You are likely familiar with the fact that Clemson University is one of two land-grant institutions in South Carolina. As part of that land-grant mission, Clemson Extension brings research-based education and resources directly to communities across the state.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service brings the University to the community through offices in every county and research stations throughout the state. Extension funding differs somewhat from other areas of the University, with an additional budget line item in the state budget through Clemson Public Service and Agriculture (PSA). PSA delivers impartial, science-based information through research, outreach, and regulatory programs designed to improve the quality of life in South Carolina.
Extension staff serve on one or more of the 11 program teams: 4-H Youth Development, Agribusiness, Agriculture Education, Agronomic Crops, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), Food Systems and Safety, Forestry and Wildlife, Horticulture, Livestock and Forages, Rural Health and Nutrition, and Water Resources. Extension Agents, Associates, and Specialists determine local needs and develop educational programming and resources to address those needs. Our county offices send various types of samples to on-campus labs for identification and analysis.
Because Extension employees work across South Carolina, have unique position classifications, and serve communities through educational programming and outreach, Extension staff established the Extension Senate to address issues specific to our roles and responsibilities. We greatly value our partnership with the Clemson Staff Senate, which helps ensure Extension remains connected to the broader University community. Extension employees frequently collaborate with faculty and staff across Clemson on research, education, and outreach initiatives. To learn more about Clemson Extension, our programs, and the people who serve South Carolina communities every day, visit our website.
We are excited to welcome a regular contribution to the Staff Senate Newsletter from the Extension Senate President, Charley Maxwell. Visit the Extension Senate blog at https://blogs.clemson.edu/ces/.
If you’ve been considering a MBA, now is the time to act. With the Summer and Fall semesters quickly approaching, seats in our cohort-based programs are filling fast. Waiting another year could mean missing the opportunity to join a close-knit group of professionals who will learn, grow and advance together. Don’t put your goals on hold—take the next step today and secure your place in a Clemson MBA cohort before spots are filled.
The Brook T. Smith Launchpad (housed in the President’s Office), is hosting the 2026 Clemson High School Entrepreneurship Residential Camp at the Brook T. Smith Launchpad, July 20-24, 2026 (for rising Juniors or rising Seniors).
We’ve added a page to our website (click here) that makes it easy to learn everything about the Camp and access the application.
Once on this page, interested students should select the: “Students: Click Here to Apply” button. They will need to provide a recommender/reference (you, an educator, or a community leader).
Other than getting to and from Clemson, the cost of this Camp (Lodging, Food, Seminars, and Extracurricular Activities) has been covered by generous, successful Clemson affiliated entrepreneurs.
Spots are filling quickly, so thank you in advance for acting on this right away.
With students away for the summer, Clemson staff and faculty have a golden window to enjoy the gym with a little more elbow room and a quieter atmosphere. Think of it as the gym’s “off-season advantage”.
Summer Operating Hours
June and July Hours
Weekdays: 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Noon to 8 p.m.
There are a few adjustments and closures during June and July, and they can be found here.
Whether you’re fitting in a lunchtime workout, getting back into a fitness routine or just enjoying the rare luxury of not waiting for equipment, summer is one of the best times for employees to make the most of the gym.
After all, while students are away… the employees can play. 💪
This summer, Campus Outdoor Recreation and Education (CORE) is charting a new course for community engagement with the launch of a pilot outdoor adventure program designed specifically for faculty and staff. Blending fresh air, gentle adventure, and a dash of campfire nostalgia, the program offers a series of guided trips and activities aimed at fostering connection, wellness, and a shared appreciation for the outdoors.
The Summer 2026 pilot lineup features four unique events, ranging from relaxed lakeside evenings to full-day river excursions:
Friday, June 12 | 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Paddleboarding Early risers can greet the day on Lake Hartwell with a guided paddleboarding session launching from the Snow Complex. Cost: $5 (staff), $10 (guests) Registration Required: Maximum of 12 participants
Thursday, June 18 | 5:00 p.m. Paddle and Pies Participants will paddleboard or kayak from the Snow Complex to the Your Pie Dockside location, combining recreation with a well-earned treat. Cost does not include pizza. Cost: $5 (staff), $10 (guests) Registration Required: Maximum of 12 participants
Saturday, July 25 | 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Ducks on the Tuck This full-day adventure takes participants to Dillsboro, North Carolina, for an inflatable kayak or raft trip along the Tuckasegee River. Cost: $35 (staff), $50 (guests, ages 18+) Registration Required: Maximum of 15 participants
Participation Details
CORE has designed this pilot program with accessibility in mind:
No membership is required to participate in Summer 2026 pilot activities and trips.
Campus Recreation memberships and day passes remain optional.
The Snow Complex is open to all faculty and staff.
A valid parking permit is required for access.
Guests and Children
Participants are welcome to bring guests and children under the following guidelines:
All guests and children must be accompanied by a staff member.
Minimum age is 7 years old, or participants must be able to properly fit in the smallest available personal flotation device (PFD).
What’s Included
Each trip is designed to be as seamless as it is enjoyable. Participants can expect:
With its mix of relaxation and adventure, the CORE summer pilot program invites faculty and staff to step outside, try something new, and connect with colleagues in a refreshing setting. Whether gliding across calm morning waters or sharing stories by a fire pit, this initiative promises a season of memorable experiences just beyond the campus edge.
Have you ever been drawn into a conflict between co-workers or colleagues? Perhaps one or both people pressured you to take sides. If you felt uncomfortable doing so, because you could see valid points from both points of view, you were likely striving for impartiality. Situations like these are difficult in life in general but even more so within the office setting when you just want people to get along, so you can get back to work.
I recently met with a staff member who had been brought into the middle of an interpersonal conflict between two of his co-workers. They work in a very small office and have a culture that allows for frequent and open communication. Since starting in his role, other staff members have gone to him with their problems, but this particular conflict has been eating up too much of his time and energy. He wants his co-workers to get along, but he can see how they both can be right and both be wrong at times during the conflict. He also has a much longer history with one of the co-workers, while the other is new to the office. He really likes both colleagues, and he believes picking sides would ruin his relationship with at least one of them. He would like to be impartial, help them resolve this conflict, maintain these relationships, and ultimately get back to work but is not sure how.
So, what does it actually mean to be impartial?
If you have ever met with our office or attended one of our training sessions, you might have heard us mention that impartiality is one of our guiding principles. For an Ombuds, impartiality is a professional standard. Since we have no stake in the outcome of a conflict, we have the luxury of distance. We can focus entirely on a fair process where everyone is treated equally. But in the daily life of a department, you often don’t have the luxury of being uninvolved. You are involved because you share an office, a project, or a lunch table with the people in conflict. When you are in it, impartiality isn’t a default setting; it’s a conscious choice.
During an office conflict, you might find yourself wondering: “Do I want to be impartial, or do I have to be?” As a peer, the choice is often about protecting your environment. You might want to stay impartial to preserve your relationships; you value both people and know that picking a side could cause lasting damage to those relationships. Other times, you have to be impartial as a matter of professional integrity; perhaps because you are an informal leader in the group or because the team’s success is based on your decisions. The key is to realize that even if you aren’t an Ombuds, you can still employ the benefits of impartiality: listening to everyone, refusing to let personal bias sway you, and keeping your focus on objective standards rather than office politics.
Bernard Mayer suggests in his book, The Conflict Paradox, “true impartiality isn’t just about staying out of it but being a balanced resource holding space for the rightness and wrongness of both parties simultaneously.” In the scenario I described earlier, it’s the ability to listen to that long-time colleague and the new hire with the same level of curiosity and not letting your history cloud your judgement. Being impartial also means prioritizing what both people truly want to accomplish in the conflict. Whether it is your job to decide who is the winner or not, you can advocate for a fair process where all the facts and feelings are on the table before a solution is identified.
How can I be impartial at work when I am brought into a conflict?
First, clarify your role early. If you are being pulled into a conflict, it is okay to set a boundary. You can say, “I value my relationship with both of you, so I’m going to stay impartial. I won’t take sides, but I am happy to help you both brainstorm how to move forward.”
Next, have a “Heart at Peace.” Before you jump in, ask yourself if you’ve already picked a side in your mind. The Arbinger Institute’s book, The Anatomy of Peace, reminds us that if we see one person as a “problem” and the other as a “victim,” we’ve already taken sides and lost our impartiality. Try to see both individuals as people with legitimate needs and fears.
Finally, focus on the mutual problem: When you feel pressured to take a side, pivot the conversation back to what everyone wants. You might say, “It sounds like you both want this project to succeed, but you have different ideas on the timeline. Let’s focus on that goal.” If you have ever been through our Difficult Situations at Work training (shameless plug) we call this concept, “Us vs. The Problem” rather than “You vs. Me.”
Being impartial isn’t about being passive; it’s about being a steady anchor in a stormy situation. By staying impartial, you aren’t just staying out of it; you’re actually creating the safe space necessary for the conflict to finally be resolved.
Michael Scott Associate Ombuds Phone: 864-656-6353 Email: mesctt@clemson.edu Address: 135 Old Greenville Hwy, Ste. 203 (Next to Esso!)
What is the Ombuds Office?
The Ombuds Office is a confidential, independent, neutral, and informal space for staff to process concerns, get information, and develop options for how to move forward in a difficult situation. I can provide education, conflict coaching, mediation, and facilitation as well as referrals to other resources across Clemson. If you are unsure how to move forward in any way, I can help you work through it.
Save the date for upcoming Fall 2026 trainings offered by the Ombuds Office:
After a very successful winter event, the 2026 Entrepreneurship 101 Bootcamp for Clemson Faculty and Staff is returning this summer!
A combination of our staple summer courses, the Founders Academy for Faculty and the Side Hustle Course for Staff, this intensive workshop will teach you the fundamentals of entrepreneurship in one four-hour session!
Join us on Friday, June 5th, starting at 1:00 pm at the Brook T. Smith Launchpad, for a course of empowering learning, insightful discussions, skill enhancement, and personal growth. The session will feature the following modules: Refining your idea; Identifying customers & creating value; Conducting your competitor analysis; Making sure you make money and, Understanding legal issues. A certificate of completion will be issued to all attendees.
Register by May 29 using this link! This course is free, but seats will fill up fast! For questions or more information contact Maggie Guerra Ayala (magdag@clemson.edu).
Don’t leave your benefits on the table! Invest in yourself today. ETAP can help you earn your MBA while you work and it’s not too late to pursue your MBA in 2026! Contact admissions today to discuss your options.
Starting on March 2, Andy’s spring hours begin! With the warm weather on its way we’re switching to our spring hours so you can spend even more time outdoors. Visit us Monday to Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Whether you’re gearing up for a camping trip, grabbing a paddleboard, or trying something new, we’ve got the equipment to help you make the most of the season.
And don’t forget, the beach remains open from sunrise to sunset, offering the perfect backdrop for early morning peace or golden-hour adventures.
Come explore, unwind, and enjoy the fresh spring air with us at Andy’s!
Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center (Andy’s) is in the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex beside the lake. Rentals require a membership. Hanging out on the beach does not!
