Tag: COVID-19

Dear Clemson Family:

Today marks the final day of classes for the spring semester, and the end of our fifth week of online instruction. All that stands between us and the end of the semester are final exams next week, and I want to congratulate all our students for their resiliency – and our faculty and staff for their tireless work to make the rapid transition to online instruction possible.

In particular, I want to once again thank our faculty for their extraordinary work. As we shared with our Board of Trustees yesterday, our faculty are going to great lengths to make sure students are getting the best possible education, and I am grateful for their dedication.

As we wrap up this unprecedented academic year, we realize that much work remains to be done as we strive for a return to on-campus instruction. Our learning model for the fall will be determined by the data and science related to the pandemic, but as our Associate Vice President for Public Safety Greg Mullen told our Board yesterday, we have “laser focus” on returning to campus as scheduled.

Our leadership team and Emergency Operations Center personnel are crafting recommendations for the University’s re-emergence from the pandemic and I hope to have more details about our plans to share soon. Rest assured, however, that any and all decisions will be made with the safety of our students, employees and communities in mind.

As we look toward a new academic year, we already have taken strong steps in support of our students and their families. I am pleased to share the news that yesterday our Board of Trustees unanimously accepted University leadership’s recommendation to freeze tuition and mandatory academic fees for both in-state and out-of-state undergraduate students for next year. A decision on housing and dining fees will be made in the near future.

Although the pandemic has had a significant financial impact on the University, holding the line on tuition is simply the right thing to do given the economic challenges facing many of our students and their families. I want to thank our Board of Trustees for its continued guidance and leadership on behalf of our students, whose success is always top of mind.

To help the University weather the continued financial impacts of the pandemic, our Board also approved a preliminary budget for fiscal year 2020-21, which begins July 1, that caps our spending at current levels. The University already has instituted a hiring freeze through at least the end of the fiscal year and we have reduced spending in numerous other areas. We will continue to closely monitor our expenses as we work to deliver a high-quality education during this challenging period.

In closing, I would like to share a couple examples that highlight the true spirit of the Clemson Family. As I previously shared, our region was hit with severe storms early last week, including a large tornado that devastated parts of neighboring Seneca. As you would expect, our employees have stepped up in a big way to help their friends and neighbors.

In addition to ongoing support from Clemson University Fire Department, emergency and facilities personnel who have assisted with clean-up and rescue efforts, more than 60 University employees volunteered over the past week at a comprehensive community support operation that has been established in Seneca. My thanks go out to all those who have given their time and energy to help our neighbors in need.

Finally, this is our annual Week of Gratitude where our Development and Alumni Relations team makes time to thank all those who have given to the University. Due to the pandemic, we have created a virtual celebration, but our gratitude remains very real.

Let me add my thanks to everyone out there who has supported Clemson – we couldn’t serve our great students without your support. And speaking of great students, I invite you to watch this video of some of our students saying “thanks” to our donors.

Again, my sincere appreciation goes out to the entire Clemson Family for making this such a special place. Good luck to our students on finals – and stay safe!

Go Tigers!

Jim Clements
President

Dear Clemson Family:

I hope this message continues to find you and those closest to you doing well during these uncertain times.

Unfortunately, the beginning of the week brought new challenges that had nothing to do with the coronavirus pandemic, but our University team responded well and we finished the week strong. Even as I write this, however, several members of the Clemson family and many of our Upstate neighbors continue to recover from a series of severe storms that cut through the area early Monday morning.

The most serious of the storms spawned a large tornado that did significant damage to homes and businesses in Seneca. Thankfully, our main campus was spared the brunt of the storm and we escaped with only minor loss of trees and a bit of water damage. Still, thousands of families lost power – some still have no electricity – and several employees suffered serious damage to their homes and property.

As frightening as this situation was, I am proud of the way the University team responded. Our facilities crew quickly cleaned tree damage on campus and the Clemson University Fire Department did great work responding to emergency calls around the city, while also supporting regional search and rescue efforts. Managers across the University have stayed closely connected to affected employees to ensure they have the work flexibility and support necessary to deal with their specific circumstances.

This also completes our fourth week of online learning and leaves us with just one week of classes before final exams begin. As we near the end of the academic year, our thoughts naturally turn to those students who are about to become our newest Clemson alumni. That’s never been more true than this year as we continue to navigate this unprecedented time in our country’s – and the world’s – history.

I am filled with deep pride over the accomplishments of our graduating students who have handled the last several weeks of their time as Clemson students with resolve, creativity and grace. They have persevered and responded like champions, in the very best spirit of our University.

At the same time, our pride is coupled with sadness and disappointment that we can’t celebrate their accomplishments in the traditional manner this May. Graduation at Clemson is truly special and I look forward each year to handing out diplomas and personally congratulating our new graduates on a job well done.

Unfortunately, circumstances don’t make that possible this May. Rest assured, though, we are committed to recognizing the accomplishments of the Class of 2020 in a manner consistent with Clemson’s history and tradition.

I commit to all our May graduates that Clemson will have an on-campus graduation celebration in their honor either later this summer or in the fall, when it is safe for you and your families to be back on campus.

At Clemson, family comes first and we can’t wait to help celebrate our newest graduates as we have those who have come before them. The Class of 2020 will forever hold a special place in all our hearts for what it has accomplished in the face of unprecedented circumstances, and we intend to express our pride and joy over your achievements in a way that will be memorable.

We will share more details on our plans when they become available. In the meantime, our creative teams across the University also are hard at work preparing engaging ways to celebrate the achievements of our newest graduates this May through our online and social media channels, so stay tuned!

My continued thanks go out to the entire Clemson Family for your support of our great University – and to all our students, finish strong!

Go Tigers!

Jim Clements
President

Dear Clemson Family:

Early this week, I was taking a walk across campus (taking care to stay a proper distance from the few other people I encountered) and was struck by two thoughts.

First, I was reminded what a beautiful place it is that we are all lucky enough to call home, which prompted me to snap a few photos that I shared from my Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Second, it hit me – hard – just how much I missed our students and the energy they bring to campus. They are the reason all of us at Clemson come to work every day, and their absence has made me appreciate them even more.

I’m also blessed to have great teammates across the university who continue to work every day – and many nights – to deliver on our promise of providing a world-class education to our students. Nowhere is that more evident than in our Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which has been running every day since Feb. 29.

This team, led by our Associate Vice President for Public Safety and our Director of Emergency Management, is made up of representatives from across the university. Together, EOC members have been the driving force behind executing almost every major decision we have made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been extremely satisfying to see talented individuals from all disciplines come together with the single goal of serving our students, employees and communities, and I am grateful for their commitment.

It has been another busy week across the University. Here are a few highlights:

• We made the difficult decision to move all summer classes to online instruction, given the continued uncertainty about when it will be safe to have students and employees return to our campuses.
• Similarly, our new student orientation will be delivered primarily in virtual mode, although we hope to have an in-person component for new students available shortly before the start of classes in August.
• Our outstanding Joseph F. Sullivan Center employee health center is now offering free telehealth services for non-COVID related medical issues to all employees, students and alumni. More information on this great service can be found here.
• As mentioned in my previous updates, we have begun collecting funds to help provide emergency relief to our students and employees. Now, I’m pleased to say that we are in a position to accept applications for relief from those in need as result of the pandemic. Students who would like to apply for emergency relief can find the application here, while employees will find the application here. And, we’re also still accepting donations for our Tigers Helping Tigers funds if you would like to give.
• Finally, as promised, we have refunded approximately $15 million in student fees for housing, dining and other student services. We appreciate the patience of our students and their families as we worked through these complex issues, and I want to thank our staff within the finance operation for working quickly get funds back to students.

As I have said before, this is an unprecedented time – not just for higher education, but for the world. I remain confident, however, that Clemson will emerge strong and well-positioned to continue the positive momentum we were enjoying before this pandemic.

Please stay safe, and thanks for your ongoing support of Clemson. It means more than you know.

Go Tigers!

Jim Clements
President

Clemson University announced today the transition of all undergraduate and graduate summer academic courses to online instruction through Aug. 7, the completion of the summer term. The move to online instruction includes the sessions identified as Summer, Summer I, Summer II and Summer Mini A-D.

The extension of online instruction through the summer is being made in advance of class registration, housing and other deadlines that are rapidly approaching. Academic support resources will remain available online to our students over the summer through the Class of 1956 Academic Success Center.

Additionally, new student orientation this summer will be conducted primarily through virtual sessions. If conditions allow, in-person components will be conducted just prior to the start of classes in August. The University is in the process of finalizing a robust orientation program and will be reaching out to all new students to provide details in the near future.

No decisions have yet been made about availability of facilities, opening of statewide offices or events scheduled to occur after May 8. The University will evaluate those activities in light of the continued spread of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) and make decisions as more information becomes available.

University officials continue to monitor the situation, and updates and information can be found on the University’s COVD-19 website at Clemson.edu/coronavirus.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster yesterday issued Executive Order 2020-21, which includes a mandatory “home or work” order which goes into effect at 5 p.m. today. As indicated in the order, permitted travel includes commuting for work, visiting family, and obtaining essential goods or services. The order will not impact any individual’s ability to exercise outdoors or go for a walk as a family, but everyone should act responsibly and practice social distancing and proper personal hygiene.

Clemson University has been conducting all classes online since March 23, with the University in a closed and modified operational mode allowing mission essential personnel on campus. While the Governor’s most recent executive order does not change the operational status of the University, it reinforces the need for only essential faculty and staff to report to work. Employees previously identified as needing to access campus for mission critical operations will continue to have access to University facilities.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

On March 23, Governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order stating, “law enforcement has the ability to disperse groups of people who pose a risk to the public’s safety and to the safety of others.”

Clemson University officials were notified of student gatherings in the City of Clemson and Oconee County over the weekend, contributing to unsafe situations with groups gathering in excess of the numbers permissible under the current state regulations. Students found responsible for gatherings on or off campus are subject to the University’s student code of conduct, as well as possible sanctions under local laws.

CDC RECOMMENDATION ON FACE COVERINGS

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

CURRENT STATUS AND ONGOING UPDATES

Clemson University officials continue to closely monitor COVID-19 and are actively engaged in daily planning in an effort to inform and reduce the risk to faculty, staff, students and visitors from the virus. As of today, April 7, at 3 p.m., the University can confirm the following:

• Community spread is occurring within the state of South Carolina, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). READ MORE.
• Online instruction has been implemented through the remainder of the semester. In addition, no programs, events or activities will be held through May 8. READ MORE
• The Board of Trustees authorized University officials on April 1 to offer refunds for a range of student fees, including housing, meals and parking/transportation. READ MORE
• Provost Bob Jones announced a new special grading policy for the spring semester, a flexible approach that preserves the integrity of the University grading system. READ MORE

Additional information and updates on Clemson University’s response and policy can be found at Clemson.edu/coronavirus.