Information you need to know before arriving to Claflin University
- PAYMENT DUE DATES: Payment for the fall semester is due on or before August 1, 2017 to ensure all financial requirements are addressed before the freshman arrival date of August 12, 2017. If you have any questions about your financial aid status, please contact Financial Aid at (803) 535-5334. Please contact (803) 535-5131, if you have questions about your account balance or need to speak with someone in Student Accounts.
- Upon completion of your financial clearance, you will participate in New Student Move-In Day on Saturday, August 12 from 8 am-2pm in the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Physical Education Center.
To ensure a smooth transition, please read the Welcome Panther booklet. It contains all of the important information in preparation for Move-In Day and beyond. A copy has been emailed to all new students, however, you can click the picture to view.
Again, we encourage you to address your financial clearance requirements and we look forward to welcoming you into the Class of 2021.
President’s Message
Welcome to Claflin University!
We are excited that you have chosen Claflin University to help build your future and reach your full potential as a visionary leader for the 21st Century. During the 2018-2019 academic year, you will be among students, faculty, staff and alumni celebrating the University’s historic achievement of 150 years of academic excellence, cutting edge research and invaluable public service.
Throughout its history, Claflin’s hallmark has been the richness of its environment for living and learning. While at Claflin, we want you to have an experiential experience that will enable you to develop a special inner confidence and to discover the visionary leadership within you. It is expected that you will be proactive and take full advantage of all that the University has to offer in and out of the classroom, including study abroad opportunities and internships.
Claflin is committed to excellence in all that it does. When viewed from the prism of reputable and renowned organizations, the University is unmistakably an invaluable leader in higher education. In terms of academic quality, Claflin has been consistently recognized as one of America’s best colleges The University’s national reputation extends to the prestigious President’s Honor Roll for Service and Service Learning, a distinction that has been bestowed to the University for ten consecutive years. Recently, Claflin was named HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest.
I challenge you to remain steadfast in your commitment to personal and professional growth. With the expectation that you will be encouraged by the intellectual influence and expertise of our world class faculty and nurturing staff, I am confident your enrollment at Claflin University will be richly fulfilling and rewarding.
First Lady Alice Carson Tisdale and I, along with faculty, staff, students and alumni, are excited to have you become a part of the Claflin University Family because “The World Needs Visionaries.”
Henry N. Tisdale
President
purpose of new student orientation
New Student Orientation is offered at the start of both the Fall and Spring semesters. All incoming first-time freshmen are expected to attend.
New Student Orientation at Claflin University is an 4-day transition experience designed to provide you with an introduction to the academic and social expectations at the University as well as the resources available to you during your educational experience.
New Student Orientation begins with Move-In Day and includes such highlights as the Parting Ceremony, Confirmation Ceremony, Family Worship Services, community and team building activities and more! At the end of the week, you will feel like a Panther roaring to start the academic year off strong.
While students attend New Student Orientation, parents & family members can participate in the Family Program.
Parent Orientation
Stay and be engaged!
Parents and other family members are invited to attend seminars designed to provide information, materials and contacts to ease your transition and that of our new students. You will have an opportunity to get a feel for the Claflin experience as you dine in the Claflin University Dining Center, help your student move into a residence hall, visit our bookstore, tour the campus or the City of Orangeburg.
Highlights of Parent Orientation include:
~ President's Old Fashioned Cook Out - Saturday, August 12 at 5 p.m.
~ Family Worship Service - Sunday, August 13 at 9 and 10:30 a.m.
~ Parent Information Session - Sunday, August 13 at 1:30 p.m.
~ Parting Ceremony - Sunday, August 13 at 3:30 p.m.
Parting Ceremony
The traditional Parting Ceremony is an event in which parents leave their loved ones in the capable and caring hands of the Claflin family. At this ceremony, first-year students say goodbye to family and walk through the Arch of Confidence, cementing their commitment to college excellence. This year's Ceremony will be held Sunday, August 13 at 3:30 p.m. in the W.V. Middleton Fine Arts Center.
Confirmation Ceremony
Held eight days following Move-In Day, dressed in special attire, students convene for their formal induction into The Freshman College. The Ceremony will be held on Sunday, August 20 at 4 p.m. in the W.V. Middleton Fine Arts Center. Note: This special ceremony is reserved for the Class of 2021. Priority seating is provided for students in the Class of 2021. Seating for guests may be limited.
A Note About Confirmation Ceremony Dress Code
The attire should be equivalent to professional business attire. Young ladies are to wear a white dress with neutral or white hose, or white suit, shirt and white dress shoes. Young men are to wear navy, black or dark grey suits with a white shirt, coordinating tie and dress shoes.