Parent and Family News-November 9, 2020

Volume 3 - Issue 5, November 9, 2020

In This Issue:

Chancellor Sandra Jordan to Retire

Dr. Sandra Jordan, the university's chancellor, has decided to retire effective June 30, 2021.

Dr. Jordan has served as chancellor since July 1, 2012. UofSC Columbia President Robert L. Caslen stated, " Last year, Dr. Jordan informed me of her intention to retire at the end of this academic year. We celebrate this milestone moment for her and the legacy she leaves behind at the UofSC Aiken and the entire UofSC system."

UofSC Aiken and DHEC Provide

Free COVID-19 Testing Site

Free testing is available to all UofSC Aiken students, faculty, staff, and the greater Aiken community.

Testing site and guidelines:

Testing
began Friday, Nov. 6.
six days/week - Wednesday through Monday, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
takes place in the Convocation Center parking lot, 2049 Champion Way, Graniteville.
Drive through test site; two lines available.
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.

Fall Graduation Ceremony

Congratulations, families of fall graduates!

November 20 will serve as a milestone date for many fall graduates as we celebrate their achievement with a traditional graduation ceremony. To comply with CDC safety regulations, we will hold the ceremony outdoors.

Here are a few important details:

Friday, November 20, at 6:00 p.m. (rain date is the following day)
Aiken High School football stadium located at 449 Rutland Drive, Aiken, SC 29801
Each graduate may bring two guests; tickets are required for entry.
The graduation website has more information about the venue, grad fair, ceremony, and tickets.

Graduates are receiving instructions through UofSC Aiken email accounts, so please work with your student to make arrangements.

November Tips to Support Your Student

Last day of in-person classes this term is Tuesday, November 24. After that, all remaining classes and final exams will be conducted remotely.
As best you can, provide a dedicated, quiet study space for returning students so they can successfully finish the semester at home.
Ask students about their schedule and exam times so you and family members can accommodate their need to focus on their studies.
Celebrate their last paper or test submission by serving their favorite meal, or going to their favorite dinner spot.
Give your student a few days after finals week, and then make a "date" with them. Go for lunch, shopping, fishing, or whatever makes them relax so they might review fall semester with you, and discuss what they're looking forward to this spring.

Pacer Care Packages

Were a Hit!

Thanks to family and friends, 28 lucky Pacers received care packages filled with Halloween decorations, school supplies and treats!

Special thanks to:

Joanna Caldwell, Pacer Family Advisory Board member
Aisha Griffin, UofSC Aiken junior (pictured)
UofSC Aiken Advancement Office
UofSC Aiken Housing and Residential Life staff

Seeking Candidates for the

Pacer Family Advisory Board

If you are interested in supporting UofSC Aiken and its parents and families, please read on!

Currently, seven UofSC Aiken family members serve on the Pacer Family Advisory Board. Their past activities include:

Writing an occasional newsletter article
Volunteering at Orientations or Family Day
Supporting the Pacer Care Package program

We hope to add a few more members to our group. If you are interested, please read our mission and complete this application. If you have questions, please reply to parents@usca.edu .

Free Flu Shots

Free flu shots are available to students in the Student Health Center. The center is located just beyond Starbucks in the Student Activities Center.

Appointments are required. Students should call

803-641-2840.

UofSC Aiken COVID-19 Dashboard

By keeping the UofSC Aiken family safe, we can continue offering face-to-face instruction and support, an essential component of the full university experience.

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.

We continue to conduct COVID-19 testing for members of our campus community. The number of positive tests remains low thanks to everyone’s compliance with safety guidelines.

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

Not Even COVID-19 Can Keep Pacers Down

UofSC students keep moving forward, learning, celebrating, and leading!

UofSC is proud to be the only public, all-Steinway, school in South Carolina.

Student, Austin Bowers, brings this Steinway to life with his rendition of Chopin's Prelude in D-flat Major, Op. 28, No. 15.

Dr. Keely Rhodes' small women's ensemble performs "The Lighthouse" by Andy Beck. Their performance is particularly meaningful as they are a "beacon of light" on campus.

We are, indeed, fortunate to have such talented students. Thank you for sending them to us!

You may have heard the expression "pay to play." Well, UofSC Aiken students participated in "pay to pie" fellow Pacers and administrators during Fall Fest. Here, vice chancellor, Ahmed Samaha, gets treated to some whipped cream by SGA treasurer, Wilson Steinmeyer.

Proceeds benefitted the United Way.

Members of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority recently celebrated Think Pink Week. Fundraising events like Smootches from Pootches, Lip Sync Battle and Bra Pong raised money for the fight to cure breast cancer.

Leaders Light the Way

Julia Smith and Suzanna LaMunion recruit students to consider leadership opportunities at UofSC Aiken.

Here, they are speaking to student, Teylor Alston.

To see the many leadership programs available for your Pacer, click here.

Spring Break 2021

The university's leadership continues to be encouraged that our Ready, Set, Return plan is being followed, and that this mitigation plan has allowed us to hold on-campus classes during Fall 2020.

Looking forward to the Spring 2021 semester, the university needs to make adjustments to continue protecting our university community from the spread of the coronavirus. Instead of having a traditional spring break week, UofSC Aiken students will have four days off spread throughout the semester as wellness/break days, and a second reading day just before final exams.

See the updated academic calendar for details.