Guard duty can be guaranteed by the U.S. Army.
Cadets who complete the Advanced or Professional Course and satisfy commissioning requirements are appointed Second Lieutenants. Ample opportunity exists for graduate study in both services, with temporary deferments possible.
Alpha Epsilon Delta (Pre-Medical)
Alpha Epsilon Lambda (Graduate Students)
Alpha Lambda Delta (Freshmen)
Alpha Pi Mu (Industrial Engineering)
Alpha Zeta (Agriculture)
Beta Alpha Psi (Accounting)
Blue Key (Juniors and Seniors)
Calhoun Honors Society (Honors College)
Chi Epsilon (Civil Engineering)
Eta Kappa Nu (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Eta Sigma Gamma (Health Education)
Golden Key National Honor Society (Juniors and Seniors)
Kappa Delta Pi (Education)
Keramos (Ceramic and Materials Engineering)
Mortar Board (Seniors)
Mu Beta Psi (Music)
Omicron Delta Kappa (Leadership)
Order of Omega (Seniors)
Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Psi (Textiles)
Phi Sigma Pi (Honorary)
Pi Delta Phi (French)
Pi Tau Sigma (Mechanical Engineering)
Psi Chi (Psychology)
Sigma Tau Delta (English)
Tau Beta Pi (Engineering)
Tau Sigma Delta
Upsilon Pi Epsilon (Computer Science)
Xi Sigma Pi (Forestry)
Both undergraduate and graduate students work with AFR researchers to develop science-based information needed to address issues such as agricultural productivity and profitability, economic and community development, environmental conservation, food safety and nutrition, and youth development.
Clemson scientists have been involved in agriculture and forestry research since 1889 when the University was founded. Today AFR research is conducted in laboratories, farms, and forests on the Clemson campus and at five research and education centers strategically located in the state's distinct soil and climate regions. In addition, Clemson researchers collaborate with colleagues on studies that span the globe.
Their research has produced more than 100 new varieties of food and fiber crops, as well as 35 patents. More than 100 AFR scientists, in addition to support staff, are working on 300 AFR projects funded through federal, state, and private sources, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service, the South Carolina General Assembly, and the National Science Foundation.
Originally chartered in 1933, the foundation is a primary component of the Advancement Program at the University. There are 36 elected members of the Board of Directors who oversee the Foundation's activities. Currently 34 of the 36 elected directors are alumni of the University.
The Foundation operates through an effective committee structure that reports through an executive committee to the full board. An administrative division directs its attention to real estate, investments, policy and bylaws, budget, and nominations. A fund-raising division is managed by the Development Committee and a Campaign Executive Committee, if applicable, and is responsible for the Clemson Fund, planned gifts, major gifts, and corporate and foundation solicitation. Working directly with the executive committee is the Clemson University Real Estate Foundation. Market value of the Foundation's assets as of June 2001 was approximately $249 million plus some $15 million in real estate holdings.
In conjunction with volunteers and traveling university staff, Clemson Clubs and Clemson activities are conducted around the world. The Clemson World magazine is our award-winning alumni publication and our Web site at alumni.clemson.edu is a great source of up-to-date information. 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 Clemson University.
All services of the National Alumni Association are coordinated out of offices located in the Clem-son 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 a perfect stop for anyone visiting or returning to campus. Records of addresses, employment, and biographical information are kept on alumni as well as the thousands of former students and friends who wish to be involved with the University and its alumni programs.
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 located within the Alumni Center coordinate the Office of Alumni Career Services and the activities of our 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 is your lifelong connection to Clemson.