Clinton College Experiences Unprecedented Growth
Clinton College in Rock Hill, one of the respected Historically Black College and University’s (HBCU), has started the Fall 2024 semester on a high note. The institution is reporting a record-breaking 27% increase in enrollment with a student capacity that has reached nearly 240 students. In contrast, the Fall 2023 semester had seen a roll call of only 188 students. In light of this, the campus is bustling with activity and even ran out of dorm rooms for students. Some students have resorted to living in off-campus housing.
New Majors At Clinton
The enrollment boost does not come as a surprise since the prestigious HBCU college expanded its academic footprint by adding new majors in Nursing and Cybersecurity. Clinton College Freshman Marken Tigner expressed his satisfaction with the environment and the intimacy of the class sizes, highlighting that “It’s easier to learn. I can ask questions when I need it, and I can get help when I need it.”. These majors were kick-started with the assistance of a funding grant which saw a simple library room morph into a state-of-the-art computer classroom where students immerse themselves in the gearworks of cybersecurity.
Future Aspirations for Growth
Nathan Brantley, a Clinton College freshman, has dreams of entering the ethical hacking field. “I think the professional field is called penetration testing, basically infiltrating systems and trying to find flaws in the data.” he said, displaying an impressive vision for his future.
Student Jasamine Woodard has been waiting for the nursing program that she felt was right for her, stating that she believes more people will discover the offerings at Clinton and choose to enroll. “Right now, we don’t have a waiting list. It’s going to grow to the point where maybe we could have a waiting list. Maybe they’ll see us and say that they did it – Oh maybe we can do it – so it’s going to grow. It’s going to be great. I have good hopes for Clinton.”
President’s Vision for Clinton College
The President, Dr. Lester McCorn, is also optimistic about the future of Clinton. He plans to initiate a financial campaign to raise $15 million to continue the school’s expansion, although he believes that about $50 million might be required to take the HBCU to new highs. According to the President, the key lies in strategic marketing to increase visibility and perception of Clinton College. He said, “We’ve started telling our story and in a much more forceful way. We’ve been more public as an institution, and we’ve been doing the work in terms of growing programs that meet the needs of students.”.
McCorn envisions building new dorms, establishing an athletic center, incorporating Greek life, and expanding the student pool. Interestingly, he believes that the school could potentially cater to a thousand students but not more. The President emphasized, “I think we’re going to be more of a niche school. We’re going to be an intimate campus, and that’s okay. The beauty of this, as you know, is we can be exponentially larger through online education. So that is the next frontier for us.”
In light of these substantial developments, September will also see the opening of a new bookstore at the college campus.
