Claflin Day At The Dome Earns Legislative Praise Of The University

Claflin University’s Day at the Dome on Tuesday (April 25) provided President Henry N. Tisdale an opportunity to express his gratitude to lawmakers for their support of Claflin University and the scholarships, grants and internship programs that help students achieve their dreams of a college degree. 

Tisdale and a host of Claflin trustees, cabinet members, academic deans, students and alumni were greeted by S.C. Governor Henry McMaster and Lieutenant Governor Kevin L. Bryant shortly after they arrived at the State Capitol in Columbia, S.C.  McMaster and Bryant commended Dr. Tisdale for his outstanding leadership and acknowledged Claflin’s contributions to the state of South Carolina.

“You are doing a great job,” said McMaster. “We are very proud of the university’s achievements and the success of the students.”

Tisdale also thanked members of the SC Black Caucus for their continued support of the University. He encouraged them to consider increasing the amount of  scholarships and grants for in-state students such as The Palmetto Fellows Grant, Higher Education Excellence Program, Life Scholarship and the SC Hope Scholarship. He said that Claflin students rely heavily on these programs and internship opportunities to handle tuition and other costs to attend college.

 “Claflin has an enrollment of 2,000 students and nearly 1,200 are from South Carolina, said Tisdale.  “More than 85 percent of our students receive some form of scholarship or financial aid and 76 percent are eligible for Pell Grants.  A majority are first-generation college students.

“We appreciate that Claflin University and its alumni are making a difference in South Carolina and the world,” said Representative Jerry Govan (D-Orangeburg County, 95th District), chairman-elect of the SC Black Caucus.  “The Caucus will continue to promote the mission and causes of Claflin and other HBCUs which have produced outstanding leaders for the state of South Carolina and the nation.”

Senator Karl B. Allen (D-Greenville County, District 7) acknowledged the contributions of Claflin’s Board of Trustees, alumni and student success.

“The Claflin alumni are a class act and we know the University also receives tremendous support from its board,” said Allen.  “Claflin has a committed faculty and staff, talented students and we know the university is making a difference.   The funding your students receive from the scholarships, grants and internships is money well-spent and a great investment.”

More than fifty-students participated in Claflin’s “Day at the Dome including

Rosa Lee Dozier, a mass communications student from Sumter S.C. and Vincent Sanders, a senior mass communications major from Orangeburg, S.C.

“It was a very worthwhile experience,” said Dozier.  “It was interesting to see how legislation works and witness process of how bills are introduced and become law.  It was beneficial to hear about the relationship between the state and private schools how students receive state funding.  I also had an opportunity to speak with U.S. Congressman James Clyburn (D-SC, 6th District).” 

Sanders said he was glad to be part Claflin’s Day of Dome to reinforce the message of student success and how much we rely on the scholarships and grants programs that enable us to attend college.

I spoke to Rep. Govan and let him know how much I appreciate what he has done to support Claflin University and higher education in South Carolina.   I also enjoyed meeting Gov. McMaster and Lt. Gov. Bryant.  This was a very memorable experience.”