Clemson University

Clemson's "Diversity Scholarship" programs have been developed "to attract a diverse and talented student body" and include the "Clemson Scholars" program. "The top students at South Carolina public high schools with a majority underrepresented enrollment will be considered for a renewable Clemson Scholars award."

The Division of Inclusion and Equity at Clemson offers "Diversity Education & Training" through its "Strategic Inclusive Excellence Certificate" and "Intercultural Development Inventory."

Clemson's Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Multicultural Center offers "Social Justice Education" which includes a variety of programs "designed to increase dialogue throughout the Clemson community" and which aims to "further develop the intercultural competencies of our students, faculty, and staff."

In 2021, the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences at Clemson offered diversity/anti-bias trainings for faculty and staff titled "Honoring Cultures by Understanding Bias" and "Creating Inclusive Cultures." The college also hosted several "Inclusive Excellence" lecture series from 2021-2022.

The Multicultural Engagement Center hosts the "Community Dialogues Program." Through the program, students participate in "a 90-minute workshop during which they will engage with peers from diverse backgrounds, learn more about the use of dialogue as an effective method of communication, and practice those skills with their peers." Participation in a Community Dialogue workshop is required to pass CU1000.

As a means to “develop the skills needed to advance Clemson’s equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the Division of Inclusion and Equity hosted its inaugural Strategic Inclusive Excellence Certificate (SIEC) on October 19, 2021.

As part of the general education degree requirements for a Bachelor’s degree, each undergraduate must complete at least 3 credits from the Cross-Cultural Awareness course list.

All first-year students are required to take "CU 1000." The course aims to "increase awareness and knowledge" of a student's "social identity and values as well as those of others" among other topics.

The College of Education released a statement on its "Commitment to Inclusive Excellence." The school states that it aims to be "an institution enhancing inclusive excellence" through  "long-standing programs... new degree programs and innovative initiatives that focus on race, rurality, and poverty."

All Faculty, Staff, and Supervisors are required to complete "Policies and Procedures for Equitable Treatment" training.

In a "Learning-Focused Assignment Guide," faculty are encouraged to consider "inclusive qualities" when crafting class assignments. Faculty are posed questions such as "In what ways is my assignment inviting and respectful of the diversity of my students?"

The Charles H. Houston Center (for the Study of the Black Experience in Education) "will advance diversity, equity, and inclusion scholarship throughout the United States" and "examines issues and disseminates information about diversity, equity, and inclusion outcomes impacting postsecondary institutions."

The Center for the Recruitment and Retention of Diverse Educators was founded to "research, design, and implement the best strategies for recruitment and retention of teachers of color at the preservice and in-service levels in the state of South Carolina." The Center states that it "aims to increase the number of teachers of color in partner districts by 75 over its first 5 years of operation."

The Peer Dialogue Facilitator (PDF) is a position with the Multicultural Center and is available to undergraduate students. Students in the position are expected to"gain knowledge on current issues related to social identity and inclusion," "develop awareness of social identities for themselves and others," and are given a stipend for their work.

Supplier Diversity is a goal of the University’s Diversity Procurement Initiative, where the University "engages in outreach efforts to women and minority-owned businesses and vendors." The University provides specialized applications for women minority-owned businesses under the initiative.

Based at Clemson University, the South Carolina Center for the Recruitment and Retention of Diverse Educators "aims to research, design, and implement the best strategies for recruitment and retention of teachers of color" at the state level in South Carolina.

The Research Center has enacted several initiatives to promote diversity. The office made plans to "institute new division-based awards for faculty and staff for recognition of significant contributions to the advancement of excellence in diversity, equity and inclusion" which is awaiting approval.

The Clemson University Police Department "requires all employees to participate in a variety of trainings to address implicit bias, systemic racism, and bias-free policing." Additionally, CUPD has an "extensive policy outlining how to ensure policing is provided equitably and incidents of bias are documented and investigated."

On February 18, 2022, Clemson University hosted a webinar on the Open for Anti-Racism program which is a “nation wide initiative that supports faculty aiming to leverage Open Education to make teaching antiracist and close equity gaps.”

Clemson Libraries provides Racial Injustice and Anti-Racist Resources with distinct resources on “Anti-Racist Teaching Pedagogy” as well as “White Allyship.”

Organizations like Duke Energy and Dominion Energy have invested in Clemson University’s “nationally recognized diversity and inclusion programming.”

The Office of Inclusion and Equity has an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Awareness (IDEA) book club that meets regularly and reads and discusses books to expand diversity and equity relations.

The Office of Inclusion and Equity at Clemson works with The Houston Group consulting services who offer "diversity audits, specialized training, and ongoing support" that helps organizations "thrive in a competitive economy."

The purpose of Clemson's Commission on the Black Experience is to "advise the Division of Inclusion and Equity and the University about the Black experience at Clemson University and advocate for specific actions to enhance its quality and the environment."

In July 2020, then-President Jim Clements "directed the formation of a task force designed to accelerate the University’s inclusion and equity journey." The task force was named the President’s Social Justice and Equity Task Force and was charged with "taking feedback from the Clemson community and drafting a report of actionable and attainable recommendations that will change behavior, eliminate disparities and build a more diverse university community."

The "GOODTalk" dialogue series is a 10-week program that "explores topics around inclusion, equity, and organizational change." The GOODTalk 2.0 series is for students who want to "explore a particular social identity in greater depth" and can choose from one of three topics, "Race & Ethnicity; Gender & Sexuality; or Worldview, Religion, & Spirituality" to focus on during the 10-week program.

Coming Together for Racial Understanding is a program to help participants "listen" and "understand how people from all walks of life view race, racial equity, and opportunities in their communities." It prompts participants to "share and discuss... how our attitudes, behaviors, and existing social, organizational, and institutional structures impact our working and living environments in ways that do not promote justice, equity, and respect for all."

"Inclusive Teaching and Universal Design" resources are available to Faculty and Professors.

In February 2024, the University hosted its 7th annual "Men of Color National Summit."

The university's Board of trustees unanimously voted "to restore Tillman Hall to its original name of the Main Building, commonly called 'Old Main'."

Clemson received the 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from Insight into Diversity magazine for the fifth consecutive year.

On August 5, 2020, Clemson Libraries published its "Action Steps for Statement on Race and Social Equity" which includes the following action: "Develop and implement diversity and inclusion training and development opportunities for library leadership team members and unit leaders, employee supervisors, and student supervisors."

The Donning of the Kente is an annual event that celebrates multicultural graduates. The event celebrates "the accomplishments of students who have contributed to enhancing diversity and inclusion at Clemson University" and is "rooted in African tradition."

The Division of Research states it seeks to promote "a culture of discovery and excellence in a collaborative, diverse, safe and inclusive environment" and that "diversity is essential to research and scholarship."

The University renamed its Equity and Inclusion Office to the Division of Community Engagement, Belonging and Access. The change was made to "reflect an expansion of the office and its responsibilities."