As we enter day 61 of the COVID-19 Modified Operating Procedure for Extension, we have begun the process of communicating the general details of our re-entry plan. During our Extension Town Hall meetings on Friday, our leadership team presented important information to outline our plan.
If you did not have a chance to watch the Town Hall meeting, you may view it at the following link. Please be sure to use the password provided.
Town Hall Zoom
Password: 1Z$m4!*6
We are sorting through all of the questions that were submitted before and during the meetings. I will be responding to those questions, and we will compile and return answers over the next week. Once the University is ready to release its plan, we will then be able to release our plan in its entirety to everyone. Please remember, that although Extension has its own re-entry plan, there are parts of it that can be affected at any time by directives from the University, counties, and state.
There are several takeaways from the Town Hall meetings, but, as always, I want to emphasize that our priority is everyone’s safety. Community Protective Equipment (CPE) supply kits have been shipped to every office. Our re-entry plan has three phases, and they will be implemented as is appropriate with regard to COVID-19 activity in the counties. There will be a minimum of two weeks between the start of each phase. June 1 is the planned start date for Phase 1. As a very general overview, each phase will allow for a limited number of staff to return to offices with all staff being allowed to return during Phase 3. However, flex schedules will be adopted to stagger the number of staff in an office as necessary to maintain social distancing guidelines. At this time, we will plan for offices to be open to the general public after July 4.
I believe that all of us are beginning to identify a clear approach on how to safely go about our lives in the new ‘normal’. We really can take care of ourselves and each other by practicing much of what we learned in our first public setting upon entering kindergarten:
1. Wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds
2. Stay home if you are sick or feel ill
3. Cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze
4. Give people their space
5. Be kind and considerate to everyone
6. Respect others as you want to be respected
7. Clean up after yourself
Many lessons have been learned during the pandemic, but there are common-sense practices we have always been aware of and must be careful to utilize.
Although we will be able to migrate towards limited engagement with the public, it will be best to continue virtual interactions as much as can be done for events, workshops, and certification courses. Some feel that we have actually improved our communications with stakeholders during this time. If that is true, we have a new opportunity to evaluate and identify the appropriate methods of delivery for optimal programming and outreach.
I will remind everyone again that our re-entry plan dates and details that have been introduced could change at any time due to COVID-19 activity and directives from the University, counties, or state. Your leadership team will continue to monitor the situation, communicate frequently with the Clemson University EOC, and remain aware of any factors that may need to be taken into account as we move closer to our first phase of re-entry. As always, please take good care of yourselves and your families, and thank you for what you do for Clemson Extension.
