LEADING
CREATIVE COPING CONTINUES FOR FALL SEMESTER By Jan Joslin / Photos by Richard Esposito
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ll summer Charleston Southern leadership joined the thousands of other university leaders across the country in wrestling with whether to return to campus or stay completely online for fall 2020. A new normal – being flexible, fluid, and creative – helped CSU open the campus early with the plan to cancel Fall Break and finish the semester completely right before Thanksgiving, giving students a longer Christmas break and hopefully minimizing the flow of students between home and campus. “While leading in the midst of a pandemic is not where we wanted to be this year, it has served as an excellent reminder of how blessed we are to be part of this campus community, one where we can rely on the smarts of our colleagues and the wisdom of our Lord,” said President Dr. Dondi Costin. Here’s just a glimpse into the hours of work that went into reopening. University Infection Control & COVID-19 Coordinator Senior leadership named Laurel A. Glover to a newly created position, University Infection Control and COVID-19 Coordinator. Glover, DHSc(C), MPH, RCP, RRT-NPS, is assistant professor of public health. After training as a Respiratory Care Practitioner, she continued her education with a Master of Public Health from Liberty University. She is currently a Doctor of Health Sciences in Global Health candidate at A.T. Still University. Glover has worked with community- and hospital-based health programs throughout the U.S., Central America, the Caribbean, and Asia, providing education and consultation services along the way. Adding to her years of experience in the clinical environment, Glover spent time in the spring serving at NYU in support of COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts in New York City. Her expertise in the pandemic environment has only increased her passion for healthcare, specifically educating others in the importance of preventive measures. As the point person on campus for all COVID-19-related
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Dr. George Metz teaches a class in the Doctor of Education program in a socially distanced classroom.
activities, Glover has put in hours and hours answering questions, evaluating possible symptoms, and answering emails from students, employees, and parents. #BUCSAFE Campaign The University Pandemic Task Force, led by Dr. Jackie Fish, vice president for academic affairs, has put in countless hours alongside Glover. The task force and its multiple subcommittees represent personnel from the Physician Assistant program, Public Health, Nursing, Kinesiology, Athletics, Student Life, and Academics. In order to provide cohesive and encouraging communication around campus, the task force launched a #BUCSAFE campaign featuring a #BUCSAFE pledge that demonstrates our shared responsibility and mutual commitment to the health of every student, faculty, and staff member. The Marketing
and Communication department developed posters, signs, and other tools to help promote the campaign. These reminders were installed around campus to encourage everyone to be proactive in keeping others safe. Loving your neighbor as yourself is more than a motto on our campus. It is a way of life. Face coverings and maintaining six feet of distance are a way of life, too. LiveSafe App and Screening Protocols CSU entered into a contract with LiveSafe, an electronic platform which provides mobile health screening capabilities, reliable and effective two-way safety communications, and the ability to provide resources in response to rapidly changing health conditions, guidance, and regulations. The app is used by students and employees before leaving their dorm rooms or homes each day.
Fall 2020, vol.30 no.3
