Excellent op-ed in USA Today this morning by Gordon Gee regarding the admissions scandal roiling “elitist” campuses. He says “let’s end the rat-race admissions culture” while noting that land-grant institutions offer purpose over prestige. Right on target! You can be elite without being elitist.
The USA Today op-ed can be found here.
South Carolina’s 1862 Land-Grant Institution: Clemson University
http://www.clemson.edu @ClemsonUniv
Founded in 1889 as the Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina. As a result, federal funds for agricultural education from the Morrill Act and the Hatch Act were transferred from South Carolina College (today, the University of South Carolina) to Clemson. In 1964 the school was renamed Clemson University.
President: James P. Clements became the president of Clemson University in 2013. His land-grant bona fides includes his having been president of West Virginia University. @ClemsonPrez
South Carolina’s 1890 Land-Grant Institution: South Carolina State University
http://www.scsu.edu @SCState1896
Founded in 1872 as the South Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical Institute. In 1896, the South Carolina General Assembly established a separate institution known as the Colored Normal Industrial Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina. The school was renamed South Carolina State College in 1954, and then in 1992 became South Carolina State University.
President: James E. Clark became president of South Carolina State University in 2016. His land-grant bona fides includes a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science and a master’s in management and marketing from the land-grant institution MIT. @ScsuPrez
Rhode Island’s 1862 Land-Grant Institution: University of Rhode Island
https://www.uri.edu/ @universityofri
Founded as Rhode Island’s agricultural school and agricultural experiment station in 1888. In 1892, the school was named the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. In 1909, the school’s name was changed to Rhode Island State College. In 1951, the school was given the name University of Rhode Island through an act of the state’s General Assembly.
President: David M. Dooley became president of the University of Rhode Island in 2009. President Dooley’s land-grant credentials include his having served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at the land-grant institution Montana State University, as well as having served as head of the department of chemistry and biochemistry at that same university. Dr. Dooley also earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry through the University of California’s land-grant.
