South Carolina's Inspector General will examine the relationship between Clemson University and a proposal for a massive new subdivision in Oconee County following potential conflict of interest concerns. (File photo courtesy of Clemson University)
COLUMBIA — South Carolina’s inspector general will examine the relationship between Clemson University and a proposal for a massive new subdivision in Oconee County following potential conflict of interest concerns.
Clemson became entangled in the controversy surrounding the 600-acre development as President Jim Clements and former Gov. Nikki Haley, a Clemson board member, also sat on the board of the publicly traded homebuilding company believed to be behind the proposed neighborhood.
College presidents on corporate boards can draw schools into controversy. It happened at Clemson.
Senate President Thomas Alexander, who represents Oconee County, requested the investigation “to ensure accountability and uphold public confidence,” according to a statement Wednesday.
House Speaker Murrell Smith also backed the request.
“Public confidence in our institutions depends not only on whether the law is followed, but on whether actions are viewed as beyond reproach,” the Sumter Republican said in a statement.
Clemson officials, in a statement, said the college will cooperate fully with the inspector general and expressed confidence the review will confirm the school acted appropriately.
Developers of the project approached Oconee County leaders about their proposal last year.
Though developers never submitted an official application with the county, an early marketing plan called for 5,200 housing units — a number that was later reduced to 3,200 units. It also included a satellite Clemson campus on the property, located about 5 miles northeast of the school, near Newry Mill.
The developers also were in contact with the college’s senior management team in 2023 and 2024, even flying Clemson staff on a company plane to tour a similar development near Purdue University in Indiana.
Messages from the developers came from an email addresses associated with United Homes Group, formerly Great Southern Homes, the publicly-traded company where Clements had been on the board since 2022.
Both the college and the company denied that the homebuilder benefited from the connection to the university or used it to put pressure on the county to approve development plans.
“At no point has the University provided funding for, partnered on or endorsed the planning or construction of any residential development related to this proposal,” the college wrote in a statement to the SC Daily Gazette and other outlets.
“As is standard practice, an administrative team conducted a preliminary review to assess the multi-use concept’s potential economic and community impact,” the statement continued. “After completing its due diligence, the University decided not to pursue the economic development initiative.”
Clemson staff last met with the developers in November 2024.
Clemson, in a December letter to Oconee County Council, also stated United Homes was not the developer. Instead, the developer was a different, separate company operated by Michael Neiri, the chairman of United Homes and a Clemson alumnus.
Legislators said the request to have the inspector general look into the issue is not an allegation of wrongdoing, but rather “a proactive and responsible step to ensure transparency.”
“The people of Oconee County deserve clarity and confidence in the decisions that affect their community,” state Rep. Adam Duncan said in a statement.
“An independent review ensures that questions are answered thoroughly and objectively, and public trust is maintained,” said the Republican who represents the district impacted by the Newry development.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with a statement from Clemson University.
