Working with faculty, staff, students, trustees, deans and friends of the university, we are beginning to see the first draft of that blueprint take shape. Our overarching goal is for Clemson to be one of the top 20 public universities in the country by 2010. We believe South Carolina needs and deserves a top-tier university with strong academic programs that produce talented and capable graduates, research that supports economic development, and public service activities that improve the quality of life for our citizens. Achieving these goals will require planning, creativity and financial resources. Our planning process has included a series of summits and town meetings, as well as a master planning and space utilization study, all of which dovetail nicely with our ongoing reaccreditation self-study.
Creativity is abundant on campus.
Obtaining adequate resources will be our greatest challenge. I am convinced that Clemson is up to the challenge. There is a sense of optimism and enthusiasm on campus that is contagious. Considering that TIME Magazine has recently named Clemson its Public College of the Year, we have no reason to doubt that a top-20 national ranking is within our grasp.