Doug Hallenbeck

Vice President for Student Affairs
Clemson University

How is your institution preparing for the looming drop in traditional college-age students and the so-called “enrollment cliff?”

We are very fortunate interest in attending Clemson University is at an all-time high. This admissions cycle, we received a school-record 65,000 applications for roughly 5,000 slots. Clemson is clearly a point of destination among prospective students. In particular, we’re proud of the fact that 94 percent of in-state applicants are provided a pathway to a degree through either direct admission, Bridge to Clemson or our Summer Start program. Having said that, we know the looming enrollment cliff could likely result in increased competition between colleges and universities for a smaller pool of students. However, we are well-positioned to continue our trend of successfully recruiting, retaining and graduating the nation’s best and brightest. The value of a Clemson degree has never been higher, and as an institution we are cognizant of the evolving higher ed landscape and confidently prepared for the challenges ahead.

Clemson intentionally included “delivering the No. 1 student experience” as the first of three pillars in its strategic plan. How does your team support this pillar while navigating some of the current challenges in higher ed?

We have a very strong culture among our student body at Clemson. Over the past decade we’ve seen incredible growth as an institution, from record numbers of applications to strong retention and graduation rates that are admired by our peers. But we don’t want to rest on our success; our mission is to ensure every student thrives. When it comes to delivering the No. 1 student experience, we want to ensure students have every opportunity to excel in experiential learning. How are we engaging them in hands-on learning experiences to complement what they’re learning in the classroom? We want to amplify academic success by increasing our retention and graduation rates and closing opportunity gaps. We want to promote the Clemson experience by building value-driven leaders through transformative experiences. We do this by creating a strong sense of belonging, strengthening community with each other and with Clemson, and by increasing engagement in enrichment activities that promote personal development and well-being.

How do you feel South Carolina colleges and universities are preparing students to meet the state’s future workforce needs?

One of our three strategic pillars within Clemson Elevate is to transform lives statewide and beyond. As a land-grant institution, part of our mission is to serve the communities of South Carolina by enhancing educational and economic opportunities for its citizens. This includes our students. We want them to graduate from Clemson and make an impact once they leave. Our charge is to prepare them to be part of an evolving workforce by ensuring they are equipped with core competencies, career readiness and critical life skills. One of our focuses in the Division of Student Affairs is helping lay a foundation for their success beyond Clemson. We engage students in experiential learning, service and leadership opportunities so they develop into problem-solvers and global thinkers.

Tell us about your background in higher education and some of the important roles you’ve had in your career that helped you to where you are today?

I am a second-generation student affairs professional. My father, Dan Hallenbeck, was director of housing at the University of Georgia for most of my life growing up. He went on to be the president of the international housing association for colleges and universities and was well-connected within the industry. I always wanted to be like him, so it made sense to follow in his footsteps. I used to paint residence halls in the summers when I was 16 — it’s really where I got my start. From there, I was engaged as a resident assistant (RA) in college and steadily built my career. After moving up the ladder at a few schools, I was named director of housing at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. I was 32 years old at the time, so it was an incredible responsibility. I came to Clemson as director of housing a few years later in 2007 and was able to serve in that role for several years before moving into administration and overseeing additional areas impacting the student experience. That broadened my skill set and led me to apply for the position of vice president for student affairs at Oklahoma State University, and I was fortunate to serve in that role from 2019-24. When the vice president position came open at Clemson last year, it was an easy choice to want to come back because of all the incredible experiences I had during my first tenure in the Upstate. I’m thrilled to be back at Clemson and excited for the future.

What is something people might be surprised to know about you?

When I was in college, I taught myself how to play guitar. I still enjoy playing whenever I have free time. Additionally, as an undergraduate student, I was on the first-ever co-ed cheerleading squad at Georgia College.