Clayton State University Timeline

College is officially named Clayton Junior College.

Dr. Harry S. Downs is named the College’s first President.

Classes open with 942 students.

College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

College officially becomes Clayton State College.

Clayton State College enters into intercollegiate athletic competition with men’s basketball.

College opens the state-of-the-art Continuing Education Center.

Spivey Hall's opening concert with violinist Itzhak Perlman.

Clayton State expands intercollegiate athletic program with addition of women’s basketball.

College opens Clayton State Boulevard, a new entrance road from Highway 54 to the main entrance of the campus.

Dr. Richard A. Skinner is named Clayton State’s second President.

President Skinner and then-director of Financial Aid Catherine McClarin place items in a time capsule during Clayton State’s 25th anniversary celebration.

Clayton State joins NCAA Division II and the Peach Belt Conference.

Board of Regents authorizes change to university status and name change to Clayton College & State University.

Continuing Education Center rededicated and renamed after President Emeritus Harry S. Downs.

Distribution of notebook computers to all students completed as part of the Information Technology Project, making Clayton State the first public university in the Southeast and third in the nation to issue notebook computers to all students at all levels in all majors, transforming the campus and making Clayton State a national pioneer in ubiquitous computing.

Dr. Thomas K. Harden becomes Clayton State’s third president.

State Representative Gail Buckner awarded the University’s Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award.

M. Allan Vigil, long-time trustee of the Clayton College & State University Foundation, is named a Regent of the University System of Georgia by Governor Sonny Perdue.

Clayton State awarded its first Fulbright-Hays grant. The $63,000 cost-sharing award allows 15 area faculty members, academic administrators and K-12 teachers to participate in a four week professional development program in Argentina and Chile.

University’s name changed to Clayton State University

Clayton State holds naming ceremony for James M. Baker University Center

Clayton State University School of Business earns AACSB accreditation.

Clayton State Women’s Basketball advances to NCAA Division II Final Four with 60-55 win over Texas A&M Commerce in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Kearney, Neb.

Clayton State holds groundbreaking ceremony for student housing and student activities center projects.

Clayton State dedicates Clayton State University – Fayette facility in Peachtree City.

Men’s basketball team reaches NCAA Division II “Sweet Sixteen” for the first time.

Clayton State’s new Student Activities Center opens.

Clayton State holds naming ceremony for new open-air amphitheater… the Judge Eugene Lawson Amphitheater and the L. Jerry Eskew Stage.

The Board of Regents approved the permanent appointment of Dr. Thomas J. (Tim) Hynes, Jr. as president of Clayton State University.

The women’s basketball program claimed the first NCAA Division II National Championship in program history, doing so with a commanding 69-50 victory over Michigan Tech on March 25, 2011 in St. Joseph, Missouri. 

Clayton State purchases Clayton Station Apartments to expand student housing

Lakeview Discover and Science Center opens

Clayton State University unveils mural painted by acclaimed artist Athos Menaboni displayed in the James M. Baker University Center

Clayton State University acquired the Trammell property and began renovation to provide public road access between the main campus and CSU East campus. The purchase included a small reservoir — the sixth lake at Clayton State.

Clayton State University launched Strategic Plan 2020, marking its commitment to becoming a national model for community engagement and student enrichment in higher education 

Launched its first comprehensive campaign, Greater In Mind, a four-year, $12 million campaign to offer greater financial support to students who may otherwise not be able to complete their degree without some form of aid.

Clayton State University received a $4.8 million, 5-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support the retention and graduation rates for the institution’s African-American student population through the Laker Bridge to Completion Program.

Clayton State University completed its five-year process to become a more sustainable institution by implementing a single stream recycling system, which increases the amount of recycling on campus.

Clayton State is one only three universities selected to partner with Quality Care for Children to receive $1.6 million to launch BOOST, a child care assistance program to lessen the financial burden of child care costs for juniors and seniors.

AT&T gifted Clayton State University with $12,000 toward the University's Early Start program. The funds will allow 24 freshman students to participate in the summer program that offers academic coaching, support and other student services to help them integrate into college life easily.

Clayton State University received a gift of two supply chain software programs from JDA Software, a leader in global supply chain solutions for large and enterprise companies. The gift, valued at $670,000, consist of Warehouse Management System and Supply Chain Pro software systems.

The Coca-Cola Foundation generously gave Clayton State $500,000 to support scholarships for first-generation students, as well as students interest in STEM and Supply Chain.

Led by the Marketing and Communications office, Clayton State recently launched its first-ever brand campaign consisting of billboard, television, social media, and other digital advertising. The University also completed a two-year project to update its website to be more user-friendly and ADA accessible. Both projects fulfill the Strategic Plan 2022 goals of promoting and strengthening the brand, as well as supporting increased enrollment and retention.

Spivey Hall acquired a second Steinway & Sons D-274 concert grand piano made in Hamburg, Germany in December, which has been named “Robert.” The acquisition of “Robert” marks the successful conclusion of the Spivey Hall Friends "Clara Seeks Robert" Piano Campaign, chaired by Spivey Hall Friends Council Advisor, Dr. Michael Koch.

Clayton State’s men’s basketball clinched the Peach Belt Conference Regular Season Championship with an 84-67 victory over Columbus State.This is the second straight time they claimed the championship. Finishing at 24-7, the Lakers would return to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in a decade.

MailChimp partnered with Clayton State University to invest $300,000 to establish Launchpad, a leadership academy designed to prepare students to meet the needs of the rapidly changing digital economy.

Clayton State University unveiled a complete renovation of its performing arts theatre in March, along with a new name. The Crescent Theatre has is a state-of-the-art performance venue for students in the Visual and Performing Arts department. The facility has new seating, staging, lighting and audio equipment, and a lobby featuring student artwork.

The University has completed phase 2 of its $14 million state-funded Academic Core renovation project. Several building on campus received major facility improvements including the Athletics & Health Center, the Clayton State Theatre in the Arts & Sciences Building, Magnolia Hall, Lecture Hall, and the University Library.

Clayton State University celebrates it's 50th Anniversary