The B-Note Blog

Greetings, fellow Tigers!

While this season is anything but ordinary, the excitement for our Tigers stretches from the Memorial Stadium to the couches of our devoted fans. And there is nothing quite like a night game in Death Valley. The Tigers secured a 41-23 victory over Virginia to advance to 3-0 and 2-0 in ACC play this season. The win extended Clemson’s winning streak on Saturdays to 46, passing the 1953-57 Oklahoma Sooners for the longest such streak in FBS history.

The Tigers will kickoff in prime time again this Saturday in Death Valley when they host the Miami Hurricanes in a battle of Top 10 opponents. Go Tigers!

Remembering Calvin “Chip” Jackson

Calvin “Chip” Jackson, longtime educational and civic leader in South Carolina and devoted supporter of the College of Education, sadly passed away in August. The father of two Clemson alumni, Jackson first served as president of the External Advisory Board for Clemson’s College of Health, Education and Human Development (HEHD). In that role, he helped navigate the founding of the College of Education as it emerged from HEHD to become a standalone college. During this process, he served on the search committee for the founding dean and became chair of the inaugural Senior Advisory Board. He also helped shepherd the board’s recent evolution to an Advancement Board, charged with assisting with development and engagement efforts that support the college’s innovative projects, partnerships, scholarships and research.

Shortly before his death, the college selected Jackson as the annual Distinguished Friend of the College of Education award recipient, given to honor an individual, partner or program who has provided significant support over time to benefit the college. Chip not only provided years of support to our college as a leader, but he most recently provided financial support to the College of Education Dean’s Excellence Fund. Please watch this special tribute video recognizing Chip as the Second Annual Distinguished Friend of the College.

Stay connected!

The Clemson Alumni Association is committed to keeping you connected – especially now. Visit the Alumni Association’s Facebook page for upcoming Live Q&A sessions. Couch Season photo submissions and voting is still taking place every week, so don’t forget to send in your photos for your chance to win!

B-Impactful!

Whether you’re watching the games from home or cheering in Death Valley, the support of our Clemson fans can be felt anywhere – and any time. But the dedication of the Clemson Family exceeds far beyond the football stadium. Academically and athletically, we are a championship University, and we continue to prove that through our awards, discoveries and innovations. Thank you for your dedication and commitment and for being a champion for Clemson! You are impacting Clemson students today, tomorrow and forever.

Go Tigers! Beat Miami!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings, fellow Tigers!

The Clemson Family is proud of our how students have adapted to the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. However, it is as important as ever to follow the important precautions the University has instituted. This will increase our chances of completing the semester together as we all hope. It has been great to see our students being responsible and thoughtful – exactly what we would expect from members of the Clemson Family.

Commending Clemson’s COVID response

Dr. Deborah Birx, Coronavirus Response Coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, visited our campus on Friday. While here, Dr. Birx visited our student testing center, toured our Athletics facilities and met with University and student leadership. She also participated in a roundtable discussion with some of our outstanding faculty members to learn about their research related to COVID-19. She had strong praise for how our University continues to provide a world-class education to our students, despite the unprecedented challenges we all are facing.

Sales Innovation is adapting

Within the new state-of-the-art College of Business building, the new cutting-edge Sales Lab has opened, and the Sales Innovation Program is moving forward, unimpeded by the pandemic. The Sales Innovation Program was founded in 2019 as a Signature Program within the College of Business through an Academic Cornerstone gift of $2.5 million from Dan ’72 and Nancy Garrison. About 60 students are currently enrolled in the program, which is on a course to becoming one of the country’s finest hubs of sales education, research and executive education. Thanks to scholarships provided through the Garrisons’ cornerstone gift, a leadership component has been added to the program through creation of SIP manager roles being held by three senior marketing majors. Sales Innovation now has eight partner sponsors who contribute to students’ development in a variety of ways. The sponsorships give students insights into what employers are seeking in a sales professional and connects businesses with the program’s best and brightest. The newest sponsor is technology provider xiQ, a Redwood City, California-based company that offers its clients an artificial intelligence-based sales and marketing platform. You can read more about how the Sales Lab is impacting our students here.

B – Solid Orange!

After a week off, Clemson football returns to Death Valley Saturday for a match-up against the University of Virginia. Fans in the stadium are adjusting to this season’s changes, and those of you at home are embracing new opportunities to show your Clemson spirit. It is not anything we expected for this year, but the Clemson Family always perseveres during adversity.

Our commitment to educating Clemson students and having a positive impact on our state, nation and world remains steadfast. Thank you for your support and commitment to Clemson. Together, we are keeping Clemson strong.

Don’t forget to wear your solid orange tomorrow and Saturday! Go Tigers! Beat Virginia!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings, fellow Tigers!

Clemson students returned to in-person classes on Monday. It’s not only exciting to see our students back on campus but that they are also adjusting to the ‘new normal’ of face coverings and social distancing. It takes the entire Clemson Family working together to ensure our Fall semester goes smoothly and is successfully completed. Our University leadership, faculty and staff made this next step possible for Clemson, and we are all appreciative of their dedication and commitment to Clemson University and our students. You can read more about how our students, faculty and staff are adjusting to the ‘new normal’ of in-person instruction here.

A ring of history

The Clemson ring brings Tigers together in extraordinary ways, but it also represents a piece of every Clemson family’s history. Ann Barrar knows this better than anyone. Ann was packing up her mother’s belongings when, wrapped in a tissue, she found her grandfather’s 1923 Clemson ring. Ann’s father, Hughey Allen Woodle, Jr., graduated from Clemson in 1951 with a degree in chemical engineering, after which he was involved with his alma mater in many ways, especially philanthropically. As the fundraising chair, he helped raise more than $590,000 for the Military Heritage Plaza and $31,000 for the Clemson Corps ROTC Scholarship program. Hugh again served Clemson as the assistant fundraising chair for the Class of 1951 Golden Anniversary project, which raised nearly $5 million for academic support. Hugh and his sister, Violet Woodle Washington, established charitable remainder unitrusts to support the Clemson Corps ROTC Quasi-Endowment for Air Force/Army ROTC Grants-in-Aid and scholarships for students majoring in engineering and agriculture. Ann says that her father always looked forward to the letters he would receive from the scholarship recipients. She says, “They always meant so much to him.” You can read Ann’s full story here.

Tigers win!

It was a perfect fall day in Death Valley on Saturday as the Tigers returned to Death Valley for the home opener against The Citadel. The No. 1 ranked Tigers defeated The Citadel 49-0, marking Clemson’s 31st consecutive regular season win, passing the 2013-15 Florida State Seminoles for the longest such streak in ACC history. Clemson has an open date next week prior to returning to action against Virginia at Death Valley at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network. Go Tigers!

B – Philanthropic!

Seeing our students return to campus reminds me that these bright and talented students would not be here without you. The global pandemic has created subsequent financial hardships that are making your gifts even more impactful. By giving to Clemson, you are making a difference in the lives of our students and following the tradition of philanthropy established by Thomas Green and Anna Clemson. Please watch this special message from President Clements expressing his gratitude for your philanthropic spirit.

Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to our students!

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings, fellow Tigers!

Our students have officially moved back to campus and are prepared to begin in-person classes on Monday, Sept. 21. We have long-awaited the time when we could welcome our students back, and while it’s not what we consider normal, I know we all join our students in their excitement to return to campus. To ensure the semester goes smoothly, I still encourage everyone – our students, faculty and staff – to follow the policies and procedures our University has developed to stop the spread of COVID-19. Let’s all do our part by wearing our masks and practice social distancing!

Top public university

Clemson University has again been recognized as one of the top public universities in the country in the 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. Clemson is ranked No. 29 among national public universities owed in part to strong graduation and first-year student retention rates, which exceed national averages. The University continues to see strong applications from first year students and increases in first year enrollment year-over-year. U.S. News noted Clemson’s strong alumni engagement and financial support, ranking Clemson second among all public universities for alumni participation rate. Clemson’s support for students was recognized, including its internship and co-op programs, ranking 17th among all schools. Clemson is also recognized for its student-faculty ratio of 16:1.

Kicking off the season

Football season has officially kicked-off, and the Clemson Family was excited to cheer our Tigers to victory from afar on Saturday. The Tigers defeated Wake Forest 37-13, marking Clemson’s sixth consecutive 1-0 start to a season. A stellar outing by quarterback Trevor Lawrence and a Clemson-record 18^th career 100-yard rushing performance by running back Travis Etienne led the No. 1 Clemson Tigers to the victory. Go Tigers!

B – ready to cheer!

This week we welcome the Clemson Family back to campus for our home opener in Memorial Stadium. With fewer fans and new policies in place, this season is going to be vastly different than what the Clemson Family has ever experienced on gameday. But what makes gameday at Clemson special remains – the Clemson Family joining together to cheer for our team. Whether that is in the stadium or from the couch, our pride as Clemson Tigers remains strong.

To keep you connected to the longstanding tradition of one of the greatest tailgate parties in college football, the Clemson Alumni Association is inviting you to share your best Couch Season At-Home Tailgate! Each week during the Clemson Football season, you can submit photos of your home tailgate, your favorite recipes and your best Clemson gear. The Alumni Association will showcase select photos on their Facebook page where fans will be asked to vote for their favorite setup. Be sure to check the Alumni Association’s social media pages each Friday for the winner. I cannot wait to see how the Clemson Family celebrates our Tigers this season!

Go Tigers! Beat The Citadel!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings, fellow Tigers!

The Clemson Family is looking forward to welcoming our students back to campus this weekend as move-in officially begins. This means we are also quickly approaching the start of in-person classes and on-campus activities on Sept. 21. We’ve been waiting on this time since we transitioned to online instruction last spring, and I know we’re all equally excited about returning to normalcy.

Our University’s leadership is keenly aware that we should prepare for an increase in COVID-19 cases among our students following our return to campus instruction and activities, as we have seen at other universities in recent weeks. Delaying the start of in-person instruction provided the University valuable time to devise the necessary testing, contact tracing, quarantine/isolation and other protocols necessary to give us a good chance of success. We are moving ahead as planned and are excited about having our students back. But it is going to take the entire Clemson Family working together to be a part of the solution. Remaining on campus for the remainder of the semester will require strong adherence to the safety protocols that have been developed and clearly communicated. Together, we can write a different story for Clemson University. Remember to do your part to keep Clemson and our community safe. Wear your mask and practice social distancing.

ClemsonWorld is recognizing our Clemson alumni who are among the heroes of the COVID crisis — the doctors and nurses, physician assistants and administrators — who are doing their jobs at the risk of their own health. Fighting a global pandemic is a team effort, and Clemson alumni across the nation are certainly doing their part to combat this crisis. You can read their stories here.

B – impacting future generations!

The return of our students to campus is an exciting time for Clemson. And it is thanks to the hard work, patience and tenacity of the entire Clemson Family – students, faculty, staff, the surrounding community and our loyal Tigers.

It is an especially unusual time for Clemson and higher education, but we are more ready than ever to fulfill our goal of impacting future generations of Clemson students. I thank each of you for your support and continued commitment.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings, fellow Tigers!

Despite the challenges of the current times and the changes in higher education, Clemson’s core values, beliefs and the spirit of the Clemson Tiger remain steadfast. When we are able to join together again in the place we call “home,” we will be reminded that “there is something in these hills.”

Even while in the midst of a global pandemic, our faculty and staff have been able to continue impacting our students and conducting ground-breaking research. Rachel Getman is among those who is being recognized for her work. Getman is the first recipient of the Murdoch Family Endowed Professorship in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Getman’s research is helping lay the groundwork to create more efficient, more effective and less expensive catalysts. Larry Murdoch provided the endowment that made the professorship possible. Murdoch received his Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Clemson in 1963 before going on to graduate school at Iowa State University and a successful career, first in chemical plant operations and then the engineering and construction industry. Murdoch said the quality and dedication of the faculty, led by then-Department Chair Charles Edward Littlejohn, Jr., inspired him and helped lead him to success. You can read more about the professorship, Rachel Getman and the Murdoch family here.

Rachel Getman, the first recipient of the Murdoch Family Endowed Professorship in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

An engineer who has earned six patents in six years and a geneticist developing strategies to prevent tooth decay were named Researchers of the Year at Clemson University. Hai Xiao, the Samuel Lewis Bell distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering, was named senior faculty researcher of the year, and Vincent Richards, associate professor of biological sciences, was named junior faculty Researcher of the Year. Xiao’s research interests focus on photonic and microwave technologies, novel devices and materials, imaging instrumentation and advanced manufacturing for applications in energy, intelligent infrastructure, clean-environment, biomedical sensing/imaging, and national security. Richards uses microbial genomics to further the understanding of the relationship between diverse microbial communities and human health. You can read more about Clemson’s Researchers of the Year here.

Left to right: Hai Xiao, the Samuel Lewis Bell distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering; Vincent Richards, associate professor of biological sciences

B – Impactful!

Your support to Clemson ensures that our faculty, staff and students have the tools to make significant impacts at our University and beyond.

Thank you for supporting our great University! Your generosity is moving Clemson forward and powerfully impacting our students as they prepare to leave their mark on the world.

As we read the headlines and watch what is unfolding at universities across the nation, it becomes more important than ever that we commit as the Clemson Family to being a part of the solution. Together, let’s write a different story for Clemson University. As always, I remind you to do your part to keep Clemson and our community safe. Wear your mask and practice social distancing. Together, we will get through these unusual times.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings, fellow Tigers!

Our students are into their second week of classes, and while this semester looks different from anything we’ve ever seen in higher education, I know our students, faculty and staff will rise to the occasion.

The University has taken several steps to mitigate the financial impact of the pandemic – from the hiring freeze we instituted in the spring, to stopping non-essential travel, to curtailing operating expenses across every division at the University. Unfortunately, the financial strain that the COVID-19 pandemic has put on our University is still significant. Clemson University has made the difficult decision to begin a mandatory furlough program in coordination with the South Carolina Department of Human Resources. The furlough period begins Sept. 1 and continues through the end of the calendar year. A guiding principle in the University’s discussions around these actions has been to minimize the financial impact to our lower-paid employees. Therefore, employees earning less than $50,000, which comprise approximately half of Clemson’s 6,500 full-time employees statewide, will not be affected by these actions. You can read more here.

While educational institutions race to implement online learning solutions, Clemson University’s MBA Program remains ahead of the curve proving that a virtual learning experience does not mean a loss of personal connection. Professors are developing creative ways to not only engage students in online classes but also bring them together in outside discussions through virtual means. Some of these events have included Innovative Leadership Speaker Series seminars, podcasts, international negotiations workshops and Employer Spotlights, all connecting students across the globe. You can read more about how the Clemson MBA Program is embracing virtual learning experiences here.

It is not only an unusual and uncertain time for higher education but also for PreK-12 education. The Clemson University Alumni Association is saluting our alumni who work in this field – teachers, principals, school and district administrators, counselors, coaches and support staff. The Alumni Association’s Facebook page will feature these everyday heroes, and I invite you to celebrate these individuals with us.

B – Part of the solution!

Wear your mask and social distance – and be part of the solution! As our University continues to work toward welcoming students back next month, this is more important than ever.

Thank you for your continued support during these unprecedented times!

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings, fellow Tigers!

Our bond as Clemson Tigers has always brought us together in incredible ways. When our University made the difficult decision to transition to remote learning in the spring, we found ourselves in uncharted waters. And now our lives look vastly different than they did six months ago. But our tenacity as Tigers has brought us through, and today we remain united as Tigers.

Throughout the past several months, stories of our fellow Tigers have emerged and shown us the unique spirit of the Clemson Tigers. Clemson World has featured some of these stories, and I invite you to read them as a reminder of the deeds – great and small – that have kept us safe, brought us comfort and cared for our community. From developing serologic tests to studying parenting during a pandemic to printing ventilators to protecting grocery shoppers, the Clemson Family came together in extraordinary ways during these extraordinary times to face our greatest challenges.

I am also happy to share with you that Clemson University landed in the number one spot for strong town-gown relations on The Princeton Review’s 2021 edition of its annual college guide, The Best 386 Colleges. The University also earned a top-20 spot in 10 additional categories, including best career services (#2) and happiest students (#11). The company selects the colleges for the book based on data it collects from administrators at hundreds of colleges about their institutions’ academic offerings.

In “The Best 386 Colleges, 2020 Edition,” Clemson rankings are:
-Best Career Services (#2)
-Everyone Plays Intramural Sports (#3)
-Students Pack the Stadiums (#4)
-Their Students Love These Colleges (#5)
-Most Conservative Students (#10)
-Happiest Students (#11)
-Most Religious Students (#14)
-Best Quality of Life (#17)
-Future Rotarians and DAR (#17)
-Best Athletic Facilities (#20)

In February 2020, Clemson also made The Princeton Review’s Best Value Colleges list and ranked as one of the country’s best schools for internships (#9) and best alumni networks (#11). We are always particularly proud of our rankings within The Princeton Review as they reiterate the special Clemson experience of our students.

It is during these times that we can all benefit from a little normalcy, and now you can have a little piece of Clemson delivered to your doorstep. When you buy Clemson ice cream, you are supporting the ’55 Exchange, the student-run business on campus where Clemson ice cream and other dairy products are sold. Just like many other small businesses, the ’55 Exchange has taken a big financial hit from forced closure due to COVID-19, and Clemson students have created a way to recover some of their losses. Orders can be placed here.

B – United as Tigers!  

When you wear a mask and practice social distancing, you are showing the Clemson Family that you care and showing the world that we are united! As our faculty and staff begin to intermittently return and we prepare to welcome our students back to campus next month, it’s more important than ever to do our part.

Thank you for supporting our University and for ensuring we will continue to impact future generations of Clemson Tigers.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

Congratulations to Clemson’s newest alumni, our August graduates! These times are anything but ordinary, and we weren’t able to celebrate our August graduates last week with our traditional ceremony. But we can still honor these graduates by celebrating their persistence, diligence and resilience from afar. They persevered during the most extraordinary of times, and we are looking forward to the day when we can appropriately and traditionally celebrate their accomplishments. Clemson remains committed to an on-campus celebration for our May and August graduates. Until then, I invite you to visit a special Class of 2020 web site that the University created.

Last week President Clements shared a message with updates on testing strategy, preparations for fall and congratulations to our August graduates. View his message with important updates here.

Healthy Me – Healthy SC (HMHSC), a program developed in partnership by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Clemson University, will provide COVID-19 testing support to the rural and underserved areas of the Midlands and Upstate regions of South Carolina. With the reinvigoration of the program and a focus on the state’s current public health crisis, HMHSC will deploy a mobile testing team to conduct screenings and collections in rural and underserved areas, focusing on the Upstate and the Midlands. Mobile testing sites through HMHSC kicked off in Walhalla, South Carolina, on Thursday, July 30, with the goal of providing weekly screening sessions over the course of the next six months. You can read more here.

Made possible by funding from the LeGrand McIver Sparks ’41 and Mary Sears Sparks Endowment (A Class of 1941 Initiative), the Professor John E. Fairey III Quasi-Endowment for Natural History, the Biological Sciences Excellence Fund, and the Friends of the Natural History Museum, a much-needed renovation has given new life to the Clemson University Herbarium. It also included University investment in teaching and learning spaces. The herbarium houses about 100,000 plant specimens that have been carefully preserved and stored for the future. The herbarium, operated by the College of Science’s department of biological sciences, houses specimens from all over the globe, though its concentration is local and regional. Researchers from around the state, nation and world can also use the collection online. When campus is once again bustling with activity, the new location will also offer in-person experience. You can read more here.

B – “All In” for Clemson!
Thank you for your generosity and support! Your commitment to Clemson is moving our University forward despite the difficulties of the current times.

Let’s all do our part to keep our Clemson Family and members of our community safe. Be “All in” for Clemson – wear your masks and practice social distancing!

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings, fellow Tigers!

As more employees begin returning to campus and we prepare to welcome our students back to campus next month, it is more important than ever to do our part to keep our Clemson Family safe. Let’s be “All In” and wear our masks! You can read more about how Clemson is moving forward with the health and safety of our students, employees, staff and surrounding community as our top priority here. Also, please watch a special message from President Clements here.

Last week we celebrated our fourth consecutive year of raising more than $150 million. It is humbling to see year after year how our Clemson Family shows up for one another – no matter the circumstances! As we begin a new fiscal year, I am excited to continue celebrating the Clemson Family and the people who make Clemson the special place we call, “home.”

One example is the Class of 1967 Endowment for Veterans Resources which recently met its goal of raising $100,000. The endowment was established in 2015 to honor the class’s 50^th anniversary and to ensure future veterans receive care and support through intentional resources and programs. The funds will be used to maintain operations with the Military & Veteran Engagement Student Center located in Vickery Hall, expand programming support through guest speakers, advising, veteran-specific Orientation, Hail and Farewell graduation celebrations, and to provide support for student veterans attending conferences such as the Student Veterans of America, Men of Color Summit and Women’s Leadership Conference. In addition to the Class of 1967, fundraising support was provided by the Clemson Corps, Alumni Association, Staff Senate and CASE. You can read more here or click here to view all the ways to give and support Clemson student veterans.

Ed and Kelly Rose also exemplify how the Clemson Family can find meaningful ways to support our fellow Tigers. Ed and Kelly both graduated from Clemson in 1984. The Clemson tradition has continued with their children. Their daughter Erin recently earned a marketing degree, and their son Carter is an engineering major. As alumni and now Clemson parents, Ed and Kelly are committed to impacting current and future generations of Clemson students – both philanthropically and through campus involvement. After Kelly was introduced to the Clemson Family Advisory Board (CFAB), she applied for membership and became an advocate and liaison for Clemson families. It was through this involvement with Student Affairs that she learned about Sam Cadden and the money being raised for the chapel in his memory. Within a couple of weeks, she met Ken and Mary Cadden. The Rose family made a financial contribution and held a fundraising event for the project at their home in Charleston, and they were on site for the groundbreaking ceremony in May 2019. Ed and Kelly also provide support to the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, the College of Business and P.A.W. Journey. You can read more about the Rose family, their commitment to volunteering at Clemson and their gifts to the University here.

B- Inspired to be engaged!
The stories of the Class of 1967 and Ed and Kelly Rose inspire us to become more engaged with Clemson. They represent the many ways we can give of our time, talent and treasures to impact our University and the future generations of Clemson students who will forever have their lives changed through their involvement with Clemson. As alumni, supporters and fans, we feel the connection among Tigers. It’s a bond that lasts a lifetime.

Thank you for your generosity and unwavering support to Clemson.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke