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The Citadel asks Ways and Means subcommittee for tuition mitigation, COLA and $88M in campus renovations
Summary
Representatives of The Citadel briefed the Higher Education Subcommittee on recurring requests to keep tuition flat and for a 2% COLA, and asked for $88 million in one-time capital projects including Duckett Hall ($25M), Days Hall ($22M), McAlister Field House ($8M) and Thompson Hall ($33M). The subcommittee took no vote.
Representatives of The Citadel told the South Carolina House Higher Education Subcommittee on Feb. 10 that they are seeking recurring and one-time state funding to preserve student affordability and modernize aging campus facilities.
General Walters, speaking for The Citadel, said the institution’s top recurring request is tuition mitigation ‘‘so we can keep tuition flat for the seventh year in a row’’ and asked the panel to consider a cost-of-living adjustment for staff and faculty. Walters also highlighted a proposal for ‘‘enhanced ROTC scholarships’’ to make up for reductions in federal ROTC room-and-board coverage that have disadvantaged smaller, military-focused institutions.
The Citadel presented performance metrics to support the requests: 88.9% of graduates were employed or planning further education at graduation, the Class of 2025 recorded a four-year graduation rate of 74.4%, and the college commissioned 162 cadets; the institution reported distributing 448 ROTC scholarships in the latest year (the presenters said some awards were partial).
Provost Dr. Seldin then outlined four prioritized capital requests. The top nonrecurring asks were:
- $25,000,000 to renovate Duckett Hall to modernize labs and systems for biological sciences and health programs; the provost said recent prior spending ($3,000,000) will update electrical and HVAC infrastructure ahead of the larger work.
- $22,000,000 for Days Hall (built 1974) to replace roofing and HVAC, upgrade fitness and rehabilitation spaces that support mandatory physical readiness training, and add classrooms to serve cadets and the wider campus.
- $8,000,000 to modernize McAlister Field House (built 1939), replacing aging audio-visual, lighting and mechanical systems in the 6,000-seat venue used for commencements, athletics and public events.
- $33,000,000 to renovate Thompson Hall (built 1938; last renovated in 2001) to support growing cyber, computer science and AI programs that the presenters said are critical to the state’s workforce needs.
Seldin said the projects are included in the college’s strategic plan and state-approved CPIP and argued the work will sustain medical and vet-school placement rates and support the state’s defense and cybersecurity workforce.
In committee questioning, members raised program compliance and academic offerings: the provost said about 19% of undergraduate programs and 18% of graduate programs are currently noncompliant with CHE benchmarks, and that The Citadel recently eliminated three undergraduate programs, three graduate programs and 14 certificate programs over three years as part of that review.
A committee member also expressed broader concerns about military training, diversity and Department of Defense policies; General Walters replied that the institution teaches the Constitution and the commissioning oath and emphasized training that prepares officers to serve regardless of personal political views.
The subcommittee did not vote on the requests during the hearing. Committee members indicated they would review the materials and could consider appropriation or proviso language in the budget process.
