Historic Landmarks and Scenic Beauty Earn Claflin National Recognition by Southern Belle Lifestyle Magazine

Claflin University has been listed among the most "heavenly HBCU campuses" by Black Southern Belle. It is another in a trend of national recognitions for the first historically black university or college in the state of South Carolina.

"We are proud of this recognition," President Henry N. Tisdale. "It is not by accident as we place emphasis on building and maintaining an attractive campus." It is encouraging when others confirm that your work is worthy of recognition from a national perspective."

This latest recognition parallels other national honors Claflin has received over the last few years. US News and World Report has ranked the University as a "Best Value" and as a national "Top Tier" institution. Claflin was named HBCU of the Year in 2015 by HBCU Digest.

Other publications, including Atlantic Monthly and Washington Review, have consistently ranked Claflin among their top leading institutions. Claflin also captured the national Pepsi Challenge Award for recycling.

In its release of the heavenly campuses, Black Southern Belle stated the historic nature of them. Claflin’s campus is defined by its historic district, buildings on the National Registry of Historic Places that include Lee Library, Tingley Memorial Hall and Ministers' Hall. These buildings received the time honored Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Moreover, Claflin’s campus sits on the most elevated site in Orangeburg, hence standing on a “Hilltop High.”

The main entrance to Claflin won a statewide award for downtown town renovations.  The campus is connected by a system of beautiful brick pavers including Legacy Plaza and Panther Plaza.

It is noteworthy that many of Claflin’s buildings were designed by alumni who studied architect at the University. They include Robert Bates, first African certified as an architect. He designed Fisk Hall, T. Willard Lewis Chapel and other buildings. William Wilson Cook designed Lee Library and Tingley Memorial Hall. He became the first black architect in the U. S. Treasury Department.

 "We believe we are providing the best possible environment for living and learning for our students," Tisdale said. 

According to its homepage, Black Southern Belle is a lifestyle magazine focusing on all things fashion, style, home décor and southern.