Month: June 2014

By Joseph B. Ryan, Ph.D.

Each semester I receive a number of phone calls and emails from frantic parents across the U.S. asking for guidance on how to keep their child with physical and/or mental disabilities from being physically abused while in school. While the thought of abusing children with disabilities is reprehensible, the most disturbing aspect of these stories is that the parents are levying charges of abuse against the educators they entrusted the care and safety of their children with, due to the abusive use of seclusion and restraint procedures.

Having specialized in behavior management, I was asked to participate in a U.S. Congressional Briefing in support of the Keeping All Students Safe Act Senate Bill 2036 and HR Bill 1893. The intent of this legislation is to prevent the abusive use of seclusion (locking children in small rooms) and restraint (staff members holding a child to maintain physical control) in public schools. My testimony emphasized three critical points that I believe every educator, parent and legislator should be aware of, including the (1) over use of seclusion and restraint to manage disruptive students, (2) disproportionate use of seclusion and restraint on students with disabilities and minorities, and (3) that many schools have elected to embrace these dangerous non-evidence based procedures in lieu of safer research based practices for managing aggressive students.

While many parents are unaware these interventions even take place within their local schools, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) reported that more than 110,000 students were subjected to restraint and seclusion during the 2011-12 school year over a quarter million times. Aggravating matters, is that these procedures have been used for reasons other than what they were intended (e.g., imminent physical danger).  Instead, many parents, advocates and researchers have argued these highly restrictive interventions are being used in response to a variety of non-violent behaviors including noncompliance and leaving the assigned areas. In some instances, teachers have used these interventions excessively (e.g., 70 – 100 times) with challenging students despite being ineffective in reducing maladaptive behavior.

Another disheartening finding by the OCR is that seclusion and restraint are being disproportionally used with minorities and students with special needs. While children with disabilities represent only 12 percent of the student population, they represented 58 percent of those placed in seclusion, and 75 percent of all children who were physically restrained. Similar disproportional findings were reported among minority students.

Lastly, it simply defies logic that during the current emphasis on implementing evidence-based practices in classrooms, many schools have elected to embrace seclusion and restraint while ignoring safer research based practices for managing aggressive behaviors. There are a number of effective less restrictive alternatives, including: (a) Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports, (b) functional behavioral assessments, (c) crisis de-escalation strategies, and (d) curriculum based interventions designed to address many of the social and communication skill deficits exhibited by children with disabilities. Passage of the Keeping All Students Safe Act will help protect all students, especially children with disabilities and minorities, who are among the most vulnerable and at-risk students within our nation’s schools.

Full information for each Bill can be found at:

• http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2036
• http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/1893

Joe Ryan is a Professor of Special Education and serves as the associate director of research for the Eugene T. Moore School of Education. He is also the Editor of the journal Beyond Behavior. He has taught students with emotional and behavioral disorders (E/BD) from grades K through 12 across a variety of educational settings, including resource and self-contained classrooms, special day schools, and a residential treatment center. Professional interests include: Single Case Research, Behavior Management, Psychotropic Medications, Therapeutic Recreation, and Post Secondary Transition Services. Ryan has more than 50 publications, and frequently consults and speaks at national and international professional conferences. He has been interviewed and quoted by Anderson Cooper, CNN, Headline News, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other leading periodicals. He is the founder of ClemsonLIFE (Learning is for Everyone), a post secondary transition program for students with cognitive disabilities, as well as several adapative sports programs including: baseball (spring), soccer (fall) and equine therapy (year round).

Dean of Undergraduate Studies Jan Murdoch has agreed to delay her planned retirement to give the new Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs a chance to establish a long-term leadership plan for the division.

Murdoch, who came to Clemson as an assistant professor in 1984 and has served as dean of undergraduate studies for the past 10 years, had planned to step down as dean on June 30 and retire from the university.

“I’d like to thank Dr. Murdoch for agreeing to continue in her position in order to ensure a smooth transition for the new EVP and Provost,” said President Jim Clements.

She will continue to provide leadership for a broad range of units and programs that support undergraduate students, ranging from admissions and financial aid to the Calhoun Honors College, Summer Reading and Creative Inquiry.

State employee retirement contribution rates are established by state law, as enacted by the South Carolina General Assembly. The South Carolina General Assembly passed retirement reform legislation in 2012. In accordance with this legislation, effective July 1, 2014, the employee retirement contribution rate is increasing from 7.5 to 8 percent for the South Carolina State Retirement System Plan (SCRS) and Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), and from 7.84 to 8.41 percent for the Police Officers Retirement System Plan (PORS).

The increase will be reflected on the first payday in July, which will be the July 15 paycheck.

Please visit the South Carolina Retirement System website for additional information about state retirement benefits.  For questions, contact the Office of Human Resources online at Ask-HR, or by phone at 864-656-2000.

The South Carolina State Employee Pay Plan for fiscal year 2014-15 authorizes state agencies to implement a 2 percent general increase for all permanent faculty and permanent classified and unclassified staff effective on the first regular pay date on or after July 1, 2014.

The general increase will be processed as follows:

• The July 15, 2014 paycheck will reflect the increase to gross pay for eligible 12-month faculty and staff.
• The August 29, 2014 paycheck will reflect the increase to gross pay for eligible 9-month faculty.

Employees hired on or after June 16, 2014 are not eligible for the increase. Also not eligible are regular temporary and intermittent employees.

A list of frequently asked questions is available here.

For additional questions, contact the Office of Human Resources online at Ask-HR, or by phone at 864-656-2000.

Clemson University fees for tuition, housing and meal plans will increase by an average of less than 3 percent this fall, which will partially offset mandatory payroll, retirement and health insurance cost increases. The fees were approved by the university’s board of trustees today (June 25).

“The combination of additional state funding and ongoing efforts by the administration to operate as efficiently as possible has allowed us to minimize the impact of these mandatory cost increases on tuition,” said board chairman David Wilkins.

In-state students will see an increase of 2.6 percent for general tuition – or $171 per semester — and pay a $25 per semester charge dedicated to facilities maintenance and renovations – bringing the total increase to 3 percent. Non-state residents will pay 2.8 percent more for general tuition – or $432 per semester — and a facilities fee of $55 per semester, for a total increase of 3.19 percent.

Graduate tuition will increase 1 percent.

The fee increases – plus anticipated enrollment growth — will generate approximately $11 million, which will help cover anticipated cost increases of $15 million from a state-mandated pay raise for faculty and staff, increased employee retirement expenses, and increased health insurance costs mandated by the federal Affordable Care Act.

In addition to partial funding for the mandatory pay raise, the state budget provided $1.2 million for programs to increase four-year graduation rates and provide paid, on-campus internships, programs which university President Jim Clements said will help hold down the cost of education in the long run and increase the value of a Clemson education.

“We appreciate the state’s targeted investment in these two programs that will help students be more successful in the classroom and in the job market,” he said. “One of the best ways to hold down college costs is to get through in four years – and one of the best ways to land a job after graduation is an internship that provides relevant, marketable job skills.”

Student housing and meal plans will increase by an average of 2.3 percent, which will cover rising food and energy costs, insurance and retirement costs, facilities renovations and a 2 percent cost-of-living pay increase for staff mandated by the state.

Actual costs vary depending on housing assignments and dining plan selection. On average, the fee increase will add $47 per semester for housing and $50 per semester for dining plans.

Clemson University has named finalists for the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost position. Beginning the week of July 7, the finalists will appear in open campus forums and a series of informal drop-in meetings for faculty, staff and students.

Open forum information

Finalists and their open forum dates are:

• Robert Jones, Ph.D., dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University, July 8
• Sheryl Tucker, Ph.D., dean of the graduate college and interim vice president for research and technology transfer, Oklahoma State University, July 10
• Gregory Crawford, Ph.D., dean of the College of Science, University of Notre Dame, July 15

Each forum will be held in the Lee Hall No. 2 auditorium, Room 2-111, from 9 to 10:15 a.m.

The forums will be streamed online here for those who cannot attend in person. University faculty and staff who have questions for the finalists but cannot attend the forums can send their questions before and during the forums to jtodd3@clemson.edu.

Drop-in meeting information
Drop-in meetings have also been scheduled for each of the candidates. These smaller-scale gatherings allow interested faculty, staff and students to meet and talk with the finalists in an informal setting.  These events will not be live streamed or videotaped.

The drop-in meeting schedule is as follows:

Dr. Robert Jones

Tues., July 8 from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. Life Sciences Bldg., Room 242
Meeting with all interested faculty, staff and students

Wed., July 9 from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. Academic Success Center, Room 118
Meeting with all interested staff

Wed., July 9 from 10 to 11 a.m. Academic Success Center, Room 118
Meeting with all interested faculty

Wed., July 9 from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. Student Senate Chambers
Meeting with all interested students (undergrad and grad)

Dr. Sheryl Tucker

Thursday, July 10 from 1:45 to 3 p.m. Academic Success Center, Room 118
Meeting with all interested faculty, staff and students

Fri., July 11 from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. Life Sciences Bldg., Room 242
Meeting with all interested staff

Fri., July 11 from 10 to 11 a.m. Student Senate Chambers
Meeting with all interested students (undergrad and grad)

Fri., July 11 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Student Senate Chambers
Meeting with all interested faculty

Dr. Gregory Crawford

Tues., July 15 from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.  Student Senate Chambers
Meeting with all interested faculty, staff and students

Wed., July 16 from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. Academic Success Center, Room 118
Meeting with all interested faculty

Wed., July 16 from 11:15 a.m. to noon Academic Success Center, Room 118
Meeting with all interested staff

Wed., July 16 from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. Student Senate Chambers
Meeting with all interested students (undergrad and grad)

Finalist information, application materials and forum videos will be posted on the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Search Web page.

In April, Clemson University launched a national search for the provost position that was elevated by President Jim Clements to an executive vice presidency – the No. 2 spot at the university. Using traditional, online and social media channels, the position has attracted roughly 400 nominations and contacts. More than half of these have come through nominations from the search website courtesy of the university’s faculty, staff, alumni, community members and their friends and colleagues across the country.

Lyndon L. Larcom, 74, of Clemson died June 17, 2014. He was a professor of Physics and Astronomy and retired in 2007 with 35 years of service. Following his retirement in 2007, he continued in the role of research professor and advisor in the School of Nursing until 2013 at which time he was honored as Professor Emeritus of Physics. During his tenure at Clemson, he also held the position of Adjunct Professor in the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina for seven years, was a Greenville Hospital System/Clemson University Cooperative Biomedical Fellow and served as acting head of the Microbiology Department for eight years.

He is survived by his son, daughter, family and friends.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Rd. Anderson, S.C. 29621, or to the charity of one’s choice.

Condolences may be made online at sullivanking.com.

Clemson University’s Municipal Court has changed its office hours. The new hours are 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For questions, stop by the Municipal Court at G01-C Edgar Brown Union, or contact Nancy Belanger or Christy Richey at 864-656-5258.

If you use public transportation between Anderson and Clemson, you’ll want to read this.

Beginning July 1, the Clemson Area Transit (CAT) Anderson 4-U route will cease operation. However, Electric City Transit, operated by the City of Anderson, will establish a new route that will encompass most of the old 4-U route.

The newly established Electric City Orange route buses will depart from Wal-Mart on Liberty Highway in Anderson at :51 after the hour (first departure at 6:51 a.m. and last departure at 5:51 p.m.) and transport riders to Tri-County Technical College (first departure at 7:15 a.m. and last departure at 6:15 p.m.). Other stops along the route include Interstate Boulevard, Sandy Springs Road, and Anderson Station which service areas like LaFrance Industries, Sandy Springs Water, Bi-Lo in Pendleton, Michelin Plant, Publix and K-Mart.

From Tri-County Tech to Clemson

To ensure connectivity and assess demand for Clemson University ridership between Tri-County Tech and Clemson University, Clemson University Parking and Transportation Services will implement a “pilot” program available for university faculty, staff, or students who display a valid Clemson University ID.

Clemson University Parking and Transportation Services will operate peak-hour express transit service using the free Tiger Transit shuttle vehicles from 7 until 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The route will start at East Library Circle departing at the top (:00) and bottom (:30) of the hour (first departure at 7 a.m. and last departure at 6 p.m.). The bus will travel to Tri-County Tech and connect with the Electric City Transit Orange Route bus at Tri County Tech’s transit stop on Woodburn Road at :15 after each hour. The bus will then return to campus with one stop at Tiger Town Village at :19 after the hour and :49 after the hour.

The Electric City Transit Orange Route will require a fare to ride. A one-way fare from Anderson to Tri-County Technical College for an adult will be $0.50. Reduced fares ($0.25) are available for senior citizens, students K-12, disabled, and Medicare card holders. However, during this transition, free transfer passes to board the Tiger Transit shuttle to Clemson University will be distributed to Clemson faculty, staff and students during the first week of service and will be available at the Parking and Transportation Services office beginning July 7.

Future plans

Parking and Transportation Services is also working with Tri-County Tech to establish a future “Park & Ride” option so that faculty, staff and students may obtain a discounted Clemson parking permit to park in the parking lot on Mechanic Street where they will be able to transfer onto Clemson’s Tiger Transit shuttle. Stay tuned for more details.

Visit the Parking Services website for more information.

Clemson University’s Undergraduate Curriculum committee chaired by Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies Jan Murdoch, voted in May to remove ePortfolio as a graduation requirement effective summer 2014.

“This means students who plan to graduate in August 2014 and beyond are not required to submit any artifacts related to ePortfolio as a University requirement for graduation,”  explained Interim Provost Nadim Aziz. “Students wishing to make substitutions for general education courses are still required to submit evidence of attainment of the competency with the substitution request form.”

The ePortfolio program was implemented in 2006 by Clemson University to assess student evidence for the general education competencies throughout the undergraduate experience.

“I wish to thank Dean Murdoch and Dr. Gail Ring, Director of the ePortfolio Program and the rest of the team for working diligently during the past several years to implement this program in the best interest of the university,” said Aziz.  “Their work and the work that the undergraduate students put into this program was instrumental to successfully meet SACSCOC requirements for university accreditation that was successfully concluded in 2013.  So again, a big thank you to all who contributed to this endeavor.”

Work has already started to engage the faculty and others to develop the processes necessary to collect the required information for assessment purposes.