Dear Clemson Family:
I hope this Clemson update finds you and yours well during this difficult time.
Faculty, staff and administrators continue to work diligently to support our students and serve our great state. I am exceedingly grateful for the work being done by my outstanding teammates across the university, even in the face of the growing uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s been another busy week for all of us. Our second week of online instruction has gone well and our students and faculty have been amazing in handling the abrupt change of course. Still, we know the change has been very disruptive and has placed additional strain on many students, faculty and staff.
In response, yesterday we announced a new grading policy for the spring semester that provides students with the flexibility to choose a final grade option that best meets their academic and career goals. The policy creates three grade classifications – Pass, Special Pass and No Grade – in addition to the option of accepting the traditional letter grade earned.
The options available depend on a student’s performance in a given class. Our academic advisors will help students determine which grading strategy is best for them based on their individual academic goals. This is just one more way we are working to address the unprecedented situation in which we all find ourselves.
Our Board of Trustees, which has provided great counsel throughout this crisis, also moved to support our students this week by unanimously voting to give the University administration the ability to refund unused student and employee fees, including housing, dining, recreation, parking and more.
Immediately following the Board’s approval Wednesday, I announced that we would be refunding more than $15 million in such fees. Our guiding principle has been, and always will be, to do right by our Clemson family and there can be no doubt this is the right thing to do. I appreciate the patience of our students and their families as we worked through the complex set of issues involved with this decision.
As we continue to navigate these uncharted waters, our thoughts are especially with those who need a little additional support – whether it be our students, our Clemson employees or their families. In that spirit, I wanted to remind you that we have created two emergency relief funds – one for students and one for employees.
Anyone interested in donating to either – or both – funds can do so here. We are still finalizing application details for both funds and will share those as soon as they are available.
In closing, I want to say once again that I am in awe of our amazing faculty, staff and students. They continue to rise to the occasion in times of great stress and uncertainty, and they make me proud to be a Tiger.
Very best wishes to everyone. Stay positive and stay safe – I look forward to us all being together again as soon as possible.
Go Tigers!
Jim
