Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis has the distinct honor of having a college campus building bearing her name in South Carolina.
Columbia, SC—March 28, 2024, Benedict College Trustees hosted a Rededication and Naming Ceremony for the College’s Administration Building on March 22, 2024. The building was named in honor of Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, the first female and 14th and current President and CEO of the institution. During the historic ceremony, the Chairman of the Benedict College Board of Trustees, Dr. Charlie W. Johnson, reminded the audience that seven years ago, Dr. Artis was not supposed to start until September 2017, but she voluntarily arrived a month early in August, rolled up her sleeves, and started her journey of creating what she coined “The BEST of BC.”
“We have seen a lot of progress during Dr. Artis’ seven-year tenure,” Johnson noted during his remarks. “Especially in the area of technology.” Artis invested nearly $15 million in technology infrastructure and computer labs. Every employee received a new computer, and every classroom received Smartboard technology.
During her comments, Artis thanked the Board of Trustees. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to lead Benedict College into the next chapter of her storied history. Thank you for your decision to memorialize my work in such a profound, powerful, and lasting way.”
Under Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis’ tenure, the quality of education at Benedict College has improved dramatically. Her leadership has strengthened the curriculum, instituted best practice policies and academic admission standards, raised the student profile and graduation rates, reduced tuition, and reaffirmed SACS-COC accreditation with no recommendations. More broadly, Dr. Artis focused on the resilience of the college. She reduced the college’s debt by $56 million within four years of her arrival.
Artis further acknowledged and applauded her cabinet members, “Everything we have been able to accomplish over the past seven years has been the result of your collective effort and the effort of the entire staff and faculty of Benedict College. I am indeed blessed to work with each and every one of you.”
Among Artis’ most significant achievements to date has been shepherding the campus through the many threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Artis administration masterfully managed a smooth transition to virtual teaching and learning for students and faculty during the height of the pandemic.
During her remarks, she spoke about how a building is constructed and shared some metaphors of her own growth. She illustratively spoke about the students at Benedict College. “My students, the beautiful young people that I have the opportunity to work for, you are my windows. You allow me to see outside into a bright future. Your beauty, your brilliance, and yes, your bravery inspires me every single day. You give me purpose and I thank you.”
The Administration building was erected in 2001 and is home to the Office of the President, Academic Affairs, Human Resources, Student Affairs, and Institutional Research and Assessment.
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About Benedict College (www.benedict.edu)
Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution offering 26 competitive baccalaureate degree programs and two master’s degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from all 46 counties in South Carolina, 30 states across America, and 26 countries around the world. The College also has a diverse faculty deeply engaged in teaching, research, and service.
Benedict College has been highly regarded and exceptionally ranked for its programs by several academic and traditional publications. Benedict College received the 2019 ACE/ Fidelity Investments Awards for Institutional Transformation and was named the HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest. Benedict College was listed among the top half of ranked HBCUs in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges by US News and World Report.
Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Five of the College’s degree programs hold national accreditation: Social Work Program, Environmental Health Science Program, Environmental Engineering, Studio Art, and the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
Photos courtesy of A. J. Shorter Photography
