The View from Sikes
Thoughts from Clemson University’s President
A national championship helps all of us win
Watching the Clemson Tigers win the school’s second football national championship was a moment we will never forget.
Setting a new bar for research and scholarship
As a public, land-grant institution, the responsibility to conduct research for the benefit of South Carolina and beyond is embedded in our foundation — and our future. Every day, faculty, staff and students are working to improve the quality, quantity and impact of our research to foster our position as a world-class research university that […]
Thanks a Billion!
A thank-you note from President James P. Clements.
Marking our History
The next time you visit campus, you may notice some new additions in the form of three historical markers. These markers will commemorate the contributions of Native Americans and African-Americans in the history of our University and the land it occupies. A plaque at the Calhoun Bottoms will commemorate the Native Americans and African-American slaves […]
Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead
Happy New Year from campus. The start of a new year and a new semester is a good time to pause and reflect on the year just completed and look ahead to what comes next. 2015 was a year of many achievements and accomplishments — more than can be listed here. We continue to rank […]
The View from Sikes: Preparing for What Comes Next
A new academic year always brings a sense of renewed optimism and anticipation for what comes next. Preparing for what comes next is — after all — the essence of what universities do. Asking questions, experimenting, creating, debating and thinking deeply and critically — these are essential tools for equipping students to succeed during and […]
The View from Sikes
Building Futures If you’ve been on campus lately, you’ve noticed a lot of construction fences, cranes and re-routed traffic. That’s because Clemson University has embarked on one of the largest campus development projects in at least half a century — maybe in history. We call it Building Futures — a capital improvement plan to ensure […]
My Freshman Year
Many people have asked me what I learned during my “freshman year” at Clemson. Most of what I learned confirmed what I already knew. Our University has world-class faculty, dedicated staff, smart students, loyal alumni, great traditions, a proud history and unlimited potential. In 2014, the rest of the country caught on to this truth […]
The radical ideas and passion that resulted in a university
In my inaugural address at Commencement May 9, I spoke about the upcoming 125th anniversary of the University’s founding. In November 1889, the state of South Carolina officially accepted the terms of Thomas Green Clemson’s will to establish a scientific institution on the grounds of his Fort Hill home. But the story of Clemson University […]
My first semester
My first semester as Clemson’s new president was busy, challenging and so much fun! Like all freshmen, I met thousands of new people and quickly learned my way around campus. My family and I even lived in the Clemson House for the semester. We enjoyed several snow days this winter and loved playing basketball outside […]