GELC | Boyd Scholar
Unlock Your Potential with GELC and Boyd Scholars
Why Choose the GELC?
The General Engineering Learning Community (GELC) at Clemson University is your gateway to a successful engineering career. GELC is an innovative program designed to give engineering students a strong foundation for success over an extended first-year timeline (Fall, Spring, Summer). This unique initiative brings together aspiring engineers, fostering a collaborative environment where students support each other from day one in their academic and professional growth.
Choosing the GELC path still allows you to change into the engineering major of your choice - on time - at the beginning of your sophomore year with all other general engineering students.
Tailored Support for Your Success: GELC is designed to meet you where you are. Whether you're concerned about your math skills, unsure about college-level courses, or simply want to start strong, GELC provides the support you need. GELC services are provided at no extra charge. You get enhanced support and a community of like-minded peers without any financial burden.
Our program is perfect if:
- You want to be an engineer, but math isn't your strongest subject.
- You did well in high school but want extra preparation for college-level courses.
- Your SAT Math score was below 640, or your ACT score was below 27.
- You're looking to develop effective study skills for college.
Flexibility and Compatibility: You can participate in GELC alongside other campus programs and living communities. This program is designed to complement other on-campus programs, including Living/Learning Community (LLC) experiences, such as Residents in Science & Engineering (RISE) and CONNECTIONS. We do, however, encourage you to choose the RISE LLC as your housing option to complement your GELC experience best.
Community Support: Beyond academics, GELC provides valuable opportunities to develop professional skills, learn effective study strategies, and build a supportive network of peers who share your interests and goals.
Continuing Support: The Boyd Scholars Program
If you've joined GELC, you have an opportunity to continue on in the Boyd Scholars program. The selection process occurs during the Spring Semester.
Requirements of the award include:
- Be a full-time student in good standing, in General Engineering with intent to continue in engineering.
- Take all program courses together with your entering class as an intellectual cohort.
- Earn a C or better in all courses during the fall and spring academic terms.
- Participate in meetings with an assigned staff/faculty advisor.
Financial Freedom for Summer Studies: As a Boyd Scholar, your summer term is fully covered, allowing you to stay on track with your engineering curriculum. This includes tuition, fees, housing, and a meal plan. It's an incredible opportunity to continue your studies without financial stress.
Exclusive Learning Environment: Experience an intimate, focused learning environment during the summer term. You'll be part of a select group of motivated students, allowing for more personalized attention from faculty.
The Boyd Scholars program is made possible by a generous gift from the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation.
Your Engineering Future Awaits
Whether you join GELC alone or continue to become a Boyd Scholar, you're making a smart investment in your future. These programs are designed to give you the best possible start to your engineering career at Clemson.
Don't miss out on these opportunities to enhance your learning, build a strong foundation, and set yourself apart in the competitive field of engineering. Your journey to becoming a successful Clemson engineer starts with GELC – and could lead to an even brighter future as a Boyd Scholar.
We understand that every student's journey is unique. If you decide not to join these programs, alternative pathways are available to support your progress toward your engineering degree.
Joining the Program
The GELC is open to new undergraduate students majoring in General Engineering, who are invited and selected for the program based on their math preparation in high school. Your engineering future at Clemson awaits!
You will begin in the GELC program on the first day of classes, with no fee or additional costs for program services.
During the Spring Term, GELC students learn if they will become Boyd Scholars. Students selected for the program will still take the same course sequence as GELC students but will receive an award covering expenses to complete the third term during the Long Summer session on campus. GELC students not in the Boyd Scholars program can take the summer courses at Clemson or a different institution at their own expense.
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Whichever path you choose, Clemson University is committed to supporting your success in engineering. We encourage you to consider the GELC and Boyd Scholars programs as valuable opportunities to enhance your first-year experience and set a strong foundation for your future in engineering.
Have Questions Now?
Please reach out to Michael Kiernan or the General Engineering Advising Center with any questions on the General Engineering Learning Community or Boyd Scholars program.
Outstanding Award Winners
We are immensely proud of our students and the achievements they accomplish in and out of the classroom. To read about some of them, please visit the General Engineering blog.
Casey Cummings
The GELC program has been the greatest part of my first-year college experience. The program provides amazing professors that teach us not only how to be good students, but good people to our peers and ourselves. The GELC program is an opportunity that is unique and extremely rewarding. I feel so prepared going into next semester and future years in my engineering career from being in this program.
Mathew Rude
The GELC prepares students academically, but also teaches resilience and gets students prepared for the challenges of engineering. Through an approach that integrates life lessons with academic rigor, the GELC paves the way for a successful and fulfilling academic journey.
Louis Ladson
From what I have experienced in the GELC program, it will help establish an excellent foundation for learning how to think like an engineer, understanding the stepping stones for calculus, and learning leadership, mindset and academic skills needed to thrive in college.
Luke Johnson
As a two-year gap student, I was shaky when it came to math skills. The GELC program allowed me to relearn the basics of Algebra in a manner that made me more confident to move forward in pursuit of an engineering degree. The GELC program is comprised of students from a variety of backgrounds all coming together to start the process of working together towards the goal of an engineering degree.
As a junior in high school, Daniel Graves knew he wanted to go to college but didn't know anyone in STEM-related careers. After talking with a pre-calculus teacher, he knew he wanted to go into engineering.
During the co-op interview process, he signed up with Michelin, completed three rotations, and then obtained his Lean Six Sigma Green Belt to enhance his skills. This would pave the way for a full-time position at Michelin after graduation. His love for learning didn't stop with graduating. Before even walking across the stage, Graves was already signed up for the Clemson MBA program.
“It sounded like a great opportunity for me - to have smaller class sizes and really engage with not only my classmates but also my professors and grow relationships that I may not get to grow outside of the program. So, it was a really unique opportunity for me, and it worked out really well.”
Daniel GravesIndustrial Engineering '24
“The best part about it was having a community of people who were in the program with me. The relationships that are fostered throughout really helped me stay in engineering and keep going.”
AJ SandersIndustrial Engineering '23
AJ Sanders began his path in engineering without a background in calculus, physics, or chemistry. He credits being part of the GELC/Boyd Scholars program as pivotal in being able to understand the first-year concepts as an engineer.
Sanders took involvement in programs seriously while at Clemson. He was president of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), marketing director of Clemson Engineers in Developing Communities (CEDC), and an ambassador of the Tiger Alliance. Beyond academics, he co-oped at BMW Manufacturing as part of their Engineering Data Analysis, paving the way for a data analyst position with Ally Financial upon graduation.
