‘We don’t just survive during crisis time. We thrive!’” Only six months into his tenure, Warmack’s mantra was put to the test, once again, as he was faced with transitioning the university into a virtual learning campus in 2020 due to the global Coronavirus pandemic. Most of the university’s summer school classes were being taught online; therefore, a model for online teaching and learning was already in place, which Warmack says made the transition to all classes being taught virtually seamless. Warmack stated that strategy, partnerships and investment were also key factors to Claflin thriving during the pandemic, “We were the first official Zoom campus. We outlined strategic initiatives. We invested in technology infrastructure. Through partnerships we invested close to a million dollars into our technology infrastructure. Every classroom now is equipped for synchronous and asynchronous learning.” The Claflin University President’s Report Elevation & Transformation 2019-2024 notes that Claflin’s enrollment increased for the 2020-2021 school year by 9.3 percent, 564 first-year students. Warmack’s tenure has produced record fundraising. “The highest the endowment had ever been was $26 million. But right now, I’m at $73 million. It speaks volumes to our ability to allocate resources, to get resources; and in five years, we were able to do what an institution was not able to do in 150 years. And so, that is something I’m extremely proud of,” said Warmack. U.S. News & World Report ranks Claflin at #1 among all HBCUs for annual alumni giving. Claflin received its largest gift in the university’s history in 2020 when philanthropist MacKenzie Scott contributed $20 million. Warmack stated “She (Scott) was a catalyst to begin to show that people believe in investing in HBCUs and believe in the
greatness that has been in our HBCUs for a long time. And her investment was just a microcosm of individuals saying that HBCUs are a fertile ground, and you should invest in them.” Warmack shared that the university has launched a $100 million capital campaign and has raised roughly about $74 million. Claflin is undergoing a physical transformation on campus that is extending into the city of Orangeburg. “We want Orangeburg to be an amazing place to live, work and to play. So, we’re investing in infrastructure within the community to ensure that we can be able to make Orangeburg one of the most amazing cities to keep some of our talent here to make this a thriving city,” said Warmack. In March 2024, Claflin’s new 80,000 square foot student center opened. The state of the art $44 million structure also includes a movie theater that is open to the community. “I was floored to know that there was not a movie theater or bowling alley in the entire county. I had the privilege to drive my daughter to Columbia or Charleston to see a movie. There were a lot of people in Orangeburg, a majority African American community who did not. The student center has the only first run movie theater in Orangeburg County.” Movie tickets are priced below market rate making it even more accessible to the entire community. The university began investing in downtown Orangeburg with the opening of the Center for Global Education and The Center for Social Justice in July 2021. The Center for Global Education houses The Center for Professional and Continuing Studies and Claflin Online. The Center for Social Justice coordinates Claflin’s Pathways from Prison program which offers degree completion opportunities to incarcerated citizens. The university has purchased the
LaKisha, made an incognito visit to the Orangeburg campus, “My wife and I came down as secret shoppers on our own dime just to view the campus. We asked for a tour from admissions and had an amazing person that gave it to us. We were floored by her knowledge base, by her ability to articulate the mission. And then, we walked around campus and met random students and talked to them and just, truly fell in love with the people.” Following their inspiring visit the Warmacks concluded leading Claflin was in God’s plan for them. In September 2019 during his first Matriculation Day, Warmack presented his “Five Cs Agenda” during his address to the student body: • Cutting-edge enterprise—An institution is not an amazing institution if it doesn’t have cutting-edge faculty and outstanding academic programs. • Continuing improvements in student success and student
engagement—Students will have a holistic educational experience in and out of class. • Challenging alumni and supporters to give money for a student center—Students will have a place to go and have a good experience. • Creative technology and global strategies—Every student will graduate Claflin as a global leader and hopefully infuse global experience into his or her learning experience. • Consistent “friend-raising” and fundraising—Claflin will continue to be out front in raising money. Warmack had to deviate from his agenda when Hurricane Dorian made landfall just a few weeks into his first semester, “We had to shut down campus. My family and I lived in the gym with the students that couldn’t go home because there was no power. Our mantra from the beginning was,
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