Students, staff and faculty colleagues,
Welcome back, and happy new year! I hope your winter break was both restful and restorative. It’s energizing to see our campus come alive again with the excitement that a new semester always brings.
As we begin 2026, I want to take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary accomplishments of the past year. From groundbreaking research and the opening of new facilities to national scholarships and athletics successes, Clemson’s impact continues to resonate throughout our state and around the world. I am deeply grateful to former President Jim Clements and Interim President Bob Jones for their leadership in positioning our University for continued academic excellence.
As we look forward, we see the great promise our future holds and the challenges we must surmount to achieve this excellence. Our path ahead is clear. Guided by Clemson Elevate, we remain firmly committed to advancing our academic and research enterprise, expanding experiential learning opportunities and providing real-world experiences to prepare our students for postgraduate success in the workforce, continued education and through community impact. Together, we will also continue to pursue ambitious goals and make discoveries to improve lives and strengthen our state and the world.
I am tremendously optimistic about the year ahead. Clemson’s success is rooted in its people — the dedicated faculty and staff who support our students every day, and the remarkable students whose curiosity and determination embody the Clemson spirit. You are what makes this University exceptional.
It is the privilege of a lifetime to serve as Provost of my alma mater, and I look forward to meeting many of you in the months ahead as we continue to move Clemson Fiercely Forward through 2026.
Go Tigers!
J. Cole Smith
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
