- University has received flexibility from South Carolina Department of Administration
- Vaccine Availability Increasing; Partnership with Ingles Begins
Clemson officials, working with the South Carolina Department of Administration, have worked to provide flexibility for supervisors and employees returning to in-person work over the course of a phased approach.
We have made the state aware of the unique challenge created by spring break, with the return of many of our students during the week of March 21. We have developed a rigorous testing plan, vetted by our public health team, to facilitate the safe return to campus. As we have throughout the pandemic, the University will adjust the return plan if necessary, based on actual campus prevalence rates.
As previously communicated, no changes to spring semester instructional modalities will be made.
The Department of Administration confirmed flexibility for both: 1) employees who have a disability placing them at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19; and 2) those qualified employees who are working through the vaccination process to return to work fully vaccinated.
Clemson’s Office of Human Resources is working to develop supervisor guidance which will include specific instructions to encourage flexibility as the University works diligently to return employees to the workplace beginning March 15 through the conclusion of the Spring Semester.
The University will continue to do everything possible to ensure the health and safety of faculty and staff throughout this process and after our full return to the workplace. Further information on the University’s return to workplace plan can be found on the UNIVERSITY’S COVID WEBSITE.
VACCINE UPDATE
On March 8, South Carolina moved into Phase 1B of vaccine distribution, allowing for eligibility of higher education employees. A recent survey shows many of our employees have been successful in finding vaccine appointments through various methods, including the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) VACCINE LOCATOR WEBSITE.
This week, Clemson officials began a partnership with Ingles Markets, Inc. to provide COVID-19 vaccine appointments for a limited number of employees beginning March 17 at participating locations. Initial appointments are being made based on responses to the University’s vaccine survey.
Additionally, the University received official authorization from DHEC on March 11 of its activation as a “vaccinator site,” and has begun the onboarding process. We continue to await the allocation amount and arrival date. While the University has not been allocated any vaccine doses at this time, officials continue to work with medical partners and DHEC to secure doses for university personnel.
As more information about vaccines becomes available, updates can be found on the Clemson COVID website’s VACCINE INFORMATION PAGE.