(08-12-2015 11:41 AM)rokamortis Wrote:  

(08-12-2015 10:16 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  Strictly my opinion: in order for HBU's to survive, they'll have to eventually proclaim a purpose that extends beyond higher education for black decedents of slaves.

I don't recall seeing that exact definition, but they are a niche organization just like an all women's college, a military college, etc. Their history and service is commendable and were the only option to many students at the time. In this day and age it is up to the students to decide if this type of institution is important to them - if so then the school should be excelling. If not, then they may need to look at a different mission or perhaps even closing.

SCSU is having major problems because their admin wouldn't make a balanced budget in times of declining enrollment. Now they are - but are making huge budget cuts. They are trying to stay DI - but that may mean playing 3 FBS schools in 2016.

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20.../150809378

I used that term because simply using "African-Americans" has lost the context it used it have.

In Minneapolis, for example, there is a sizeable community of people who have immigrated from Somalia, Ethiopia, etc. These people are, factually, African-Americans. And they are black skinned.


But they are clearly not the decedents of black skinned, African peoples who were made to work as slaves on plantations in the southern states many years ago.

And I would suspect that the "black community" does not accept them as belonging to their community. Could be completely wrong about that, though.

(08-12-2015 10:31 AM)mufanatehc Wrote:  

(08-12-2015 09:37 AM)mikeinsec127 Wrote:  

(08-12-2015 09:09 AM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  

(08-12-2015 08:19 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(08-12-2015 06:53 AM)rokamortis Wrote:  And I think the alumni backlash would be huge...

Irony of ironies when some of these places are barely surviving.

I'm looking at Delaware State for any Big South movement...the travel becomes easier, all the sports can move there, and DSU has been trying to diversify itself from the perceived limitations HBCU connotes with schools. I think this is now or never for them, really.

I bet you'll see more and more HBCU's close in the next few years. Here in NC we have St. Augustine, Fayetteville State, Elizabeth City State, and Shaw that are all having problems. NC Central and NC A&T have a good base but the smaller schools are just hanging on.

I have always thought Elizabeth City and Fay State should become part of ECU and just become schools for people living in the OBX and Fayetteville who may not want to move to Greenville and can take night classes etc. and students who do not need the big school experience. Just have undergrad their with no sports and keep cost down.

I'm a little surprised that some of the smaller state HBC haven't been absorbed by larger state U's already.
Del St is in a unique position to transform itself from just another HBC, into a truly second state school for Del. It is trying very hard to broaden its student body. I think it sees that in order to survive and thrive as a D1, it needs to bring in more diverse students. If not, U of Wilmington will pass it by.

WilmU's already passed it. They have 19,000 students with 6,900 on their main campus, whereas Del St only has 4,600 students.

Size wise yes. I was referring to sports and academics and the ability to claim itself as Delaware's other state school (although UD is actually a land grant). Alla VT or NCS, or at least Marshal. Bigger doesn't necessarily define pecking order. Should Del St be able to evolve beyond being a HBC, it faces the unique situation of claiming itself as such. No other HBC - not even Tenn St - could create that scenario of seizing the undisputed #2 spot for itself.

DSU has only had the "U" thing in their name for like 20 years. It was DSC until the 90's.

Nothing really propels DSU further into the reputation game until it gets a medical school.

I think that if Coastal leaves the Big South, they'd go with a school like Augusta State or maybe Armstrong Atlantic State.

(08-12-2015 02:47 PM)sctvman Wrote:  I think that if Coastal leaves the Big South, they'd go with a school like Augusta State or maybe Armstrong Atlantic State.

Georgia Regents

(08-12-2015 02:47 PM)sctvman Wrote:  I think that if Coastal leaves the Big South, they'd go with a school like Augusta State or maybe Armstrong Atlantic State.

It is just Armstrong State now.

I've heard Georgia Regents may want DI - haven't heard the same about Armstrong. Any rumblings there?

(08-12-2015 10:27 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(08-11-2015 10:03 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Since there seem to be three candidates for the Sun Belt (Eastern Kentucky, Coastal Carolina, New Mexico State), how do you see other conferences backfilling any vacancies?

If it's just Coastal Carolina, I could see the Big South being content to remain at 10 members for all sports. This would only give them 6 for football, one of which (Monmouth) is an associate, but the Big South lives another day in FCS. The Big South could try to get Campbell to move its football program over from the Pioneer League, but I'm not sure if the school is in position to add football scholarships.

Eastern Kentucky may be the most interesting departure. They sit squarely within the OVC footprint, and the OVC would probably want a FCS program to keep the 9/12 alignment intact. Would they go after a school like Kennesaw State, threatening both the Big South as a football conference, and the Atlantic Sun as a whole? Can ETSU or Chattanooga be taken from the SoCon? Would the OVC be content with 8 football members and possibly even triple down in Nashville with Lipscomb?

New Mexico State leaving the WAC will be the most damaging of the three potential departures. The WAC would be down to seven members, and Grand Canyon's last transitional year is the 2016-17 season. This would allow the WAC to survive the grace period, if no one else leaves. Would the WAC would go after schools around UMKC and Chicago State to build a viable Midwestern core? Does it work with the Big Sky and rebuild itself as an FCS league? Are there are any Southland schools that can be poached? Does the WAC get lucky and find itself with a school playing only football in the Big 12? Are any schools willing to move from Division II?

Big South is used to being on the low end of football members. Liberty can't go FBS, for now.

OVC should call up Morehead St from the Pioneer (with allowances for scholarships) and then send Eastern Illinois to the Summit/MVFC. That gives them 8/10.

WAC ... not sure what to say there. None of the teams in it really want to be there.

Morehead doesn't seem to be interested in going back to scholarship football. EIU move to the OVC from the MVFC so I'm not sure they desire to go back there. The one school the OVC has flirted with over the last couple of years has been Northern Alabama. Not sure the direction of the OVC where it comes to football. Seems to be more of a basketball oriented conference now.

The ovc's public statement about adding schools was that they would only add currently d1 schools. Which ruled out tuna. But speaking for Jax st. And anyone who cares about ovc football TUNA is the answer.

(08-12-2015 08:28 PM)cleburneslim Wrote:  The ovc's public statement about adding schools was that they would only add currently d1 schools. Which ruled out tuna. But speaking for Jax st. And anyone who cares about ovc football TUNA is the answer.

You don't think the OVC would go for Kennesaw?

(08-12-2015 08:28 PM)cleburneslim Wrote:  The ovc's public statement about adding schools was that they would only add currently d1 schools. Which ruled out tuna. But speaking for Jax st. And anyone who cares about ovc football TUNA is the answer.

The problem with that is that there is not many schools in D1 that would move to join. So, D2 schools seem to be the answer. Belmont Abbey could move up, plus they are thinking of adding football. I wonder if more schools that move up from D2 could wind up making an BBS and BCS like FBS and FCS version for basketball?

(08-11-2015 10:03 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Eastern Kentucky may be the most interesting departure. They sit squarely within the OVC footprint, and the OVC would probably want a FCS program to keep the 9/12 alignment intact. Would they go after a school like Kennesaw State, threatening both the Big South as a football conference, and the Atlantic Sun as a whole? Can ETSU or Chattanooga be taken from the SoCon? Would the OVC be content with 8 football members and possibly even triple down in Nashville with Lipscomb?

Doubtful. Rumor is the OVC approached Chattanooga before the SoCon added Samford and was unable to get them to move. Now with Samford and ETSU in the SoCon I don't see where the OVC is that much more desirable.

(08-12-2015 11:41 AM)rokamortis Wrote:  I don't recall seeing that exact definition, but they are a niche organization just like an all women's college, a military college, etc. Their history and service is commendable and were the only option to many students at the time. In this day and age it is up to the students to decide if this type of institution is important to them - if so then the school should be excelling. If not, then they may need to look at a different mission or perhaps even closing.

SCSU is having major problems because their admin wouldn't make a balanced budget in times of declining enrollment. Now they are - but are making huge budget cuts. They are trying to stay DI - but that may mean playing 3 FBS schools in 2016.

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20.../150809378

I doubt that SC State is going to be able to survive as a stand-alone university. With their mission and academic focus they should have already started merger discussions with Clemson as they stand a better chance of keeping at least some of their identity with Clemson than they would be able to keep as USC-Orangeburg.

(08-13-2015 08:31 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(08-11-2015 10:03 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Eastern Kentucky may be the most interesting departure. They sit squarely within the OVC footprint, and the OVC would probably want a FCS program to keep the 9/12 alignment intact. Would they go after a school like Kennesaw State, threatening both the Big South as a football conference, and the Atlantic Sun as a whole? Can ETSU or Chattanooga be taken from the SoCon? Would the OVC be content with 8 football members and possibly even triple down in Nashville with Lipscomb?

Doubtful. Rumor is the OVC approached Chattanooga before the SoCon added Samford and was unable to get them to move. Now with Samford and ETSU in the SoCon I don't see where the OVC is that much more desirable.

(08-12-2015 11:41 AM)rokamortis Wrote:  I don't recall seeing that exact definition, but they are a niche organization just like an all women's college, a military college, etc. Their history and service is commendable and were the only option to many students at the time. In this day and age it is up to the students to decide if this type of institution is important to them - if so then the school should be excelling. If not, then they may need to look at a different mission or perhaps even closing.

SCSU is having major problems because their admin wouldn't make a balanced budget in times of declining enrollment. Now they are - but are making huge budget cuts. They are trying to stay DI - but that may mean playing 3 FBS schools in 2016.

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20.../150809378

I doubt that SC State is going to be able to survive as a stand-alone university. With their mission and academic focus they should have already started merger discussions with Clemson as they stand a better chance of keeping at least some of their identity with Clemson than they would be able to keep as USC-Orangeburg.

That might make sense if they had an agriculture college. But it doesn't even look like Clemson has a system of campuses.

USC - O might be the most reasonable, if they wanted to join up with USC.


But their appear to be a few stand-alone four-year public schools in SC, like Coastal, Winthrop, Lander.

Who really knows what UTC wanted. Some time back, they were considered by SBC. When they were oggling OVC, they sounded like they wanted a bus league. Two totally different worlds right there.

There might be some tension still between members of SoCon that might cause others to look around, and maybe UTC could be among those that would, but I think it would have to be both UTC and ETSU...but at what point would OVC say they had more than enough real estate in Tennessee?

Would Gardner Webb be an option?

(08-12-2015 07:23 PM)EKUSteve Wrote:  

(08-12-2015 10:27 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(08-11-2015 10:03 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Since there seem to be three candidates for the Sun Belt (Eastern Kentucky, Coastal Carolina, New Mexico State), how do you see other conferences backfilling any vacancies?

If it's just Coastal Carolina, I could see the Big South being content to remain at 10 members for all sports. This would only give them 6 for football, one of which (Monmouth) is an associate, but the Big South lives another day in FCS. The Big South could try to get Campbell to move its football program over from the Pioneer League, but I'm not sure if the school is in position to add football scholarships.

Eastern Kentucky may be the most interesting departure. They sit squarely within the OVC footprint, and the OVC would probably want a FCS program to keep the 9/12 alignment intact. Would they go after a school like Kennesaw State, threatening both the Big South as a football conference, and the Atlantic Sun as a whole? Can ETSU or Chattanooga be taken from the SoCon? Would the OVC be content with 8 football members and possibly even triple down in Nashville with Lipscomb?

New Mexico State leaving the WAC will be the most damaging of the three potential departures. The WAC would be down to seven members, and Grand Canyon's last transitional year is the 2016-17 season. This would allow the WAC to survive the grace period, if no one else leaves. Would the WAC would go after schools around UMKC and Chicago State to build a viable Midwestern core? Does it work with the Big Sky and rebuild itself as an FCS league? Are there are any Southland schools that can be poached? Does the WAC get lucky and find itself with a school playing only football in the Big 12? Are any schools willing to move from Division II?

Big South is used to being on the low end of football members. Liberty can't go FBS, for now.

OVC should call up Morehead St from the Pioneer (with allowances for scholarships) and then send Eastern Illinois to the Summit/MVFC. That gives them 8/10.

WAC ... not sure what to say there. None of the teams in it really want to be there.

Morehead doesn't seem to be interested in going back to scholarship football. EIU move to the OVC from the MVFC so I'm not sure they desire to go back there. The one school the OVC has flirted with over the last couple of years has been Northern Alabama. Not sure the direction of the OVC where it comes to football. Seems to be more of a basketball oriented conference now.

Well I was trying to say that the OVC could allow Morehead to play in the league without offering scholarships, at first. Then they could ease into having some number.

Something like what Austin Peay did, I guess.


EIU left the Gateway and MidCon in 1996 to join the OVC all-sports, true. I think if they were given the opportunity now to join the MVFC and Summit, and be with in-state Illinois rivals, they would do that. They're more competitive now (in football).

(08-13-2015 10:07 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(08-13-2015 08:31 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(08-11-2015 10:03 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Eastern Kentucky may be the most interesting departure. They sit squarely within the OVC footprint, and the OVC would probably want a FCS program to keep the 9/12 alignment intact. Would they go after a school like Kennesaw State, threatening both the Big South as a football conference, and the Atlantic Sun as a whole? Can ETSU or Chattanooga be taken from the SoCon? Would the OVC be content with 8 football members and possibly even triple down in Nashville with Lipscomb?

Doubtful. Rumor is the OVC approached Chattanooga before the SoCon added Samford and was unable to get them to move. Now with Samford and ETSU in the SoCon I don't see where the OVC is that much more desirable.

(08-12-2015 11:41 AM)rokamortis Wrote:  I don't recall seeing that exact definition, but they are a niche organization just like an all women's college, a military college, etc. Their history and service is commendable and were the only option to many students at the time. In this day and age it is up to the students to decide if this type of institution is important to them - if so then the school should be excelling. If not, then they may need to look at a different mission or perhaps even closing.

SCSU is having major problems because their admin wouldn't make a balanced budget in times of declining enrollment. Now they are - but are making huge budget cuts. They are trying to stay DI - but that may mean playing 3 FBS schools in 2016.

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20.../150809378

I doubt that SC State is going to be able to survive as a stand-alone university. With their mission and academic focus they should have already started merger discussions with Clemson as they stand a better chance of keeping at least some of their identity with Clemson than they would be able to keep as USC-Orangeburg.

That might make sense if they had an agriculture college. But it doesn't even look like Clemson has a system of campuses.

USC - O might be the most reasonable, if they wanted to join up with USC.


But their appear to be a few stand-alone four-year public schools in SC, like Coastal, Winthrop, Lander.

But he's right. I hadn't thought of it previously but Clemson would likely be a much better solution since they share many of the same academic interests. If they became a system school of USC then they'd just be another cog in the machine. Clemson could actually help SCSU strengthen its programs with expertise, provide experiential learning opportunities, and a path to research that would never be an option with SC.

(08-13-2015 10:31 AM)rokamortis Wrote:  

(08-13-2015 10:07 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(08-13-2015 08:31 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(08-11-2015 10:03 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Eastern Kentucky may be the most interesting departure. They sit squarely within the OVC footprint, and the OVC would probably want a FCS program to keep the 9/12 alignment intact. Would they go after a school like Kennesaw State, threatening both the Big South as a football conference, and the Atlantic Sun as a whole? Can ETSU or Chattanooga be taken from the SoCon? Would the OVC be content with 8 football members and possibly even triple down in Nashville with Lipscomb?

Doubtful. Rumor is the OVC approached Chattanooga before the SoCon added Samford and was unable to get them to move. Now with Samford and ETSU in the SoCon I don't see where the OVC is that much more desirable.

(08-12-2015 11:41 AM)rokamortis Wrote:  I don't recall seeing that exact definition, but they are a niche organization just like an all women's college, a military college, etc. Their history and service is commendable and were the only option to many students at the time. In this day and age it is up to the students to decide if this type of institution is important to them - if so then the school should be excelling. If not, then they may need to look at a different mission or perhaps even closing.

SCSU is having major problems because their admin wouldn't make a balanced budget in times of declining enrollment. Now they are - but are making huge budget cuts. They are trying to stay DI - but that may mean playing 3 FBS schools in 2016.

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20.../150809378

I doubt that SC State is going to be able to survive as a stand-alone university. With their mission and academic focus they should have already started merger discussions with Clemson as they stand a better chance of keeping at least some of their identity with Clemson than they would be able to keep as USC-Orangeburg.

That might make sense if they had an agriculture college. But it doesn't even look like Clemson has a system of campuses.

USC - O might be the most reasonable, if they wanted to join up with USC.


But their appear to be a few stand-alone four-year public schools in SC, like Coastal, Winthrop, Lander.

But he's right. I hadn't thought of it previously but Clemson would likely be a much better solution since they share many of the same academic interests. If they became a system school of USC then they'd just be another cog in the machine. Clemson could actually help SCSU strengthen its programs with expertise, provide experiential learning opportunities, and a path to research that would never be an option with SC.

Or SCSU could remain an independent four-year institution. What would be wrong with simply doing that, and then marketing itself as a school for everyone in SC?

Clemson's only area of expertise that USC doesn't also cover is agriculture, which makes sense given Clemson's history as a land-grant university.

It doesn't appear that SCSU has any programs related to agriculture.


I'm definitely not advocating for SCSU to "become just another cog" in USC's system.

(08-13-2015 10:43 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(08-13-2015 10:31 AM)rokamortis Wrote:  

(08-13-2015 10:07 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(08-13-2015 08:31 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(08-11-2015 10:03 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Eastern Kentucky may be the most interesting departure. They sit squarely within the OVC footprint, and the OVC would probably want a FCS program to keep the 9/12 alignment intact. Would they go after a school like Kennesaw State, threatening both the Big South as a football conference, and the Atlantic Sun as a whole? Can ETSU or Chattanooga be taken from the SoCon? Would the OVC be content with 8 football members and possibly even triple down in Nashville with Lipscomb?

Doubtful. Rumor is the OVC approached Chattanooga before the SoCon added Samford and was unable to get them to move. Now with Samford and ETSU in the SoCon I don't see where the OVC is that much more desirable.

(08-12-2015 11:41 AM)rokamortis Wrote:  I don't recall seeing that exact definition, but they are a niche organization just like an all women's college, a military college, etc. Their history and service is commendable and were the only option to many students at the time. In this day and age it is up to the students to decide if this type of institution is important to them - if so then the school should be excelling. If not, then they may need to look at a different mission or perhaps even closing.

SCSU is having major problems because their admin wouldn't make a balanced budget in times of declining enrollment. Now they are - but are making huge budget cuts. They are trying to stay DI - but that may mean playing 3 FBS schools in 2016.

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20.../150809378

I doubt that SC State is going to be able to survive as a stand-alone university. With their mission and academic focus they should have already started merger discussions with Clemson as they stand a better chance of keeping at least some of their identity with Clemson than they would be able to keep as USC-Orangeburg.

That might make sense if they had an agriculture college. But it doesn't even look like Clemson has a system of campuses.

USC - O might be the most reasonable, if they wanted to join up with USC.


But their appear to be a few stand-alone four-year public schools in SC, like Coastal, Winthrop, Lander.

But he's right. I hadn't thought of it previously but Clemson would likely be a much better solution since they share many of the same academic interests. If they became a system school of USC then they'd just be another cog in the machine. Clemson could actually help SCSU strengthen its programs with expertise, provide experiential learning opportunities, and a path to research that would never be an option with SC.

Or SCSU could remain an independent four-year institution. What would be wrong with simply doing that, and then marketing itself as a school for everyone in SC?

Clemson's only area of expertise that USC doesn't also cover is agriculture, which makes sense given Clemson's history as a land-grant university.

It doesn't appear that SCSU has any programs related to agriculture.


I'm definitely not advocating for SCSU to "become just another cog" in USC's system.

The only way that happens is if they overcome their financial and academic woes because if not either the state is going to close it's doors or they are going to lose accreditation.



And a solid case could be made that establishing an agricultural program (besides the existing agribusiness path they already have) would be a benefit to the region since agriculture is such a huge part of the economy.

That would be a good addition, as would Clemson's ability to improve their engineering and biology departments.

They could also establish a bridge program similar to the one currently between Tri County Technical College and Clemson with Orangeburg-Calhoun Tech and Denmark Tech.

(08-13-2015 10:14 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(08-12-2015 07:23 PM)EKUSteve Wrote:  

(08-12-2015 10:27 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(08-11-2015 10:03 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Since there seem to be three candidates for the Sun Belt (Eastern Kentucky, Coastal Carolina, New Mexico State), how do you see other conferences backfilling any vacancies?

If it's just Coastal Carolina, I could see the Big South being content to remain at 10 members for all sports. This would only give them 6 for football, one of which (Monmouth) is an associate, but the Big South lives another day in FCS. The Big South could try to get Campbell to move its football program over from the Pioneer League, but I'm not sure if the school is in position to add football scholarships.

Eastern Kentucky may be the most interesting departure. They sit squarely within the OVC footprint, and the OVC would probably want a FCS program to keep the 9/12 alignment intact. Would they go after a school like Kennesaw State, threatening both the Big South as a football conference, and the Atlantic Sun as a whole? Can ETSU or Chattanooga be taken from the SoCon? Would the OVC be content with 8 football members and possibly even triple down in Nashville with Lipscomb?

New Mexico State leaving the WAC will be the most damaging of the three potential departures. The WAC would be down to seven members, and Grand Canyon's last transitional year is the 2016-17 season. This would allow the WAC to survive the grace period, if no one else leaves. Would the WAC would go after schools around UMKC and Chicago State to build a viable Midwestern core? Does it work with the Big Sky and rebuild itself as an FCS league? Are there are any Southland schools that can be poached? Does the WAC get lucky and find itself with a school playing only football in the Big 12? Are any schools willing to move from Division II?

Big South is used to being on the low end of football members. Liberty can't go FBS, for now.

OVC should call up Morehead St from the Pioneer (with allowances for scholarships) and then send Eastern Illinois to the Summit/MVFC. That gives them 8/10.

WAC ... not sure what to say there. None of the teams in it really want to be there.

Morehead doesn't seem to be interested in going back to scholarship football. EIU move to the OVC from the MVFC so I'm not sure they desire to go back there. The one school the OVC has flirted with over the last couple of years has been Northern Alabama. Not sure the direction of the OVC where it comes to football. Seems to be more of a basketball oriented conference now.

Well I was trying to say that the OVC could allow Morehead to play in the league without offering scholarships, at first. Then they could ease into having some number.

Something like what Austin Peay did, I guess.


EIU left the Gateway and MidCon in 1996 to join the OVC all-sports, true. I think if they were given the opportunity now to join the MVFC and Summit, and be with in-state Illinois rivals, they would do that. They're more competitive now (in football).

I'd forgotten they were in the Gateway football. Thanks.

(08-13-2015 11:42 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(08-13-2015 10:43 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(08-13-2015 10:31 AM)rokamortis Wrote:  

(08-13-2015 10:07 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(08-13-2015 08:31 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  Doubtful. Rumor is the OVC approached Chattanooga before the SoCon added Samford and was unable to get them to move. Now with Samford and ETSU in the SoCon I don't see where the OVC is that much more desirable.


I doubt that SC State is going to be able to survive as a stand-alone university. With their mission and academic focus they should have already started merger discussions with Clemson as they stand a better chance of keeping at least some of their identity with Clemson than they would be able to keep as USC-Orangeburg.

That might make sense if they had an agriculture college. But it doesn't even look like Clemson has a system of campuses.

USC - O might be the most reasonable, if they wanted to join up with USC.


But their appear to be a few stand-alone four-year public schools in SC, like Coastal, Winthrop, Lander.

But he's right. I hadn't thought of it previously but Clemson would likely be a much better solution since they share many of the same academic interests. If they became a system school of USC then they'd just be another cog in the machine. Clemson could actually help SCSU strengthen its programs with expertise, provide experiential learning opportunities, and a path to research that would never be an option with SC.

Or SCSU could remain an independent four-year institution. What would be wrong with simply doing that, and then marketing itself as a school for everyone in SC?

Clemson's only area of expertise that USC doesn't also cover is agriculture, which makes sense given Clemson's history as a land-grant university.

It doesn't appear that SCSU has any programs related to agriculture.


I'm definitely not advocating for SCSU to "become just another cog" in USC's system.

The only way that happens is if they overcome their financial and academic woes because if not either the state is going to close it's doors or they are going to lose accreditation.



And a solid case could be made that establishing an agricultural program (besides the existing agribusiness path they already have) would be a benefit to the region since agriculture is such a huge part of the economy.

That would be a good addition, as would Clemson's ability to improve their engineering and biology departments.

They could also establish a bridge program similar to the one currently between Tri County Technical College and Clemson with Orangeburg-Calhoun Tech and Denmark Tech.

OK, fair enough.

So couldn't SCSU develop this relationship without changing its name to Clemson-Orangeburg?

I have a feeling that SCSU alumni and boosters might sue over that one. They'd play the race card, for sure.

(08-13-2015 01:31 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  OK, fair enough.

So couldn't SCSU develop this relationship without changing its name to Clemson-Orangeburg?

I have a feeling that SCSU alumni and boosters might sue over that one. They'd play the race card, for sure.

Who said they would change their name?

It is doubtful to happen one way or the other - I think the state will keep giving them just enough new money to survive since they have a new board that is serious about turning it around and making the tough decisions.