Dear Clemson Family,
It is so exciting to have everyone back on campus this semester. As we prepare to host our first home football game of the season, I wanted to take a moment to remind everyone to celebrate safely this weekend and to show our visitors throughout this season the courtesy, respect and sportsmanship for which we are nationally known. Earlier this week, our athletics department released their guide to gameday operations for this season. If you are going to the game, I encourage you to review this important information, so you will know what to expect when coming to the game.
We are strongly encouraging face coverings in outdoor spaces on campus, including the football game, and as we announced last week, face coverings are required in all indoor spaces on campus, unless you are alone in an office or residence hall room or actively eating or drinking. This requirement is in place through October 8, at which time we will assess our data and predictive models and adjust our protocols accordingly.
I also want to encourage you to get vaccinated if you are able to do so, and I encourage our students, faculty and staff to report their vaccination status through our voluntary upload tool. Students, faculty and staff who report being fully vaccinated before September 30 will be eligible for incentives and drawings for prizes. Knowing how many people in our campus community are vaccinated will help us with our modeling and planning as we continue through the semester and into the spring. I am proud to say that my family and I are all vaccinated, and it is a safe, easy way to mitigate the spread of COVID and help us all get back to more normal operations. Vaccine clinics are offered every Friday at Littlejohn Coliseum through September 24, and we are partnering with DHEC to offer a vaccine clinic Saturday at Littlejohn before the football game.
Thank you to everyone who has been doing their part by complying with our mask and testing requirements and to those who have taken the extra step to get vaccinated. I know that we are all tired of living with the challenges of COVID, but we must continue to work together to ensure that we can have a safe and successful year in person.
Football game to celebrate land grant mission
This weekend’s football game against South Carolina State is designated the Land Grant Game in celebration of both schools’ status as land grant institutions. I am proud that we have several partnerships with SC State, including our Call Me MISTER program, as well as accelerated dual degree programs in physics and mathematical and statistical sciences. SC State is an outstanding land grant partner to Clemson, and I am glad that we can meet up on the gridiron this year as well.
If you do attend the game, please stick around for a special halftime performance. Tiger Band is teaming up with the SC State Marching 101 for a special tribute for the 20th anniversary of 9/11. I am sure it will be an incredible show.
Princeton Review features Clemson on seven “Great Lists”
I am happy to share that Princeton Review has featured Clemson in their “Best 387 Colleges” guide for 2022. Clemson was included on seven of their 26 “Great Lists,” including Students Love These Colleges, Great Career Services, Happy Students, Great Quality of Life, Great Town-Gown Relations, Students Pack the Stadiums and Great Intramural Sports. Clemson was even included in a TODAY Show segment about the guide earlier this week. Thank you to all of our faculty and staff who work so hard to make Clemson such a special place that our students love.
Clemson alumna Amy B. Smith named Vice President for University Relations
I am thrilled to welcome home Amy Burns Smith ’92 as our new Vice President for University Relations and Chief Marketing and Communication Officer. Amy previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Texas A&M University, and she brings with her a wealth of experience from higher education, industry and government work. She will start her new role on October 4, and I am looking forward to having her join my Executive Leadership Team.
Clemson Medallion nominations now open
The Board of Trustees is currently seeking nominations for the Clemson Medallion, the highest honor conferred by Clemson University. This honor recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a long and sustained commitment and significant service to Clemson University. Nominations will be accepted through September 30. To nominate someone or to view a full list of past recipients, visit the Board of Trustees website.
I am looking forward to seeing the Clemson Family come together this weekend and throughout the semester. I know that I can count on each of you to do your part to take care of yourselves and each other.
Go Tigers!