Trustees Approve Academic Program Updates, Facilities Projects, and Woodland Cemetery Policy at Fall Quarterly Meetings

At its 2022 Fall Quarterly meetings this week, the Clemson University Board of Trustees approved a number of facilities projects, adopted an updated policy for interment at Woodland Cemetery, and approved tuition schedules for graduate programs during the next academic year. The Board also approved a new Master of Public Health program, a new Department of Interdisciplinary Studies and a name change for the Nieri Department of Construction, Development and Planning.

Clemson President James P. Clements provided a detailed report to the full Board, reviewing the University’s progress on several key items. The president also highlighted a team of bioengineering students who claimed a pair of national titles at the Collegiate Inventors Competition.

The Board adopted an updated policy establishing criteria for future interments at Woodland Cemetery. The policy applies the guiding principles that existing interments will be preserved, and an historic preservation plan put in place that honors and respects all who are buried here.

“This is an important moment in the history of Clemson University as we honor the lives of those who are interred and those whose final resting place will be at Woodland Cemetery,” said Board Chair Kim Wilkerson. “The Board deeply appreciates the understanding of families of modern burials and the descendant community as we conducted research to establish a preservation plan that respects all who are buried at Woodland Cemetery.”

During committee meetings on Thursday and Friday, the Board received reports from the administration on accomplishments during the beginning of the fall semester, updates on ongoing facilities projects, and details about and requests for approval of action items.

The Board also was updated on the implementation of a reorganization of the marketing and communications function of the University, including the renaming of the Division of University Relations to the Division of Marketing and Communications.

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ACTION ITEMS

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

• Creating a new Master of Public Health program in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences (CBSHS) designed to prepare public health professionals to work with rural populations, as well as protect and improve public health. The degree will have two concentrations including Rural & Community Health (RCH) and Outcomes and Quality Improvement (OQI). (Start Date – Fall 2023)
• Establishing a new Department of Interdisciplinary Studies in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities (CAAH) to serve as an academic and administrative home for three existing undergraduate programs, one existing interdisciplinary Ph.D. program, and existing technical writing courses for non-English majors. (Effective Date – July 2023)
• Name change from The Nieri Family Department of Construction Science and Management to The Nieri Department of Construction, Development, and Planning following a reorganization of departments by the college.

CAMPUS FACILITIES  

• Bond resolution to finance a portion of the build and Phase II approval of the 143,000 square foot Advanced Materials Innovation Complex Project, which will address the lack of research space capable of supporting modern research initiatives and help create the next generation of engineers and scientists.
• Phase II approval of the Johnstone/Union Demolition Project, which will save the University $1.6 million per year and create an additional greenspace in core campus as part of the effort to revitalize campus and to improve safety.
• Approval of projects with budgets less than $5 million, which include renovations at the Edisto REC Discovery Heritage Center, improving ADA accessibility, adding sidewalks, lighting, storm drainage and landscaping on the North Lawn area directly behind Cooper Library and renovations to support the Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program.

STRATEGIC PLAN

• The board approved the administration’s recommendation of a new University-wide strategic plan entitled “Clemson Elevate” to be introduced in 2023.

The next quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for Feb. 2-3, 2023.