
Campus Safety Guidelines
Learn about the health and safety guidelines you can take to protect the Salkehatchie community
The USC Salkehatchie needs your support to keep our community safe as we return to campus. Learn about how the university is changing to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and what you can do to help. We'll continue to update this information as changes occur.
Learn about the health and safety guidelines you can take to protect the Salkehatchie community
Learn how the Salkehatchie campus will look different when you return in the fall.
Find a location near you for free COVID-19 Testing
Find out the latest trends in the COVID-19 activity on the USC Salkehatchie campus.
Explore resources, FAQ's and information for students.
Access faculty and staff resources for working remotely and on campus.
Find information and resources for Palmetto College Students
USC Salkehatchie is currently operating in Phase 4 of a four phase reopening process. This means that
Next week we begin our final phase of our campus reopening plan.
Beginning August 3rd, both campuses will be open to students and visitors. As we take this next step toward beginning fall classes on August 20, it is important to remember some key points:
Some other important upcoming events:
Finally, as we continue to take all the steps to ensure that we are able to return safely for the fall semester, please know that we continue to monitor the public health situation in our communities. I feel very confident that we have prepared a solid plan for a safe return to campus, if everyone will do their part. For that, I encourage and invite everyone to take the Salkehatchie Pledge! Look for an announcement about the pledge when we post it on the website.
Here are a few updates as we near the end of July and continue to prepare for the fall semester:
I know that the current situation is unsettling and stressful, and I know it is difficult to prepare for the fall semester while it seems that conditions on the ground are constantly changing. I also know how difficult it has been to work from home for everyone and that we are all ready for things to return to normal.
However, as we now begin shifting from planning our plan to implementing it, everyone’s efforts and diligence are key to making it work. When we return, I believe our campuses will be among the safest public places to be within our communities, but your role will be essential in making that happen.
As always, feel free to reach out to me with questions or ideas. Please know that your hard work and dedication are much very appreciated!
Chris
Walterboro, S.C. – July 8, 2020 – USC Salkehatchie will reopen for in-person classes on the Allendale and Walterboro campuses on August 20, 2020. In order to safely welcome students back, school leaders have reimagined life on its campuses for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Face coverings will be required on-campus and social distancing will be implemented in classrooms and other campus settings among members of the campus community. Additional online options are also available for students.
“Taking all necessary safety precautions, we are pleased to be able to offer face-to-face instruction to our on-campus students and dual enrollment high school students in the Fall 2020 semester,” said USC Salkehatchie Campus Dean Chris Nesmith. “Working closely with the University of South Carolina system we have worked through solutions to the challenges the pandemic has brought, and we remain committed to providing an excellent academic and student experience in a safe and healthy environment. Our campuses are a vital resource to our students and the communities in which we serve, and we are glad to reopen our doors as public health and safety guidelines permit.”
The semester will be offered in an accelerated format, with in-person instruction ending on Nov. 24. In addition, classes will be held on many traditional holidays and breaks to allow for the semester to end earlier than usual. Classes will be held remotely on Labor Day (Sept. 7), General Election Day (Nov. 3), Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Fall break will also be cancelled with face-to-face instruction being held on Oct. 15-16. This schedule also aligns with that of University of South Carolina’s institution in Columbia.
Dean Nesmith, USC Salkehatchie campus stakeholders as well as leaders from other regional Palmetto College campuses within the University of South Carolina System have coordinated to plan for a safe reopening of campuses in the fall. Their resulting efforts produced the USC Palmetto College Campuses Reopening and Risk Mitigation Plan to guide the reopening and identify resources for the campus communities. The full plan can be read on the USC Salkehatchie website at USCSalkehatchie.sc.edu.
“Our first and foremost priority is the health, safety, and well-being of our students, faculty and staff,” said USC Palmetto College Chancellor Susan Elkins. “The plan will continue to evolve as the public health environment changes. “
For more information, contact Jane Brewer at jtbrewer@mailbox.sc.edu.
Next week we will begin Phase III (July 14-Aug. 3) of our phased plan to reopen campus. Additional faculty and staff will be permitted to return to their offices during this phase. However the same approval and protocols for coming on campus will remain in place: you must receive approval from your supervisor and a Return to Work letter from HR, and continue to submit a Daily Health Screening form every time you come to campus.
During this phase campus will remain closed to outside visitors. However, we will begin allowing students and other visitors to come on campus to meet with student support staff by appointment only. All visitors will be required to complete a Visitor Health Screening form prior to coming on campus, and will be required to wear a face covering while inside a campus building at all times.
Last week you received a copy of our Risk Mitigation Plan from Dr. Elkins. We have sent a press release to our local papers with information about the plan. It is also posted on our website.
The Salk Reopening Task Force continues to make good progress on carrying out this plan. I will share a few items of our recent progress:
I am appreciative of the hard work of the campus task force and the working groups so far in preparing campus for reopening in our next phase, beginning August 4. I am confident that we have a good plan and that we will be ready for the fall semester.
We all hope that the trend of rising cases in our region will begin turning in the opposite direction soon. That can only happen if everyone does their part. Thank you for all that you are doing to keep yourself and others safe.
As we continue our work on preparing campus for this fall, I wanted to provide you with a few updates. Last week President Caslen announced plans for reopening USC Columbia. As you know, our Salkehatchie task force, along with its various working groups across campus, has been at work on our plan that is specific to our campus, in conjunction with the other Palmetto College campuses. While this plan has many elements in common with the Columbia campus plan, there are also important differences--primarily because Columbia is a residential campus, and we are not.
Next week I anticipate the release of our comprehensive plan, which I will share with you, and which likely will be accompanied by a press release for our local newspapers and media outlets summarizing the important points. In the meantime, I wanted to clarify some differences in our plan (as well as some items in common) with what USC Columbia is doing.
There are many more points and details in our comprehensive plan, but I wanted to provide you with some highlights for now. I understand everyone is interested in getting as much information as possible, and I will share it as it becomes available. However it is important to keep in mind that this is a dynamic environment, and decisions we make now about the fall may require further adjustments in the future as circumstances change.
I hope everyone remains healthy and safe as we look forward to celebrating July 4th next weekend!
Chris
USC Salkehatchie has launched a Campus Reopening Task Force to develop protocols and procedures necessary to safely open its campus to faculty, staff, and students.
“The safety and health of our campus community is our utmost concern and responsibility and will guide all our decisions as we move forward,” Dean Chris Nesmith said. “Numerous details need to be addressed. As with everything related to this current health crisis, much will depend on developing conditions. We are all hopeful the spread of COVID-19 will diminish, and conditions will improve. However, we are planning for the opposite and will continue to make all preparations to provide as safe a working and learning environment as possible this fall.”
USC Salkehatchie is working in concert with the university, multiple government agencies, and public health experts to determine best practices for the safest and most effective route forward. The task force will develop criteria and ensure these criteria are all met before students, faculty and staff return to campus.
USC Salkehatchie’s planned reopening will take place in 4 phases:
Phase 1: June 1 - June 21
Phase II: June 22 - July 13
Phase III: July 14 - Aug. 3
Phase IV: Aug. 4
Although the USC Salkehatchie campus is currently closed, admissions and financial aid staff are available by email Monday through Friday to assist students who need to enroll or complete financial aid requirements. Summer classes are currently available for students to take online. Information and resources can be found uscsalkehatchie.sc.edu.
You can email them at the email addresses below:
Financial Aid: Jhadwin@mailbox.sc.edu
Admissions: ander694@mailbox.sc.edu
Enrollment: tonyjack@mailbox.sc.edu
Advisement: jtbrewer@mailbox.sc.edu