First Friday Parade; South Carolina's No. 1 College; Clemson’s new Forestry and Environmental Conservation building

STUDENT NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

BEFORE YOU SCROLL

Good morning! Show your spirit at the 52nd annual First Friday Parade; Clemson is ranked the best college in South Carolina according to a recent ranking; The new Forestry and Environmental Conservation building is a model for the next generation of sustainable wood construction.

Students in orange clothing carry large orange-and-white Clemson flags during the First Friday Parade as spectators watch from the roadside under a clear blue sky.

Your Look Ahead:

The First Friday Parade is set for tomorrow, Sept. 11, in anticipation of Saturday’s home football opener. The parade begins at 6 p.m. at Douthit Hills Hub, advancing down Highway 93 to the Lower Intramural Field. Road closures at all intersections along Highway 93 will begin at 5:45 p.m.
Clemson is ranked the best college in South Carolina according to recently announced rankings by Niche and has the state’s best student outcomes in Time magazine’s inaugural America’s Best Colleges 2026-27 rankings.
The Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation moved into a cutting-edge new home at the beginning of the semester. Located at the intersection of Perimeter and Cherry roads, the 82,436 square-foot building offers significant environmental and sustainability advantages.

YOUR ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

The front glass doors of the Honors College with a sunset sky reflecting in the glass

Undergraduate Students: Interested in exploring the Honors College and its classes, programs, grants and opportunities? Attend an information session today from 2-3 p.m. to explore how to apply.

Orange-and-white text over a purple tiger-stripe background reads, “Tiger pride starts with looking out for one another. If you see someone who needs help, step up. Celebrate safely,” alongside an orange Clemson Tiger Paw.

SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Healthy Campus is offering Tigers Together Suicide Prevention Advocacy Training open sessions on Sept. 14 and 22. This interactive training provides you with the knowledge, awareness and skills to recognize warning signs, support others and help prevent suicide.

CREATIVE INQUIRY CORNER

You may have heard about Creative Inquiry (CI) during your time at Clemson, but what is it? CI gives undergraduates from every major the opportunity to conduct hands-on, cross-disciplinary research under the guidance of faculty. Learn more about CI and its impact.

THIS WEEKEND IN ATHLETICS

Three sports are in action at home this weekend.
- Following the First Friday Parade, head over to Historic Riggs Field for the Men's Soccer match against Notre Dame or to Jervey Gym as Volleyball takes on rival South Carolina. Both contests start at 7 p.m.
- Stripe the Valley by wearing orange for Saturday's home football opener against Georgia Southern! Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. from Memorial Stadium.

BOWMAN BULLETIN

Don't forget to register for tomorrow's 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. This annual event remembers those who lost their lives in the 2001 terrorist attacks and honors first responders for their bravery.
Learn about study abroad opportunities at the Study Abroad Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Hendrix Student Center. Education abroad is a great opportunity to challenge yourself in the classroom, experience new cultures and build lifelong skills.