Category: Uncategorized

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
H.4957 (Name, Image and Likeness) remains on the Senate calendar for second reading.

THE STATE BUDGET
The House of Representatives will begin debate on the budget at one o’clock this afternoon.

As a reminder, The House Ways and Means Committee’s version budget contains the following recommendations impacting Clemson:

Clemson E&G
–      $10.2 million in recurring funding for in state tuition mitigation
–      $3.5 million in nonrecurring funding for Student Experiential Learning
–      $22 million in nonrecurring funding for the College of Veterinary Medicine

Clemson PSA
–      $525,000 in recurring funding for the Poultry Science Research Facility
–      $2.5 million in nonrecurring funding for Statewide Program Support
–      $2.5 million in nonrecurring funding for PSA Renovation, Repair and Equipment

The Committee included a base pay increase for state employees ($1,000 for FTEs $66,667 and under; 1.5% increase for FTEs over $66,667). The proviso language that allows flexibility to reward based on merit remains in the bill.

The Committee’s version of the budget includes an increase in the cost of health insurance and an increase in retirement contributions for state employees and employers.  The employee portion of both will be paid by the state. The employer portion of both will have to be covered partially by the university.

The Committee also included several items from the Executive Budget of impact to the University:
–      $50 million in nonrecurring funding for SC Nexus
–      $3 million in nonrecurring funding for a systematic review of higher ed (sustainability, accessibility & affordability) by Education Oversight Committee
–      $10 million in recurring lottery dollars for the continuation of the initiative to address the shortage of instructors in nursing schools
–      $210 million in recurring lottery dollars for LIFE scholarships, $63 million lottery dollars for Palmetto Fellows Scholarships, and $12 million lottery dollars for HOPE scholarships
–      $80 million in recurring lottery dollars for need based grants (CHE)

The Senate Finance Committee continued agency budget subcommittee hearings last week.

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.

NEWS AND FYI
4-H students and agents from across the state traveled to Columbia last Tuesday, March 5, for their annual legislative day.

Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Last week, H.4957 (Name, Image and Likeness) was passed favorably as amended by the Senate Education Committee. The bill now heads to the Senate floor.

THE STATE BUDGET
The House of Representatives is scheduled to debate the budget next week.

The Senate Finance Committee continued agency budget subcommittee hearings last week.

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.

NEWS AND FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The House of Representatives was on furlough last week. The House will return in statewide session tomorrow.

Last week, H.4957 (Name, Image and Likeness) was passed 5-0 by a Senate Education Subcommittee. The full Senate Education Committee will take up the bill on Wednesday.

THE STATE BUDGET
The House Ways and Means Committee completed its work on the state budget on Wednesday, February 21.  The specific budget recommendations impacting Clemson are as follows:

Clemson E&G
–      $10.2 million in recurring funding for in state tuition mitigation
–      $3.5 million in nonrecurring funding for Student Experiential Learning
–      $22 million in nonrecurring funding for the College of Veterinary Medicine

Clemson PSA
–      $525,000 in recurring funding for the Poultry Science Research Facility
–      $2.5 million in nonrecurring funding for Statewide Program Support
–      $2.5 million in nonrecurring funding for PSA Renovation, Repair and Equipment

The Committee included a base pay increase for state employees ($1,000 for FTEs $66,667 and under; 1.5% increase for FTEs over $66,667). The proviso language that allows flexibility to reward based on merit remains in the bill.

The Committee’s version of the budget includes an increase in the cost of health insurance and an increase in retirement contributions for state employees and employers.  The employee portion of both will be paid by the state. The employer portion of both will have to be covered partially by the university.

The Committee also included several items from the Executive Budget of impact to the University:

–      $50 million in nonrecurring funding for SC Nexus
–      $3 million in nonrecurring funding for a systematic review of higher ed (sustainability, accessibility & affordability) by Education Oversight Committee
–      $10 million in recurring lottery dollars for the continuation of the initiative to address the shortage of instructors in nursing schools-      $210 million in recurring lottery dollars for LIFE scholarships, $63 million lottery dollars for Palmetto Fellows Scholarships, and $12 million lottery dollars for HOPE scholarships-      $80 million in recurring lottery dollars for need based grants (CHE)

The budget now goes to the House of Representatives which is scheduled to debate the bill the week of March 11th.

The Senate Finance Committee continued agency budget subcommittee hearings last week.

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.

NEWS AND FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The House of Representatives is on furlough this week. The House will return in statewide session on Tuesday, February 27.

Last week, H.4957 (Name, Image and Likeness) was passed by the House in a vote of 113-0 and sent to the Senate where it will be heard tomorrow in a Senate Education Subcommittee.

THE STATE BUDGET
The House Ways and Means Committee will begin budget deliberations this afternoon.

The Senate Finance Committee continued agency budget subcommittee hearings last week.

Senate Finance Budget Subcommittees that hear Clemson’s budget requests

Higher Education Subcommittee:
Chairman Ronnie Cromer (R-Newberry)
Senator Darrell Jackson (D-Richland)
Senator Tom Corbin Clemson ’87 (R-Greenville)
Senator Ross Turner Clemson ’86 (R-Greenville)
Senator Thomas McElveen (D-Sumter)

Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee:
Chairman Nikki Setzler (D-Lexington)
Senator Kent Williams (D-Marion)
Senator Tom Corbin Clemson ’87 (R-Greenville)
Senator Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington)
Senator Mike Gambrell Clemson ’80 (R-Anderson)

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

Clemson’s state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2024-25:

Education & General – Recurring
–      In-State Tuition Mitigation – $21,000,000
–      Student Experiential Learning – $4,500,000
–      Center for Human Genetics – $4,000,000

Education & General – Nonrecurring
–      College of Veterinary Medicine – $175,000,000
–      E&G Planned Maintenance and Renewal Projects – $29,000,000
–      NextGen Computing Complex – $25,000,000
–      Student Health Facility – $23,000,000

Public Service Activities – Recurring
–      Poultry Science Research Facility Support – $525,000
–      PSA Statewide Operational and Programmatic Support – $3,600,000
–      Problematic Wildlife Management — $1,725,000
–      Small Fruit Research and Extension – $525,000

Public Service Activities – Nonrecurring
–      PSA Planned Maintenance – $12,170,000
–      Baruch Institute Research Support Building – $9,000,000

BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.

NEWS AND FYI
Last week, United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough visited Clemson and conducted a student veterans roundtable.

Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
H.4957 (Name, Image and Likeness) was heard in the full House Education Committee last week. Clemson’s Director of Athletics, Graham Neff, along with Head Football Coach Dabo Swinney and Men’s Soccer Coach Mike Noonan provided testimony on the bill. A companion bill, S.993 was introduced in the Senate.

THE STATE BUDGET
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) continued holding agency budget subcommittee hearings. The full Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to take up the budget the week of February 19.

The Senate Finance Committee continued agency budget subcommittee hearings. President Jim Clements, along with Tony Wagner (Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations) gave Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Senate Finance Higher Education Subcommittee on Thursday, February 8.

Senate Finance Budget Subcommittees that hear Clemson’s budget requests

Higher Education Subcommittee:
Chairman Ronnie Cromer (R-Newberry)
Senator Darrell Jackson (D-Richland)
Senator Tom Corbin Clemson ’87 (R-Greenville)
Senator Ross Turner Clemson ’86 (R-Greenville)
Senator Thomas McElveen (D-Sumter)

Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee:
Chairman Nikki Setzler (D-Lexington)
Senator Kent Williams (D-Marion)
Senator Tom Corbin Clemson ’87 (R-Greenville)
Senator Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington)
Senator Mike Gambrell Clemson ’80 (R-Anderson)

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

Clemson’s state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2024-25:

Education & General – Recurring
–      In-State Tuition Mitigation – $21,000,000
–      Student Experiential Learning – $4,500,000
–      Center for Human Genetics – $4,000,000

Education & General – Nonrecurring
–      College of Veterinary Medicine – $175,000,000
–      E&G Planned Maintenance and Renewal Projects – $29,000,000
–      NextGen Computing Complex – $25,000,000
–      Student Health Facility – $23,000,000

Public Service Activities – Recurring
–      Poultry Science Research Facility Support – $525,000
–      PSA Statewide Operational and Programmatic Support – $3,600,000
–      Problematic Wildlife Management — $1,725,000
–      Small Fruit Research and Extension – $525,000

Public Service Activities – Nonrecurring
–      PSA Planned Maintenance – $12,170,000
–      Baruch Institute Research Support Building – $9,000,000

BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.

NEWS AND FYI
Last week, student leaders representing ACC colleges and universities visited Washington, DC as part of the annual ACC Student Advocacy Days on Capitol Hill. Clemson University was represented by eleven student leaders who met with South Carolina’s Congressional Delegation offices

Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
H.4957 (Name, Image and Likeness) was introduced in the House and will be heard in the full House Education Committee this week. Clemson will provide testimony on the bill. A companion bill, S.993 was introduced in the Senate.

THE STATE BUDGET
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) continued holding agency budget subcommittee hearings. The full Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to take up the budget the week of February 19.

House Ways and Means Subcommittees that hear Clemson’s budget requests

Higher Education Subcommittee:
Chairman Nathan Ballentine (R-Lexington)
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg)
Representative Bill Taylor (R-Aiken)

Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee:
Chairman Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston)
Representative David Weeks (D-Sumter)
Representative Max Hyde (R-Spartanburg)

The Senate Finance Committee has begun agency budget subcommittee hearings. President Jim Clements, along with Tony Wagner (Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations) will give Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Senate Finance Higher Education Subcommittee on Thursday, February 8 at 10:00 am.

Senate Finance Budget Subcommittees that hear Clemson’s budget requests

Higher Education Subcommittee:
Chairman Ronnie Cromer (R-Newberry)
Senator Darrell Jackson (D-Richland)
Senator Tom Corbin Clemson ’87 (R-Greenville)
Senator Ross Turner Clemson ’86 (R-Greenville)
Senator Thomas McElveen (D-Sumter)

Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee:
Chairman Nikki Setzler (D-Lexington)
Senator Kent Williams (D-Marion)
Senator Tom Corbin Clemson ’87 (R-Greenville)
Senator Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington)
Senator Mike Gambrell Clemson ’80 (R-Anderson)

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

Clemson’s state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2024-25:

Education & General – Recurring
–      In-State Tuition Mitigation – $21,000,000
–      Student Experiential Learning – $4,500,000
–      Center for Human Genetics – $4,000,000

Education & General – Nonrecurring
–      College of Veterinary Medicine – $175,000,000
–      E&G Planned Maintenance and Renewal Projects – $29,000,000
–      NextGen Computing Complex – $25,000,000
–      Student Health Facility – $23,000,000

Public Service Activities – Recurring
–      Poultry Science Research Facility Support – $525,000
–      PSA Statewide Operational and Programmatic Support – $3,600,000
–      Problematic Wildlife Management — $1,725,000
–      Small Fruit Research and Extension – $525,000

Public Service Activities – Nonrecurring
–      PSA Planned Maintenance – $12,170,000
–      Baruch Institute Research Support Building – $9,000,000

BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.

NEWS AND FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Governor Henry McMaster delivered his State of the State address on Wednesday, January 24. The prepared text of the Governor’s remarks may be found here.

THE STATE BUDGET
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) continued agency budget subcommittee hearings last week and will continue this process through January.

House Ways and Means Subcommittees that hear Clemson’s budget requests

Higher Education Subcommittee:
Chairman Nathan Ballentine (R-Lexington)
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg)
Representative Bill Taylor (R-Aiken)

Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee:
Chairman Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston)
Representative David Weeks (D-Sumter)
Representative Max Hyde (R-Spartanburg)

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

Clemson’s state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2024-25:

Education & General – Recurring
–      In-State Tuition Mitigation – $21,000,000
–      Student Experiential Learning – $4,500,000
–      Center for Human Genetics – $4,000,000

Education & General – Nonrecurring
–      College of Veterinary Medicine – $175,000,000
–      E&G Planned Maintenance and Renewal Projects – $29,000,000
–      NextGen Computing Complex – $25,000,000
–      Student Health Facility – $23,000,000

Public Service Activities – Recurring
–      Poultry Science Research Facility Support – $525,000
–      PSA Statewide Operational and Programmatic Support – $3,600,000
–      Problematic Wildlife Management — $1,725,000
–      Small Fruit Research and Extension – $525,000

Public Service Activities – Nonrecurring
–      PSA Planned Maintenance – $12,170,000
–      Baruch Institute Research Support Building – $9,000,000

BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.

NEWS AND FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Governor Henry McMaster will deliver his State of the State address on Wednesday, January 24 at 7pm in the House chamber.

THE STATE BUDGET
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) continued to conduct agency budget subcommittee hearings last week and will continue this process through January.

President Jim Clements, along with Tony Wagner (Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations) delivered Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation before the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee on Wednesday, January 17.

Clemson PSA’s budget hearing was also held Wednesday, January 17 before the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee.  President Clements, along with Dr. Greg Yarrow (Interim Dean, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences) presented before the Subcommittee.

House Ways and Means Subcommittees that will hear Clemson’s budget requests:

Higher Education Subcommittee
Chairman Nathan Ballentine (R-Lexington)
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg)
Representative Bill Taylor (R-Aiken)

Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee
Chairman Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston)
Representative David Weeks (D-Sumter)
Representative Max Hyde (R-Spartanburg)

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

Clemson’s state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2024-25:

Education & General – Recurring
–      In-State Tuition Mitigation – $21,000,000
–      Student Experiential Learning – $4,500,000
–      Center for Human Genetics – $4,000,000

Education & General – Nonrecurring
–      College of Veterinary Medicine – $175,000,000
–      E&G Planned Maintenance and Renewal Projects – $29,000,000
–      NextGen Computing Complex – $25,000,000
–      Student Health Facility – $23,000,000

Public Service Activities – Recurring
–      Poultry Science Research Facility Support – $525,000
–      PSA Statewide Operational and Programmatic Support – $3,600,000
–      Problematic Wildlife Management — $1,725,000
–      Small Fruit Research and Extension – $525,000

Public Service Activities – Nonrecurring
–      PSA Planned Maintenance – $12,170,000
–      Baruch Institute Research Support Building – $9,000,000

BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.

NEWS AND FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The second session of the 125th General Assembly convened on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.

This is the second year of a two-year session which means those bills introduced in 2023 retain their places on the calendar and in committee and are carried over to this year. Each legislative session is held from the second Tuesday in January until the second Thursday in May.

The House pre-filed legislation on November 16 and December 14, 2023.
The Senate pre-filed legislation on November 30, 2023.

On Tuesday, Senator Nikki Setzler (D-Richland) announced that he would not seek re-election to the Senate after this legislative session. Senator Setzler has represented the citizens of SC Senate District 26 since 1977 making him the longest serving member of the South Carolina Senate. Senator Setzler is the 2017 recipient of the Clemson University Board of Visitors Legislative Leadership Award.

On Thursday, Clemson University President Jim Clements and Provost Bob Jones joined South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, South Carolina Senate President Thomas Alexander ’78, House Speaker Murrell Smith and USC President Michael Amiridis to commemorate the signing of a Statewide Transfer Agreement.

The partnership between the South Carolina Technical College System (SCTCS) and Clemson and the University of South Carolina, Columbia, is a collaborative effort to streamline the transfer experience for the benefit of student success by strengthening the seamless transfer of credits from technical colleges to public research universities within the state.

THE STATE BUDGET
Executive Budget
Governor Henry McMaster released his Executive Budget proposal for 2024-25 on Friday, January 5, 2024. Below are items in the Governor’s budget as they relate to Clemson University and higher education:

Clemson E&G and Clemson PSA:
–      Allocates $49.8 million in recurring funds for tuition mitigation at SC’s public colleges and universities if each institution agrees to no in-state tuition or mandatory fee increase for the 2024-25 academic year
–     Clemson E&G: $7,769,553 in recurring funding; the funds are based on a 4.5% Higher Education Price Index and allocated based on the number of in-state students at each public institution
–      The FY 2024-25 Executive Budget makes a significant investment in capital projects and deferred maintenance at our public colleges and universities, including:
–      $70 million in nonrecurring funds for the College of Veterinary Medicine

For Higher Education:
–      $210.3 million for LIFE scholarships, $63.3 million for Palmetto Fellows Scholarships, and $12.1 million for HOPE scholarships;
–      $95 million in lottery dollars for workforce scholarships and grants at the South Carolina Technical College System;
–      $80 million in lottery dollars for need-based grants to provide tuition assistance for every eligible student;
–      $51.1 million in lottery dollars for tuition assistance at 2-year institutions (CHE and South Carolina Technical College System);
–      $10 million in lottery dollars for the continuation of the Nursing Initiative;
–      $6.2 million in lottery dollars for the National Guard Tuition Repayment Program;
–      $3.5 million in lottery dollars for the College Transitions Programs (ClemsonLIFE), which provide scholarships for South Carolina residents with intellectual disabilities to complete a postsecondary education program, which includes academic coursework and career exploration, thereby preparing them for independent living and employment
–      $20 million in non-recurring funds to continue funding for the Battelle Alliance, a collaborative nuclear science research partnership between the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, South Carolina State University, and the Savannah River National Laboratory.

The Executive Budget recommends adding a proviso and funding for a systemic study of public higher education in South Carolina.

The State Budget Process
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) began agency budget subcommittee hearings last week and will continue this process through January.

President Jim Clements, along with Tony Wagner (Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations) will give Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee on Wednesday, January 17.

Clemson PSA’s budget hearing is also scheduled for Wednesday, January 17 before the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee.  President Clements, along with Dr. Greg Yarrow (Interim Dean, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences) will be presenting before the Subcommittee.

House Ways and Means Subcommittees that will hear Clemson’s budget requests

Higher Education Subcommittee:
Chairman Nathan Ballentine (R-Lexington)
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg)
Representative Bill Taylor (R-Aiken)

Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee:
Chairman Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston)
Representative David Weeks (D-Sumter)
Representative Max Hyde (R-Spartanburg)

From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.

The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

Clemson’s state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2024-25:

Education & General – Recurring
–      In-State Tuition Mitigation – $21,000,000
–      Student Experiential Learning – $4,500,000
–      Center for Human Genetics – $4,000,000

Education & General – Nonrecurring
–      College of Veterinary Medicine – $175,000,000
–      E&G Planned Maintenance and Renewal Projects – $29,000,000
–      NextGen Computing Complex – $25,000,000
–      Student Health Facility – $23,000,000

Public Service Activities – Recurring
–      Poultry Science Research Facility Support – $525,000
–      PSA Statewide Operational and Programmatic Support – $3,600,000
–      Problematic Wildlife Management — $1,725,000
–      Small Fruit Research and Extension – $525,000

Public Service Activities – Nonrecurring
–      PSA Planned Maintenance – $12,170,000
–      Baruch Institute Research Support Building – $9,000,000

BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here. Click on the bill number for a description of the legislation, along with the bill’s current status.

NEWS AND FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.

Governor Henry McMaster issued his vetoes for the state budget on Tuesday, June 20.

There are no vetoes specific to Clemson University’s budget and legislative priorities.  

Clemson E&G
Recurring Requests
–      Base Appropriations Increase (In State Tuition Mitigation) $22M
–      College of Veterinary Medicine $12.5M
–      Student Experiential Learning $3.5M
–      STEM Workforce Development $7M

Nonrecurring Requests
–      Planned Maintenance and Renewal Projects $15.6M
–      College of Veterinary Medicine $75M 

Clemson PSA
Recurring Requests
–      Employee Retention & Recruitment $2.3M 

Nonrecurring Requests
–      Poultry Science Research Facility $4.5M
–      Critical PSA Research Infrastructure and Dam Improvements $2.1M
–      PSA Animal Farms Infrastructure (College of Veterinary Medicine): $15.4M
–      Statewide Program Support $1M 

Money Provisos Impacting Clemson:

–      Battelle Alliance at Savannah River National Lab — Of the funds appropriated for the Battelle Alliance forty percent ($16M) are allocated to Clemson University. The funds must be expended collaboratively to conduct research partnerships and develop workforce training programs designed to fill engineering, science, research, and management positions.
–      DHHS: Rural Health – Directs that at least $1M is recommended for rural health initiatives at Clemson University
–      DAODAS: Addiction Research – Directs $2M for a SC Center for Excellence in Addiction for a collaboration between Clemson, MUSC, and USC
–      DHHS: Alzheimer’s Research – Directs $10M to be used by the collaboration between Clemson, MUSC, and USC to achieve the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center designation
–      Athletic Admissions Revenue–For the current fiscal year, revenue derived from admissions to an athletic event of an accredited college or university shall be remitted to the Department of Revenue. Thereafter, the Department of Revenue shall allocate the same amount to the college or university so long as the use of the revenue is limited exclusively to supporting the college or university’s student-athletes through the provision of student aid, scholarship, and/or related financial support.

The budget includes several items from the Executive Budget of impact to the University:
–      $4.1 million in recurring lottery dollars for students with intellectual disabilities attending college transition programs
–      $10 million in recurring lottery dollars for the continuation of the initiative to address the shortage of instructors in nursing schools

The budget includes a $2500 compensation increase for state employees earning less than $50,000 and a 5% compensation increase for state employees earning more than $50,000. The language (included in proviso) that allows institutions the flexibility to reward based on performance remains in the bill.

The budget includes an increase in the cost of health insurance and an increase in retirement contributions for state employees and employers.  The employee portion of both will be paid by the state.  The employer portion of both will have to be covered partially by the university.

Thank you for your service on behalf of Clemson University, especially as we mark an important milestone in Clemson’s history with the establishment of the College of Veterinary Medicine.  Every day, we are reminded of how special the Clemson family is. Your commitment to advocacy on Clemson’s behalf is a tremendous contribution to our success.