- COVID-19 Updates
- Student Life
- MyCarolina Alumni Association
- University news
- Important dates
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Dear Gamecock family,
I have started this message to you several times in the last couple days in an effort to provide reassurance, hope and gratitude. The month of March brought more uncertainty and difficult days than any of us could have imagined. There is definitely no existing playbook for this type of situation.
In a matter of days, we shifted to online learning, reviewed and recommended changes to academic policies, responded to and managed thousands of emails and communications from all over the globe, coordinated the return of students studying abroad, created new online platforms for communication and engagement across the university -- just to name a few things. For faculty and staff, many of us have shifted to remote work, transitioning coursework online, homeschooling young children and taking care of elderly parents. We are truly living in historic times and how we manage the days and months ahead will surely define the future of higher education -- and more broadly, our world. We know there is still much work to be done and many questions that remain for families and students.
I recognize that many of you are experiencing sadness and a sense of loss this spring. Maybe your student wa
s finishing their last semester and you were making plans to return to campus for commencement. Some of you have first-year students who were excited to wrap up year one and
were preparing for internships and summer jobs; others had students studying abroad. Many of you are facing difficult situations with jobs and the ongoing impact of this pandemic on our society. Please know that whatever your situation, the Gamecock family is sending good thoughts your way.
Campus is eerily quiet. This time of the year typically is the best time -- celebrations of student achievement, many "lasts" for graduating students, and the beauty of campus in full effect. There have been lots of discussions on campus this academic year about resilience. Resilience, by definition, is the capacity to recover from difficulties; toughness. Perhaps there is no better test for the resilience of individuals, families and communities than our current state. I know the Gamecock community is resilient. Our students have responded to a new way of learning, our faculty have pivoted to teaching on a new platform, families have adjusted to having their students back home, and many are now working remotely from home while taking care of other children or elderly individuals. The toughness and grit of the Gamecock family has never been more evident than it is today.
The university is looking ahead at advising and fall registration, planning special events for the
class of 2020
, and preparing to bring a new class of Gamecocks to campus in fall. We are all figuring out ways to manage this new normal and we will do it together. We are also finding new ways to celebrate students this spring!
I trust that your families are safe and healthy. Please let us know what we can do to support you and your student in the days and months ahead! Thank you for entrusting us with your student and their academic pursuits. We look forward to seeing you all very soon!
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Anna C. Edwards, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Student Life
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Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
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The University of South Carolina is working with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to actively monitor the novel coronavirus outbreak and any potential impact to our campus community.
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Campus Access and Student Resources
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Campus Health
Review FAQs, CDC and DHEC updates, quarantine information and screening resources. Visit the
Campus Health section
.
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Student and Family Town Hall
The university hosted a virtual town hall on March 30 for students and families. If you were unable to join live, you can now
view the recording online
.
Refund Update
Under the guidance issued by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE), the University of South Carolina will begin issuing prorated refunds to students for meal plans, parking permits and on-campus residential housing. See the
Refund Statement
for more details.
Pass/Fail Option
The university’s Faculty Senate voted to expand the pass/fail scale for undergraduate students and make it applicable to Spring 2020 classes.
Learn more
about the process.
Summer Classes to Move Online
In the interest of maintaining the health and safety of students, faculty and staff, the University of South Carolina will extend remote learning through the end of the Summer II semester (Aug. 1) for the Columbia and Palmetto College campuses. See
President Caslen's message
for more information.
University Housing Move-Out
In keeping with state and government mandates, we will be setting up a system to allow for an orderly move out process. More details will be shared by University Housing as soon as they are available.
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UofSC COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund
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For the safety and well-being of all, we may be more separated physically right now than ever before. But one thing holds true: As Gamecocks, we stand together, always. We are more than 200 years strong, and we will navigate these difficult times together as caring Carolinians.
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Department of Student Life
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The mission of the
Department of Student Life
is to advance student success by serving as the catalyst for student involvement. We provide opportunities for every student to define a unique involvement story that prepares them to lead and serve as an engaged global citizen. Though our delivery methods might be a bit different at the moment, our mission remains the same.
The Student Life team is finding ways to continue some sense of normalcy, to keep students engaged and connected to campus, even in this new environment.
We are working hard to continue a sense of community, to offer shared experiences, and to provide an outlet for reflection and stress relief. Please let us know if there's anything we can do to assist you or your student during this difficult time!
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MyCarolina Alumni Association
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Just for Fun!
Cooped up at home? Here at your Alumni Association, we've been thinking a lot about our students and their families during this difficult time. We've put together a dedicated site so we can share "just for fun" resources to help you take your mind off things.
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"
Tate named new UofSC provost
"
William F. "Bill" Tate IV, the dean of the graduate school and vice provost for graduate education at Washington University in St. Louis, was selected as the new executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of South Carolina.
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"The Carolinian Creed
"
Remembering The Days
Podcast – Bonus Episode
Written 30 years ago by students, professors and staff members, the Carolinian Creed embodies the University of South Carolina's core values of respect, integrity and kindness. The creed became a model for scores of other colleges and universities around the country.
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April 6:
L
ast day to drop a course without a "WF" being recorded.
April 16: University Awards Day (online)
April 27: Last day of classes
April 28: Reading Day
April 29-May 6: Final examinations (includes exams on Saturday)
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Please continue to visit the Parents & Families Gateway for information and resources at
sc.edu/parents
.
Office of Parent & Family Programs
University of South Carolina
Parents Assistance Line: 1-800-868-6752
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