University of South Carolina Presidency: The Controversial Tenure of Caslen
The appointment and subsequent resignation of the 29th president of the University of South Carolina (UofSC) marked one of the most turbulent periods in the institution's leadership history. What began as a standard search for a new president evolved into a national conversation regarding academic governance, political influence, and the standards of leadership in higher education.
The Contentious Selection Process
On July 19, 2019, the university's Board of Trustees elected Caslen as the 29th president. However, his path to the office was fraught with opposition. Caslen was initially one of four finalists, but his candidacy faced significant backlash from the campus community. Approximately 82% of faculty and students opposed his appointment, citing his lack of an earned doctorate and controversial remarks regarding sexual assault and binge drinking made during open campus sessions.
Further controversy emerged when the Post and Courier reported that Caslen had not been an original finalist or an agreed-upon alternate nominated by the presidential search committee. Instead, his name was added to the list following the intervention of the chairman of the board of trustees.
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Political Intervention and Institutional Pushback
The search process became increasingly polarized. On April 26, the Board of Trustees initially decided to reopen the search, prompting Caslen to withdraw his name. He stated in a letter that he regretted the "clamor" and polarization his reputation caused. Despite this, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster urged the board to vote on Caslen's candidacy by the end of the week in early July.
This intervention led the university's faculty senate to unanimously pass motions criticizing the lack of transparency and issuing a vote of no confidence in Caslen. Prominent figures, including the university's largest donor, businesswoman Darla Moore, urged the board to honor the decision to continue the search. Amidst this, trustee Egerton Burroughs claimed the opposition was politically motivated, suggesting involvement from outside groups related to the Democratic primary.
Assumption of Office and External Inquiries
Despite the widespread opposition, the board elected Caslen by a vote of 11–8, with one member voting "present." He formally took office on August 1, 2019. In a press conference on July 22, Caslen outlined his goals: improving university rankings, enhancing diversity, bolstering research, and increasing athletic success against rival Clemson University.
Shortly after his appointment, the SACS Commission on Colleges (the regional body responsible for university accreditation) opened an official inquiry. SACS notified the university of evidence regarding a "significant accreditation-related issue" concerning undue external influence on the search process.
The SACS report eventually concluded that there was indeed undue political influence from Governor McMaster. While no formal sanctions were issued, the university was required to undergo enhanced monitoring, submit a compliance report, and host a site visit in the fall of 2020. Governor McMaster's office denied these findings, arguing that his influence was permissible as an ex officio member of the board.
Legislative Review
Parallel to the SACS inquiry, the South Carolina Senate formed a bi-partisan committee to review the search process. While the committee aimed to improve future searches, some members, such as Katrina Shealy, suggested the university should simply "move on" without implementing changes.
Resignation and Academic Integrity Issues
Caslen's tenure ended following a series of incidents during the May 8, 2021, commencement ceremony. During his speech, he mistakenly congratulated students for graduating from the "University of California." More seriously, it was revealed that portions of his speech were taken without attribution from the book Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven.
Caslen admitted to the lack of attribution, stating he "didn't think about" it, despite using variations of the same quote in three different speeches over two days. Following these events, Caslen offered to resign. While the board chairman initially rejected a verbal offer, Caslen formally offered his resignation on May 12, 2021, which was accepted. Former president Harris Pastides was appointed as interim president.
Key Facts
- Appointment: Elected as the 29th president on July 19, 2019, via an 11–8 board vote.
- Opposition: 82% of faculty and students opposed his candidacy.
- Accreditation: SACS Commission on Colleges found "undue political influence" from the Governor in the selection process.
- Academic Record: Caslen did not possess an earned doctorate.
- Resignation: Resigned on May 12, 2021, following plagiarism concerns and a verbal gaffe during commencement.
| Date | Event | Outcome/Detail |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2019 | Election | Elected 29th President (11-8 vote) |
| August 1, 2019 | Inauguration | Formally took office |
| October 7, 2019 | SACS Inquiry | Investigation into external influence opened |
| May 8, 2021 | Commencement | Plagiarism and naming error occurred |
| May 12, 2021 | Resignation | Resignation accepted by Board of Trustees |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Caslen's appointment controversial?
The controversy stemmed from his lack of an earned doctorate, comments regarding sexual assault and binge drinking, and reports that he was added to the finalist list through the intervention of the board chairman rather than the search committee.
What was the role of Governor Henry McMaster in the search?
Governor McMaster urged the board to vote on Caslen's candidacy even after the board had previously decided to reopen the search. A SACS inquiry later determined this constituted undue political influence.
Did the SACS inquiry result in sanctions for the university?
No formal sanctions were issued, but the university was placed under enhanced monitoring, required to file a compliance report, and underwent a site visit in 2020.
What led to Caslen's eventual resignation?
Caslen resigned after mistakenly referring to the school as the "University of California" during a graduation speech and using content from William H. McRaven's book Make Your Bed without proper attribution.
Who took over after Caslen's resignation?
Former university president Harris Pastides was appointed as the interim president following the acceptance of Caslen's resignation.