Author: Jacqueline Todd

The Office of Human Resources recently introduced an all-new chat feature, Ask-HR Chat, to provide timely answers to frequently asked questions from staff and faculty. Ask-HR Chat gives Clemson employees quick and direct access to an HR representative who can help them find the answer to their question. “We are excited to provide our colleagues with this enhanced level of service,” said Ale Kennedy, Clemson’s Associate Chief Human Resources Officer for HR Services. “Ask-HR Chat is easy to use, and we hope it will become a go-to resource for quick HR questions.”

Starting a chat

Employees may submit questions through the Ask-HR Chat window located on the Ask-HR webpage. (If not already logged in, users will be prompted to log in with their University credentials to access the chat.) Questions may also be submitted via text message by sending a text to 864-656-2000. At this time, the online chat and text features are only available for Clemson employees.

How the chat works

Once the question has been submitted, an HR chat representative will respond and begin working with the user to find the answer to their question. If the question requires a  detailed response or cannot be answered by one of the chat representatives, it will be escalated to the appropriate HR subject matter expert who will respond within two business days.

When to chat

HR chat representatives are available to answer questions 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Questions submitted outside these hours will generate a help ticket for HR staff to address the following business day.

Visit Ask-HR Chat to submit a question.

Gianni Matias Mongelluzzo, 19, died June 1, 2019. He was a sophomore genetics and biochemistry major and Spanish minor from East Quogue, New York.

“It’s difficult to make sense of Gianni’s death at such a young age,” said L. Christopher Miller, associate vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students. “The Clemson Family grieves this loss with his family and friends.”

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is providing grief counseling. Students who want to speak to a counselor should contact CAPS at 864-656-2451.

Share your condolences and memories and learn more about funeral services here.

Jason Osborne, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School at Clemson University, has been named provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Miami University, effective August 1, 2019.

Osborne has served Clemson University since 2015. While at Clemson, his leadership roles have included extensive work in strategic plan implementation, communication, entrepreneurial expansion, and retention and recruitment, with an emphasis on inclusion.

Osborne is responsible for the substantial increase in funding for the academic colleges, and the Graduate School was on track to achieve critical 10-year targets earlier than expected. Also, Osborne spearheaded degree and program development in a multidisciplinary approach that generated new opportunities to meet the changing needs of students, the state and region, and workforce development while also generating new revenue.

“Miami is a very strong institution,” Osborne says. “I feel humbled and very fortunate to be part of the team that will help shape what is certainly a very bright future indeed.”

The University will initiate a search a new associate provost and dean of the Graduate school over the summer months.

Faculty and staff can make a difference in promoting diversity and inclusion at Clemson through commission service. The University’s Commission on Women (Women’s Commission) is accepting nominations for two faculty seats and one staff seat. Please nominate a colleague or yourself. We welcome all!

The Women’s Commission was established to improve the quality of life for women at Clemson. The Commission’s charge is to:

-Discern the status of women at Clemson University and document findings;

-Discover and pursue the removal of institutional barriers identified by the Commission;

-Collect information and/or conduct research regarding issues which affect women, including the study of practices followed at other Universities’ Commissions on Women; and

-Explore problem areas that limit equal opportunities and advancement.

It is the Commission’s pledge to encourage and inspire women to become leaders, problem solvers and innovators making meaningful contributions to American society. The Women’s Commission will publicize the role of Clemson University to improve the status of women at all levels.

Commission members serve three-year terms and report to the Council on Inclusion and Diversity, co-chaired by Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer Lee Gill and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Bob Jones.

Commission meetings take place at 12:30 until 2 p.m. on the last Friday of each month during the fall and spring semesters.

Submit nominations by June 12 to Linda Tindal by email at ltindal@clemson.edu or by phone at 864-656-153.

Inside Clemson published its summer schedule. The faculty and staff enewsletter will run:

-June 12 and 26, and
-July 10 and 24.

Beginning August 2019 the enewsletter will be published weekly each Wednesday.

Contact Jackie Todd at jtodd3@clemson.edu with questions.

Victoria Mattison, 20, died May 22, 2019. She was a junior sports communication major from Mauldin. Mattison was a proud member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. A natural talent in video production, she worked in the spring semester as a video intern in the Division of Inclusion and Equity and participated in projects for the Erwin Center for Brand Communications. In the fall 2018 semester, Mattison artfully shared the stories of the University’s faculty and staff as a video intern for Inside Clemson.

Mattison is survived by her parents, brother, family and friends.

“We were shocked to learn of Victoria’s passing,” said Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students L. Christopher Miller. She was a joy to all those who knew her. The Clemson community sends thoughts and prayers to her family as they grieve this loss.”

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is providing grief counseling. Students who want to speak to a counselor should contact CAPS at 864-656-2451.

Funeral information

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 28 at Valleybrook Outreach Baptist Church, 8323 Augusta Road, Pelzer, SC.

Share your memories

Post your condolences and memories online here.

A mobile mammography clinic will be available from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. during the May 31 Clemson’s Employee Resource fair in the parking lot of Fike Recreation Center. Sponsored by a partnership between the University and The Pearlie Harris Center for Breast Health at Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, the clinic will be available to serve:

• Females age 40 and older who are due for their annual screening mammogram
• Females who are 35-40 needing a baseline mammogram
• Those able to walk up the coach stairs and stand unassisted

Participants should call 864-675-4101(option 1) in advance to schedule an appointment and mention the “May 31 Mobile Mammography Coach at Clemson.”

Clemson University recognizes the importance of educational and career development in attracting, retaining and developing top talent and aims to remove the financial barrier that might dissuade employees from pursuing higher degrees. Clemson leverages the Employee Tuition Assistance Program (ETAP) and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program to lessen education costs or remove costs altogether.

Employee Tuition Assistance Program (ETAP)

ETAP provides a 100 percent waiver for graduate and undergraduate courses for up to six (6) credit hours per academic term. Employees may enroll in day and/or evening courses, as long as any adjustments to their work schedule are approved by their supervisor.

In order to be eligible, employees must:

• have been employed one full year of twelve (12) consecutive months at Clemson University;
• be working 75 percent time or greater in a regular (FTE), temporary grant or time-limited position; and
• have an employment status in good standing based on conduct and job performance.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

The PSLF Program forgives any remaining balance on direct loans for borrowers who are employed full time in certain public service jobs and have made 120 qualifying payments (beginning October 1, 2007). Only payments made under certain repayment plans may be counted toward the required 120 payments. Borrowers must not be in default on the loans that are forgiven.

Clemson encourages its faculty and staff to pursue higher degrees as the ultimate form of professional development. Visit these websites to learn more about these cost-saving programs:

https://www.clemson.edu/human-resources/benefits/etap/index.html

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service#qualify

Longtime budget director Virginia Baumann will leave the university June 3.

“Virginia has done an outstanding job during her more than 10-year tenure as the University budget director,” said Anthony E. Wagner, Clemson’s executive vice president for Finance & Operations/CFO.

Wagner shared that among her many achievements, Baumann worked with the executive leadership team to align the $1 billion University budget with priorities outlined in the ClemsonForward strategic plan.

She is a Clemson alumna and has worked at the university since 2001. In her new role, Baumann will manage finance and operations in support of the expansion of her family business.

Faculty and staff are invited to attend a drop-in reception to be held in Baumann’s honor. The event will take place from 2:30 until 4:30 p.m. May 28 at The James F. Martin Inn, Suite 430.

Contact Kathleen McMahan at kamcmah@clemson.edu with any questions.

As Dean Richard E. Goodstein prepares to return to the faculty of the Performing Arts department in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities, Clemson University, through its search committee has retained R. William Funk & Associates to conduct a national search to fill the position.

As a result, three finalists have been identified for the role. Those candidates will visit the University’s main campus in the coming weeks. So that the Clemson Family will have an opportunity to meet and interact with the three candidates, Clemson will host an open forum for all faculty, staff, and students. The forums will be livestreamed and recorded for viewing after the final candidate’s visit. All forums will be held in the Watt Family Innovation Center Auditorium.

Dr. David Bertolini is a professor and dean of the College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences at North Dakota State University. Bertolini chaired the Department of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at North Dakota State University and served as graduate coordinator in the School of Architecture at Louisiana State University. As a leader, he focuses on raising the profile of architecture, the arts and the humanities, supporting all aspects of diversity and expanding research and creative accomplishments.

Bertolini’s open forum begins at 9:30 a.m. May 20.

Dr. Niraj Verma is a professor and former dean and director of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He is considered an expert in urban planning and management and served as the first dean for the Wilder School from 2010 to 2016. Before joining VCU, Verma served as professor and chair of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Buffalo.

Verma’s open forum will take place at 9:30 a.m. May 21.

Dr. Laura L. Runge is a professor and chair of the Department of English at the University of South Florida, a position with more than 160 direct reports and an annual budget of approximately $7 million. She is a scholar and teacher of 18th-century British literature, women’s writing and digital humanities. A department leader for more than 12 years, Runge brings strategic and budget planning experience, a commitment to diversity and inclusivity and successful fundraising and stewardship.

Runge’s open forum begins at 9:30 a.m. June 11.

For more information and updates, visit the Academic Affairs and Provost’s website.