Dear Students:

Welcome back!  We are so excited to see the campus coming to life as we wrap up orientations and reopen our residence halls for move-in this weekend. 

Even though the pandemic is not yet in our rearview mirror, we have spent months planning for your return and a more normal student experience.   Here is a sneak peek at what we have in store for you this fall:

• Welcome Weeks will take place August 19 – 29. They will be jam packed with fun and a few mandatory sessions for Freshmen, Transfers, Residential Students, and Commuters.  Check your email for details.
• The DiGiorgio Student Union (DSU) has planned a super hero themed lineup that includes movies, musical performances, and cool activities such as Headphone Disco, Flight Training and Laser Tag! Check out their promo video here.
• The Council of Student Leaders, the voice of students, will resume its weekly meetings and continue to offer you the opportunity to share how Winthrop can enhance the student experience. Join them for the New Member Meet & Greet, August 23 at 7:30 pm in Richardson Ballroom.
• The West Center and Recreational Services is ready to help you stay healthy with group exercise, intramurals, sports clubs, top notch fitness equipment, a rock wall, and a pool!
• Fraternity and Sorority recruitment/intake processes and activities will be back in full swing. And, our 100+ student organizations will be back in action. Check them out at the Fall Involvement Fair, September 9.
• Fall sports are back! The Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, and our championship winning ESports Teams are all practicing in preparation for winning seasons. 
• Fresh Check Mental Health Awareness Day is coming back to campus later this fall. 
• And, you are now free to move about your residence halls and to meet your neighbors in other halls.

Over the summer we adopted some new online tools and platforms to enhance your Winthrop Experience:

• Check out Eagle Engage to get the full line-up of campus involvement opportunities including registered student organizations that you can join. 
• Handshake (formerly EAGLELink) is Winthrop's new online job database for Students, Alumni, and Employers. Handshake focuses on helping you find the jobs that you’re looking for and makes it easy for employers to recruit you. Handshake will launch August 23rd.
• Are you looking for opportunities to serve Winthrop and the surrounding community? Check out EAGLEimpact!

Quite a line up, right? To ensure that we are able to keep things live and in person, and as normal as possible, we need your help. Here’s what you can do. Wear face coverings indoors in all of our campus facilities, including classrooms and laboratories at all times regardless of your vaccination status.  Engage in daily health self-monitoring. If you begin experiencing any COVID-related symptoms stay home (residence hall or off-campus housing) from on-campus class, work, or activities. Please contact Health Services through the Patient Portal or covidreporting@winthrop.eduto report symptoms or close contact and remain home until a nurse contacts you.

If you are not yet vaccinated, participate in one of our three free vaccination clinics for students and employees (more details to come) on campus, two of which are already scheduled:

• Friday, Aug. 27 – Moderna – Campus Green, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 16 – Pfizer – McBryde Hall, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Getting those vaccinations completed and uploaded will be worth it! The University recently approved $100,000 for vaccination incentives. Students who are already fully vaccinated and students who are vaccinated at the time of our campus drawings will be eligible to participate in the vaccination incentives program. Don’t wait, upload your vaccination card/document now to the Health Services Patient Portal. Stay tuned for more details about the program.

I hope that you are as excited as we are for all the activities that we have planned for you.  Have a wonderful semester! 

Shelia Higgs Burkhalter (AKA Shiggs)

Dear Campus Community:

On August 5th I wrote you noting that our mitigation strategy for COVID-19 is evolving and exists in a dynamic environment. We have certainly seen that reflected in South Carolina’s higher education community in the last 24 hours.

With yesterday’s S.C. Supreme Court decision allowing mask/face covering requirements at public higher education institutions, I was prompted to consult our Board of Trustees and discuss with our leadership team the institution pivoting quickly to a mask/face covering requirement for the Winthrop community to prevent the spread of the virus on campus. That suggestion had been the recommendation of the COVID response team earlier this summer, and I am pleased we will now be able to exercise the autonomy that we had hoped to have at that time to help ensure the health and safety of our community this fall.

With the full support of the trustees and our leadership, the face coverings requirement will be in effect immediately for all members of the campus community, regardless of vaccination status, while around others indoors in all of our campus facilities, including classrooms and laboratories.

The mask requirement does not apply in a student’s own residence hall room, a faculty or staff member’s private office (if alone) or while eating/drinking indoors on campus. Masks are not required outdoors unless gathering in close proximity to others. As we continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in our community, we will periodically review this requirement and its continued implementation, guided by advice and recommendations of the CDC and SCDHEC.

I hope you will once again embrace change in this pandemic and graciously do your part to help ensure we can continue to offer the exceptional educational experience that our students deserve and that we have a reputation for providing.

Mask up, Eagles, so we can continue to fly safely this fall!

Sincerely,

George

George W. Hynd
Interim President

8/18/21 Dacus Library and Pettus Archives Fall 2021 Services (pdf - 194 KB)

8/13/2021 Friday Feature from the Provost (pdf - 122 KB)

Dear Winthrop Community:

I know you are eager to receive more details on our fall semester COVID-19 plans given the latest public health information and trends in South Carolina. Please know that the health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty/staff, and guests remain our top priority. Our mitigation strategy for COVID-19 is a dynamic situation, and while we had hoped to have some autonomy in making decisions that are best for our campus community, we do not have that at this time.

What is especially concerning to me is evidence that the transmissibility of the Delta variant has caused a re-emergence of the virus that none of us expected in the run up to the fall semester. Be assured that we will continue to monitor the virus, confirmed cases and the vaccination rate in our state. Our decisions are now and will continue to be informed by public health guidance, as well as federal and state laws. Conversations with our colleagues at public universities across the state and guidance from the S.C. Attorney General have shaped our plans, which you will find below.

Let me say that I fully expect the Winthrop family to do the right thing and take these measures seriously. The best defense is a good offense, and getting vaccinated has proven the best option for not contracting and/or reducing symptoms of COVID-19. I cannot stress vaccination enough. Additionally, with positive cases again on the rise, we strongly encourage masking while in campus buildings. We met the COVID-19 challenge last year, and I know that together, taking responsibility for each other, we will overcome it again this fall.

Return to Campus COVID-19 Requirements

Return Student Testing

Students residing on campus, working on campus, or attending face-to-face classes must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test conducted no more than 5 days prior to arrival on campus OR opt out of testing by providing one of the following:

• proof of prior positive COVID-19 infection within the last 90 days
• a completed COVID-19 vaccination record that was recorded two weeks prior to arrival

Additional information from Residence Life/Center for Student Wellness has been emailed to students with specific dates regarding testing and move in/arrival. Please pay close attention to this information. Failure to comply with the testing requirement may result in referral to the Dean of Students Office for violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

The university will offer voluntary free testing to students, faculty and staff over the fall semester. See our SAFE testing site for dates and times. Testing is also available at multiple locations throughout the state, including the York County site at the Winthrop Coliseum which is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Vaccination

The university strongly recommends all students, faculty and staff to get fully vaccinated in order to protect themselves and the community. For students who have completed full vaccination, please upload your vaccine record into the Medicat Patient Portal. The portal is compliant with federal health privacy law and your records will not be shared.

In addition, the university will offer three free vaccination clinics for students and employees (more details to come) on campus in the coming weeks, two of which are already scheduled:

• Friday, Aug. 27 – Moderna – Campus Green, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 16 – Pfizer – McBryde Hall, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Face Coverings

While we cannot require them of students due to very clear guidance from the S.C. Attorney General, face coverings are strongly recommended inside all campus buildings, unless you are in your own residence hall room, alone in a private office, or you are eating inside campus dining facilities. They are required on buses and other forms of university transportation.

We know that masks work for helping contain the spread of COVID-19, and while we may not be able to currently require them of our students, we will consider guidance from the state to help us keep our community safe and healthy, including the possibility of requiring face coverings of our employees and guests in the future.

Isolation and Quarantine

Students, faculty, and staff who test positive for COVID-19 will once again be expected to isolate at home/away from campus to prevent the spread of illness. 

Following the most updated guidelines from the CDC and SCDHEC, fully vaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine following exposure to a positive COVID-19 infection if they are not showing any symptoms. Unvaccinated individuals are required to quarantine following an exposure to a positive COVID-19 infection, regardless of their symptoms, as per guidelines from the CDC and SCDHEC.

All students living on campus are required to file a detailed quarantine and isolation plan with Residence Life. Instructions to do so were sent by email on Aug. 4.

Any employee who has been exposed to or tests positive for COVID-19 should notify Human Resources as soon as possible after learning of the exposure or positive test results. HR will provide further instructions based on the employee’s individual circumstances.

Group Gatherings

We are continuing to consider recommendations for group gatherings in light of recent events and will share those as soon as they are available.

Mental Health & Emotional Well-Being

Perhaps more than any other time in 2021, this latest surge linked to the Delta variant likely has all of us worried or scared. Caring for your overall well-being cannot be overstated. If you're dealing with the effects of having COVID-19, grieving the loss of someone who has succumbed to the virus, or simply feeling let down about the changing circumstances, our Counseling Services can help. Students can schedule a same-day intake through the Patient Portal. Employees are encouraged to utilize the EAP benefits available to them through the McLaughlin Young Group.

Let me reiterate that, just as we have in the past, we will adjust our planning according to the latest public health information. Watch for updates and announcements in the coming weeks in response to changing circumstances.

Sincerely,

George

George W. Hynd
Interim President

8/5/2021 Residence Life Instructions (pdf - 128 KB)

8/4/2021 Return Testing Requirement (pdf - 194 KB)

Dear Students,

As you transition into summer break, please review these instructions to prepare for the upcoming semesters. It is important to read this email in its entirety to understand the expectations. While we strongly encourage all campus members to complete COVID-19 vaccination in order to support the ability to resume normal campus operations, students may opt to test as an alternative to vaccination.

Students living on campus during the summer and/or fall 2021 semester are REQUIRED to:

• Have a COVID-19 test administered no more than five (5) days* prior to your scheduled move-in date.
• The results must be uploaded NO LATER than 5:00PM 48 hours before your scheduled move-in date to the Patient Portal showing a negative test result in order to receive your room keys at move-in. Only students with negative results will be permitted to return to campus. If you do not have your test results by your scheduled move-in date, do not come to campus. You will not be permitted to receive your room key. Contact Residence Life at residencelife@winthrop.eduto reschedule your move-in date. 

Commuter students who plan to attend face-to-face in-person classes or on-campus research/employment during the summer and/or fall 2021 semester are REQUIRED to:

• Have a COVID-19 test administered no more than five (5) days* prior to the first day of returning to campus.
• Submit documentation of a negative test result no later than 5:00PM 48 hours before your first day of in-person classes, research, practice, or employment**. Only students with negative results will be permitted to return to campus.

In lieu of providing a negative test, if you have completed a COVID vaccination, including the 14 days after your second dose (or single Johnson & Johnson shot), you do not need to test. Upload your completed vaccination card to the Patient Portal as soon as possible but no later than 5:00PM 48 hours before you are scheduled to return to campus. Get a head start and upload over the summer as soon as you complete vaccination.

• People are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks or longer after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) or two weeks or longer after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson/Janssen). This guidance can also be applied to COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (e.g., AstraZeneca/Oxford).
• Cards that only reflect one of a two dose vaccination or that reflect obscured information will not be accepted.

* If you have tested positive within the 90 days prior to your move-in/date or first in-person date on campus, please upload your positive test result to the Patient Portal no later than 48 hours before your scheduled move-in or first in-person date for research, employment, practice, or class.

**Online-only students working on campus in summer or fall will need to email results to wuhealth@winthrop.edu.

Accepted COVID Tests

The accepted method of testing for students is a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test via nasal, nasopharyngeal, throat or saliva. Negative antigen tests (rapid) will be accepted as well.

Health Services will not accept a positive serological test (antibody).

Plan ahead

Research testing or vaccine options well in advance of your return timeframe to avoid last minute barriers.

Testing

• Find a testing location near you by visiting scdhec.gov/findatest or calling 1-855-472-3432. Out-of-state students need to consult their state health department website for permanent and mobile testing locations.

COVID Vaccine

• gov or SC Vaxlocator will help connect you with locations offering vaccines near your location. In addition to the website, people in the U.S. are also now able to text their ZIP code to 438829 (GETVAX) and 822862 (VACUNA) to find three locations nearby that have vaccines available. All students coming in the fall need to have completed their vaccine series by August 1 to have time for their 2 week immunity period (8/15) and meet the compliance submission timeframe.

Students should quarantine two (2) days before the COVID test (to reduce close contacts if positive) and continue to quarantine after the test until your return to campus to reduce additional exposure.

• If you have a positive test result you will need to isolate for 10 days from the date of your test before coming to campus. Health Services will not require you to be retested before arriving. You must communicate with Health Services at covidreporting@winthrop.edu upon receiving your positive results to discuss your 10-day isolation period.

Only students with negative results will be permitted to return to campus. If Health Services does not have record of your test results by 5:00PM 48 hours before your scheduled move-in date, residential students will not be permitted to receive their room key and you will not be permitted to move in until your test results have been uploaded.  Commuter students who have not provided test results by 5:00PM 48 hours before the first day of in-person classes are not permitted to attend class or work in-person until test results are submitted. Please call Health Services at 803/323-2206 with questions.

Failure to comply with the testing requirement will result in referral to the Dean of Students Office and students may be charged with a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

Wishing you a restful and healthy summer break,

Jackie Concodora, M.Ed., LPC

Director of Center for Student Wellness

Winthrop University Center for Student Wellness

Dear Campus Community,

As most of you are aware, last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new COVID-19 guidance. Because of this new guidance, Winthrop has updated its COVID-19 protocols for indoor and outdoor spaces on campus. The following requirements and guidelines will apply to all members of campus – students, faculty, staff, contractors and visitors – and will go into effect immediately:

• For individuals who are not fully vaccinated, masks will continue to be required in all indoor spaces unless working alone in a private office. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated will not be required to wear a mask outdoors if they are physically distanced, traveling alone on campus and not part of a group. 
• For individuals who are fully vaccinated,masks and physical distancing are optional but not required in indoor and outdoor spaces on campus. In addition, individuals who are fully vaccinated may participate in meetings in person without the need for masks or physical distancing, provided that a virtual option is offered for those who are not able to participate in person. 
• Please note that fully vaccinated is defined as two weeks after receiving the second of a two-dose series or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine.

I strongly encourage all members of the campus community to get vaccinated. Vaccines are available at the City Operations Center or at a provider of your choice. Please make an appointment to get your vaccine. Students may visit the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control website to find a vaccine distribution site. 

Please note that as in-person Maymester and summer courses get underway, the expectation is that masks will be worn and physical distancing will be observed inside these classrooms in order to fulfill any expectations the students/faculty members may have had when the course began.

Finally, I want to make you aware that building signage will now state that face coverings are strongly encouraged (versus required) inside Winthrop buildings. Building coordinators may contact Printing Services to request this new signage.

While the changes mentioned above are a positive sign that life is returning to a somewhat normal status, we all should continue to do our part in making sure it stays that way by following safety guidelines and staying home when not feeling well.

Thank you for all that you do for Winthrop.

Sincerely,

George

George W. Hynd
Interim President

Dear Campus Community,  

The last week has seemed a bit more like our pre-COVID days with more people out and about, additional cars on campus, exciting athletics contests, and more. As we experience the annual sense of renewal that comes with spring, I’m reminded of just how far we’ve come. You have contributed in countless ways to helping keep our virus transmission low and our campus, for the most part, open. In the last week, you have pivoted to a full return to work on campus, and I marvel at your ability to manage personal and professional obligations to do so. Thank you!

As I have mentioned previously, with the widespread availability of vaccinations and continued risk mitigation efforts, we will see a return to full operations in fall 2021. Here is what you can expect: 

• Face-to-face classes will resume at pre-pandemic levels. 
• Faculty and staff will maintain on-campus office hours.
• We will offer full occupancy in our residence halls.
• The first- and second-year residency requirement will be re-instituted.
• All campus services, from dining to the student experience, will be offered in person. 
• Buildings and facilities will return to regular capacity.
• Campus events will be held at appropriate levels of capacity.
• Athletics competition will resume, and fans will be welcomed, following NCAA guidelines.

Regarding academic offerings, we are completing conversion of most hybrid and online synchronous courses back to in-person. This conversion required us to push fall registration back a week to April 12-16 and provides an extended window for advising that will benefit both faculty and students. I do want to reiterate that, as much as we would like it to be, common time is not an option for fall. We need the time to ensure we can use the full schedule to insert courses back into campus spaces for in-person learning. We are monitoring classroom physical distancing recommendations and will adjust our protocols as appropriate.

The COVID-19 vaccine is critical to our planning as well, and I encourage you to receive your vaccination as soon as you are eligible. It appears that the vaccines may be available to our students even earlier than anticipated, with the federal government ramping up vaccine allocation. We will continue to monitor SCDHEC’s phased schedule in order to communicate vaccine eligibility and availability to students. As we did for faculty and staff, a short survey to determine interest in utilizing the Rock Hill Community Vaccination Center will be sent to our students at the appropriate time. And of course, until public health experts say otherwise, our current physical distancing, mask-wearing and frequent handwashing requirements will continue across our campus. As noted previously, we will very likely require a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination for students’ fall return.

Finally, it goes without saying that these ambitious plans will be contingent upon local and state data and we will continue to follow the advice of public health professionals, including those at the CDC and SCDHEC.

I will keep you updated as we finalize our plans, so please continue to watch your email. In the meantime, enjoy these lovely spring days on our beautiful campus.

Sincerely,

George

George W. Hynd
Interim President

Dear Students:  

On this beautiful Friday, I wanted to share with you some brief information...

Mask Up and More

Don’t allow anything you’ve heard to change your commitment to helping our community control the spread of COVID-19. The same rules apply. We are still requiring masks at Winthrop. And we expect you to continue the other preventative measures like hand washing, physical distancing, etc. This is the wrong time to stop what we know works!

Campus Safety Ambassadors

Some of your peers have been tapped as campus safety ambassadors to help remind and encourage you to do the right things mentioned above. Talk to our ambassadors when you see them on campus if you have questions. And check out their profiles on Instagram @WUDOSO; you may recognize a friend!

Employees Back

Next week the campus will be busier with many more people because most faculty and staff will be back on campus working. With the increase in population, it will be crucial to maintain our requirements for COVID-related health and safety. If everyone does their part, we can stay safe!

Test, Test, Test

With more people on campus, testing will be of even greater importance. The CDC recommends COVID testing at least once a month for those not vaccinated and regularly out in the community. The free saliva-based SAFE testing is in McBryde twice monthly. Stop by from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on the next test date, March 23. If you’re symptomatic, skip SAFE testing and contact Health Services through covidreporting@winthrop.eduor the Medicat Patient Portal for free testing. Testing is also free at the Coliseum site that is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Any positive test means getting in touch with Health Services immediately. 

With your commitment, Eagles, we can fly through the last half of the semester safely! Thank you for your cooperation!

Sincerely,

George

George Hynd

Interim President

Dear Colleagues:

In my message on Saturday, I mentioned we would continue to seek clarification on how Governor McMaster’s latest executive order impacts Winthrop’s return to work and on the expectations from the State on spring semester operations moving forward. Our expeditious return to on-campus work plan has been approved by the State HR office, and, as instructed, the plan includes provisions for most all employees to return to on-campus work on Monday, March 15. Here is more information we have learned:

·         We have learned that our academic schedule in regards to teaching and classes will continue unaltered for the spring semester. What that means for our faculty is that you will continue with your already scheduled classes in their respective modalities for the remainder of this semester. Our summer and fall planning for a return to a more normal and in person Winthrop academic experience continues apace and appears not to be affected by this latest guidance.   

·         We have confirmed that agency heads have clear discretion to require employees to wear masks in workplaces and other common areas of state buildings.  The Department of Administration and the Division of State Human Resources have promised to provide additional guidance regarding Winthrop’s ability to continue to require students and visitors to wear masks.  Unless or until additional guidance is received, Winthrop will continue to require students and visitors to wear masks, mirroring previous policy. So unless we hear otherwise, masking will continue, along with the other requirements we have implemented (physical distancing, frequent handwashing, limiting face-to-face interactions, etc.) that have been instrumental in mitigating risk on our campus. Masking will not be required in private offices with doors closed.

·         Our plan includes a provision for employees with children attending face-to-face in K-12 schools to return to their on-campus work location on a full-time basis on March 22, 2021. Those employees who elected virtual instruction for their children will have until April 5, 2021, to report to their on-campus work location in order to sort out childcare arrangements. 

·         For anyone who has not worked on campus or did not complete the required, mandatory Online Acknowledgement indicating each employee has reviewed return to work training back in the summer, you need to do this as soon as possible. This information can be found at the “Faculty and Staff Return to Work Notification, Training, and Resources” section of the HR COVID-19 Information for Employees website. 

The March 15 return to work directive is an aggressive timetable from the State, and we realize the expectations have prompted many questions from employees. Our HR office has created a list of FAQs you may find on the HR COVID-19 Information for Employees website that you may read for more information on our return to work. Please continue to watch your email for other important updates.

Sincerely,  

George

George W. Hynd
Interim President

Dear Colleagues:

Over the last year and even at the town hall just last week, I have reiterated that changing circumstances impact our decision-making. I am writing today to share guidance we have received on our back-to-work plans, as you may have seen referenced in Governor McMaster’s latest executive order.

Late Friday the Department of Administration sent word that state agencies must immediately expedite the transition back to normal operations. While we heard your concerns during the town hall on returning to Phase 3 too quickly, this is a decision we no longer control. Our plan to return to normal operations must be submitted by Wednesday, and the expectation is that most all state workers, regardless of care-giving responsibilities for school-age children or for vulnerable adults, must be back in the workplace full time very soon.

Our return-to-work plan will address the Department of Administration’s suggestion on how to handle a request for a short delay for some workers impacted by in-person learning plans of the schools. But our initial reading of the guidance makes clear that continued work from home, on a formal or informal basis, will not be an option for the vast majority of Winthrop employees moving forward.

Now more than ever, as state employees, you must think through vaccination plans and options for your particular family situation. Hopefully, you have already scheduled your vaccine shot. If not, please take advantage of our two Winthrop Days at the Rock Hill Community Vaccination Clinic on March 16 and 18 by registering before the deadline of March 10. See more information in the emails from HRHelp on Friday.

I anticipate more information will be forthcoming as our leadership prepares to meet the requirements associated with the Governor's order. I will keep you apprised of developments. I know this is not the news you wanted to hear but rest assured that we will keep your concerns top of mind as we move forward in our planning as required by the State.

Sincerely,
George

George W. Hynd
Interim President

Dear Students,

I am excited to share that Winthrop’s executive officers decided this week to plan for an in-person Commencement for all interested Spring 2021 graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. We have been working toward this for some time now, and I hope this is the news that many of you wanted to hear in terms of our planning. I appreciate the work of the Commencement Committee who researched our options and made recommendations to Winthrop’s leadership on how we could safely undertake Commencement on campus.

To accommodate our anticipated May graduates, we will hold a total of five ceremonies with appropriate physical distancing, limited numbers in attendance, and required mask-wearing. As in previous years, we will utilize floor seating of the Winthrop Coliseum, but with seating much more widely spaced for degree candidates. Dates and times follow.

Thursday, May 6: 7 p.m. – All graduate degree candidates

Friday, May 7:

10 a.m. – College of Arts and Sciences (BS and BSW degree candidates) and

College of Visual and Performing Arts undergraduates

3 p.m. – College of Arts and Sciences – BA degree candidates

Saturday, May 8:

10 a.m. – College of Education undergraduates

3 p.m. – College of Business Administration undergraduates

All degree candidates will need to confirm attendance in advance, both for their assigned seating and for tickets for up to two guests. Records and Registration or Graduate School staff will be in touch with degree candidates in a few weeks with the customary communications about Commencement details. 

Given that it will be extremely important to limit unnecessary close contact, degree candidates and their guests will be seated upon arrival at the venue. There will be no Commencement speaker to allow us to appropriately focus on our degree candidates and to provide the additional time that will be needed to move through the ceremony in a physically distanced way. Ceremonies will include presentation of the usual faculty and student awards. Graduates will receive diploma covers for official photographs with me, but your diplomas will be mailed following the ceremonies to accommodate the work Records and Registration and Graduate School staff would normally do on Friday that will be completed the next week.

I hope you are as thrilled as I am with the prospect of the first, large in-person indoor events to be held on campus in more than a year. As long as we continue to do the right things as far as our campus safety protocols for the remainder of the spring semester, we will be able to once again host these long-awaited ceremonies.  

All degree candidates should watch their email for more details from Records and Registration or the Graduate School about the ceremonies. Thank you for your patience as we have explored options and considered what is possible taking into account the health and safety of our new graduates and the campus community. 

With warm regards,

George

George W. Hynd

Interim President

Dear Colleagues:

Thank you to everyone who participated in Tuesday’s third faculty/staff virtual town hall meeting. I hope that the vice presidents and I were able to provide you with helpful information that addressed many of your questions. There were some questions and issues raised in the town hall that our leadership will discuss in order to provide more specific information on either the HR website or in future communications.

If you were not able to attend the town hall, you may access the recorded session via this link.

Thank you again for all you do on behalf of the Winthrop community and especially our students.

Sincerely,
George 

George W. Hynd
Interim President

Dear Colleagues:

I hope you are planning to join me and other members of Winthrop’s leadership for a third Faculty/Staff virtual town hall on Tuesday at 11 a.m.

The town hall meeting will be accessible via Zoom on Tuesday at 11 a.m. by using this link. A video recording also will be made available following the town hall if you are unable to participate live.

I hope you can join us. 

Warm regards,

George 

George W. Hynd
Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

Since even before we came back to campus last year, members of our community have desired an option for COVID-19 testing that can address what we know to be an issue on many college campuses – asymptomatic incidence of the virus. As you may know, a key factor in the rapid spread of COVID-19 infections across a community is that individuals can have the virus but not display symptoms. In order to monitor potential spread of this kind, public health experts have consistently noted that regular and ongoing COVID-19 testing is crucial for the successful and sustained operations of institutions like ours that have students living and learning on campus. I am pleased to share with you that we finally have that regular and ongoing testing option on our main campus, thanks to a new partnership with the USC College of Pharmacy.

The Saliva Assay Free Expedited (SAFE) test is free, quick, and noninvasive, and results can typically be shared within 24-48 hours after the sample is collected. The PCR saliva-based test shows 97.5 percent accuracy in the early stage of infection. SAFE testing is only available to current Winthrop students, faculty, staff, and such campus affiliates as Sodexo and Barnes & Noble employees. A SAFE testing webpage with all the details is now available.

Beginning February 23, 2021, we will offer SAFE testing on mostly Tuesdays in McBryde Hall, twice a month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (See the full schedule on the webpage.) This is a voluntary program, yet it will expand our testing capacity while also helping the university maintain face-to-face classes and organizational activities the remainder of 2021. Everyone is encouraged to test at least once per month.

Things to remember about this easy, effective and convenient testing, which again, starts Tuesday on a voluntary basis:

• Be sure to bring your Winthrop ID to get tested. It’s also good to bring your cell phone to record your test barcode. You can preregister here.

• SAFE testing samples will be collected and coded in a manner that ensures confidentiality and protects privacy.

• Do not eat or drink anything (including gum, candy or nasal spray) or use any tobacco or vaping products for at least 30 minutes prior to your SAFE test. Do not drink water for 10 minutes prior to the administration of your test.

• You should notparticipate in SAFE testing if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. These include, but are not limited to, coughing, fever, sensory loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, headaches and/or sore throat. Instead, follow the student protocol or employee protocol for symptoms or exposure.

• All positive results will be reported to SC DHEC. Positive student test results will be shared with Health Services. Health Services will contact students who test positive to begin contact tracing and provide further instructions.

SAFE testing participants will receive an email to your registered email account stating that results have been uploaded and  providing instructions on how to view the results. Even if your test is negative, you are encouraged to consistently maintain safe practices such as avoiding large groups, wearing a mask, maintaining physical distancing, and monitoring yourself for symptoms.

Again, this is a fantastic development in our Covid-19 mitigation efforts, and I am thankful for the USC College of Pharmacy for offering this free testing service to us. In closing, I want to remind students to PLEASE immediately contact Health Services if you are a close contact, test positive, or experience any symptoms consistent with COVID-19. We continue to hear about sick students who are trying to manage on their own so they don’t get sent home or prevented from going to class, work, etc. This is a public health emergency, and it is vitally important for all of us to follow reporting protocol for the health and safety of our campus community.

Sincerely,

George

George W. Hynd
Interim President

Dear Colleagues:

Back in October I announced that we expected spring semester to follow the academic schedule set earlier in the year with in-person instruction beginning January 11, spring break March 15-19, and final exams April 28-May 4. At the time, I noted that we would continue to track decision “triggers” that may change our plans. Current COVID-19 risk levels in the community and state, capacity of local hospitals to care for COVID-19 patients, and the very real potential for exposure that could impact the campus after the holiday break are sobering developments that make clear we need to adjust our plans in order to continue to protect our university community from the spread of the virus.

We are making the following adjustments to the spring semester.

Remote Start January 11

The first adjustment we will make is to have another remote start which will allow us to begin the semester as planned on January 11, yet also help us mitigate virus spread as the holiday season winds down. This also will provide more time to implement our spring COVID-19 testing requirement wherein residential students and those taking in-person classes must present a timely negative test result to move back into the halls and/or attend class. Both students and faculty members responded well to the fall remote start, and I expect this spring adjustment will be similarly accommodated. There will be a small reduction in housing and dining revenue due to the remote start, but my belief is that the health and well-being of our community is worth this cost. The in-person component of our instruction will begin the day after the MLK holiday on Tuesday, January 19.

Different Approach to Spring Break

While we had sincerely hoped to preserve a weeklong spring break in March, it is not in the community’s best interest to have a week off from classes in the middle of the semester. Our second adjustment then will be to forego the traditional spring break, and in doing so, reduce increased virus transmission that we have seen goes hand in hand with travel and tourism activities. In discussion with several groups about the possibility of foregoing the week off from classes, we heard the importance of building in some days off through the semester to relieve stress and give our students needed breaks. I agree with this, and in order to provide some breaks without impact to class scheduling, we have identified five days that have been spread throughout the semester to provide respite. To be clear, these are days when there will be no classes; offices will be open.

Updated Calendar

With the above adjustments, the timeline for our spring semester now is: 

Monday, January 11               First day of class -- remote until Tuesday, Jan. 19

Monday, January 18               Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – no classes 

Tuesday, January 19               In-person classes begin

Tuesday, February 16             Spring break day 1 – no classes

Wednesday, March 3              Spring break day 2 – no classes 

Thursday, March 18                Spring break day 3– no classes

Friday, April 9                            Spring break day 4 – no classes

Monday, April 19                      Spring break day 5 – no classes

Monday, April 26                    Last day of class

Tuesday, April 27                      Study day

Wednesday-Tuesday,              Final exams

April 28-May 4

Thursday and Saturday,          Commencement ceremonies

May 6 & 8

With this schedule, fully online and shorter-term classes will not need any adjustment. We understand that some of you may have planned to use the weeklong break for furlough. If your furlough plans are impacted by this schedule, please talk to your supervisor/dean/vice president or see the Furlough FAQ “How are furlough days scheduled” on HR’s website.

Return to Work Planning

I also want to share with you that the current rise in cases, impact on local hospitals, and other factors also continue to inform our planning relative to Phase 3 of our Return to Work. As a result, when we come back from the holiday break, we will continue to work as we have been with roughly 50 percent of the workforce on campus at any given time. At this point, my thought is that we will likely continue this until the end of March to give us the chance to learn more about vaccine availability and how the virus may have changed over the winter months. However, we will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed if we determine that we can move to Phase 3 earlier.

Thanks and Continue to Prioritize Masking, Social Distancing, and Hand-washing

Finally, I want to thank a large number of you for your feedback shared through last month’s survey on our Return to Work planning. The 430 respondents provided valuable insight that has helped spark discussion and shaped decision-making among our senior leadership team. The results of the survey may be viewed on the HR website.

Because of your goodwill and good work, we have pulled off the fall semester and have plans in place for a safe spring semester.  But this is definitely not the time to become complacent, and in some areas we do need to improve. Masking, social distancing and hand-washing are really all we have to protect ourselves and each other from this virus until vaccines are readily available. I implore you, when you are in campus buildings, you must have on a mask and wear it correctly (under the nose is a pet peeve of mine and an affront to many). You mustn’t congregate for conversation or have close interactions with others. While we don’t have many who disregard these requirements, those who do put folks at risk, and believe me, we heard about it on the survey mentioned above. This is one of the key complaints noted in regard to your colleagues’ comfort level with working on campus.

Thank you for taking time to read this message. Please know that the university’s leadership remains committed to offering the Winthrop education that students and their families have come to expect, in as safe an environment as possible. I appreciate all you have done and will do during this extraordinary academic year.

Sincerely,

George 

George W. Hynd

Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

I know you are eager to learn what Winthrop’s plans are for December Commencement. As the university continues to navigate the current pandemic and monitor CDC and SCDHEC guidelines regarding large indoor events, it has become clear that, as with May Commencement, we will not be able to hold our traditional ceremony.  We do, however, want to celebrate the accomplishments of our degree candidates as much as possible. 

Using their responses to a recent survey regarding commencement options, Winthrop will hold a virtual commencement ceremony on December 19 for our December graduates, as well as our August and May graduates.  In addition, our December graduates will be invited to campus on December 19 to pick up their degree. (August and May graduates received their degrees by mail.)  While neither of these events can truly replace the joyous celebration of a traditional ceremony where graduates are surrounded by family and friends, we will make these events as special as possible as we work to keep graduates, their families and the Winthrop community protected from COVID-19. 

I speak for the entire Winthrop community in sharing our disappointment that we cannot hold a regular ceremony, but we know this is the right thing to do. We are exceedingly proud of the accomplishments of each and every one of our graduates, especially as they have completed their Winthrop degree despite a pandemic. They are resilient scholars who prioritized their goals and dreams, and then achieved them!

 I thank the Commencement Committee in advance for their work to bring these events to life and welcome our latest Winthrop graduates to the alumni ranks.

Sincerely,

George 

George W. Hynd
Interim President

As we reach the halfway point of in-person instruction this semester, I wanted to share some information that may be of interest to you as we look to complete the semester on campus.

First, I hope you have seen our COVID dashboard and the low numbers of cases we have seen. Vice President for Human Resources Lisa Cowart noted that, while the number of faculty and staff who have been infected continues to be low, through our on-campus contact tracing, we have learned that none of those who have been infected appear to have contracted the virus at work.  This is encouraging and suggests that employees are following the health-related guidelines to wear masks and maintain a safe distance from coworkers and students. While we are not so naive as to think that will continue indefinitely, we do want you to be aware of this and to keep doing what you are doing to keep yourselves, your co-workers and our students safe.

On another note, I wanted to let you know that there have been and will continue to be some limited in-person events on campus. You are likely aware that we are currently declining requests for external groups to visit and hold events unless we have a contractual obligation to do so. We have, however, been holding some in-person events within the University Events guidelines (pdf) that were developed this summer using guidance from the CDC, DHEC and MUSC, among others. One recent example was the socially distanced CSL induction ceremony I attended in September. I’m pleased that such events offered in a blended delivery format (synchronous in-person/virtual) have been well received. This format, in particular, allows a comfort level for participants who may not be ready to physically attend gatherings.

We are hearing regularly from students and family members that in-person experiences outside the classroom setting are desired (safely, of course), and we are pleased that our efforts along this line help contribute to the engaged college experience that students and their families want and expect. Fortunately, we have not experienced any COVID-related issues as a result of holding these events.

Finally, as campus events continue to be scheduled and successfully offered according to our guidelines, my wife, Alison, and I are beginning to host very small presidential events outside at our home. We are following all CDC, DHEC and MUSC guidelines as would be expected for any event on campus. In addition, earlier today we were able to show our heartfelt appreciation to the Facilities Management staff at a luncheon we hosted outdoors with all of our safety precautions in effect.  The Facilities area has worked tirelessly since March while others of us worked from home and under Phase 2 guidelines. Their efforts are among the key reasons we have been as successful as we have been in our campus response. Our event staff and the Sodexo team provided a safe, socially distanced lunch with no university funds used. Alison and I were happy to host the event for this deserving group. 

We will be looking at ways to creatively host or deliver other events as well. We recognize that it is important we find ways to acknowledge the many people who have contributed to our successes in these difficult times.

If you have ideas for how we might acknowledge groups and teams across campus, please send a message to the president@winthrop.edu email address. We will add your suggestions to those we are considering. Thank you again for all that you do for Winthrop.

As the Winthrop campus settles into fall, we have much for which to be thankful. We’re about halfway through our in-person instruction, and COVID-19 cases have been low across our community. Our adjustment to the new normal for living and learning has gone well, and I applaud you for your efforts to keep your colleagues and friends safe and healthy. As cases continue to rise across our country, we must continue to be vigilant—observing social distancing, wearing our masks, and washing our hands. It is our understanding that Governor McMaster has given agency heads the discretion to determine when it is appropriate for their agency to move into Phase 3 of the Return to Work plan. Consequently, with the exception of Facilities Management and a few other offices that are currently working under Phase 3 guidelines, I think our best course of action is to continue in Phase 2 at least through the end of the fall semester. In December, we will consider all information available to us and revisit this decision.

Spring 2021 Semester
With advising for the spring semester beginning next week, it is a good time to share what we expect the spring semester will look like for our campus. Discussions have been ongoing among different leadership groups, and our consensus is that, barring unforeseen circumstances, the spring semester will proceed as planned with in-person instruction beginning Jan. 11, spring break March 15-19, and final exams April 28-May 4.

Such unforeseen circumstances (as you may recall from the work of the reconsideration task force) could still include COVID risk levels in the community and state, capacity of local hospitals to care for COVID patients, availability of COVID supplies on campus, availability of student-serving quarantine/isolation facilities on campus and related staffing, appropriate infrastructure to support on-campus cases where students were not able to go home, etc. We will continue to track these “triggers” that could prompt a change in our plans. 

Commencement 
I would also like to share where we are with Commencement. December 2020 degree candidates have been informed that we will not be able to hold a traditional commencement ceremony on December 19 as we hoped. Those students also have been surveyed about their interest in participating in one or more of the following: a virtual ceremony, a drive in diploma pick up, and a possible special ceremony on May 15 (the week after May commencement), provided we can hold large events by then. More to come on the students’ preference and what we will offer.

Important Dates
As we move into the second half of the semester, the following are some key dates to keep top of mind:

Oct. 21–Advising for Spring 2021 begins
Nov. 3–Election Day, no classes but offices open 
Nov. 10–Registration for Spring 2021 begins
Nov. 20-Last day of in-person classes for Fall 2020
Nov. 23-Remote instruction day (no in-person classes to be held; faculty will provide virtual assignments)
Nov. 24-27-Thanksgiving holiday, no classes (offices closed Nov. 25 -27)
Nov. 30-Dec. 3–Remote learning for Fall 2020
Dec. 4-Fall 2020 study day
Dec. 5-11–Fall 2020 final exams

For additional details, please see the registration calendar.

Thank you again for your compliance with our COVID-related requirements since the semester began. You are the reason we have been able to continue offering in-person classes and delivering on the exceptional Winthrop experience for which we are known. Let us keep up this proven good work to help ensure a healthy and safe learning community for all.

Now that we are more than a month into the fall semester, I hope everyone has settled into this new normal in which we find ourselves. I’m pleased to report that our careful planning and implementation of COVID-19 protocols and procedures have gone well overall. We are seeing good compliance with our masking policy and other requirements, and I thank each of you for doing your part to help us create awareness and educate one another on why #MaskUpWinthrop is so important. I invite you to read more below about COVID-19 updates as well as other information I thought you would like to know:

COVID-19 Testing and Dashboard  
Winthrop has partnered with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to offer free COVID-19 testing at the Winthrop Coliseum. This free testing is available to anyone in the Winthrop, and surrounding, community. It did not cost Winthrop anything to provide this service, but we hope it will help provide many benefits, including being able to effectively track the virus’ prevalence in York County. Upcoming testing dates are Oct. 11-12, Oct. 15-19, Oct. 22-26 and Oct. 29-Nov. 2 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Read more about the testing partnership in this press release.  

Winthrop also recently debuted its COVID-19 Dashboard which is updated every Tuesday morning to provide the latest information on known positive cases among students and employees. Employees are encouraged to email fscovidreporting@winthrop.edu to report symptoms or a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

Recent Board Action and New Trustee
Trustees met on Friday, Sept. 25, and voted to extend the temporary suspension of the use of standardized test results as an admissions requirement for students entering the university in the 2021-22 academic year. The university started using alternative methods of evaluation in April for this fall’s freshmen and will continue using it for those who will make up the Class of 2025. This, of course, all stems from the COVID-19 pandemic and the inability for some prospective students to safely take the SAT or ACT. Please read more in this press release.

Attending the Sept. 25 meeting was Winthrop’s newest trustee, John Brazell ’93, who ran unopposed for the Congressional District 2 seat that had been held for many years by Donna Glenn Holley. John, who earned a psychology degree from Winthrop, is a financial consultant with Charles Schwab. He will serve a six-year term. Please join me in welcoming John to the board if you see him on campus, and please join me as well in offering my sincerest thanks to Donna for her years of service to the board.

United Way Campaign
Winthrop will launch next month its 2020 United Way of York County campaign. The campaign, led by several of our colleagues, provides us with the opportunity to help our neighbors, co-workers and friends via the partner agencies that receive United Way financial support. At Winthrop, we've earned a reputation for caring about the community where we live and work. Every year, we get the chance to demonstrate that community spirit and leadership by taking part in the United Way campaign. 

We recognize and understand that this year is different as we all have been affected by furloughs and other COVID-related realities. However, if you are able to give any amount, I know it would be appreciated as the United Way of York County works to achieve its goal of helping 3,000 York County families achieve financial stability by 2030. This year, in addition to the traditional form that you receive in your office, will be an opportunity to donate via an online pledge form to make giving more convenient and easily accessible. More information soon will be available on the campaign through the Daily Digest.

Finally, I would like to thank each of you for everything that you are doing to ensure that we have a successful fall semester. I know it isn’t easy, and many of you are juggling the additional responsibilities of assisting your children with virtual and hybrid learning, among a myriad of other outside-of-work responsibilities. Please know that I appreciate you and the work that you do each day. Your work matters, and it’s what has helped us successfully get to this point of the semester.

I am pleased to inform you that Winthrop has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control to offer free COVID-19 testing at the North parking lot of the Winthrop Coliseum, beginning this Friday from 9 a.m.1-p.m. More information will be shared if and when testing on the main campus becomes widely available.

DHEC’s free nasal swab testing will be available to anyone at Winthrop and in the surrounding communities at the Coliseum on Sept. 11, Sept. 18 and Sept. 23. Additional dates and times will be added, so please continue to check DHEC's testing site for updates.

This is good news for Winthrop and for our communities as we help provide a much needed, and free, service in order to stay on top of virus activity in our area. 

Employees who are experiencing symptoms or have tested positive should immediately communicate this information to fscovidreporting@winthrop.edu.

Please read the press release below that provides more details, and thank you to all involved who helped make this a reality. 

Winthrop Coliseum to Serve as Free COVID-19 Testing Site Through December

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Winthrop University is partnering with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control to offer free COVID-19 testing to the Winthrop, and surrounding, community at the North parking lot of the Winthrop Coliseum, 1162 Eden Terrace. (No COVID-19 public testing is currently available on Winthrop's main campus located off of Oakland Avenue.)

Free testing, which will be performed via nasal swab, will begin at the Winthrop Coliseum on Friday, Sept. 11, and will initially be offered on Friday, Sept. 11, Friday, Sept. 18 and Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Additional testing days and hours will be added once more equipment and staffing are secured. The permanent testing site will last through at least December and will then transition to a COVID-19 vaccine site once a vaccine is approved and available to administer.

There is no cost to Winthrop to host the testing location, but it will provide many benefits.

“Having a permanent mobile testing location provides much needed access for the community without the delay in appointment availability. Increasing testing frequency provides a more accurate perspective on the prevalence of the virus in our county. I am so proud of Winthrop’s ability to provide a centralized location to facilitate DHEC’s goal of expanding testing convenience in York County as one more layer of response during this pandemic,” said Jackie Concodora, director of health and counseling services at Winthrop.

According to Concodora, patients will remain in their vehicles at all times during the process, and test results can be delivered via the mail or electronically.

"We're very excited to partner with Winthrop University to improve access to testing for COVID-19 in York County," said Scott Thorpe, DHEC's Midlands region public health director. "As with everything in public health, we know that collaboration will always improve our collective impact. Whether its students or local residents, we know that improved access to free testing means we can catch more cases. The more cases we catch, the better we're able to get this disease under control so we can all return to our normal, pre-pandemic lives."

For more information, please visit DHEC's website.

I am writing to say thank you and to provide some updates. I truly appreciate your dedication and patience as we have begun the semester online and are poised to begin in-person instruction on Tuesday, Sept. 8, as part of our Return to Learn. It is to be expected that with the return to school, concerns and anxieties exist. I know you have many questions. By way of this email (admittedly long but appropriately so) and tomorrow morning’s town hall, I hope we can reassure you that we are doing everything possible to navigate the transition to in-person, resident instruction.

Move-in news
We had a successful start to residential student move-in yesterday. Residence Life, Health Services and Campus Police worked together to implement a touch-free move-in process that allowed for health assessment and screening before students and their helpers, who had reserved a time in advance, were allowed to move in. This minimized the number of people in the halls at once and allowed an orderly and safe process for everyone. This phased move-in lasts through Monday, Sept. 7. Thanks to all of the staff who have been working to ensure this vitally important first step to transitioning students back to campus goes well and according to plan. 

Adjusting to the fall
Prior to arrival, students received instruction on what to bring to campus (over-the-counter medications, digital thermometer, go bag, etc.) and how to utilize our new symptom tracker software (see below) on a daily basis to keep tabs on their health. Students also were invited to a Student Engagement town hall that was held last week to share how Student Affairs will ensure students feel connected this fall through in-person and virtual opportunities. An “Into the Unknown” event will be held virtually and in person on Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. in Tillman Auditorium so students can learn more about how the university is moving forward and what students can expect with respect to program and service delivery. 

Expectations
We already know that becoming accustomed to the new protocols and expectations is a learning curve students must adjust to quickly. They have been provided all the information needed for a successful semester, including our masking requirement and physical distancing expectations; Student Conduct Code additions and the consequences of not abiding by university expectations; and a health kit. We have to lead by example and utilize teachable moments to encourage compliance with our new expectations. Students will be receiving email and video snippets on social media in the coming days to reinforce these expectations.

Positive COVID cases
One point of information that it is important for all faculty and staff to understand is how we are handling potential student COVID cases on campus. We have a limited number of test kits available through Health Services that are reserved for students who exhibit symptoms of COVID. Students who obtain COVID testing in the community must immediately notify Health Services of the test date by emailing covidreporting@winthrop.edu and report their results. These procedures will help us track cases and pursue contact tracing.

If instructed by Health Services staff, residential students will be required to immediately return home to complete quarantine or isolation. All residential students must submit a Return to Campus Plan to Residence Life as a proactive measure in the event they are impacted by COVID and must leave campus immediately.

Students who return home for quarantine or isolation are expected to follow up with their personal health provider for any COVID-related care and notify Health Services at covidreporting@winthrop.edu of any changes in their condition impacting their return to in-person instruction.

A great new tool for all residential students and commuter students attending in-person classes is the COVID Symptom Tracker in the Medicat Patient Portal COVID-19 tab. Residential and commuter students are strongly encouraged to use the tracker every day before leaving their residence. A positive response on the daily tracker will display instructions and automatically prompts contact from Health Services.

All of our student protocols stem from use of the patient portal or covidreporting@winthrop.edu email. Faculty should use this email if they suspect or have heard from a student that s/he may have or have been exposed to COVID. Do not attempt to help manage a student’s situation on your own. Use the email to initiate assistance to the student through our approved protocols.

For acute illness that results in absence from in-person classes, Health Services will notify the Dean of Students Office which provides official absence notifications to Academic Affairs. The Dean of Students Office will issue an absence notification (dates only, not condition) to students’ faculty members. At that point, faculty members are expected to do all they can to help ensure the student can continue successfully in their classes.

Finally, we are working to develop a website dashboard with weekly positive cases reported to us among students and faculty/staff. We will send out more information as soon as it is available. 

Testing on campus
We will not be testing all students, staff or faculty as we begin in-person instruction as it is not recommended by the CDC or DHEC. However, I am pleased to share that we are in conversation with DHEC to use our facilities (one of the Coliseum parking lots) for a long-term, free, mobile testing site that will be open to the public, and of course, the Winthrop community. This is an exciting development, and more details will be forthcoming.

MUSC visit and report
Last month, consultants from MUSC visited campus, reviewed protocols for our Return to Learn plans, and provided risk assessment. We are working to address their recommendations and suggestions, including implementing specific checklists that would apply to divisions and areas of campus.

Reconsideration Task Force report
In all of this preparation and assessment, we are guided by a report provided in late July by a campus-wide Reconsideration Task Force which researched possible “triggers” or a combination of factors that might prompt a change in our campus operations based on COVID.  The committee’s charge was to identify possible factors that would encourage us to review a decision to bring students back to campus or, if they were back on campus, what possible factors would cause us to go remote again as we did in March. In addition to available COVID risk levels in the community and state, other factors included the capacity of local hospitals to care for COVID patients, availability of COVID supplies on campus, availability of student-serving quarantine/isolation facilities on campus and related staffing, appropriate infrastructure to support on-campus cases where students were not able to go home, etc. The consideration of these factors--and a recognition as to the commitment to provide the best education possible to our students--led to the decision to bring students back to campus. We will continue to monitor all of these factors as we move forward in the coming weeks. If it appears that we cannot serve the majority of our students safely and mitigate the possible risk to our staff and faculty, we will consider these factors and make the appropriate decision.

I hope you find these updates helpful. We all know that it will take commitment from every member of the campus community to mitigate the spread of COVID to protect ourselves and one another, and keep our campus safe. Our individual actions can have a profound effect on others. Please practice social responsibility and consistently adhere to all COVID-related precautions such as wearing a mask, avoiding close contact with others (especially group gatherings), staying home if feeling unwell, and frequently washing your hands. Together, we can do this!

I hope you are planning to join me and other members of Winthrop’s senior leadership for a second Faculty/Staff virtual town hall on Friday at 10 a.m. This town hall will focus on the unique challenges employees will face this academic year.

The town hall meeting will be accessible via Zoom on Friday at 10 a.m. by using this link. A video recording also will be made available following the town hall if you are unable to participate live.

I hope you can join us.

It is with great disappointment that I write to you to share another COVID-19-related decision that will impact our fall semester. As the release below explains, the Big South Conference has made the decision to delay fall sports with the hope of those teams entering competition in the spring. We feel for our student-athletes who have worked extremely hard to reach the NCAA Division I level of competition. Their disappointment with this decision will be great. The good news for these students is that all scholarships will be honored. We look forward to a time in the future when our teams can safely compete without the risks of COVID-19 potentially impacting their health.

Winthrop Reacts to BSC Decision to Delay Fall Sports

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA .– With the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff its highest priority, the Big South Conference announced today the decision of the Council of Chief Executive Officers to delay the fall sports seasons and to postpone them until the spring, if possible.

For Winthrop the decision impacts men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, and fall competitions in men’s and women’s golf, in addition to out-of-season competition in spring sports.

“Marking another difficult decision in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this delay reflects our commitment to student-athletes and the entire athletics family,” said Winthrop Interim President George Hynd. “While we know the decision is extremely disappointing for our players, coaches, staff and supporters, their health and safety is most important as we move into the fall season. We look forward to the day our outstanding teams can return to competition without the uncertainties of the pandemic holding sway.”

The Big South Conference joins the Big 10 Conference and Pac 12 Conference in decisions to postpone fall sports this week, along with several other leagues that have done the same in recent weeks.

Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Ken Halpin noted that all scholarships will be honored and coaches and staff stand ready to assist student-athletes just as they did in spring 2020 when competition was curtailed. “We are prepared to support them and help them adjust to team and individual expectations moving forward,” he said.

For more information on the Big South Conference’s decision, see the release.

Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s Students/Families virtual town hall meeting. I hope that the vice presidents and I were able to provide you with helpful information that addressed your questions and concerns regarding the upcoming fall semester.

If you were not able to attend the town hall, you may access the recorded session via this link.

There were some questions that we were not able to address but know that we are working on including these questions on the Return to Learn website as appropriate or sharing answers to them in upcoming communications.

I hope you and your loved ones are planning to join me and other members of Winthrop’s senior leadership for tomorrow’s virtual Students/Families town hall at 6:30 p.m.

We know that there are many details and issues of concern as we continue to prepare for the fall 2020 semester. Please note on Monday I announced that the fall semester will begin remotely. We look forward to answering your questions tomorrow tonight.

The town hall meeting will be accessible via Blackboard Collaborate Ultra tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. by using this link. A video recording also will be made available following the town hall if you are unable to participate live.

I hope you can join us tomorrow.

I write to you today to bring you an update regarding our back-to-school plans. There is no doubt that the health and safety of our students is the highest priority as we consider the start to the fall semester on August 24.

In reviewing the latest S.C. DHEC data available, I note that only six of the 46 counties in South Carolina have not shown a significant increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks. The national and international attention our state COVID-19 infection rates have generated has increased anxiety about returning to school be it in the K-12 or higher education environment.

As the infection rate in South Carolina has risen, we have increasingly heard from concerned students and parents expressing uncertainty over coming back to campus and living in our residence halls. This is quite a change because only a month ago we heard how excited our students and parents were with the onset of classes. Having spoken to a number of my president colleagues in South Carolina, I know all state institutions are experiencing the same concerns over reopening with in-person classes. Some institutions are delaying their start date or others are considering beginning the academic year with remote instruction and then transitioning to in-person instruction later with the anticipation that infection mitigation efforts will begin to reduce the high infection rates we are currently experiencing.

After a great deal of consideration of the available data regarding COVID-19 infection rates and for the health concerns and safety of our students, faculty and staff, we have made the difficult decision to begin our fall semester remotely. Specifically, the academic calendar will remain the same, but classes will begin on August 25 and be delivered remotely until September 8. This is a two-week delay of in-person classes, but it is necessary. We strongly feel beginning our academic year remotely is the right decision. Revised residence hall move-in dates and reduced housing and dining hall fees are being developed and will be shared with you in the next few days.

Should the statewide COVID-19 infection rate remain high during the first week of September we may revisit this decision and determine whether it makes sense to continue to offer instruction remotely a bit longer.

I hope you understand that our decisions are based on our judgment as to what is best for the health and safety of our students and on our ability to serve them academically in a healthy environment. Thank you for your flexibility and patience as we move forward together.

Dear Winthrop Students and Families:

On my webpage there is a video that talks about the family atmosphere at Winthrop. It’s one of the characteristics that attracted me to Winthrop; you might have been drawn to the university for the same reason. It’s against this backdrop of family that I write to you today to thank you for your patience and share more information as we continue to navigate these uncharted waters of COVID-19.

First, I know many of you feel the frustration that folks on campus are experiencing as well. With its spread in our state and elsewhere, and new challenges emerging daily it seems, we have been forced to re-evaluate some of our earlier decisions. Our plans for this fall are undergoing constant review to ensure a safe return to classes this fall. Today, I want to share how we have adjusted our approach to living on campus as well as how we are approaching the delivery of our classes. 

Housing  

The “live on campus” first- and second-year housing requirement plays a large role in community building on campus and helps create the family atmosphere that is part and parcel of the Winthrop experience. While we are not ending the requirement this fall, we want all students and families to know that we will not be enforcing the residency requirement as in the past. We want our students and families to feel safe and comfortable with attending Winthrop, so we will be generous in approving housing waivers. No student who chooses an online schedule or to live away from campus due to the pandemic will be refused the option to do so. 

We believe this is the right thing to do and that it demonstrates to the Winthrop community our compassion and understanding of the fear and uncertainty that students and families are experiencing right now. If you are a first- or second-year student and you do not feel comfortable living on campus this fall, please complete the housing waiver application that is available through the Eaglesnest Housing link under Student Tools on Wingspan. Likewise, if you are an upperclassman and want to cancel your housing application, you may use the same link. 

If you plan to live on campus (we know that for some of our students this is not only a desire but a necessity), know that we are implementing myriad health and safety measures to contain virus spread within our community. You will hear more about those measures during our July 30 town hall (link info to come to you via email next week), but they include self-health monitoring, a masking requirement, social distancing, reduced capacities in campus buildings, increased cleaning/sanitization protocols, etc.

Classes

Secondly, in order to support the decisions of our students and families regarding instructional modality, we have transitioned courses to 35 percent in person, 30 percent online, and 35 percent hybrid (a mix of in-person and online). Students should check their schedules in Wingspan to see if the instructional modality for a class for which they have registered has changed, and if they are interested in building schedules that are entirely online for the fall semester, academic advisors are available to help them do so. We are asking students to reach out to their department chairs, deans and student services offices within the respective college for assistance if needed. More information is to come from Provost and Executive Vice President Adrienne McCormick in the coming days. 

All of these efforts reflect our desire to meet students and families where they are given the pandemic. But one thing on which we cannot compromise is our commitment to the high-quality academic experience for which Winthrop is known. Believe me when I say we are investing a huge portion of our budget to continue to operate at our high standards as a university. Therefore, we are not planning to discount tuition this fall. Our students will continue to receive excellent academic instruction and support from their professors, advisors, and staff, as well as tutoring, research opportunities, career services, etc. Regardless of whether every student takes advantage of these offerings, we still must provide them as very often the cost to deliver such services virtually or in other alternative formats is every bit as cost intensive, if not more costly, as normal delivery. If we must pivot to fully remote instruction at some point, we may decide to look at fee reimbursements as we did in the spring, but that is farther down the road when the impact of the pandemic on fall operations is more evident. 

New Student Orientation

Finally, for new students and their family members, I want to let you know that, in the interest of health and safety, we have decided that the Eagles Landing phase of Orientation (previously scheduled to be on-campus sessions beginning in early August) will be held virtually. Students will receive more information from the New Student and Family Programs office regarding this change. 

Again, I hope you understand these recent decisions that we have made with you in mind. We are committed to maintaining the quality of the educational experience we provide, while also protecting the health and safety of our Winthrop family members.  I look forward to sharing more information with you at the town hall on July 30. While we can only accommodate 500 for the virtual town hall, a recording will be made available soon after the virtual event for anyone who could not attend. We will also launch our Return to Learn website in the coming days. 

I very much appreciate your flexibility and patience as we continue to navigate these uncharted waters as a family and community committed to our students. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s faculty/staff virtual town hall meeting. I hope that the vice presidents and I were able to provide you with helpful information that addressed your questions and concerns regarding the campus re-opening and upcoming fall semester.

If you were not able to attend the town hall, you may access the recorded session via this link. 

There were some questions that we were not able to address but know that we are working on including these questions on the Return to Learn website as appropriate or sharing answers to them in upcoming communications.

We will hold a Students/Families virtual town hall on Thursday, July 30, at 6:30 p.m. in order to address questions and concerns from them as well.

Thank you again for your hard work and patience as we prepare for the fall semester.

This summer has certainly been like no other. In summers past, campus would be bustling with Orientation sessions, campus tours and the day-to-day preparations to welcome our students in August. Much of that work continues this summer, just in a virtual manner. 

With Phase 2 of our Return to Work plan underway and Phase 3 approaching, our focus remains on preparing and providing a safe and healthy workplace and learning space for employees and students. As we continue to settle into our new normal, please take a few moments to read about some important updates:

Faculty/Staff Virtual Town Hall on Thursday

As I shared via email on Monday, I invite you to participate in a virtual town hall meeting specifically for faculty and staff on Thursday, July 16, at 2 p.m. Members of senior leadership and I will be answering your questions concerning our campus reopening ahead of the fall 2020 semester. Questions will be accepted in advance through noon today by emailing townhalls@winthrop.edu. Please use this link to join the town hall on Thursday. I look forward to everyone participating in these important discussions.

Facial Covering Requirements

I would like to again convey that Winthrop is requiring all staff, faculty and students to wear masks or facial coverings in social settings, such as in university buildings, including classrooms, residence halls and dining facilities, and in outdoor spaces on campus where appropriate social distancing cannot be guaranteed. Facial coverings are not required when alone in private offices, when alone in on-campus residence hall rooms and when not in close contact with another person, such as walking alone outside. Each employee should receive two reusable cloth facial coverings. Please also note that a facial covering mandate recently went into effect in Rock Hill. The mandate requires people to wear facial coverings in public places within city limits. Those places include restaurants, grocery stores, retail establishments and pharmacies. Wearing a facial covering helps protect us all, so please do your part to keep our campus and surrounding community safe and healthy.

Tillman Hall Renaming Update

On June 19, members of the Board of Trustees unanimously voted on a resolution requesting state legislators to consider an amendment to the Heritage Act of 2000 to allow Winthrop to restore Tillman Hall to its original name of Main Building. As you'll recall, our trustees do not have the power themselves to change the name. That power belongs to the S.C. General Assembly. I'm happy to report that our formal request in this matter has been sent to the legislators for their consideration. As stated previously, we will patiently await further discussion and action, and I will keep you appraised of any steps forward.

Fall Homecoming Activities to Be Paused

Due to continued concerns surrounding COVID-19, we have decided to pause all Homecoming activities this November, including Homecoming on the Green and the Homecoming tailgate. The Division of Student Affairs is considering hosting a spirit week in the spring depending on guidance at that time from the CDC and DHEC. This follows our earlier decision to reschedule for the spring all class reunions that are typically held on Homecoming weekend. These difficult decisions are again made to ensure the health and safety of the entire campus community, including our alumni and visitors. You can read more in this press release.

Commencement Ceremony Latest

As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the state and in our county, we realize that holding a traditional, in-person Commencement ceremony in August to celebrate our May graduates would be unsafe. A survey was recently emailed to May graduates to gather their feedback on alternative Commencement options that would recognize and celebrate their achievements. Over 33 percent responded that rescheduling the ceremony when it is safe to hold large, indoor gatherings would be their first choice; 24 percent chose an outdoor ceremony as their first choice; and, additionally, 18 percent chose no ceremony as their first choice. We appreciate the feedback, and the Commencement Committee hopes to make a recommendation to senior leadership soon.

Rock Hill Unite Local Relief Program

Rock Hill City Council has been working to help provide assistance for Rock Hill residents and businesses during these difficult economic times. Funding is still available for these efforts. The Rock Hill Unite local relief program is designed to assist individuals and businesses experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The program includes residential utility assistance, small business utility assistance, service agency assistance and a small business loan program. More information on the Unite program may be found on the city’s website or by emailing unite@cityofrockhill.com or calling 803/817-5112.

Thank you for making it this far if you're still reading! I know it's a lot of information to take in, but I feel that it's important to keep you in the loop on these topics. Please know that I appreciate your hard work as we work together to welcome our students, and I look forward to our time together during Thursday's town hall. 

Dear Students,

I hope this email finds you healthy and well, and ready for a safe return to campus next month. As Winthrop continues its phased re-opening, please know that our focus remains on preparing and providing a safe and healthy learning space and workplace for you and our employees. As we continue to settle into our new normal, please take a few moments to read about some important updates:

Students/Families Virtual Town Hall on July 30  

I invite you to participate in a virtual town hall meeting specifically for students and families on Thursday, July 30, at 6:30 p.m. Members of senior leadership and I will be answering your questions concerning the fall 2020 semester. Questions will be accepted in advance through noon on Friday, July 24, by emailing townhalls@winthrop.edu. More information will be shared closer to the event on how to join the town hall meeting. I look forward to participating in these important discussions with you and your loved ones.

Facial Covering Requirements

Please know that Winthrop is requiring all students, faculty and staff to wear masks or facial coverings in social settings, such as in university buildings, including classrooms, residence halls and dining facilities, and in outdoor spaces on campus where appropriate social distancing cannot be guaranteed. Facial coverings are not required when alone in on-campus residence hall rooms and when not in close contact with another person, such as walking alone outside. Upon return to campus, each student will receive a health kit that contains a reusable cloth facial covering, along with other items to help you meet Winthrop’s expectations for doing your part in maintaining a healthy campus community. Please also note that a facial covering mandate recently went into effect in Rock Hill. The mandate requires people to wear facial coverings in public places within city limits. Those places include restaurants, grocery stores, retail establishments and pharmacies. Wearing a facial covering helps protect us all, so please “mask up” to keep our campus and surrounding community safe and healthy.

Campus Life Outlook

Top of mind for many students are Winthrop’s plans for residential living, dining and student activities this fall. Staff members continue to work on final details, and more information will be available soon. As you may know, the Division of Student Affairs sent a July 9 student email entitled Fall Housing Information. The email provided an overview of next month’s move-in process and dates, fall housing assignments timeline and more. Additional details on many of these related plans will be sent in the next few weeks, so please monitor your Winthrop email account frequently and be on the lookout for these important updates.

Winthrop Bookstore Now Open

The Winthrop Bookstore, located in the DiGiorgio Campus Center, is now open and is implementing a number of measures to keep its customers safe, such as social distancing measures, contactless payment and more. The bookstore is continuing to process online orders as well.

Fall Homecoming Activities to Be Paused

Due to continued concerns surrounding COVID-19, we have decided to pause all Homecoming activities this November, including Homecoming on the Green and the Homecoming tailgate. The Division of Student Affairs is considering hosting a spirit week in the spring depending on guidance at that time from the CDC and DHEC. This difficult decision is again made to ensure the health and safety of the entire campus community. You can read more in this press release.

Commencement Ceremony Latest

As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the state and in our county, we realize that holding a traditional, in-person Commencement ceremony in August to celebrate our May graduates would be unsafe. A survey was recently emailed to May graduates to gather their feedback on alternative Commencement options that would recognize and celebrate their achievements. Over 33 percent responded that rescheduling the ceremony when it is safe to hold large, indoor gatherings would be their first choice; 24 percent chose an outdoor ceremony as their first choice; and, additionally, 18 percent chose no ceremony as their first choice. We appreciate the feedback, and the Commencement Committee hopes to make a recommendation to senior leadership soon.

Tillman Hall Renaming Update

On June 19, members of the Board of Trustees unanimously voted on a resolution requesting state legislators to consider an amendment to the Heritage Act of 2000 to allow Winthrop to restore Tillman Hall to its original name of Main Building. As you'll recall, our trustees do not have the power themselves to change the name. That power belongs to the S.C. General Assembly. I'm pleased to report that our formal request in this matter has been sent to the legislators for their consideration. As stated previously, we will patiently await further discussion and action, and I will keep you appraised of any steps forward.

Thank you for making it this far if you're still reading! I know it's a lot of information to take in, but I feel that it's important to keep you in the loop on these topics. Please know that there are a lot of people working very hard to prepare for your safe return next month. We can’t wait to welcome you back! Until then, I look forward to our time together during the July 30 town hall. 

Warm regards,

George

George W. Hynd
Interim President

Now that we have launched Phase 2 of our Return to Work plan and are working toward Phase 3, I wanted to invite you to join me and other members of senior leadership for a Faculty/Staff virtual town hall meeting at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 16.  

As we plan to reopen campus for fall 2020, there are many details and issues to address, and we understand you may have questions. This hour-long town hall is designed especially for faculty and staff in order for us to provide you with answers as we prepare to welcome students back in a little over a month. We will continue to hold these town halls, including one planned for students and families during the first week of August, as needed.

How to Ask a Question

Your voices and questions are important. I invite your questions to be shared with us in advance by noon on Wednesday at townhalls@winthrop.edu or, if time during the meeting, asked/answered online toward the end of the town hall.

Accessing the Town Hall Meeting

The town hall meeting will be accessible via Blackboard Collaborate Ultra on July 16 at 2 p.m.  A video recording also will be made available following the town hall if you are unable to participate live. More details on how to view the town hall will be provided by email on Wednesday.

Please know that you are a valued member of the Winthrop community, and we look forward to hearing from you as we prepare for the fall. I hope you can join us on Thursday.