Clemson alumni Jim Warner ’95 and Shannon Conner Warner ’95 want to ensure that every Clemson student has the opportunity to succeed. That was their motivation for donating $120,000 to Clemson Libraries to establish the Warner Family Affordable Learning and Student Access Endowment, which will help the Libraries provide course-related resources and learning materials to students that would otherwise cost them money.
The endowment supports the CU Affordable Learning and Student Access Program (CU-ALSAP), a Libraries program designed to help every student, regardless of circumstances or field of study, have access to the materials they need to be successful in their classes. The Libraries will use the funds to purchase things like lab equipment, such as goggles and lab coats that are required for labs; homework access codes that students need to complete assignments; or textbooks for the textbook lending program.
The funds could also be used to promote the use of Open Educational Resources (OERs), which are free or low-cost textbooks and course materials designed for digital learning. Over the past five years, the use of OERs in classes has saved more than 4,000 students over $400,000 in textbook costs.
The Warners said they wanted to support the initiative so that the cost of items like textbooks and lab equipment is not a barrier to student success.
“The great thing about the library is that every student benefits. Hearing stories of students who dropped classes because they couldn’t afford the textbooks, or who have changed majors because they could not buy the lab equipment, that hit home to us, and we knew that this is where we want to focus our support,” said Conner Warner.
“We don’t want anybody to come to Clemson and not get the full experience and not be able to do what they want to do. It’s all about access and opportunity,” Warner added.
“I am so grateful to Jim and Shannon Warner for this incredible gift, which will help make the Clemson experience more affordable for so many students,” said Clemson Libraries Dean Chris Cox. “Many people don’t think about things like lab equipment when calculating the cost of attending college, but those costs can add up. I am excited about this endowment, because it is going to make a huge impact for our students.”
The Warners both graduated in 1995, with Warner earning a degree in marketing and Conner Warner earning a degree in elementary education. They have been long-time supporters of Clemson, giving to several other programs, including the Clemson University Honors College, the Athletic Departments’s P.A.W. Journey program, the College of Education and the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business. Conner Warner serves on the Friends of the Libraries Board of Directors.
“We hope this outlives us,” Conner Warner said. “One hundred years from now, people won’t know our names, but they’ll know these resources are available at the library.”
The Warners’ gift is part of the Fiercely Forward capital campaign.
About the Fiercely Forward Capital Campaign
Clemson University is embarking on its most ambitious campaign to date, Fiercely Forward. It’s a call to action. A spark to ignite the potential within each of us. A testament to a legacy that began in 1889 and has led to Clemson becoming one of the most innovative research institutions in the nation. Fiercely Forward will create a future where brilliant minds launch into lives of purpose and significance, where cutting-edge research unlocks the mysteries of human potential, and where ingenuity and innovation forge a better tomorrow for all. With a dedication to academic excellence, state-of-the-art facilities, and an unmatched student experience, we charge Fiercely Forward toward tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
For more information, visit FiercelyForward.clemson.edu.
