Clinton College, a small historically Black college in South Carolina, missed payroll and delayed paychecks for months, citing a “serious cash flow problem.” The Rock Hill Herald reported that employee health coverage was also inactive due to failed payments, while officials said they are working with grant and program funding partners to secure outstanding reimbursements. Enrollment is a key driver of vulnerability: Clinton enrolled just 126 students in fall 2024 and has hovered around roughly 100–200 students over the past decade, with operating losses reported in recent fiscal years. The reporting also notes officials did not provide a timeline for when paychecks would resume. The payroll failure matters because it can trigger cascading harms—retention of employees, student services continuity, and institutional credibility with funders and regulators. In a constrained HBCU funding environment, delayed access to reimbursements can become an existential operational risk.