Clemson President Highlights Fall Semester Accomplishments

Clemson University President James F. Barker closed the fall semester Wednesday with a look back at some highlights from the first half of the academic year and a look ahead to 2013.

Barker spoke at the December general faculty meeting along with Provost Dori Helms.

Among the accomplishments in the semester, Barker noted that:

• Work was completed on the new Life Sciences building, which will be dedicated in February;
• Clemson implemented the second year of the five-year compensation plan, which is part of the 2020 Road Map goal to recruit and retain top people;
• Clemson will begin advertising in January that it is recruiting 100 new tenured and tenure-track faculty positions support high-quality undergraduate education and to build research in strategic focus areas identified in the 2020 Road Map.

Referring to recent homicides that touched Clemson and Newtown Conn., Barker said student safety is a top priority for the university and nation and we must review efforts to keep them safe from harm. With a mission to confront, research and solve problems and a spirit of public service based on its land-grant heritage, Clemson has a role to play in the search for answers and solutions. 

Four Clemson faculty and staff members received awards at the meeting:

• The Thomas Green Clemson Award for Excellence was presented to Sandy Edge, director of the College of Business and Behavioral Science Academic Advising Center, and to Robert Horton, professor of secondary mathematics education in the Eugene T. Moore School of Education.
• The Ralph D. Elliott Endowed Award for Outstanding Service to Off-Campus, Distance and Continuing Education was presented to Elham Makram, South Carolina Electric and Gas Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
• The Rowland P. Alston Sr. Award for Excellence in Public Relations went to Bob Polomski, environmental horticulture specialist in the School of Agriculture, Forest and Environmental Sciences.