Parent and Family News- July 2021

Volume 3 - Issue 11, July 2021 Summer Semester

In This Issue:

Message from Dr. Daniel Heimmermann

Dear Pacer Families,

Welcome to the University of South Carolina Aiken!

On behalf of our talented and dedicated faculty and staff we are thrilled that your student has chosen to become a Pacer.

We understand that selecting a college is a family decision and commitment, and we appreciate the confidence and trust that you have placed in us. Be assured that at UofSC Aiken your student will receive a world-class education—one that they will find engaging and rewarding and one that will prepare them to be career and world-ready upon graduation. Our active and engaged teaching and learning experiences take place both inside and outside of the classroom. Your student will have opportunities to study abroad in fascinating places, conduct ground-breaking research alongside their faculty and fellow students, engage in impactful community service learning, participate in career-focused internships, and take part in other high-impact and “hands-on” learning experiences.

In addition to the continued support and encouragement that you will provide your college student our personalized academic and student services, resources, and engaging extracurricular activities will optimize their experience and envelop them with support that will guide them to success. It is no wonder that UofSC Aiken is ranked as the #1 Regional Comprehensive Public College in the South by U.S. News & World Report, and is a designated College of Distinction.

The Office of Parent and Family Relations will play a key role assisting your family and student during their transition college and beyond. The Office will keep you apprised about our services, university events, important dates, and other resources available to help your student succeed at UofSC Aiken and beyond.

Please check out our “Just for Parents” website, which will keep you updated. Also, be sure to sign up to receive our monthly parent and family newsletter.

For more information, please contact Kevin Nolan at Parents@usca.edu.

Thank you for supporting your student’s decision to attend The University of South Carolina Aiken, and thank you for your partnership with us in supporting your student’s transformative educational journey.

Once again, welcome to the Pacer family!

Dan

Daniel Heimmermann, Ph.D.

Chancellor

Housing Move In

Move-In for the fall 2021 semester is approaching. Here is important information that you should know, so you may begin to plan for your arrival at UofSC Aiken in August.

Family Day 2021

UofSC Aiken wants to welcome you to Family Day 2021! This year we are bringing Family Day back in person! On September 25th, we are inviting you to our campus for a day filled with fun, laughter, and family. We have a ton of activities to fill your day like a jazz band, a free Planetarium show in the Ruth Patrick Center, and even a trolley tour! UofSC Aiken also partners with small businesses in downtown Aiken to make sure you get a true Pacer experience.

Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the Chancellor’s brunch from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. We look forward to seeing you on campus!

For more information and to sign up for Family Day click here.

Celebrating the Class of 2021

The university celebrated its newest alumni during spring commencement on May 5. To allow for social distancing, two ceremonies took place at the Convocation Center. During the first ceremony, graduates receiving degrees in Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Science were honored. At the second ceremony, those receiving degrees in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Education, Bachelor of Arts in Special Education, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Education got their recognition. William H. "Bill" Tucker, a senior partner in the law office of Hull Barrett P.C. in Aiken, was awarded an honorary degree during the second ceremony. The degree was awarded in honor of his decades-long commitment to the legal profession, his lifelong volunteer service to nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Aiken community, and for his stalwart support of higher education and philanthropy.

Belle Wheelen, president and CEO of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' Commission on Colleges, delivered the commencement address at both ceremonies. Wheelen is the first African American and the first woman to serve as president and CEO of SACSCOC. Her career in higher education spans more than four decades and includes roles as a faculty member, chief student services officer, provost, college president, and secretary of education for the Commonwealth of Virginia. In several of those roles, she was the first person who is Black or a woman to serve. Read more on on Dr. Belle Wheelen here.

A recording of both ceremonies can be viewed here.

Spring 2021 Outstanding Senior Student

Grace Fulton was selected as the Outstanding Senior for spring 2021. Fulton is a model student who has demonstrated a solid dedication to her education, as evidenced by her 4.0 GPA and deep level of intellectual curiosity.

Fulton has been praised for her academic interest and performance by communication instructors. She's described as a confident student who completes whatever assignment is placed in front of her with excellent effort and academic thought.

Fulton has been further described as an adaptable, empathetic, and hardworking individual. She is a true leader in the classroom who provides excellent contributions to class discussions and demonstrates the highest research, analysis, and introspection levels. Such skills allowed her to excel both in and outside the classroom. She participated in several research opportunities and internships throughout her college career, including an independent study where she examined 2020 South Carolina election advertisements.

In addition to academics, equestrian opportunities have been a defining feature of Fulton's university experience. She has been a member of the eventing team since fall 2017 and has served as the team's president since fall 2020. Additionally, Fulton has served as team captain for the women's polo team for the past two years after helping revitalize the group. She shares her polo expertise with others through her coaching work with Aiken Youth Polo. These significant contributions have made her a well-respected member of the local equestrian community.

Throughout her time at the university, Fulton's strong leadership abilities have made her a valuable member of several other student organizations such as the Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and Chancellor's Ambassadors.

Fulton plans to pursue graduate work in political communication to encourage more spaces and opportunities for marginalized voices.

COVID 19 Update: Masks to become Optional

Beginning June 1, 2021 face masks will be optional on campus for summer programs and campers.

Last summer, the university implemented a mitigation plan, called Ready, Set, Return. This plan was updated in December as information about COVID-19 expanded and state guidelines were rolled out.

The university is ready to move forward in updating the plan for a third time to include information about vaccines and the latest requirements issued by the state.

A team of university representatives will work with the COVID Coordinators to discuss updates to the plan and come up with recommendations for how the campus should proceed when more is known about the limits of the vaccine.

This month, the group will update the plan while keeping in mind requirements issued from the Governor's Office, the Statehouse, the Office of State Administration, and recommendations from CDC and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental (SCDHEC).

The university advises that anyone visiting campus should refer to CDC guidelines regarding circumstances when one should wear a mask. Additional information will be forthcoming from the COVID Coordinators as we make this modification to our guidelines.

To view the current Ready, Set, Return plan, visit: https://www.usca.edu/pacer-ready/

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UofSC Aiken Student Leader Podcast

I hope you enjoyed the Parent and Family Relations Podcast this semester. We recognized student leaders who have made a big impact across campus. We also discussed how students can be involved on campus and upcoming events for all students. Please take time to listen to all the great students from the semester.

Click here for Podcast

UofSC Aiken and DHEC Provide

Free COVID-19 Testing Site

Free drive-up COVID-19 testing continues for all UofSC Aiken students, faculty, staff, and the greater Aiken community.

Testing site and guidelines:

Testing is conducted six days a week - Wednesday through Monday, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
The Convocation Center parking lot located at 2049 Champion Way, Graniteville, provides two drive-through testing lanes.
No insurance card is needed, but you will need to present a driver’s license or UofSC Aiken ID.
No insurance card needed, but you do need a driver's license or UofSC Aiken ID.
SC DHEC (SC Department of Health and Environmental Control) will provide trained staff to administer the test. They will follow all HIPAA guidelines and regulations.
SC DHEC will analyze and provide results of testing within 24-48 hours of testing
A pre-registration link is available for your convenience. It is rrtesting.com/uscaiken.
For more information, please contact Mr. Deri Wills at Deriw@usca.edu or 803-641-3787.

Please continue to revisit Ready, Set, Return, our comprehensive, campus-wide mitigation plan. The revision date appears on the front cover when new information is added.

Updates on the campus’s condition will be reflected on the dashboard each Friday and will cover weekly updates on Thursday evening each week.