Clinton College aims for record-breaking fall enrollment despite spring storm damage
Clinton College, a historically black institution in Rock Hill, will host a Welcome Fest Saturday to grow student enrollment for the upcoming fall semester.
The event will feature food, games, and on-the-spot scholarships for prospective students, particularly those interested in cybersecurity, who may qualify for free tuition.
“We have a strong partnership with the Department of Energy,” Lester McCorn, 13th president of Clinton College said. We are fortunate to secure funding not only for staff but also for approximately 20 full scholarships for students.”
Founded in 1894, the small AME Zion-affiliated college is home to about 151 students located on the city’s south side. It is among the smaller HBCUs in the Carolinas. The average tuition for South Carolina residents is about $11,000 per semester, including room and board. For out-of-state students, the price is nearly doubled at $22,000.
Last spring, the college awarded an honorary doctorate degree to music icon George Clinton, The Herald previously reported. The HBCU is named for his great-great-grandfather, Bishop Isom Caleb Clinton.
The college is hoping for a record-breaking fall semester following a significant turnout for their B.E.A.R., or Beloved Community Excellence, Achievement and Resilience program, which begin in 2021 as a summer bridge program. It’s goal is to aid high school students with transitioning to college.
Despite a 45-student increase in summer enrollment compared to the initial eight who enrolled in the B.E.A.R. in 2021, this year also has presented challenges.
A tropical storm in April caused approximately $1 million in damage to the campus, according to McCorn.
“It tested the campus mentality; it showed our resilience. There’s no better way to demonstrate what you’re made of than through a crisis,” McCorn said.
“Our size is our strength,” added Herbert Crump, VP of institutional advancement. “During the disaster, staff went above and beyond, driving students home and stepping up whenever needed. It’s not just a job; it’s a mission with these students.”
The pandemic experience taught staff about the importance of planning for the unexpected, said Archinya Ingram, senior vice president for business services.
Implementing new safety procedures and devising action plans for such situations enabled the school to have an appropriate response to extreme emergencies, she said, adding, “Even good came out of that situation.”
McCorn cited addressing cultural issues and building on their HBCU heritage as the college’s biggest challenge, emphasizing the advantages of being a smaller institution.
Setting themselves apart from larger schools in the area, the college focuses on becoming a work college, facilitating immediate student internships on and off campus to help cover tuition costs.
“South Carolina is investing in this program to achieve federal recognition as a work college,” McCorn told the Herald. “We would be one of the few HBCUs in the nation offering this.”
The school’s welcome fest on Saturday will introduce, bridge students and engage the community, said Clifford Smith, Director of Admissions.
“Anyone interested in attending can discuss the application process at the welcome fest,” Smith said.
Want to go
What: The Welcome Fest
When: Sat., June 29
Time: begins at noon
Where: Clinton College, 1029 Crawford Rd., Rock Hill