President Henry N. Tisdale and the Claflin University delegation that participated in "Claflin Day at the Dome" on Tuesday, February 20, made an indelible impression on S.C. Governor Henry McMaster and members of the General Assembly. Tisdale and a group of trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, and students traveled  to the State House in Columbia to update S.C. lawmakers on the success of Claflin students, national awards and accomplishments, and Claflin's trajectory towards becoming a premier liberal arts university.

"Claflin Day at the Dome was a great success," said Tisdale. "This event gave us an opportunity to show the support we have from all of our stakeholders and to share the great things happening at the University."

During presentations to Senator John Scott, the Legislative Black Caucus, and the Democratic Caucus; Tisdale reflected on Claflin's history as the first Historically Black College/University in South Carolina. He also talked about the University's strategic plan: Claflin LEADS, which outlines the plan designed to help Claflin realize its vision of being recognized as a leading 21st Century institution of higher education that develops a diverse and inclusive community of globally engaged visionary leaders; and Claflin's record enrollment of more than 2,100 students.

"We are extremely grateful for the support and loyalty Claflin has received from alumni, businesses and corporations, foundations, and from local, state and federal representatives," said Tisdale.

However, Tisdale urged its legislative partners to support three priorities that will accelerate Claflin's growth from one of the finest school's in the region to one of the best in the nation: 

"Claflin's steady progress, throughout our history, can be attributed to working effectively with the legislature and the corporate sector," said Tisdale. "We can make South Carolina stronger." 

"Claflin Day at the Dome" activities were highlighted by Tisdale and the University being recognized in the House of Representatives and Senate chambers. The delegation also toured the African-American History Monument on the State House grounds. MacArthur Goodwin, '63, was chair of the S.C. African-American History Monument Citizens Advisory Committee. His leadership spearheaded the completion of this project.

"This event reminds everyone once again that we have several great educational institutions in the State of South Carolina - and Claflin is one of them," said Governor Henry McMaster. "Claflin has an excellent reputation and the University has done a magnificent job. Big corporations moving to the state are looking to create partnerships and collaborations with universities, two-year schools, and technical colleges. I am very proud of Claflin and I will do everything I can to help," he said.

* Article Written by: Ernie Suggs - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (February 15, 2018)

When Henry N. Tisdale interviewed to become the president of Claflin College in 1994, he had one demand.

At the time, the state's oldest black college had had only seven leaders in 125 years. Tisdale, a 1964 graduate of Claflin, knew it was a good college - but not a great one.

"I made it clear that I wasn't leaving Delaware and uprooting my family to maintain the status quo," said Tisdale, who at the time was the senior vice president of academic affairs at Delaware State University. "Claflin may be a good institution, but good was not good enough. I was coming to move it to a new level and make it one of the best liberal arts institutions in the South."

"I was hopeful that it would be a vision that others would buy into," he said.

Claflin, founded in 1869 by the United Methodist Church, doesn't come readily to mind when you're listing the nation's top HBCUs, like Howard, Spelman, Hampton, North Carolina A&T, Morehouse and Fisk.

But by several metrics, Tisdale has su cceeded in pushing what is now Claflin University into the conversation.

In U.S. News and World Report's latest ranking of the nation's Top 20 historically black colleges and universities, Claflin clocked in at No. 9 among the 74 black colleges listed. It was the seventh year in a row that the school has cracked the Top 10.

Forbes and Washington Monthly annually list Claflin as a "Top Tier" institution and in 2015, HBCU Digest named the tiny college in Orangeburg, S.C., "HBCU of the Year."

"When people think of HBCUs there is a list of 10," Tisdale said. "I want Claflin to be always among that list of 10. I want Claflin to be known for the things that we do. And we are committed to sustaining that."

As part of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's three-part series  examining the viability of the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Claflin was one of several colleges the newspaper visited to get a sense of how some HBCUs are faring in 2018. MORE

* Article Written by: Ernie Suggs - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (

February 15, 2018)

On Friday, February 16, The Beta Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., honored President Henry N. Tisdale at their 83rd Anniversary Celebration Gala. Tisdale, along with Mrs. Irene W. McCollum, received the 2018 Service to Humanity in Education Award. Pictured with President Tisdale is Mrs. Evelyn M. Singleton, president of the Beta Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.