Dear Clemson Community,
Welcome to the beginning of a new academic year, and to what I believe will be the best year yet for Clemson. As Beth and I shared in our Welcome Back video to students, faculty and staff, we thank you for your preparation to be here, want you to work hard and also take care of yourselves and each other.
I am thrilled to see the campus come alive with all the excitement and energy that are hallmarks of new beginnings and adventures. We welcomed new and returning faculty members. Students started their first week of classes. Staff are continuing to work hard to make sure this year is an incredible success. We are also kicking off the fall sports season and I am excited for what I know will truly be another great year for our Tigers.
A lot of wonderful things have taken place since the previous academic year ended in May, and as we launch into the new year, I wanted to take a moment to provide an update.
Earlier this month, we held our summer graduation ceremony. Graduation is one of the most important days in the life of a university. A total of 371 students were awarded bachelor’s degrees and 475 students received master’s degrees at Littlejohn Coliseum. And an additional 102 students were awarded doctorates at a hooding ceremony in the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts.
In July, the Board of Trustees approved the University budget for fiscal year 2023 and provided Phase II approval to multiple facilities projects including the Bryan Mall High Rise Renovation Project and the Women’s Sports Program Expansion. We are also excited to have completed and opened the new Humanities Hall which is a great addition to our academic spaces.
As we begin classes this week, Clemson is set to build upon our success and create new opportunities for greater achievements. We are a community of scholars who encourages and supports one another, and we are all a part of the Clemson community with a strong set of Clemson Values.
We are also proud to have just been ranked as the 3rd Most Trusted Public University in the country by Morning Consult. And we were also recently cited as the #2 Safest College in the country. Clemson also continues to rank among the Princeton Review’s Best Colleges and is ranked in the Top 10 in five categories:
#1 Best Career Services
#2 Town-Gown Relations Are Great
#3 Everyone Plays Intramural Sports
#4 Students Love Their School Teams
#9 Their Students Love These Colleges
These honors are a testament to the hard-working individuals associated with Clemson University and our greater community. I look forward to the incredible year before us.
Best wishes for a great academic year.