Living And Learning

from JFRUGOL on 2009-01-07

Our support of incoming international students during the 6 weeks it takes them to actually receive a paycheck could use a lot of tweaking.  Graduate housing is little to none, and they have many. many bills (tuition, first and last month's rent, food, transportation, school fees for the kids, etc) that all come due well before they get a paycheck.  Having loaned many of my own students money to get them through this, I'm certain we could find a way to get them affordable housing, even if its as simple as subsidizing loans for security deposits.  I think some of the local landlords (companies) are downright predatory in their leasing practices.

from FRANKIE on 2008-12-17

Since 1989 I suggested on numerous occasions that we establish a "global village" - graduate student housing structured as a "living-learning" facility utilizing, for example, then USIA- and UN- related programs, as well as graduate students from the many countries represented in our graduate student population, to staff the facility with Exchange Visitors, Fulbright and AFGRAD fellows, etc.  This graduate student housing environment would provide not only a unique learning environment for students on campus but could function as a unique teaching facility in the upstate.  Clemson, despite its movement in the "top 20", is located in a relatively isolated region of the state, and this creates the opportunity to teach in phenonemal ways.  I do not believe that we are maximizing the learning opportunities for citizens of the state that our graduate student population affords.  Instead of a living-learning environment for and/or utilizing graduate students, the university established a living-learning environment for freshmen and for engineering majors.  We've missed an incredible opportunity.