Tag: June29

Information as of December 2021

General Details

• Employees who are at a higher risk for COVID-19 based on risk factors identified by the CDC should discuss their concerns with their supervisor. If additional accommodation is needed, they should discuss these concerns and possible accommodations with the University’s ADA coordinator.
• Whenever possible, meetings should continue to be virtual. When meetings must be in-person, designate a space for such purpose.
• Continue physical distancing and use of protective equipment.
• Continue closure of areas where people congregate.
• Face coverings are not required in University facilities, but remain strongly encouraged in instructional areas (classrooms, instructional labs) and research labs.
• Anyone who wants to wear a face-covering regardless of their vaccination status is welcome to do so.
• No quarantine following known exposure for fully vaccinated individuals.
• Current recommendations for physical distancing in University facilities remain in place.
  Events and large gatherings must continue to go through University protocols for approval.

Extension Offices

• Notify county government partners that the facility has reopened to the public.
• Transfer main office lines back to office phones.
• Post public health notices on all publicly accessible entrances.
• Prepare sampling areas to mitigate personal contact with the public.
• Create physical separation between all publicly accessible areas of the office and those intended to be accessed by staff only.
• Make hand sanitizer available at all entrances.
• Make supplies including, but not limited to, disinfectant wipes, disposable towels, disinfectant solution, etc. available in all commonly used areas of the office facility.
• Update sampling information on county websites and social media outlets only after the office has been deemed safely accessible to the public.
• Consider maintaining a long-term soil drop-off-only process that limits in-office interactions with the public.
• Consider delineating physical separation with marks on the floor in open spaces accessible to the public.

Extension Volunteers

Clemson Extension volunteers may return to in-person service in Stage – Yellow provided ALL the following conditions are met:

• The program-leading Extension Agent and any applicable third party or property have approved the volunteer activity.
• The volunteer follows appropriate CDC guidelines.
• Adults that have routine interaction with youth must abide by Clemson University Youth Protection Policy and Operating Standards.
• General guidance for returning to in-person volunteer service includes:
• Remain at home if you or anyone in your household is not feeling well or has a fever.
• High-risk individuals and those with significant underlying medical conditions are strongly encouraged to stay at home and take measures to limit exposure.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Try to work independently, keeping 6 feet or more apart from others.
• Frequently clean high‐touch surfaces including your cellphone/tablet, door handles, restroom surfaces, handrails, tools, etc.
• Refrain from using shared office equipment when possible. If it is necessary to use other’s equipment, sanitize between each user.

Guidance for Outdoor Service

• People should be spaced apart 6 feet or more.
• Individuals may work independently, keeping 6 feet or more apart from others in the garden.
• When possible, use your own gardening tools and equipment; shared tools and equipment should be cleaned after each use.

Communication Regarding Attendance at Educational Events

• Advise participants in advance that if they have any symptoms or feel unwell, they should not attend.

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.

My name is Kristi Bussell and I’m a mental health educator for student health services. My office recently started an online program called Wellness Wednesdays (WW). The purpose of WW is to provide students, faculty, and staff information on how to take care of their wellbeing during COVID-19. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for folks to come together – vital during this season of social distancing.

What: Weekly Wellness series where we’ll discuss how to take care of our well-being during COVID-19
When: Wednesdays, 10am – 10:30am
Where: https://clemson.zoom.us/j/345660746
Password: email Kristi Bussell at kbussel@clemson.edu to get the password!

Also, follow @TigersTogether_ and @clemsonhealthycampus on IG for regular updates!
—
Kristi E. Bussell, MPH
Assistant Director for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Initiatives
Student Health Services
Clemson University
864-656-2038

EMERGENCY/IN CRISIS/AFTER-HOURS CARE
If you or someone you know is at immediate risk of harm to self or others, contact emergency services and get help – call 911 or the Clemson University Police Department at 864-656-2222.

To reach Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) during business hours, call 864-656-2451.

For after-hours psychological emergencies, a CAPS on-call counselor can be reached through CUPD at 864-656-2222.

For help that can be accessed anywhere, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Zoom Information

Zoom is now licensed for all Clemson employees.
To access a licensed account, login in through clemson.zoom.us

Learn more about Zoom meeting best practices and tips.
https://blogs.clemson.edu/online/2020/04/03/zoom-meeting-best-practices-and-tips/

List of IT Resources

Information about all of the tools for working remotely have been compiled for employees.
https://ccit.clemson.edu/working-remotely/

Scanning Tool

If you do not have access to a scanner, you can scan from home with the Adobe Scan app to share paper documents with others. The Adobe Scan app easily captures documents and converts them to PDF right in your phone. It is included with our Adobe license. Just download the app and sign in.

Option 1: Scan documents using Adobe Scan on your phone (easiest option)

1. Download Adobe Scan from your device’s app store.
2. Launch the application and at the bottom of the screen, click “Sign In or Sign Up”.
3. Type in Clemson email address and it should take you to Single Sign On for Clemson.
4. Allow access to your phone’s camera.
5. The software will begin to detect the edges of the page, which you can adjust with your finger.
6. Take picture when ready and then tap the image it saves.
   • To eliminate shadows, make sure your light source is in front of you and your phone, not directly above or behind (think of how the sun creates shadows).
7. You can crop, rotate, or make other visual adjustments.
8. Give the file a relevant name by clicking the pencil icon and then click save.
   • Adobe Scan automatically recognizes the text in the image to make it text searchable.

If you need any assistance with IT needs, please contact your statewide District IT consultant or the helpdesk: ithelp@clemson.edu, 864.656.3494.

Since the 1800s, flue-cured tobacco has played a major role in the Pee Dee Region’s agriculture industry. William Hardee and other area agronomy agents have served tobacco growers through on-farm visits to greenhouses and fields, crop insurance disease verification and letters, county test plots, and coordinating the state tobacco production meeting. Through grower surveys conducted at the state tobacco production meetings, annually held on the second Thursday of December in Marion County, we learned that disease management and more specifically bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) was the top issue in producing a successful crop in South Carolina.

David Dewitt and William Hardee conducted a statewide tobacco disease survey and, after compiling the results, they found that this, in fact, is the costliest disease issue in the state of South Carolina. In response to this, they conducted several on-farm bacterial wilt resistant variety tests to demonstrate how the use of resistant cultivars can be used to mitigate losses. This year they are conducting an on-farm trial in Horry County that duplicates a trial that the new extension tobacco specialist, Dr. Matthew Inman, is conducting at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center. This trial compares eleven of the newer resistant varieties to a susceptible check. Dr. Inman and William Hardee are also working to revise the SC Tobacco Production Guide, the tobacco scouting guide and hope to create new disease factsheets in the future. Outside of traditional uses, they are looking forward to exploring alternative uses for the crop.

Submitted by: William Hardee, Clemson Cooperative Extension, Area Agronomy Agent

Since March, South Carolina 4-H Agents and State Staff have shifted programs and events virtually.  In July, SC 4-H hosted their first virtual horse camp for K-5 youth and there were sixty-four participants.  An additional camp session will be offered July 27-31 for youth in sixth through twelfth grade.

The participants met daily from 1- 2 p.m. to learn about horses via zoom. Youth learned how to properly halter, groom, and wrap horses’ legs. Along with that, they learned how to clean tack and make homemade horse treats. They enjoyed playing virtual games, which encouraged interaction with other youth. Following their lesson, they received a fun homework assignment to support the lesson and new skills they learned. An example of homework included wrapping a horse’s leg or a table leg to practice the knowledge they gained in the leg wrapping lesson.

They also had the option to create exciting arts and crafts. These activities included making paracord reins, walking paper horses, painting horse brushes, tie-dying leg wraps, along with the fun horse treat recipes. Finally, youth had the option to complete riding assignments with parental permission and supervision to help improve their riding skills. These assignments promote balance, control, strength, and communication between horse and rider.

An additional camp session will be offered July 27-31 for youth in grades 6-12. The deadline to register for this second session is July 22 and youth can be registered by visiting: Horse Camp Registration

Submitted by: Katie Shaw, 4-H Youth Development Specialist

We are now entering day 97 of the COVID-19 Modified Operating Procedure for Extension, and we are four weeks into our Extension Return to Work Framework Plan. Our color-coded map of county reentry statuses has not changed from last week, as unfortunately, the spread of COVID-19 continues to increase. The cause of the spread is simple; too many people are not following the recommended protocols: social distancing, face masks in public, and thorough handwashing after contact with surfaces. These sound like simple instructions, but evidently, they are not easy to follow, or people are disregarding them. I, too, am exhausted with hearing the constant barrage of 24-7 news channels examining every aspect of the COVID-19 situation. Yet, I am frustrated that the volume of education does not seem to cap the spreading. Having to revert to stay-at-home orders again would take a heavy toll.

We must do our part while we are on the job and off. We must set the example for what should be done to prevent the COVID-19 spread by habitually following the safety protocols. We have come too far to have to go back into another weary cycle of starting from square one. Every one of us can contribute to curbing the spread, and your behavior might encourage others who are not being safe, to do the right thing.

Following up on my email from last week, our ongoing policy for not accepting soil samples at county offices must be strictly enforced. This directive is being emphasized across internal communications channels. We need to strongly communicate this policy to stakeholders as well. Better signage stating this policy has been created for all county office entrances and is being sent out immediately. Please make sure this new signage is posted as soon as it is received. Images of the new signage are provided at the end of this email.

Even though we are only a month out from our previous holiday weekend, I know that many of you are ready for another break to lift your spirits. The 4^th of July celebratory activities tend to bring groups of people together to mingle closely. We cannot afford to have another significant spike because people, yet again, did not take safety protocols seriously during another holiday weekend.

I am asking you to please be safe and protect yourself and your family, as well as those who may be around you. Remember the importance of following the recommended safety protocols to inhibit the possibility of additional COVID-19 cases. None of us would want to be part of a spread that ends up having dire health consequences on ourselves and others.

During these uncertain times, it is more important than ever to spend quality time with your loved ones and take care of your well-being. It may end up being that when we can finally spend less time at home that we realize it was precious time we might never experience again.

As always, please continue to take good care of yourselves and your families, and thank you for what you do for Clemson Extension.