At its 2022 Summer Quarterly meeting held in Clemson, S.C., this week, the Clemson University Board of Trustees approved the FY23 University budget, gave Phase II approval to a series of facilities projects, and received updates from the administration during committee meetings. The board will conclude its summer meetings with a two-day retreat beginning Friday afternoon.
Clemson President James P. Clements provided a detailed report to the Board, reviewing the University’s accomplishments and initiatives over the past quarter including highlights of 2022 May graduation, the University’s first-ever Rhodes Scholar Louise Franke, research awards, athletics successes and another record year of fundraising.
Record Fundraising Year
Clemson University closed another record-breaking year of philanthropy on June 30, with a total of $210,598,898 raised during fiscal year 2022, topping last year’s total of $202 million. Philanthropic generosity transformed the lives of many by creating 139 new student scholarships, 129 new endowments, multiple resource developments and numerous program expansions in both academics and athletics.
Of the total, $147,815,182 million was in cash, pledges and gifts-in-kind to academics, and 47 planned gifts totaled nearly $18,714,125. Twenty-two gifts of $1 million or more were received, and unrestricted dollar donations reached more than $3.2 million. There were two new Academic Cornerstone gift commitments and three new Athletic Cornerstone gift commitments in FY22. Cornerstone gifts are significant gifts of $2.5 million or more made at one time by an individual.
Budget Approved
The board approved a $1.74 billion budget for the 2023 fiscal year. The FY23 Budget represents an increase from the FY22 Budget, and the administration noted the importance of remaining intentional about expense control.
Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations Tony Wagner and Chief Financial Officer Rick Petillo shared that the University is undergoing a multi-year budget transformation. During this second year, the University will adopt analytical tools and framework to realign budgeting practices with an actuals-based view of expenditures.
The Compensation Committee within the Board of Trustees approved the president’s recommendations of promotions for several senior leaders:
- Max Allen was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff.
- Angie Leidinger was promoted to Senior Vice President External Affairs.
- Amy Lawton-Rauh was promoted to Senior Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs.
- Rick Petillo was promoted to Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Also, the board gave final approval for a series of facilities projects, including continued updates to core campus.
Athletics Academic Achievements
Director of Athletics Graham Neff provided an update on student-athlete academic achievements of the 2021-22 academic year, including a Spring Semester in which Clemson student-athletes recorded a 3.20 cumulative GPA.
Additional athletic academic accomplishments included:
- Clemson’s 411 undergraduate student-athletes earned a 3.18, and 38 graduate students earned a 3.52.
- 321 student-athletes earned a 3.0 or better, and 73 individuals earned a 4.0.
- Twelve of fifteen programs earned a cumulative 3.0 or better, with seven women’s programs earning marks of 3.30 or higher.
- Ten Clemson programs set or tied multi-year records in the NCAA’s Graduate Success Rate, including six perfect 1,000 multi-year scores, and 14 single-year scores at 1,000.
- Baseball, Men’s Cross Country, Football, Men’s Golf, Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Golf, Softball and Women’s Tennis were each among the top ten percent in their sport, which historically has earned a Public Recognition Award.
- The football program’s 999 multi-year score matched the highest among Division I Power Five institutions in this data release and was tied for second behind only Columbia University.
Continued Research Ascension
Vice President for Research Tanju Karanfil updated the board on Clemson researchers continued efforts to lift the research enterprise in fiscal year 2022. Based on research metrics through May:
- Total research expenditures reached $237 million, a Clemson record.
- Proposal submissions were $786 million as faculty continue to pursue new projects.
- Researchers from across Clemson’s academic enterprise are contributing. The list of the highest competitive grants received in the past quarter include faculty from nursing, agriculture, sociology, engineering and science.
ACTION ITEMS
CAMPUS FACILITIES
- Phase II approval of the Bryan Mall High Rise Renovation Project and bond resolution to finance a portion of the project, which allows the University to move forward with the $52.35 million renovation of Byrnes Hall
- Phase II approval of the Lehotsky Hall Replacement Project and the bond resolution to finance the $50 million project, which will provide the Forestry and Environmental Conservation a functional facility with the adjacent Hunnicutt Creek and nearby trees providing an “outdoor laboratory.”
ATHLETICS FACILITIES
- Phase II approval of the $37 million Women’s Sports Program Expansion and the bond resolution to finance a portion of the project, which will provide two new athletic facilities, a 21,000 square-foot facility for women’s gymnastics and a 9,000 square-foot facility, an artificial turf field and stadium seating for women’s lacrosse.
The next quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for October 20-21, 2022.