Resource Guides
Strategies for Success
Generally, your alternate work location should be in South Carolina. If your campus, college, or division deems it necessary to allow you to designate an alternate work location outside of South Carolina, the campus, college, or division should coordinate with the Payroll Office to research tax, workers compensation, and other implications of having employees perform work in another state. Telecommuting from locations outside of the United States is strictly prohibited.
Clearly setting aside time and space for your workday can help you and your family adapt to remote work. Including time for breaks can help you maintain health and keep your mind sharp.
- Check in frequently with your manager and co-workers.
- Let them know what you are working on.
- See if they need any help using technology or completing tasks.
- Be intentional in your efforts to stay connected.
- Sometimes it is important to see other faces, so turn the video or web cam on from time to time.
- Learn remote meeting etiquette – muting mics until ready to speak, keeps the noise levels down.
- Learn how to use various communication tools (i.e., email, voicemail, skype, teams, WebEx.)
- It’s ok to provide and welcome some opportunities for remote social interaction.
Not everything will go smoothly. Be ready to adapt to new technologies or approaches.
Maybe you have never needed to use VPN or Microsoft Teams before. If a technology is new to you, look for low risk ways to try them out. For example, connect with a co-worker to do a test run before a big meeting.
Now is a good time to explore new skills. The following links are a great place to start:
- MSOffice online training: learn how to better utilize MSWord, MSExcel, MSPowerpoint, etc. Advance your MS skills during the closure.
- Our employee assistance program, MyGroup, has many online sessions on professional development, diversity and inclusion, and workplace effectiveness topics.
- Richland County Library offers Lynda learning for individuals with a library card. Topics range from software, graphics, personal productivity and business skills.
If you don't know how to use a tool, you are missing resources, or even if you are feeling overwhelmed, reach out to your colleagues and supervisors. The university has online tools to help master new technologies and resources to help employees cope with stress.
Remote Working and Learning Opportunities
- Connect to cloud based university resources online.
- Use VPN to connect to UofSC internal resources such as Banner or PeopleSoft.
- Perform tasks which can be use personal computer equipment and do not require access to confidential information.
- Collaborate with your coworkers.
- Process documentation, including creation of standard operating procedures, flowcharts, checklist, annual calendars, etc.
- Review current business processes to identify opportunities for increased effectiveness and efficiency; to aid in training new hires, provide consistency in how processes are performed, and ensure business continuity when key people are away.
- Review of your department’s online resources to identify necessary updates.
- Learn more about USC
- Research issues important to higher education or unit priorities
- Review and discuss articles & books
- Review and discuss online videos, TedTalks, etc.
- Network remotely with other university counterparts on specific topics
The Division of Instructional Technology provides tools and support to help employees master technology and keep working.