Category: Inside NOW

Scroll down to read the following articles:

1. Mandatory FERPA tutorial available online
2. EHS: New websites for environmental health and safety functions
3. Open forums to be held for research safety director candidates
4. Seeking your input for Ecology at Clemson website
5. Clemson University competes in 2013 RecycleMania Tournament
6. Going for the gold: Clemson’s Brian Dean uses computing to create champions
7. Memorial service for student Steven Grich set for Feb. 15
8. Learn about Clemson’s lecture capturing capabilities at Echo 360 “Lunch and Learn”
9. Risk Management: Safe Tiger Mug winners

1. Mandatory FERPA tutorial available online
To educate the campus community about federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Registrar’s Office has developed an online tutorial.  FERPA mandates that Clemson University maintain students’ records in a certain way and prohibits the disclosure of student records except in limited circumstances.  Anyone on campus who sees, maintains or handles information relating to a student must be familiar with this law.

Please take a few minutes to review these materials here and acknowledge tutorial completion via e-signature if you have not completed the tutorial in the past twelve months.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have completed the tutorial in the past 12 months, please do not retake this tutorial.

2. EHS: New websites for environmental health and safety functions
The former Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Web site has been replaced by two separate sites. EHS was restructured into two units, with one assigned to the Research Division and one to University Facilities.

Access the Environmental Safety (ES) Web site on the University Facilities home page: http://www.clemson.edu/facilities/es/index.html. View the Research Safety (RS) Web site at http://www.clemson.edu/research/safety/index.html.

To aid those who may rely on bookmarked webpages, the old EHS web page will remain active for 30 days and contains the links to the ES and RS web sites. After 30 days, the site will be removed, so please bookmark the new sites for future use.  The ES and RS home pages are cross-referenced to assist users with finding the appropriate content.

ES is responsible for indoor air quality investigations, hood ventilation testing, lead and asbestos abatement programs, occupational employee safety, industrial hygiene and exposure assessment, pollution prevention and water quality.
RS oversees lab safety, chemical safety, biosafety, radiological safety and hazardous waste management.

For more information or questions, contact Bob Wells at rjwells@clemson.edu or 656-0244, or contact Tracy Arwood at tarwood@clemson.edu or 656-1525.

3. Open forums to be held for research safety director candidates
Four candidates for the Director of Research Safety will visit the Clemson campus in the next two weeks for a series of meetings and interviews, including open forums for faculty, staff and students. All open forums will be held in the Fluor Daniel Engineering Innovation Building in conference room 132. They are:

• James Grieger, currently Associate Director of Research Safety at Cornell University, will visit Feb. 19 and 20. He will participate in an open forum from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20.
• Carolyn Harding, currently the Southeast Regional Environmental Health and Safety Manager for Cardinal Health, will visit Feb. 21. Her open forum will be from 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21.
• James Kearney, previously the Senior Director of Environmental, Health and Safety at MedImmune, LLC, will visit Feb. 24 and 25. His open forum will be from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25.
• Paul Novak, currently the Director of Environmental Health and Safety at Slippery Rock University, will visit Feb. 26 and 27. His open forum will be from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27.

This position is open until filled. Applications for the position are still being reviewed by the search committee.

4. Seeking your input for Ecology at Clemson website
Creators of the Ecology at Clemson website are requesting input for updating the content of this site, located at http://www.clemson.edu/cafls/ecology/.

The site was launched in October 2012 and provides news, resources and information about ecology-related courses, degree programs, student groups, and upcoming seminars and other events.

To ensure that the most up-to-date information appears on the site, the Ecology at Clemson web team is requesting:

1. Information about faculty and post-docs with expertise in ecology. Faculty or post-docs who would like to be listed on the Who We Are section of the Web page should send an email with their name, academic/research unit, and research specialty to saarad@clemson.edu.
2. Full citations for ecology-related publications (journal articles, books, book chapters) written by Clemson faculty, post-docs, students or staff in the past five years. Please note the format on the Publications page and send these citations to saarad@clemson.edu.

For questions or suggestions to improve the site, contact Saara DeWalt at saarad@clemson.edu.

5. Clemson University competes in 2013 RecycleMania Tournament
Clemson University is working to be a little more green as it competes with more than 500 other colleges in the 2013 RecycleMania Tournament to see which can reduce, reuse and recycle the most waste in an eight-week period.
Clemson will enter data on paper, cardboard, cans and bottles, food waste and general trash generated each week until March 30. The information collected will determine which school recycles most on a per capita basis, produces the least waste and recycles the largest percentage of its waste.

Clemson also is participating in a new RecycleMania category, Game Day: Basketball, in which schools are challenged to increase recycling and reduce waste at a single home game. Clemson’s is Sunday, Feb. 17, against Miami.

During Sustainability Week Monday-Friday, Feb. 18-22, there will be building competitions around campus, giveaways and prizes.

“Clemson University takes great pride in our sustainability efforts. We can showcase our efforts through RecycleMania,” said Dave VanDeventer, Clemson’s recycling manager. “RecycleMania is about more than simply winning,” he said. “It is an opportunity for us to raise awareness about our campus recycling program, as well as waste-reduction and conservation issues in general. Understandably, it’s also about recycling more.”

Last year Clemson placed fourth nationally in the Most Improved Paper Recycling category, which measures how much schools increase paper recycling during the competition. Clemson’s paper recycling increased 88 percent.

Clemson also placed first among South Carolina colleges and among ACC schools in the Waste Minimization category, which focuses on the efforts to reduce the amount of waste generated, including recyclables.

Clemson received the Judge’s Award in the 2012 RecycleMania video competition with its “Spirit of Recycling” entry.
RecycleMania draws participants from 47 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.

6. Going for the gold: Clemson’s Brian Dean uses computing to create champions
When it comes to competition, Brian Dean is a champion of his sport. But Dean, an associate professor of computer science, isn’t concerned with jumping hurdles or making the perfect shot. As the director of the USA Computing Olympiad (USACO), Dean sticks it to the competition by going for the gold in the realm of computer programming.

The USACO is one of several national programs for high-school Olympiads in mathematics and the sciences. This program contributes to computer science education at the high school level through algorithmic programming competitions and online training materials. “We have a lot of online resources for people to learn how to do advanced computing, problem solving and programming,” Dean said. “It’s one of the largest online computing programs out there.”

Dean is passionate about high school computer science education, and contends that it is an area that is lacking in programs. It requires development beyond standard courses. “Students who are superstars in computer science at the high school level have to learn it mostly on their own,” he said. “In South Carolina, there are small pockets of places with a lot of course offerings, but it’s scarce.”

Thus, the program seeks to bridge this gap, hosting six online programming contests annually with as many as 1,000 students around the world competing at one time. There are three levels of competition: bronze, silver and gold — the gold level being the most difficult. “Most of the graduate students I teach probably couldn’t solve the problems at the gold level,” Dean said. “But there are high schoolers out there who actually can. They are exceptionally bright.”

From these contests, Dean and his staff identify the top 16 students in the country and invite them to Clemson for a summer training program. During the week-and-a-half-long camp, the students are given fast-paced instruction, challenging programming problems and enrichment lectures on cutting-edge topics in modern computer science. “They get to interact with a bright peer group, the best in the country, and learn highly advanced concepts,” Dean said.

The top four students from the camp are chosen to compete on the U.S. team at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), the most prestigious worldwide competition in computing for high school students. And it is a competition that, much like the Olympic games, moves from country to country. “This past fall it was in Northern Italy,” Dean said. “This summer, it will be in Brisbane, Australia, and then it moves to Taiwan, Kazakhstan and Russia for the next few years. It’s been a wonderful experience for me to travel to some exotic places.”

However, you won’t find any vuvuzelas or face painting at this event. The two-day competition takes place in a large room with hundreds of computers where participants program for five hours each day. “It’s unfortunately not much of a spectator sport,” Dean said.

The competitors are given three or four problems and must write a computer program to solve them. To calculate scores, each program is run on different inputs to see how many it can solve within a short time limit. “It’s not just about whether you can write the program, but whether you can actually find a way of solving the problem fast enough and write that in code. It is an algorithmic contest as well as a programming contest,” Dean said.

And Dean knows the ropes. He was a member of the U.S. team as a high school senior in 1994, and traveled to Sweden to compete in the IOI. In college, he became interested in coaching for the organization. He also began attending training camps and getting more involved in the program overall. As others retired, he became the director, taking on the responsibility of managing sponsorship and funding, running summer programs, operating online programming contests, managing the website and coordinating team travel. “It’s been a lot of work, but a lot of fun,” he said.

Dean also travels to education conferences to spread the word about the program — he even has students join in on the recruitment effort. Last summer, one of his Ph.D. students organized a camp in the Greenville area with help from a computer science teacher at Southside High School. “We taught high schoolers how to program their cell phones. Since all kids have cell phones, we thought this would be a good way to get them excited about computer science,” Dean said.

And it sure is a good time to be excited for the USACO. At the most recent IOI competition in Sirmione, Italy, the USA team won first place overall with a total of three gold medals and one bronze medal. One team member even achieved a perfect score. The team’s success has Dean looking ahead with excitement. “We have a lot of people returning from last year,” Dean said. “There are a lot of really smart kids coming back.

7. Memorial service for student Steven Grich set for Feb. 15
A service to celebrate the life of student Steven Gregory Grich will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 in the Tillman Hall auditorium. Grich, 23, an electrical engineering major, died Dec. 8.

8. Learn about Clemson’s lecture capturing capabilities at Echo 360 “Lunch and Learn”
Learn about the Lecture Capture capabilities that Clemson has to offer. Clemson’s Learning Technologies Group in partnership with Echo360 invites you to a “Lunch and Learn” on the benefits of lecture capture with Echo360.  Clemson Faculty will show us how they use lecture capture to enhance their on campus and distance education courses. An Echo360 representative will provide an overview of the Echo360, and the benefits for faculty and students. A brief demo will also be provided. Tours of the new Distance Education classroom to follow.
•    What: Lunch and Learn: The Benefits of Lecture Capture
•    Lunch will be provided by Echo360.
•    When: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
•    Where: Student Senate Chambers
Who Should Attend: Faculty and staff that would like to learn about Echo360 Capture as well as existing users who are interested in hearing about new features.

9. Risk Management: Safe Tiger Mug winners

January 2013:

• Sally Mauldin – Office of the Board of Trustees
• Elise Schnabel – Genetics and Biochemistry
• Anthony Harvey – University Housing

Upcoming events

• Clemson national print and drawing exhibition Feb. 18
• Pendleton District Gem and Mineral Society: jewelry making: centrifugal casting in ice cream salt crystals Feb. 19
• Delphine Dean: Hospitals in other countries: Why improving medical equipment design can help all of us  Feb. 21
• Grow your own shiitake mushrooms workshop Feb. 28

Scroll down to read the following articles

1. Clemson to dedicate new Life Sciences Facility Friday
2. PARKING/TRANSIT – Parking closures, towing events, and CAT route deviations
3. CUPD to undergo onsite assessment Feb. 27-28; public comment invited
4. Transatlantic network to model heart defects, save lives
5. UPIC accepting Summer/Fall 2013 site mentor applications for part-time interns
6. Clemson art students to hold Valentine’s Day card sale
7. Learn more: CCIT offering a number of training opportunities
8. SCETV documentary tells story of Harvey Gantt’s journey to Clemson

1. Clemson to dedicate new Life Sciences Facility Friday

http://www.clemson.edu/media-relations/4697

Clemson University officials will dedicate the new 100,000-square-foot Life Sciences Facility on campus in a public ceremony at 1 p.m. Friday. The $50 million facility has been designed for a new era of collaborative, interdisciplinary research and education for the College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Sciences.

The facility has 25 laboratories, organized by research clusters that focus on emerging pathogens, cancer prevention and cure, microbiology and food safety, and an advanced-imaging suite

“The goal of the College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Sciences is to become a new model for a life-based, interdisciplinary college for the 21^st century,” said Tom Scott, dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Sciences.

The architects were Perkins+Will of Atlanta and the builders were DPR Construction, also of Atlanta.

Friday’s public events include:

• 10-11 a.m. Celebrating the Life Sciences: A Colloquium for Scientists in the McKissick Theatre in the Hendrix Student Center
• 1 p.m. Dedication Ceremony, Life Sciences Facility
• 1:30-3:30 p.m. Self-guided tours of the facility

The new facility is located adjacent to the Poole Agriculture Center near the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts.

2. PARKING/TRANSIT – Parking closures, towing events, and CAT route deviations

https://blogs.clemson.edu/inside-clemson/inside-news/parkingtransit-%E2%80%93-parking-closures-towing-events-and-cat-route-deviations-2/

There are a number of events occurring across campus in the upcoming week. Please note that some of these events may impact your parking routine.

Ravenel Road and C-9 parking lot closed Feb. 6

Ravenel Road and C-9 parking lot will be closed to through traffic and reserved for sponsors and exhibitors of the Spring Career Fair Wednesday, Feb. 6. The Career Fair will be open from 1 – 6 p.m.

CAT buses will also be rerouted to travel along S.C. 93 between Perimeter Road and Centennial Boulevard, rather than traveling down Ravenel Road. Please be patient as this may cause minor delays to the system.

For more information about the Spring Career Fair please visit http://career.clemson.edu/events/career_fairs/students/index.php.

Parking at Brooks Center: White Spaces reserved Thursday, Feb. 7

Thursday, Feb. 7, the white spaces in C-11 will be reserved in the morning for Denyce Graves, mezz-soprano, a Eskridge Tri-Art Series presentation. The performance begins at 10 a.m. and spaces will be released after the performance has begun. For more information, visit http://www.clemson.edu/Brooks/events/triart.php.

Parking at Brooks Center: Towing beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8

Friday, Feb. 8, the white spaces in C-11 will be reserved starting at 6 p.m. for Patron’s Row parking for the performance of Denyce Graves, mezzo-soprano. Any vehicles left in these spaces after 6 p.m. will be subject to tow. For more information about the show, visit http://www.clemson.edu/Brooks/events/detail.php?ID=599.

Parking at Brooks Center: Towing beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12

Tuesday, Feb. 12, the white spaces in C-11 will be reserved starting at 6 p.m. for Patron’s Row parking for the Birdland Big Band performance. Any vehicles left in these spaces after 6 p.m. will be subject to tow. For more information about the show, visit http://www.clemson.edu/Brooks/events/detail.php?ID=562.

Aisles 1-3 of C-1 parking lot reserved Saturday, Feb. 9

The first three aisles of the C-1 parking lot are reserved for the Clemson Sports Car Club Autocross from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9. Permit holders are asked to vacate these aisles and refrain from parking in the area by 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8.

FREE Men’s basketball shuttle Sunday, Feb. 10 starting at 11 a.m.

Clemson Athletics, in association with Clemson University Student Government and Parking & Transportation Services, will offer Tiger Transit shuttles from select locations on campus to Littlejohn Coliseum in effort to support Men’s Basketball. The service will be offered at all remaining Men’s Basketball home games. Shuttle service will begin two hours prior to tip-off and will run until one hour post-game. Look for the Tiger Transit stop sign at the following pick-up locations and times:

Littlejohn Coliseum                       (:00) (:20) (:40)
Klugh Avenue                               (:02) (:22) (:42)
Fort Hill House                              (:03) (:23) (:43)
Clemson House (Rear Entrance)     (:05) (:25) (:45)
Horseshoe (Bryan Circle)               (:08) (:28) (:48)
Lightsey Bridge Commons             (:14) (:38) (:58)

For a complete schedule of Clemson Men’s Basketball games, visit www.clemsontigers.com.

If you have questions or special needs relating to this notice, please contact Parking and Transportation Services at parking@clemson.edu or 656-2270.

3. CUPD to undergo onsite assessment Feb. 27-28; public comment invited

https://blogs.clemson.edu/inside-clemson/inside-news/cupd-to-undergo-onsite-assessment-feb-27-feb-28-2013/

The Clemson University Police Department is scheduled for an onsite assessment Feb. 27 – Feb. 28, 2013 as part of a program to achieve accreditation by verifying it meets professional standards.

Administered by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc., the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations and support services.

As part of the onsite assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to give comments and/or suggestions to:

Chief Johnson W. Link or Lieutenant Jami Brothers
Clemson University Police Department
344012 Centennial Blvd.
Clemson, SC 29634
(864) 656-5259

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Clemson University Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to:

South Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc.
c/o South Carolina Sheriff’s Association
112 Westpark Blvd.
Columbia, SC 29210
ATTN: SCLEA Program Administrator

4. Transatlantic Network to Model Heart Defects, Save Lives

https://blogs.clemson.edu/discovery/2013/02/05/transatlantic-network-to-model-heart-defects-save-lives/

Approximately 1500 babies are born each year in the U.S. with an abnormal single ventricle heart condition. The corrective process, known as the Fontan circulation, involves three stages of surgery during the first few years of life to enable the heart to function with only one ventricle.  The specific corrective process depends on several factors, including the heart’s development as the child grows, making it difficult for doctors to monitor progress and predict the next stage of treatment or the long-term effect of such treatments.  As you can imagine, the mortality rate is high due to the complexity of the surgery and a physician’s skill-set/experience needed to succeed.

Dr. Richard Figliola is working to reduce this high mortality rate and improve available information used in the surgical decision made by physicians. He and a team of physicians and engineering researchers spanning two continents have been awarded a $6 million award from the Leducq Foundation to develop 3-D modeling of the three surgical stages of single ventricle physiology. These models, which will be shared on a global network, will provide surgeons various predictive tools that they can use for better clinical bedside decisions.

Currently, the team is collecting clinical information about these patients for the shared databank using high-resolution imaging and advanced catherization methods. This data, coupled with the researchers’ engineering software, will provide modeling outcomes for each unique patient enabling pre-virtual surgeries and testing of alternative strategies. External access to the Network’s tools and database is expected over the next four to six years.

The team has several sophisticated predictive models in place now and have developed clinical tools (catheterization and MRI methods) needed to make the models patient specific. The models will improve as more patients become part of our database and subsequent observations. Several important pieces of information have been published.

5. UPIC accepting Summer/Fall 2013 site mentor applications for part-time interns

https://blogs.clemson.edu/inside-clemson/inside-news/upic-accepting-site-summerfall-2013-site-mentor-applications-for-part-time-interns/

The University Professional Internship & Co-Op (UPIC) program is now accepting site mentor applications for part-time internship experiences for the Summer and Fall 2013 semesters.

Student engagement is one of Clemson University’s four areas of investment for its 2020 Road Map. The on campus internship initiative is a vital part of the creation of a campus-wide culture in which students participate in meaningful and relevant developmental experiences.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered for internships for which funding is shared by the UPIC program. The deadline for site mentors to submit is Feb. 24. “Site Application and Position Description Forms “can be found at: http://career.clemson.edu/OCI_program/departments/index.php.

Call 656-6000 with any questions.

6. Clemson art students to hold Valentine’s Day card sale

February 12 and 13, 2013
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Hendrix Center Atrium

Put art into your heart by purchasing one-of-a-kind handcrafted Valentine’s Day cards created by art students in the printmaking program in the Art Department at Clemson University. Come and select your expression of love from hundreds of cards. Proceeds from the sale support student attendance at national conferences and other professional activities.

For more information, please contact Sydney Cross csydeny@clemson.edu or (864)656-3893

7. Learn more: CCIT offering a number of training opportunities

http://www.clemson.edu/ccit/learning_tech/ccit_training/index.html

8.  SCETV documentary tells story of Harvey Gantt’s journey to Clemson

http://www.clemson.edu/media-relations/4698/scetv-documentary-tells-story-of-harvey-gantts-journey-to-clemson/

SCETV will tell the story of Harvey Gantt and his struggle to desegregate Clemson University as its first African-American student. The documentary “The Education of Harvey Gantt” will air on SCETV at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7.

The documentary recounts Gantt’s legal battle to enroll at Clemson with the help of attorney Matthew J. Perry. In January 1963, Gantt won his lawsuit and was allowed to enroll at Clemson, where he studied architecture. Gantt graduated from Clemson with honors in 1965. He later moved to Charlotte, N.C., where he founded Gantt-Huberman Architects, sat on the Charlotte City Council and, in 1983, was elected to serve as Charlotte’s first African-American mayor.

Award-winning ETV producer Betsy Newman directed the documentary, which features narration by Tony Award-winning actress and singer Phylicia Rashad and historic photographs by Cecil Williams.

ETV Radio also featured Gantt’s story Friday, Feb. 1, on “Walter Edgar’s Journal.” That program, which included an interview with Clemson history professor Vernon Burton, is now available online as a podcast.

Upcoming events

Dedication of Clemson’s new Life Sciences Facility Feb. 8
http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/dedication_of_the_new_life_sciences_facility#.UQgbC-ghrWE

Life Sciences Colloquium Feb. 8
http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/life_sciences_colloquium#.UQga2-ghrWE

South Carolina State Employees Association Legislative Dinner Feb. 11
http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/south_carolina_state_employees_association_legislative_dinner#.UQgb2eghrWE

ORC Brown Bag Seminar: “Hazardous Waste-Training for Generators” Feb. 12
http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/orc_brown_bag_seminar_hazardous_waste-training_for_generators_with_a_repeat_session_on_21913#.URFESOghrWF

Seasons by the Lake four-course Valentine’s Day dinner package Feb. 14
https://www.facebook.com/SeasonsbytheLake

Scroll down to read the following articles
1. 2012 W-2’s have been issued; includes new reporting requirements for employer-sponsored health care
2. PARKING/TRANSIT – Parking Closures, Towing Events, and CAT Route Deviations
3. Staff Senate to hold annual food drive Feb. 1-28
4. iROAR’s Mock Registration was a success!
5. Clemson professor Shaundra “Shani” Daily: Fusing a love of dance with technology

1. 2012 W-2’s have been issued; includes new reporting requirements for employer-sponsored health care

2012 W-2’s issued

The 2012 W-2’s are available online for active employees. W-2’s for inactive employees and those who did not consent to an on-line form will be mailed on 1/31/13 to the address on file in the HR database (which may not match the SIS address for students). Once received, please safeguard your hard copy, as there is a $10 charge for reprints.

Active employees can now access the online form. Click here to log-in to HR Self Service, inputting your employee Novell User ID and password on the ORACLE screen. Click on “Year End Form” to view your W-2 and “Filing Instructions” to view/print IRS Notice to Employee and Instructions for Employee.  Student employees must use your employee user ID to log in. If you need assistance with your ID and password, contact ithelp@clemson.edu.  Please ensure pop-up blockers are turned off.

New reporting requirements for employer-sponsored health care

Under health care reform (Affordable Care Act), employers are required to report the cost of employer-sponsored health plan coverage on employees’ W-2 forms in box 12 as code DD. The cost reported includes both pre-tax and post-tax premiums paid for by the employee and the employer for health insurance only. The purpose is to provide information to employees on the total cost of their healthcare coverage and will not be used for tax purposes.

For more information from the IRS, go to Reporting of Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage.

Request a Reprint

We will begin reprinting W-2’s on Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 for any requests received through Sunday Feb. 10, 2013.  Reprints will be processed weekly on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons up to April 9, 2013 and daily after that through April 15, 2013, which is the 2013 deadline for submitting 2012 tax returns without an extension. Check back for the Reprint Request Form, which is not yet available.

---

FAQs:

Q. When trying to access my W-2, I receive the “File not found or file received has length zero” error.  Why can’t I view my W-2?
A. This error is due to a security setting in Internet Explorer.  Please follow these instructions for correcting this error.

Q.  None of the earnings on my W-2 match my annual rate. Why is that?
A.  The W-2 form reports “taxable gross”, not actual earnings. Taxable Gross is Actual Gross less pre-tax deductions. For a detailed explanation of how to tie your last paystub in 2011 to your 2011 W-2, please see TIPS for Understanding Your W-2.

Q. I waived the right to participate in retirement. Why is the Retirement Plan box marked on my W-2?
A.  Participation is determined based on eligibility, whether one elected or waived the right to participate.  For more information see Employees Covered by A Retirement Plan. If you feel this box was marked in error, please email payroll@clemson.edu.

Q.  Where can I get my statement about tuition?
A.  Students who pay tuition receive a 1098-T. This can be accessed online via the SIS system.  For assistance with 1098-T issues, contact Student Accounts at 656-5592.

Q.  I was paid as a vendor. Where is my 1099?
A.  Please contact Elizabeth Brewer at 656-5594 or email at cowarde@clemson.edu.

Q.  As a student employee with more than one job, will I get separate W-2’s?
A.  No, W-2’s are issued as one document from one employer, so all jobs for that employer are on one form.

Q.  I had an international tax treaty, where is my tax statement?
A.  If you did not meet your treaty limit, you will receive only a 1042S.  If you exceeded your treaty limit, you will receive both at 1042S and a W-2. For 1042S questions, please contact Mack Howard at mackh@clemson.edu.

2. PARKING/TRANSIT – Parking Closures, Towing Events, and CAT Route Deviations

There are a number of events occurring across campus in the upcoming week. Please note that some of these events may impact your parking routine.

Parking at Brooks Center: White spaces reserved Wednesday, Jan. 30

Wednesday, Jan. 30, the white spaces in C-11 will be reserved in the morning for Pacifica Quartet, an Eskridge Tri-Art Series presentation. For more information, please visit http://www.clemson.edu/Brooks/events/triart.php.

Parking at Brooks Center: White spaces reserved Thursday, Jan. 31

Thursday, Jan. 31, the white spaces in C-11 will be reserved in the morning for Momix, an Eskridge Tri-Art Series presentation. The performance begins at 10 a.m. and spaces will be released after the performance has begun. For more information, visit http://www.clemson.edu/Brooks/events/triart.php.

Parking at Brooks Center: Towing beginning at 6 p.m. Jan. 31

Thursday, Jan. 31, the white spaces in C-11 will be reserved starting at 6 p.m. for Patron’s Row parking for the performance of Momix. Any vehicles left in these spaces after 6 p.m. will be subject to tow. For more information about the show, visit http://www.clemson.edu/Brooks/events/detail.php?ID=559.

Avenue of Champions and Ravenel Road closed Jan. 31 – Feb. 3

The Avenue of Champions, Ravenel Road, and the North Parking Lot at Littlejohn Coliseum will be closed to through traffic and reserved for judges, staff, and guests of the TigerPaw Gymnastics Invitational occurring in Littlejohn Coliseum.

The bus stop on the Avenue of Champions at the tunnel entrance of Littlejohn Coliseum will be closed. Riders should board the CAT bus at the corner of Avenue of Champions and Centennial Blvd., across from the IPTAY office. CAT buses will also be rerouted to travel along SC Highway 93 between Perimeter Road and Centennial Blvd rather than traveling down Ravenel Road.

Please note that there will be increased vehicle and pedestrian activity around Littlejohn Coliseum beginning Thursday, so exercise caution when traveling through this area.

For more information about this event please visit http://www.tigerpawgymnastics.com/.

Parking at Brooks Center: Towing beginning at 6 p.m. Feb. 5

Tuesday, Feb. 5, the white spaces in C-11 will be reserved starting at 6 p.m. for Patron’s Row parking for the performance of Cyrano de Bergerac. Any vehicles left in these spaces after 6 p.m. will be subject to tow. For more information about the show, visit http://www.clemson.edu/Brooks/events/detail.php?ID=560.

Ravenel Road and C-9 parking lot closed Feb. 5 -6

Ravenel Road and C-9 parking lot will be closed to through traffic and reserved for sponsors and exhibitors of the Spring Career Fair Tuesday, Feb. 5 and Wednesday, Feb. 6. The Career Fair will be open from 1 – 6 p.m. each day.

CAT buses will also be rerouted to travel along SC Highway 93 between Perimeter Road and Centennial Blvd. rather than traveling down Ravenel Road.

For more information about the Spring Career Fair, visit http://career.clemson.edu/events/career_fairs/students/index.php.

For questions or special needs relating to this information, please contact Parking and Transportation Services at parking@clemson.edu or 656-2270.

3. Staff Senate to hold annual food drive Feb. 1-28

For one in six Americans, hunger is closer than you think.    (Golden Harvest Food Bank)

The Clemson Staff Senate will hold its annual food drive Feb. 1-28.

Drop your cans, boxes and non-perishable foods at a number of convenient campus locations, including:

• Administrative Services Building
• Barre Hall
• Center for Applied Research
• Clemson House
• Cooper Library
• Eagles Landing
• Fike
• Information Technology Center
• Madren Conference Center
• Poole Agricultural Center
• Redfern
• Sikes Hall
• Tillman Hall
• University Facilities
• University Union

Last year’s food drive raised more than 900 pounds of food.

The Golden Harvest Food Bank, serving Pickens, Oconee and Anderson counties, will distribute the food to grateful individuals and families.

For questions, contact Karon Donald at 656-9000.

4. iROAR’s Mock Registration was a success!

More than 600 students as well as faculty and staff volunteers participated in iROAR’s Mock Registration January 23 – 24. This test of the new Student Information System registration proved to be very successful. The objectives of introducing iROAR to the Clemson community, testing new registration procedures, correcting errors and collecting feedback from participants were all met.  The information gained from Mock Registration will be used to correct inaccuracies and improve procedures before registration for fall 2013 courses.

The iROAR team appreciates the support of those who participated in the event.

5. Clemson professor Shaundra “Shani” Daily: Fusing a love of dance with technology

Clemson professor Shaundra “Shani” Daily started out as a gymnast and danced her way into the field of affective computing.

Daily’s dancing days sparked creative project ideas that blend the arts with science, technology and engineering. Her innovative style caught the attention of nationally recognized news magazine Diverse Issues in Higher Education, which lists Daily as a 2013 Emerging Scholar. She and 11 other educators were recognized in this month’s edition of the publication.

Known for its focus on matters of access, equality and opportunity for all people in higher education, the news magazine annually honors shining star educators. All selected scholars are under 40 years old with proven abilities to lead and inspire.

From passion to career

As a young girl, Daily flipped for gymnastics.

“I was a gymnast for nearly 10 years, but after a while, my knees didn’t want to cooperate,” Daily said. “Plus, I had a slight fear of vaulting, so I ended that journey.”

Daily’s mother took her very flexible daughter to a dance studio the same day she left her gym. Daily never skipped a beat.

“I didn’t want to end up in ‘baby classes,’ so I didn’t share with anyone that I had never taken a dance class,” Daily said. “Fortunately, there is some overlap between dance and gymnastics.”

Daily’s impressive moves led to advanced classes in pointe, jazz, tap and acrobatics during her first year in the dance studio. She also appeared in the 1996 Olympics opening ceremony and made appearances at the Grand Ole Opry, Disney World and various professional sporting events.

The now accomplished dancer had even bigger dreams. In high school, she considered joining the FBI because of her zeal for solving problems, but her love for the arts and working with people got the best of her.

Daily earned a B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University-Florida State University College of Engineering.

She left Florida and moved to Cambridge, Mass., to pursue a master’s and doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Daily is the second African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. from the Media Lab, which is known for interdisciplinary research that blends technology and the arts.

Daily’s love for music led to work at MIT on a project called RoBallet, a program that fuses dance, learning and technology. She also worked on a number of projects with the Affective Computing Group at MIT to support children and adults by helping them reflect on their emotions and build empathy for each other.

Daily is now a second-year assistant professor in Clemson’s Human-Centered Computing (HCC) division of the School of Computing.

“I’m determined to continue designing creative pathways for women and minorities to become interested in computing careers as well as helping those students perform well on culturally diverse teams when they enter the workplace,” Daily said.

Problems motivate Daily to find solutions. That’s one reason she joined HCC at Clemson where the division’s lab motto is “changing the world.”

“Dr. Daily is a fast rising star and we are excited to have her in HCC,” said professor Juan Gilbert, Presidential Endowed Chair in Computing and HCC chair. “Her research embodies the true spirit of HCC by integrating people and technology to address societal issues.”

Daily also is an Institute for the Advancement of Healthcare scholar at Clemson. To learn more about her areas of expertise, visit www.clemson.edu/~sdaily and http://www.clemson.edu/ces/computing/news-stories/sdaily.html.

---

Have an idea for a faculty or staff profile? Contact Jackie Todd at jtodd3@clemson.edu.

Upcoming events

• Mark your calendar! Dedication of Clemson’s new Life Sciences Facility Feb. 8
• Life Sciences Colloquium Feb. 8

• Art Exhibition Reception – “Contemporary Conversations: Part I” Jan. 31
• Free, Non-competitive Martial Art Class Jan. 31
• ORC Brown Bag Seminar: “Biological Safety-Lab Practices Inspection” Feb. 5
• Art Exhibition “Contemporary Conversations: Part I” Now through Feb. 6
• South Carolina State Employees Association Legislative Dinner Feb. 11

Scroll down to read the following articles

1.  Clemson honors two trustees with Clemson Medallion
2.  Call for nominations: Women’s Commission awards
3.  PARKING/TRANSIT: Parking Lot Closures Due to Campus Events
4.  Clemson professor interviewed on Anderson Cooper Live
5.  Summer program opportunities for children of Clemson faculty, staff and graduate students
6.  Leaving his mark: George Bennett began many of the customs that the Clemson family holds dear
7.  Seeking volunteer coach for women’s club basketball
8. Clemson University Conference Center & Inn: Recapture the Romance with your special Valentine in February!

1. Clemson honors two trustees with Clemson Medallion

Clemson University is honoring two long-serving trustees —Thomas B. McTeer Jr. of Columbia and Joseph D. Swann of Greenville — with the university’s highest public honor, the Clemson Medallion.

The Clemson Medallion is presented to individuals who have rendered notable and significant service and support to Clemson University and who exemplify the dedication and foresight of university founder Thomas Green Clemson.

“These two gentlemen have devoted so much of their lives to Clemson. From the time they were students, they have been leaders for this university, and it is a great honor to be able to recognize them for their dedication,” said university President James F. Barker. “Clemson would not be the university it is today without their hard work and leadership.”

McTeer, a native of Early Branch in Hampton County, graduated from Clemson in 1960 with a degree in industrial management. Though he has been a Tiger fan since childhood, McTeer almost ended up a Gamecock.

“I was originally going to Carolina on a football scholarship, but at the last minute, Coach Frank Howard offered me a scholarship, so I packed my bags and came to Clemson,” he said.

During his time at Clemson, McTeer was involved with student government, serving as vice president of the senior class and also as vice president of the Central Dance Association. He was a member of Tiger Brotherhood and Blue Key Honor Society, played football and ran track. After graduation, McTeer went into a career in real estate. He is president of McTeer Real Estate Inc. in Columbia. He uses his expertise and experience as a member of Clemson’s Real Estate Foundation board.

McTeer credits two former trustees — the late Jim Self of Greenwood and the late P.W. McAlister of Laurens — with fostering his interest to join the board of trustees.

“The thought had never entered my mind,” McTeer said. “Jim Self was the one who really got me thinking about it.”

McTeer was elected to the board in 1976. He retired in 2012 after 35 years of service, making him one of the longest-serving trustees in Clemson’s history.

“The things Clemson is doing now, nobody envisioned back then,” he said. “We had no idea what this university was capable of. So much of our success goes back to the vision Thomas Green Clemson laid out in his will. He was such a visionary in his time. You don’t see many true visionaries, but he was one.”

All three of McTeer’s daughters graduated from Clemson, as well as one of his grandchildren. One grandchild is currently enrolled, with another one planning to attend Clemson next year.

“Clemson has been a part of my entire life,” he said. “I can’t visualize what my life would be without Clemson. I can never repay Clemson for everything it’s done for me.”

Swann graduated from Clemson in 1963 with a degree in ceramic engineering. The Clio native said that he was a Tiger fan growing up, but that it was Clemson’s strong engineering programs that led him to the college.

As a student, Swann was involved with student government and was a member of the Numeral Society and Tiger Brotherhood. He wrote for the student newspaper, The Tiger, and for the engineering magazine, Slipstick. He served as president of his junior and senior classes.

“I was involved in many of the things that make Clemson a great student experience and learned a lot about self-discipline and leadership,” said Swann. “I was a student when Harvey Gantt enrolled in Clemson, and student government played a large part in working with Dean [Walter] Cox to make Clemson a more welcoming place for him.”

After graduation, Swann left South Carolina to work for Ferro Corp. in the ceramics industry in Cleveland. While there, he earned an MBA from Case Western Reserve University. He later took a job with Reliance Electric, where he held several positions in Ohio and Georgia before returning to South Carolina to live in Greenville in 1981. In 1995, Reliance Electric was acquired by Rockwell Automation, and Swann was named president of Rockwell Automation Power Systems and senior vice president of Rockwell Automation. He retired from the company as president in 2007.

Swann served on Clemson’s board of visitors and was elected to the board of trustees in 1990, with the encouragement of Trustee Emeritus Allen Wood. Like McTeer, Swann’s three children followed in his footsteps, all graduating from Clemson.

“For most of my life, I have attempted to thank Clemson for a great education and a solid start along life’s highway,” said Swann. “Clemson University is a very special place, and the Clemson family is very real and meaningful. It was important to me as a maturing student and helped me gain confidence and have the ability to lead in my business career.”

Swann said it is an exciting time to serve as a trustee for Clemson.

“I am a strong proponent of Clemson’s Top 20 goal and of its mission to help students learn to live healthy lives,” he said. “I strongly believe that as Clemson moves toward Top 20 status, we must ensure that Clemson will still be Clemson.”

The Clemson Medallion recognizes an individual who has had a long and sustained commitment and significant service to Clemson University. Recipients of the Clemson Medallion have earned the respect and admiration of people throughout the university family.

2. Call for nominations: Women’s Commission awards

The President’s Commission on the Status of Women annually honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to improve the status of women. These awards include:

• Outstanding woman academic faculty member
• Outstanding woman classified staff
• Outstanding woman graduate student
• Outstanding woman undergraduate student
• Distinguished contributor
• Thea McCrary Student Award for Outstanding Service, named in honor of the late Thea McCrary, former captain of the Clemson University Police Department and a former chair of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women

Complete nomination packets for all awards must be submitted to the Women’s Commission office in 603 Strode Tower by 4:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25.

Honorees will be recognized at a reception March 13.

Outstanding Woman; Outstanding Contributor

Recipients of the Outstanding Woman Awards are selected from the following categories: academic faculty, classified staff, graduate student and undergraduate. Honorees in the distinguished contributor category may be male or female alumni, senior administrators, unclassified staff, non-academic faculty, major gift donors or other individuals who have made significant contributions to improving the status of women.

Nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Professional achievement within category
• Service as a role model within the University
• Service as a role model outside the University
• Performance in “unique” circumstances of merit
• Efforts to promote the status of women

To nominate an individual, submit a vita, resume or summary of activities (two-page maximum) and two letters of support, along with a completed nomination form, available at:
http://www.clemson.edu/womenscommission/awards.html.

Thea McCrary Student Award for Outstanding Service

This award honors a student who is engaged in public service or education on matters critical to the lives of women and society in general. Any student (male or female) who, during the previous academic year, has been engaged in community service may be nominated. The recipient will receive a $150 stipend.

To nominate an individual, submit a letter of nomination detailing the student’s service activities and two letters of recommendation, along with a completed nomination form, available at:
http://www.clemson.edu/administration/commissions/womenscommission/studentawards.html.

If you have questions or need additional information, contact Linda Tindal 864-656-1532 or ltindal@clemson.edu.

3. PARKING/TRANSIT: Parking Lot Closures Due to Campus Events

Section of C-11 parking lot (Brooks Center Lot) reserved Jan. 24 – 26

Beginning on Thursday, Jan. 24, one section of the white spaces within the Brooks Center parking lot will be reserved for the South Carolina Honor Band Participants. This reservation will be in place until Saturday, Jan 26.

E-13 (Sheep Barn) parking lot reserved Friday, Jan. 25

The Sheep Barn parking lot is reserved for the Clemson Parent’s Advisory Board Meeting on Friday, Jan 25. At the conclusion of the meeting, the lot will be reopened.

Aisles 1-3 of C-1 parking lot reserved Saturday, Jan. 26

The first three aisles of the C-1 parking lot are reserved for the Clemson Sports Car Club Autocross from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. Permit holders are asked to vacate these aisles and refrain from parking in the area by 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25.

FREE Men’s Basketball Shuttle Sunday, Jan. 27

Clemson Athletics, in association with Clemson University Student Government and Parking & Transportation Services, will offer Tiger Transit shuttles from select locations on campus to Littlejohn Coliseum in effort to support Men’s Basketball. The service will be offered at all remaining Men’s Basketball home games. Shuttle service will begin two hours prior to tip-off and will run until one hour post-game. Look for the Tiger Transit stop sign at the following pick-up locations and times:

Littlejohn Coliseum                           (:00) (:20) (:40)
Fort Hill House                                   (:03) (:23) (:43)
Clemson House (Rear Entrance)    (:05) (:25) (:45)
Horseshoe (Bryan Circle)                 (:08) (:28) (:48)
Lightsey Bridge Commons               (:14) (:38) (:58)

For a complete schedule of Clemson Men’s Basketball games, visit www.clemsontigers.com.

4. Clemson professor interviewed on Anderson Cooper Live

Joseph Ryan, Associate Director of Research for Clemson University’s Eugene T. Moore School of Education was interviewed last week on Anderson Cooper Live regarding behavior management practices and policies in schools. He discussed the dangers associated with seclusion and restraint procedures with children, and emphasized the importance of parents knowing and understanding the discipline policies and procedures of the school their child attends.

See the Anderson Cooper Live segment on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej-3ehWW1Ho.

5.  Summer program opportunities for children of Clemson faculty, staff and graduate students

It’s never too early to think about summer. Registration is now open for Clemson University’s youth summer programs. Access more information about summer camps and programs at: clemson.edu/summer-scholars.

6.  Leaving his mark: George Bennett began many of the customs that the Clemson family holds dear

The sound of a cannon firing in Death Valley is music to a Tiger fan’s ears. Returning students anticipate the crowds of friends and classmates flooding downtown at the Welcome Back Festival. The $2 bills spent at away games signal pride for Clemson supporters. Most of us might think that whoever started these long-standing traditions is far-removed from Clemson by now.

On the contrary, that person is closer than you think. His name is George Bennett, and he works over in the Jervey Athletic Center.

He will admit that it wasn’t his top priority to make the highest grades on his tests as an undergrad here or to graduate with honors. “I felt like making friends and getting involved, what y’all call networking today, was more important,” Bennett said.

Although he is a Columbia native, home of archrival USC, Bennett’s connection to Clemson started when his family brought him to his first Clemson visit when he was 6. He hasn’t been able to stay away for long ever since.

He didn’t take much time applying to college because he only applied to Clemson. “There was never any doubt in my mind where I was going. I didn’t apply anywhere else. I didn’t even think about going anywhere else,” Bennett said.

His deep involvement during his time at Dreher High School led him to get involved right away at Clemson. He was elected president of the freshman class and was in company B4 — Clemson was an all-male military college at the time. Sophomore year he moved up to company B1 and went out for cheerleading. “That [cheerleading] was the furthest thing from my mind I would ever do,” Bennett commented. By his junior year, he was the first sergeant of company B1.

When he was head cheerleader, Bennett came up with the idea to fire a cannon for touchdowns. In fact, he and his father bought the first cannon.

Senior year, he was named the public information officer for the cadet corps and served on Senior Council. He was also made head cheerleader.

“That was probably the best thing that ever happened to me because once you stand up in front of 20,000 fans and lead cheers, you are never intimidated by anything else the rest of your life,” Bennett said.

His time as head cheerleader affects all those who go to Clemson football games today. Bennett came up with the idea to fire a cannon for touchdowns; a tradition that is still in good use currently. In fact, he and his father bought the first cannon.

Not only was he involved in Clemson’s military, student government and cheerleading, Bennett was also the president of the Blue Key Honor Society, a member of Tiger Brotherhood and president of the Central Dance Association.

Because Bennett was involved in many different organizations, school became secondary. He laughed at how this didn’t bother him as long as he would graduate.

Bennett graduated in 1955 and went straight into the U.S. Army, and he was later appointed as the Commander of the Honor Guard at Fort Knox. After two years, he decided to leave Fort Knox and apply to law school. Once he arrived home in Columbia, he decided that school wasn’t for him at that time and started searching for a job.

He landed a job in the Esso training station; he was transferred frequently and climbed positions rather quickly in the company. After being relocated to North Carolina, he met his wife, Nancy. They had two children, Jeffrey and Bonnie, and continued to move around the state for Bennett’s career. After years of working for Esso, he was promoted to the sales supervisor position over the entire west coast of Florida — providing a nice paycheck and a distant move to Tampa.

After seeing a job advertisement for a Clemson alumni field representative position in the alumni magazine, Bennett started to think that it might be time to find a place where his family could settle down. However, there was a significant decrease in pay that he had to consider. Nonetheless, he interviewed for the position and was offered the job. After a long conversation with his wife, they decided returning to Clemson was the right move.

In June of 1967, Bennett became Clemson’s first alumni field representative. Time passed and he was asked to move over to the athletic department and take over as the executive secretary of IPTAY. During his time in this position, he founded some of Clemson’s most honored traditions, such as the Welcome Back Festival and the $2 bills.

In 1979, Bennett took a job at Vanderbilt University as the associate athletic director. Nobody was more surprised than he was when he left Clemson. “It was one of those economic jobs you do in life. You don’t want to do this, but the money is too good to not do it,” Bennett explained.

Before returning to Clemson again in 1993, he served as the athletic director at Furman University and managed a foundation at Nashville’s Baptist Hospital. As difficult as it was to move his family around again, these jobs really opened his eyes to what was out there and how to be successful at fundraising.

“Bobby Robinson, Clemson’s athletic director at the time, called me and said, ‘Are you ready to come back home?’” Bennett said. Without an interview or copious paperwork, Bennett came back as the executive secretary of IPTAY.

In 2004, a fight with cancer sent him to Houston for treatment. He retired after recovering, but stayed in Clemson as an ambassador and historian for the athletic department.

Today, Bennett represents the athletic department at events and gives tours of the athletic facilities. At 79 years old, he does 60 tours a year for about 5,000 people of all ages. “Being here so long and knowing so many people, I have a lot of stories to tell. I have a speech that I start off with named, ‘73 years of Clemson memories, and I’m only 79,’ ” Bennett laughed.

After hearing this speech, it begged the question of what his favorite memory of Clemson is. “That would be impossible; it really would. That would just be completely impossible,” Bennett said.

There are too many memories to choose from. Clemson is a part of Bennett, but Bennett is also a part of Clemson. He has left his mark and continues to do so every day.

He said, “I love what Jim Barker says: We spend four years trying to get out of here and a lifetime trying to get back.” Bennett has found his way back, and with his family nearby and a fun job at his beloved alma mater, he is here to stay.

7.  Seeking volunteer coach for women’s club basketball

Clemson Women’s Club Basketball is looking for a volunteer coach! This student organization is looking for someone who is willing to donate their time to attend and lead practices twice a week in Fike, as well as travel to weekend tournaments as needed. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact the club president, Casey Cresbaugh at ccresba@clemson.edu.

8.  Clemson University Conference Center & Inn Recapture the Romance with your special Valentine in February!

Steal away for a romantic night at the James F. Martin Inn. Let the Clemson sunset and tranquil beauty of Hartwell Lake result in a night of relaxation and pampering at the leader among Clemson hotels.
Romance Package Includes:
~King executive suite overlooking Hartwell Lake or the Walker Golf Course
~Chocolate, champagne and roses in your room
~Dinner for two at Seasons by the Lake restaurant

The cost is $225 per night. For more information about this or other packages, visit http://www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/madren/inn/packages.html.

Upcoming events

Tunnel of Oppression Jan. 24
http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/tunnel_of_oppression#.UP7lbeghoZ4

Clemson Football Indoor Practice Facility Dedication and Open House Jan. 25
http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/clemson_football_indoor_practice_facility_dedication_and_open_house#.UP7mOOghoZ4

South Carolina Collegiate Honor Band Concert Jan. 26
http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/south_carolina_collegiate_honor_band_concert#.UPcRBLYhoZ5

Free, Non-competitive Martial Art Class Jan. 28 and Jan. 31
http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/free_non-competitive_martial_art_class_9782#.UP6wbmfPt8E

Art Exhibition “Contemporary Conversations: Part I” Now through Feb. 6
http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/art_exhibition_contemporary_conversations_part_i?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=widget&utm_source=Clemson+University

Scroll down for the following articles:

1. Seeking faculty/staff volunteers for iROAR mock registration
   
2. Recycling Services: Change in pick-up schedule
3. PARKING REMINDER: Official use parking placards for 2013 available
4. Donate your unwanted shoes for a great cause
5. Clemson network connects big ideas to resources
6. Clemson University celebrates MLK holiday with speaker David Hilliard
7. Chemical inventories for labs and non-labs due Feb. 15
   

1. Seeking faculty/staff volunteers for iROAR mock registration

Clemson’s new Student Information System, iROAR, will conduct Mock Registration on January 23 and 24 as part of the iROAR implementation cycle. Mock Registration is a test-run that focuses on registration practices.

The primary objectives of this testing plan are:
·         to introduce iROAR to faculty, staff and students
·         to test the new system and registration related tasks of future users
·         to locate and correct possible errors
·         to get feedback from all participants

Please encourage your students to take part in Mock Registration. It takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and incentives will be offered to participating students.

Access Mock Registration times and locations at http://www.clemson.edu/iroar/students/mockRegistration/index.html.

2. Recycling Services: Change in pick-up schedule

Please note the recycling pick up schedule has changed for campus. Access the updated link and schedule at http://media.clemson.edu/facilities/pdf/recycling/Clemson%20University%20Recycling%20Schedule%202013.pdf.

In other news:

• The Kite Hill Recycling Center has upgraded its signage and has been repainted. The center now accepts #3 through #7 plastic and electronic waste for recycling.
• Cardboard Recycling Containers will be serviced on Tuesdays.

Contact Dave Vandeventer at 656-4219 with any questions.

3. PARKING REMINDER: Official Use Parking Placards for 2013 Available

As a reminder to all departments who were assigned Official Use Only placards in 2012, the 2013 Clemson University annual “Official Use Only” parking placards are ready for pick up in the Parking and Transportation Services office for any department that has not received their permits yet. Parking enforcement personnel will honor all 2012 placards until Jan. 18, 2013, to ensure adequate time for pick up.

We also want to share some important changes that were approved by Administrative Council this past year. There is now a $24 annual fee for each permit issued and the permit will now allow parking at parking-metered spaces for up to a two-hour limit without paying the meters. Previously, the user of the parking placard was required to pay and ensure that the meter space was activated for the meter limit. Since there is now a fee, please also provide the person picking up the placard(s) with a chart field string for billing purposes as they will be required to complete an application.

Please assign an employee from your department to pick up your placards. Student employees will not be able to pick up the placards.

Parking and Transportation Services will be updating and verifying the following departmental information: area, contact name, contact number, email address and department mailing address. Please instruct the person assigned to pick up the placards to verify and/or correct the information when picking up the placards.

Parking and Transportation Services is located at G-01 Edgar Brown Union. Office hours are 7:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, excluding university holidays.

If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to verify the number of permits that have been prepared for your department/area, please contact Sonia Jammes, associate director for administration and finance at 864-656-0548 or at soniaj@clemson.edu.

4. Donate your unwanted shoes for a great cause

Drop your unwanted shoes in the tall, wooden box near Cooper Library’s center stairs and they’ll go far. In fact, they will be featured on the steps of the South Carolina State Capitol during Disability Advocacy Day on March 6 where each pair will represent to lawmakers 15 people in South Carolina who have disabilities like Autism, Down Syndrome, and traumatic brain injury.

After Disability Advocacy Day, your donations will be delivered to Soles4Souls, which sends shoes to people in need in the U.S. and elsewhere and employs adults with disabilities in its distribution warehouses.

Shoes will be collected through Friday, Feb. 15. The event is co-sponsored by the Clemson Libraries and Clemson Student Disability Services.

For more information, contact Camille Cooper at 656-0841 or cooper2@clemson.edu.

5. Clemson network connects big ideas to resources

Got a Big Idea?

Join Clemson’s Innovative and Entrepreneurial Network at http://Clemson.InnoVenture.com and gain access to alumni, public supporters and corporations that may want to explore how they can help get your Big Idea off the ground!  It’s easy to participate and takes only a few minutes to register yourself and your Big Idea.  Present the general premise of your Big Idea by using fewer than 10 slides, a video of less than five minutes, or a text description of less than 500 words.  It’s that simple.  Don’t wait.  On January 31, more than 75,000 alumni will receive an email inviting them to review the Big Ideas in Clemson’s Network. Who knows, you may be asked to present your Big Idea at the 10th Annual InnoVenture Conference this Spring. It’s time.

6. Clemson University celebrates MLK holiday with speaker David Hilliard

Clemson University will mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day with several events, including a day of community service and the annual MLK Commemorative Service, which will feature keynote speaker David Hilliard.

Students, faculty and staff will use the holiday off Monday, Jan. 21, as a day to help others during the annual MLK Day of Service from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers spend the morning working with agencies throughout the community, including Clemson Child Development Center, the Animal Rescue Fund, Collins Children’s Home, Our Daily Bread and Sterling House.

As part of the Day of Service, the Blood Connection will hold a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Hendrix Student Center meeting rooms.

The celebration continues with the 31^st annual MLK Commemorative Service at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, at Tillman Hall auditorium. The service will feature Hilliard, a founding member and former chief of staff of the Black Panther Party. Read more at http://www.clemson.edu/media-relations/article.php?article_id=4656.

7. Chemical inventories for labs and non-labs due Feb. 15

Access the forms you can use for submitting inventories at:
Lab:  http://ehs.clemson.edu/cheminventory.xls
Non-Lab:  http://ehs.clemson.edu/Non-Laboratory%20Chemical%20Inventory.xls

Please email completed inventories to: ChemInventory@clemson.edu.
(Note this is a different email address than in previous years.)

Questions about the inventories should be directed to: Naomi Kelly, Chemical Hygiene Officer, 656-7554, nkelly@clemson.edu.

Upcoming events

• Faculty, staff and students invited to Dr. Joy Smith farewell reception Jan. 16
  http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/farewell_reception_for_dr_joy_smith#.UPbfIbYhoZ5
• Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday Jan. 21
  http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/holiday_-_office_closed_12113#.UPXTHLYhoeM
• MLK Day of Service and blood drive Jan. 21
  http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/mlk_day_of_service#.UPXshrYhoeM
• Clemson Football Indoor Practice Facility Dedication and Open House Jan. 25
  http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/clemson_football_indoor_practice_facility_dedication_and_open_house
• Lecture: From Catastrophe to Healing: Commemorating Soviet losses in the Battle of Moscow Jan. 24
  http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/from_catastrophe_to_healing_commemorating_soviet_losses_in_the_battle_of_moscow_1941-1942#.UPWGY44_OSk
• Dedication of Clemson’s New Life Sciences Facility Feb. 8
  http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/dedication_of_the_new_life_sciences_facility#.UPbgUrYhoZ5

Scroll to read the following stories below:

1.    Women’s commission announces child care survey results
2.    iROAR update: iROAR….do you?
3.    Clemson to offer on-campus shuttle for Men’s basketball games
4.    Seeking Clemson faculty/staff who are first-generation college grads
5.    Weight Watchers at Work meetings to begin Jan. 16
6.    Seeking nominations for Douglas W. Bradbury award
7.    2012 Student Affairs Employees of the Year named
8.    Safe Tiger mug winner

This information available online:

Check the Inside News box on the faculty and staff web page for up-to-the-moment news and information.

If you supervise staff who do not have easy access to email or the Internet, print and post or distribute these messages.

1. Women’s commission announces child care survey results

In November 2012, a child care needs assessment survey was administered to Clemson university faculty, staff and graduate students by the Office for Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment.  The survey was a follow-up to a resolution supporting a campus child care center signed by the Women’s Commission, Black Faculty and Staff Commission, Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Graduate Senate, and Office for Access and Equity.  This survey had an even greater response rate than a similar survey conducted in 2005 with 1133 people returning surveys, of whom 33 percent were male, 67 percent female, 32 percent faculty, 47 percent staff and 20 percent graduate students.
Results revealed that 30 percent of respondents had current child care needs with 21 percent indicating they will have needs in the future. Of those who responded, 86 percent believe that it is very important for Clemson to have a child care center and 85 percent believe that child care has a “considerable effect” on work productivity of the parent.  Open-ended responses indicated very strong support for a campus center and described how such a center would advance the university’s goals and achieve parity with peer institutions. Find out more information about this survey, including complete survey results at http://www.clemson.edu/administration/commissions/womenscommission/

2. iROAR update: iROAR….do you?

Clemson’s new student information system, iROAR, is making great strides towards implementation. Faculty and staff will be trained in new procedures as iROAR becomes finalized for different areas. Presently, Admissions and Registrar office training tutorials, manuals and videos are posted on the iROAR website to provide Clemson’s faculty and staff with information and supporting materials related to using iROAR.  Faculty and staff may search the training materials based on their roles and responsibilities at the University. Additional training information for the Student Financial Aid and Student Financial Services offices will be coming soon.

Prospective students began using the iROAR system in the fall of 2012 for admission into the 2013 freshman class. This group of students will use iROAR for their lifetime at Clemson. The rest of the student body will gradually move to iROAR with their registration for fall 2013 classes and financial aid for the 2013-2014 academic school year.

When fully implemented, iROAR will strengthen collaboration between faculty, staff, students and the systems they utilize.  iROAR will change the face of how people operate in these systems.

Want more information? Visit our website: http://www.clemson.edu/iroar/.

3. Clemson to offer on-campus shuttle for Men’s basketball games

Beginning Saturday, Jan. 12, Clemson Athletics, in association with Clemson University Student Government and Parking & Transportation Services, will offer Tiger Transit shuttles from select locations on campus to Littlejohn Coliseum in effort to support Men’s Basketball. The service will be offered at all remaining Men’s Basketball home games. Shuttle service will begin two hours prior to tip-off and will run until one hour post-game. The pick-up locations and times are as follows:

Littlejohn Coliseum (:00) (:20) (:40)
Fort Hill House (:03) (:23) (:43)
Clemson House (:05) (:25) (:45)
Horseshoe (Bryan Circle) (:08) (:28) (:48)
Lightsey Bridge (:14) (:38) (:58)

For a complete schedule of Clemson Men’s Basketball games, visit www.clemsontigers.com.

4. Seeking Clemson faculty/staff who are first-generation college grads

Calling all CU faculty and staff first-generation college graduates!

Are you a member of the first generation in your family to graduate from college?  If so, the FIRST program wants to know you.  FIRST maintains a database to identify faculty and staff at Clemson University who are first-generation college graduates. FIRST students who need assistance on campus can then be referred directly to a person on campus who has experienced being a first-generation college student.  Faculty and staff who are first-generation will receive a FIRST pin and may be contacted for special projects or events involving our first-generation students.  Send your contact information to Sherry Dorris, FIRST Program Director, at first@clemson.edu, and include a short note letting us know if and how you are willing to be involved with FIRST students.  Learn more about FIRST at www.clemson.edu/first.

5. Weight Watchers at Work meetings to begin Jan. 16

Weight Watchers at Work meetings will take place on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 16 in Room 138 Lehotsky Hall. Please bring your check for the program fee of $186 in full, or you can split the fee in three checks for the amount of $62.00 each. Those checks will be deposited one month apart (on weeks one, five and 10).  Weigh-in begins at 11:45 a.m. with the meeting taking place from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. For more information contact Tequilla Stokes at 656-1031 or tstks@clemson.edu.

6. Seeking nomination for the Douglas W. Bradbury award

Made possible by a gift from the Clemson Class of 1940, the Douglas W. Bradbury Award recognizes a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to the Calhoun Honors College. Nominations may be made by senior honors students, faculty, and department chairs or other academic administrators.

How to Nominate:
Nominations are initially screened by the Honors Committee of each College or, in the absence of such a committee, by an ad hoc faculty committee appointed by the Dean. In support of their candidacy, nominees are asked to submit the following materials:
1.    A brief statement acknowledging and accepting the nomination
2.    A current curriculum vitae
3.    A statement of no more than two pages summarizing the nominee’s involvement in and service to the Calhoun Honors College
4.    A sample honors course syllabus
5.    No more than three supporting letters, at least two of which must be from honors students

Nominations, including the above materials, are due in the Deans’ offices by Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. It is the responsibility of the nominator to ensure that the nominee is informed of the need to submit these items by the stated deadline.  Each college is permitted to make up to two nominations to the Calhoun Honors College committee, which shall select the recipient of the award.  The nominations of the colleges are due in the Honors Office, 105 Tillman Hall, by Thursday, March 14, 2013.

7. 2012 Student Affairs Employees of the Year named

The Student Affairs Division recently named its Employees of the Year for 2012.

Congratulations to:
•    Bill Weeks, Building and Grounds Specialist in University Housing
•    Lynn Tumblin, Administrative Coordinator in the Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Center for Student Life
•    Officer Charles Mulwee, CUPD
•    Tracy Foss, Associate Director for University Housing and Dining Summer Programs
•    Rena Montgomery, Building and Grounds Specialist in University Housing
•    Jennifer Clark, Communications Coordinator for Students Affairs Publications

Also named was the Student Affairs Team of the Year:
•    The Housing Furniture Crew: Townes Gleaton, Anthony Davis, Matt Pinson, Mark Tarnowski, Joe Stapleton and Chase Beebe

Contact Ame Hinson at 656-5827 for more information.

8. Safe Tiger mug winner

Congratulations to Angela Craigo (University Admissions), the latest winner of an “I’m a Safe Tiger” coffee mug. If you spot a safety hazard around campus, submit the hazard to riskmanagement@clemson.edu or to Risk Management, Martin Hall E-306. If you want to report a hazard but want to remain anonymous, visit http://ehs.clemson.edu/complaint_form/complaint.php.

A drawing will be held every other week to pick the winner of a Clemson “I’m a Safe Tiger” coffee mug. Each safety concern will be forwarded to the appropriate department for consideration.

Check the calendar for Clemson happenings

The university calendar is your one-stop resource for Clemson events, seminars and more. Find out what’s going on, see what events are trending, or list your upcoming event at http://calendar.clemson.edu/.

Upcoming events:

•    Drop-in honoring Mike Kohl Jan. 10
•    Grand Opening of the Student Veterans Success Center Jan. 11
•    Farewell reception for Dr. Joy Smith Jan. 16
•    Nuclear Power – A Regulatory Perspective Jan. 18

1. Personal mileage reimbursement rate increases
2. Increase in FICA tax rate impacts your Jan. 4, 2013, paycheck
3. Other 2013 tax changes
4. S.C. Highway 93 pedestrian safety improvement construction begins
5. Seeking nominations: Abernathy/Cox One Clemson awards

1. Personal vehicle mileage reimbursement rate increases

The mileage reimbursement rate for Clemson University employees who drive their own vehicles for official travel when no university vehicle is available now is 56.5 cents per mile for travel after Dec. 31, 2012. That’s an increase of one cent per mile.

If an employee chooses to use his or her personal vehicle when a university vehicle is available, the reimbursement rate now is 52.5 cents per mile, up from 51.5 cents. The reimbursement rate for travel to and from nearby airports and train depots when official travel is by air or train also will be 56.5 cents per mile.

The increase is due to a change IRS’ standard mileage rate, which rose Jan. 1. Since last July, the state of South Carolina has based the reimbursement rate for state employees on the IRS standard mileage rate.

For more information, contact Procurement Services at 656-5582 or see the travel guidelines website.

2. Increase in FICA tax rate impacts your Jan. 4, 2013, paycheck

The two percent FICA (Social Security) tax cut implemented for 2011 and extended for 2012 expired under the “fiscal cliff” compromise reached by Congress. As a result, the FICA tax rate for 2013 is 7.65 percent and is reflected in the Jan. 4, 2013 paycheck.

3. Other 2013 tax changes

The Social Security taxable wage base increased from $110,100 to $113,700. Taxable wages earned up to $113,700 are subject to the 7.65 percent FICA rate. Taxable wages in excess of $113,700 are only subject to the 1.45 percent for Medicare.

There is a new 0.9 percent additional Medicare tax for annual taxable wages in excess of $200,000, as required by Section 9015 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). This new tax becomes effective Jan. 1, 2013. For more information, click here.

4. S.C. Highway 93 pedestrian safety improvement construction begins

Construction is under way to correct the narrow sidewalk along Highway 93 adjacent to Riggs soccer field. The project is scheduled for completion in August.

Motorists and pedestrians should stay clear of barricades and temporary fencing; observe construction signage and avoid this area while work is in progress.

While all efforts were made during the design process to minimize the impact on the surrounding area, some trees will be removed prior to mobilization to allow the new elevated pedestrian bridge to be constructed. The plan for the project includes planting significantly more trees than are being removed.

A sketch depicting the trees to be removed can be downloaded here.

For questions related to this project, contact Tommi Jones at tommij@clemson.edu.

5. Seeking nominations: 2013 Abernathy/Cox One Clemson awards

The Clemson Joint City/University Advisory Board seeks nominations for the 2013 Abernathy/Cox One Clemson Awards, presented annually to an organization and/or individual whose accomplishments have served both Clemson University and the City of Clemson and have made a significant impact on both entities.

Any member of the city or university community may submit a written nomination for an individual, organization or both for awards, which will be presented on Feb. 4, 2013, at the annual State of Clemson banquet sponsored by the Clemson Area Chamber of Commerce.

The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7.

Read more here.