CLEMSON, SC - Clemson University trustees opened their spring quarterly meetings on campus this week in the former home of the school's founder, Thomas Green Clemson. Meeting with outgoing and incoming student leaders, the trustees marked the transition of leadership where the university's founding began: at Fort Hill.

In the full board meeting Friday, the trustees approved four new degree programs: an M.A. in communication, technology and society; an M.S. in nuclear engineering, a joint degree with a Belgium university; M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in photonics; and a Ph.D. in economics, to be offered by the College of Business and Behavioral Science, separate from the current Ph.D. in applied economics.

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, now in the political science department, will be moved operationally to the Strom Thurmond Institute and offered statewide.

The board approved a new policy for responding to allegations of research misconduct. The new policy, which updates existing university guidelines, addresses how the university will respond to allegations of research misconduct as defined by various federal agencies.

In other action, the trustees approved four building projects:

• a new, privately funded, $2.5 million golf team facility;
• an expansion to the baseball stadium, to be funded by private and athletic department money, that will add approximately 1,000 seats, concession areas and restroom;
• one new facility for four programs: regulatory services, turf-grass management, pro golf management and sustainable agriculture, funded from private sources and generated revenue; and
• improvements to the research and education center in the Pee Dee.

The board also approved an easement from U.S. Corps of Engineers to the university for water pump operations and renewed a lease with Waste Management of S.C. Inc.