Clemson University trustees learned that a record number of 20,600 freshmen applications for a fall class of 3,200 have been submitted to the school. The trustees are on campus this week for quarterly meetings.
Admissions director Robert Barkley said the application rate represents a 12 percent increase over this time last year and another 100 applications are expected by the end of the year. More than 8,000 students have applied for graduate school.
The board also received a positive update on the university’s “The Will to Lead” $1 billion capital campaign to support students and faculty with scholarships, fellowships, professorships, top facilities and technology. Trustee E. Smyth McKissick III, campaign chairman, reported $780 million has been raised so far, with more commitments to come.
President Jim Clements updated the trustees on some of the priorities he expressed at the previous board meeting.
“When we met in February, I shared my priorities for the first few months on the job. Priority No.1 was filling key leadership positions. I’m pleased to have two new members of the executive team with us today,” he said, introducing newly appointed vice presidents John Ballato and George Askew, for economic development and Public Service and Agriculture, respectively.
He also told the trustees the search for the executive vice president and provost was launched this week.
The president said he had been on a “listening tour” and met with faculty, staff and undergraduate and graduate student groups on campus in early March.
In action related to academic, financial and facility matters, the trustees approved:
- dining plan fees for summer 2014;
- a rate of $1,500 for an online summer course on quality deer management;
- name changes for Social Impact Design 1:1 to Architecture+Community BUILD and CU Genomics Institute to CU Institute for Translational Genomics;
- terminating the CU International Institute for Tourism Research and Development;
- guidelines for annual and fifth-year reviews of centers and institutes;
- swapping small parcels of property owned by the university and the city of Clemson; and
- the original core campus plan proposal.
