Clemson Board of Trustees approves property acquisition, continued progress on College of Veterinary Medicine facilities

The Clemson University Board of Trustees met virtually on Friday to approve the acquisition of an 87-acre tract of land immediately adjacent to the Clemson Experimental Forest and to approve appropriated funding by the South Carolina General Assembly for the continued development of the state’s first College of Veterinary Medicine.

The tract of land in Pendleton immediately adjacent to one of the most ecologically sensitive areas of the Clemson Experimental Forest (CEF) known as the George Aull Natural Area. This area of the CEF is the best remnant of Piedmont old-growth forest in the Upstate of South Carolina (not just the CEF). Having never been logged or planted in cotton, this property has some overstory trees that are 200+ years old. Clemson is acquiring the property through an agreement with Naturaland Trust, who will secure the property through a charitable bargain and then transfer the property to the University for no cost.

Clemson trustees also granted approval to increase the Phase 1 budget of construction of facilities at the College of Veterinary Medicine to $110,466,000 to reflect the total funding provided by the State of South Carolina in the FY23 and FY24 budgets. The Board previously authorized $10M in Phase 1 funding through the FY23 appropriation. Clemson announced the establishment of the state’s first college of veterinary medicine in July. The additional funds enable the University to continue planning and design activities, begin initial site work and to award early release packages for long lead time items such as HVAC equipment, electrical transformers and switchgear, and structural systems.

Initial site work for the College is scheduled to begin in April, with a planned completion for Fall 2026 when, pending accreditation, the University expects to enroll its first class.