History of Clemson University in Timeline

Clemson University is a public land-grant research university located near Clemson, South Carolina, established in 1889. As the second-largest university in South Carolina by enrollment, it had 22,875 undergraduate and 5,872 graduate students in the fall 2023 semester. The student/faculty ratio is 15:1.

1902: Student Walkout and Hartzog's Resignation

In 1902, a large student walkout due to rigid military discipline led to heightened tensions between students and faculty, resulting in the resignation of Clemson President Henry Hartzog. Patrick Mell then succeeded Hartzog.

1907: Establishment of TAPS Yearbook

In 1907, TAPS Yearbook was established after members of the Clemson College Chronicle wanted to publish a new book printed annually.

1907: Founding of The Tiger Newspaper

In 1907, The Tiger, the oldest student-run newspaper in South Carolina, was founded.

1910: Mell's Resignation

In 1910, Patrick Mell resigned from his position as president of Clemson.

1910: Walter Riggs Becomes President

In 1910, Walter Riggs, formerly the Clemson Tigers football coach, became the president of Clemson, following Mell's resignation, serving until 1924.

1914: Construction of Holtzendorff Hall

In 1914, Holtzendorff Hall, originally the Holzendorff YMCA, was built, designed by Rudolph E. Lee, a member of Clemson's first graduating class in 1896.

1914: Beginning of Clemson Homecoming Tradition

In 1914, the Clemson Homecoming tradition began and has been held annually at Clemson University ever since.

1915: Dedication of Riggs Field

In 1915, Riggs Field was dedicated in honor of Walter Riggs, and it became the home field for the Clemson Tigers men's soccer team.

1915: Clemson Tigers Football Team Played on Riggs Field

The Clemson Tigers football team had played on Riggs Field since 1915.

1917: Formation of ROTC

In 1917, Clemson established a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).

May 1918: ROTC Cadets Gather in Plattsburgh, New York

In May 1918, a group of Clemson ROTC cadets was asked to sing the school's song at a gathering of ROTC cadets in Plattsburgh, New York, but they were unable to do so, as Clemson had no song at the time.

1918: Formation of Student Army Training Corps

In 1918, a Student Army Training Corps was formed at Clemson.

February 17, 1919: First Performance of the Alma Mater

On February 17, 1919, the Clemson Glee Club first performed the Clemson University alma mater, with words written by A.C. Corcoran set to the melody of Annie Lisle.

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1919: Riggs' Army Commission and Earle as Acting President

In 1919, Walter Riggs accepted a six-month army educational commission overseas in France, leaving Samuel Earle as acting president of Clemson.

March 10, 1920: Student Walkout Protesting Military Discipline

On March 10, 1920, a student walkout occurred at Clemson protesting "prison camp" style military discipline. This event led to the establishment of a Department of Student Affairs.

January 22, 1924: Death of Walter Riggs

On January 22, 1924, Walter Riggs, who had been the president of Clemson, died during a business trip to Washington, D.C. following which Samuel Earle became acting president.

October 1924: Student Walkout Over Food and Discipline

In October 1924, approximately 500 students staged a walkout in response to the rejection of demands for improved food quality, the dismissal of the mess officer, and the reinstatement of the senior class president. As a consequence, 23 students were expelled, and 112 were suspended.

April 1, 1925: Fire Destroys Agricultural Building

On April 1, 1925, a fire destroyed the interior of Clemson's agricultural building along with its research projects and an agricultural museum. The exterior was preserved and later Sikes Hall was constructed to hold the library from Tillman Hall.

May 27, 1926: Fire Destroys Mechanical Hall

On May 27, 1926, Mechanical Hall was destroyed by a fire. The present-day Freeman Hall was constructed as the reconstructed shop building.

1927: Clemson Receives Accreditation

In 1927, Clemson received accreditation from the Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges of the Southern States.

1928: Establishment of Riggs Hall

In 1928, Riggs Hall was established to honor Walter Riggs.

1936: Start of Large Expansion Period

A large expansion period began in 1936 and continued into 1938 during which eight new buildings were constructed at Clemson.

1938: Continuation of Large Expansion Period

The large expansion period that began in 1936 continued into 1938, resulting in the construction of eight new buildings at Clemson.

1940: Robert Poole Becomes President

In 1940, Robert Poole became the first Clemson alumnus to serve as president of the university.

September 19, 1942: Opening of Memorial Stadium

On September 19, 1942, Memorial Stadium was formally opened as the new stadium for the Clemson Tigers football team. The team had previously played on Riggs Field since 1915.

1943: Historical Low Graduation Rate

In 1943, due to World War II, Clemson had a historical low of only 343 graduates.

May 5, 1947: Robert E. Farmer Wins Melody Contest

On May 5, 1947, Clemson University's school newspaper "The Tiger" announced Robert E. Farmer of Anderson, South Carolina, a member of the glee club at the time, as the winner of a Tiger Brotherhood sponsored contest to have Clemson students compose a unique melody for the alma mater.

1953: Clemson Joins the ACC

In 1953, Clemson University joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for all sports, beginning with the 1953-54 season.

July 1955: Restructuring into Nine Colleges

In July 1955, Clemson's four schools—Agriculture, Arts & Sciences, Engineering, and Textiles—were transformed into nine colleges: Architecture, Arts and Sciences, Liberal Arts, Sciences, Commerce and Industry, Education, Engineering, Forestry and Recreation Resources, and Nursing.

1955: Transition to Civilian Status

In 1955, Clemson Agricultural College transitioned to a civilian status, ending its all-white male military school tradition.

1955: Clemson Admitted White Women

In 1955, Clemson transitioned to a 'civilian' status for students and began admitting white women to the university. The university was still segregated at the time.

1957: First Tigerama

Since 1957, Clemson has held "Tigerama" on the Friday night of homecoming week.

1958: WSBF-FM Founded

In 1958, WSBF-FM was founded at Clemson University.

April 1, 1960: WSBF-FM First Broadcast

On April 1, 1960, WSBF-FM made its first broadcast, featuring mostly agriculture education shows and classical music.

1962: Lake Hartwell Formation

In 1962, the dam that formed Lake Hartwell, which borders the Clemson campus, was completed.

1962: Founding of Honors College

The Clemson University Honors College was founded in 1962 and originally named for John C. Calhoun.

1963: First African-American Student Admitted

In 1963, Harvey Gantt became the first African-American student to be admitted to Clemson University. He later became the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina.

1964: Clemson Renamed Clemson University

In 1964, the institution was officially renamed Clemson University, reflecting the state legislature's recognition of its expanded academic programs and research endeavors.

July 21, 1970: Introduction of the Tiger Paw Logo

On July 21, 1970, the Tiger Paw became the official logo for Clemson University, replacing the previous tiger logo. The logo was created by John Antonio and developed by Helen Weaver of Henderson Advertising.

1970: End of Expansion Period

An expansion period that began in the late 1950s and continued through 1970 resulted in the construction of no fewer than 25 buildings, most in a similar architectural style.

1970: Alteration of Farmer's Melody

In 1970, Robert E. Farmer's melody for the alma mater was slightly altered.

1974: First Friday Parade Begins

The First Friday Parade has been held on the Friday before the first home football game every year since 1974.

1985: Highest Attendance at First Friday Parade

In 1985, the First Friday Parade had its highest attendance when accompanying CBS commentators were the Grand Marshals.

1994: Creation of Clemson Cable Network

In 1994, Tigervision, Clemson's student-run TV station, was created under the name Clemson Cable Network (CCN) by students at WSBF-FM.

1995: Consolidation into Five Colleges

In 1995, Clemson University's nine colleges were condensed into five: Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences; Architecture, Arts, and Humanities; Business and Behavioral Science; Engineering and Science; Health, Education, and Human Development.

1995: Formation of CECAS

In 1995, the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS) was formed, combining the engineering disciplines with the chemistry, computer science, geological science, mathematical science, and physics and astronomy departments.

1999: C-4 Pershing Rifles Win National Drill Meet

In 1999, the C-4 Pershing Rifles won the national society's drill meet.

2003: C-4 Pershing Rifles Win National Drill Meet

In 2003, the C-4 Pershing Rifles won the national society's drill meet.

2004: C-4 Pershing Rifles Win National Drill Meet

In 2004, the C-4 Pershing Rifles won the national society's drill meet.

2004: Founding of the Charleston Innovation Campus

In 2004, the Charleston Innovation Campus in North Charleston was founded as the Restoration Institute.

2005: AAS Squadron National Headquarters & C-4 Pershing Rifles Win

In 2005, Clemson University's AAS squadron was selected to be the home of the Arnold Air Society's National Headquarters for the 2005-2006 year, and the C-4 Pershing Rifles won the national society's drill meet.

2006: AAS Squadron National Headquarters & C-4 Pershing Rifles Win

In 2006, Clemson University's AAS squadron was selected to be the home of the Arnold Air Society's National Headquarters for the 2006-2007 year, and the C-4 Pershing Rifles won the national society's drill meet.

2007: Reorganization of CCN into Clemson Television

In 2007, Clemson Cable Network (CCN) was reorganized into Clemson Television and began to produce student comedy shows and air public domain films.

2007: AAS Squadron National Headquarters

In 2007, Clemson University's AAS squadron was the home of the Arnold Air Society's National Headquarters.

2008: C-4 Pershing Rifles Win National Drill Meet

In 2008, the C-4 Pershing Rifles won the national society's drill meet.

2009: C-4 Pershing Rifles Win National Drill Meet

In 2009, the C-4 Pershing Rifles won the national society's drill meet.

2009: Restoration of Alma Mater's Original Tune

In 2009, the original tune of Clemson University's alma mater, composed by Robert E. Farmer, was restored.

2011: C-4 Pershing Rifles Win National Drill Meet

In 2011, the C-4 Pershing Rifles won the national society's drill meet.

2013: Establishment of CU-ICAR

In 2013, the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) was established in Greenville as a center for automotive research and innovation.

2013: Opening of the Dominion Energy Innovation Center

In 2013, the Dominion Energy Innovation Center opened at the Charleston Innovation Campus, housing a 7.5MW and a 15MW offshore wind turbine test facility.

July 14, 2014: Eugene T. Moore School of Education Becomes Sixth College

On July 14, 2014, the Eugene T. Moore School of Education separated from the College of Health, Education, and Human Development, becoming Clemson's sixth college.

2014: CTV Renamed Tigervision

In 2014, Clemson Television (CTV) was renamed Tigervision to coincide with its switch to high-definition broadcasting.

2014: Establishment of The Pendulum Magazine

In 2014, The Pendulum, a student-run international affairs magazine, was established at Clemson University.

2015: Protests Against Naming Tillman Hall After Ben Tillman

In 2015, students protested against Tillman Hall being named after Ben Tillman, a white supremacist. The board of trustees voted against renaming the building at that time.

2015: Automotive Engineering Department Ranking

In 2015, the department of Automotive Engineering at CU-ICAR was ranked tenth in the world.

July 1, 2016: Academic Reorganization Creates Seven New Colleges

On July 1, 2016, an academic reorganization at Clemson University created seven new colleges: College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities; College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences; College of Business; College of Education (including the Eugene T. Moore School of Education); College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences; and College of Science.

2016: Partnership with Siemens

In 2016, Clemson announced a new partnership with Siemens, including a grant with a total value of $357,224,294. This grant, the largest in the school's history, provides students in Clemson's College of Engineering, Computing, and Applied Sciences access to new software.

2016: Opening of the Zucker Family Graduate Education Center

In 2016, Clemson opened the Zucker Family Graduate Education Center, a 70,000 sq. ft. facility that is home to graduate programs in digital arts and engineering disciplines.

2016: Princeton Review Ranks Clemson Number One in Three Categories

In 2016, The Princeton Review ranked Clemson University number one in three categories: Student Career Services, Town-Gown Relations, and Students pack the stadium.

2017: Greek Life Involvement

In 2017, 15% of men and 31% of women were involved in Greek life at Clemson, out of 19,825 undergraduate students. The mean GPA of each sorority was above the all-university mean, despite a 2.7 required GPA to join Greek life.

2017: C-4 Pershing Rifles Win National Drill Meet

In 2017, the C-4 Pershing Rifles won the national society's drill meet.

2017: Final Edition of TAPS Yearbook

The end of the 2017-18 academic year marked the final edition of the TAPS Yearbook.

2018: Class of 2022 Enrollment

In 2018, Clemson University received 28,845 applications for the Class of 2022, accepting 13,613 (47.2%) and enrolling 3,792 students. The enrolled freshmen had SAT scores ranging from 610–690 for reading and writing, and 610–710 for math, with an ACT composite score range of 27–32, and an average high school GPA of 4.43.

2019: Reintegration of Student Media Outlets

In 2019, Clemson University's five student-operated media outlets reintegrated as a component of the university, guided by faculty advisor and director of student media Wanda Johnson.

June 12, 2020: Trustees Petition to Rename Tillman Hall

On June 12, 2020, Clemson University trustees petitioned the state legislature for authorization to rename Tillman Hall, named after "Pitchfork" Ben Tillman.

October 2020: College of Business Renamed

In October 2020, after receiving a $60 million gift from Wilbur and Ann Powers, the College of Business was renamed the Wilbur O. and Ann Power College of Business. It was the first college to be named in the university's history.

2020: Dissolution of Men's Track and Field and Cross Country Teams

In 2020, university officials decided to dissolve its Men's Track and Field and Cross Country teams at the end of the academic year.

2020: Campus Area as a Census-Designated Place

In the 2020 Census, the Clemson campus area appeared as a census-designated place (CDP) with a population of 7,311.

2020: Petition to Remove Ben Tillman's Name from Tillman Hall

In the summer of 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, the Clemson trustees petitioned the state legislature to remove Ben Tillman's name from Tillman Hall, restoring the original name ("Old Main"). The honors program, previously named after John C. Calhoun, was also renamed at the same time.

April 22, 2021: Reversal of Decision to Dissolve Men's Track and Field and Cross Country Teams

On April 22, 2021, following pressure from state officials, Clemson University reversed its decision to dissolve its Men's Track and Field and Cross Country teams. The university followed this by announcing the additions of women's lacrosse and gymnastics.

2021: Class of 2025 Enrolled

In the fall of 2021, 4,589 students enrolled in Clemson's Class of 2025, representing a yield rate of 19.8%.

2022: U.S. News & World Report Ranking

In 2022, the annual ranking of U.S. News & World Report categorized Clemson as 'more selective'.

2022: Class of 2022

The Class of 2022 at Clemson University are completing their studies, having enrolled in Fall 2018.

2023: College of Business Ranked Among Top Schools

In 2023, The Princeton Review ranked the College of Business among the top schools in its Best Business Schools and Best Business Schools (Southeast) lists. The college is also listed on the Best Online MBA Programs.

2023: Founding of the College of Arts and Humanities (CAH)

In 2023, the College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) was founded, comprising six departments: English, History and Geography, Interdisciplinary Studies, Languages, Performing Arts, and Philosophy and Religion.

2023: Clemson Enrollment and Student/Faculty Ratio

In the fall of 2023, Clemson University enrolled 22,875 undergraduate students and 5,872 graduate students. The student/faculty ratio was 15:1.

2024: College of Business Ranking

As of 2024, U.S. News and World Report ranks the college #98 in Best Business Schools and #56 in Part-time MBA.

April 2025: No Changes Made Toward Renaming Tillman Hall

As of April 2025, no changes have been made toward renaming Tillman Hall.

2025: Class of 2025 Application Statistics

For the Class of 2025, which enrolled in the fall of 2021, Clemson received 47,007 applications and accepted 23,138 (49.2%).

2025: U.S. News & World Report Ranking

In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked Clemson University as tied for the 80th best national university in the U.S. overall and tied for the 39th top public school.

2025: Standardized Test Scores for Enrolled First-Year Class

The enrolled first-year class of 2025 had the following standardized test scores: the middle 50% range (25th percentile – 75th percentile) of SAT scores was 1240–1400, while the middle 50% range of ACT scores was 27–32.