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Featuring Cande Cook, 250th Celebration Committee on February 7, 2020 from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Alumni Center, 86 Wentworth St.
New year, new you! If your goals for 2020 involve getting in shape, losing weight or just being a healthier you, Campus Recreation Services (CRS) has you covered. The group fitness schedule for the spring 2020 semester includes nine different kinds of classes at 20 different times during the week – and it’s all free to faculty and staff!
Cougar Fit – the free circuit training/HIIT–based class dedicated solely to faculty and staff – continues to meet this semester in room 201 of the Johnson Center at 5:15 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. No registration is required for this class.
RELATED: Find out all about Cougar Fit, the free group fitness class just for faculty and staff.
But Cougar Fit is just one option! Here’s a list of what’s available and when:
Mondays
4–4:45 p.m.: Total Body Training
5–5:55 p.m.: Indoor Cycling
5:15–6:15 p.m.: Cougar Fit
6:30–7:30 p.m.: Heated Power Yoga
7:30–8:30 p.m.: Butts and Guts
Tuesdays
5:30–6:30 p.m.: Community Yoga
6:30–7:15 p.m.: HIIT
Wednesdays
3–3:45 p.m.: Core Blast
4–4:45 p.m.: Total Body Training
5:15–6:15 p.m: Cougar Fit
5:30–6:30 p.m.: Heated Power Yoga
6:30–7:25 p.m.: Indoor Cycling
Thursdays
3–3:45 p.m.: HIIT
5:30–6:25 p.m.: Indoor Cycling
7–8 p.m.: Heated Power Yoga
Fridays
3–3:45 p.m.: Core Blast
4–4:45 p.m.: Total Body Training
5:15–6:15 p.m: Cougar Fit
Saturdays
9–9:55 a.m.: Indoor Cycling
Please note that, other than Cougar Fit, all other classes are held in the George Street Fitness Center Activity Room, and registration is strongly advised, as they fill up quickly. Registration opens approximately 24 hours prior to the class. To register, simply create an account on IMLeagues, click “Events” and reserve your spot in the desired class(es). You may also use the sign-up calendar.
If group classes aren’t for you, don’t worry, there are other options!
Held from 12 to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Silcox Center, room 208, Tuesdays with Sara offer faculty and staff some one-on-one attention with Fitness Coordinator Sara Coleman ’17. And employees also have free access to the treadmills, free weights, recumbent bicycles, weight machines, elliptical machines and rowing machines in the F. Mitchell Johnson Physical Education Center’s exercise deck and may also purchase George Street Fitness Center Employee Passes for $50/semester. Finally, if you’re constantly on the run, the Bridge Run Training Program might be your speed. The program kicks off on Jan. 22, 2020, and will help you get to the finish line for the big 10K on April 4, 2020.
The Medical University of South Carolina and the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA) have joined forces to improve health care access and reduce health care costs by offering free MUSC Health Virtual Urgent Care to South Carolina state employees and their dependents.
“This new benefit for our state employees and their families brings the doctor straight to your phone, instead of them having to spend the time and money they may not have,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “This is another innovative tool to keep people healthy and address health issues earlier than they might otherwise. This means a healthier, more prosperous South Carolina.”
With approximately 550,000 PEBA members and their covered dependents now eligible for this benefit, MUSC Health is making sure that state employees have access to South Carolina-based telehealth experts via desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones for more than 40 health issues, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
“We would not be here today without the vision and unwavering support of Governor McMaster and our state legislature to support the growth and expansion of telehealth in South Carolina,” said David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, MUSC president. “Access and cost are major issues in health care today. MUSC is honored to lead health innovations that create real and lasting positive impact for our patients. This virtual-care platform will enable state employees and their families to receive free, almost no wait access for their urgent care needs from anywhere.”
Under the direction of Ed O’Bryan, M.D., MUSC Health Virtual Urgent Care offers an easy-to-use online virtual care service to employees, allowing them to see and communicate with an MUSC provider from the comfort of work, home or on the go, without having to travel to a clinic and regardless of where they may live.
“PEBA covers approximately 10% of the state’s population in the State Health Plan. Part of our core mission is to provide affordable and accessible health care to public employees and their families,” said Peggy Boykin, PEBA executive director. “We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with MUSC to provide our members additional access to quality and convenient health care through the MUSC Health Virtual Urgent Care and at no cost to members.”
Employees can access care via musc.care in the way they like best, including online questionnaires, phone calls, video visits or by texts, and are able to choose their own pharmacies when prescriptions are needed. Wait times to speak with providers average about four minutes and most visits take less than 15 minutes to complete. No appointment is necessary. The online-care platform works on all devices and all browsers except Internet Explorer, and data lines are secure and HIPAA compliant. A hotline for questions and concerns is available 24/7 by dialing 843-261-5940.
“We know how hard it can be to take time away from work to address urgent health issues, and when care is hard to access, takes too long or is too expensive, a patient may wait to address an issue until its much worse or harder to deal with,” said Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., MUSC Health CEO and Vice President of Health Affairs, University. “That’s not good for patients, their families, their employers or the long-term health and wellness of our state. I’m very excited that PEBA has partnered with us on improving access to effective and efficient care, and these state employees will, in turn, benefit from the quality, expertise and convenience that comes from being connected to one of only two telehealth centers of excellence in the nation.”
Join us at “College Coffee” on Wednesday, November 13, from 9 to 10 a.m. in Alumni Hall, which is located on the second floor of Randolph Hall.
College Coffee is an event where students, faculty, and staff can speak with each other, various members of the senior leadership team, including President Hsu while enjoying some light refreshments. The Office of the President will provide free coffee, tea, and assorted breakfast snacks.
So please mark your calendars and stop by if you wish to speak with Dr. Hsu or any member of the senior leadership team. While they will provide coffee mugs, feel free to bring your own in order to further our commitment to being a more sustainable College of Charleston.
The Staff Advisory Committee to the President is hosting the first event of the 2019–20 College of Charleston Staff Wellness Speaker Series on Nov. 14, 2019, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Stern Center Ballroom.
The event, “Stress Relief and Mental Health Panel,” is open to all CofC staff and faculty and will include the following panelists:
- Sara Coleman ’17, fitness coordinator for Campus Recreation Services, will lend her exercise programming expertise as a certified strength and conditioning specialist with a master’s in health, exercise and sports sciences as well as several other gold-standard certifications in the fitness industry: “My goal is to help every BODY on their journey to a better self.”
- Kimbi Marenakos ’98, family nurse practitioner for Student Health Services, will lend her expertise as a behavioral health specialist and licensed professional counselor: “My focus is on ways to physically and psychologically prepare for holiday stressors.”
- Rachael McNamara, health educator in the Counseling Center, will lend her expertise in outreach prevention and Koru Mindfulness practices.
We invite you to bring a bagged lunch to enjoy during the session if you wish.
Read more at: https://today.cofc.edu/2019/11/05/staff-wellness-speaker-series-stress-relief-and-mental-health-fs/
Stay tuned for additional events in the College’s 2019–20 Staff Wellness Speaker Series.
In an effort to promote college spirit and community, the President and the Staff Advisory Committee to the President are designate the first Friday of every month as Cougar Spirit Day.
Don’t have anything to wear?
The College of Charleston bookstore will be offering College of Charleston faculty and staff an extra discount on apparel on Cougar Spirit Days (normally 10% off, but on Cougar Spirit Day 20% off). Thank you to the College of Charleston bookstore for their support of this effort.
This campuswide designation started February 2016. Read: The College Launches Cougar Spirit.
#CougarSpirit
The College is happy to provide complimentary admission to College of Charleston faculty and staff for all regular season home athletics contests. There are a limited number of free tickets for men’s basketball. To receive two complimentary tickets for men’s basketball (seats located in section 209), College of Charleston faculty and staff must present their Cougar Card at the TD Arena Ticket Office. Additional tickets can be purchased for $10.00. Please note that tickets must be picked up at the date and times listed below and cannot be picked up on the day of the game. Once all 100 tickets have been claimed, faculty and staff will be able to purchase tickets to any game for $10, based on availability. To purchase tickets at the $10 price, faculty and staff must present their Cougar Card and purchase tickets in person at the Ticket Office.
Pick up #1 at TD Arena Ticket Office
Friday, October 25 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
- 10/29 vs. Nebraska Wesleyan (exhibition) at 7 p.m.
- 11/05 vs. USC Upstate at 7 p.m.
Pick up #2 at TD Arena Ticket Office
Thursday, November 7 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
- 11/09 vs. Georgia State at 2 p.m.
- 11/13 vs. Oklahoma State at 9 p.m.
Pick up #3 at TD Arena Ticket Office
Thursday, December 5 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
- 12/8 vs. Coker at 2 p.m.
- 12/18 vs. VCU at 7 p.m.
Pick up #4 at TD Arena Ticket Office
Thursday, December 19 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
- 12/21 vs. SC State at 7 p.m.
- 01/02 vs. Towson at 7 p.m.
- 01/04 vs. James Madison at 4 p.m.
Pick up #5 at TD Arena Ticket Office
Tuesday, January 14 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
- 01/16 vs. Northeastern at 7 p.m.
- 01/18 vs. Hofstra at 4 p.m.
- 01/25 vs. UNCW at 4 p.m.
Pick up #6 at TD Arena Ticket Office
Tuesday, February 4 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
- 02/06 vs. William & Mary at 7 p.m.
- 02/08 vs. Elon at 4 p.m.
Pick up #7 at TD Arena Ticket Office
Tuesday, February 25 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
- 02/27 vs. Delaware at 6 p.m.
- 02/29 vs. Drexel at 4 p.m.
Please Note: Tickets are given out on a first come, first served basis and only while supplies last.
For complete game schedules, visit www.cofcsports.com
For additional ticket information, please visit www.cofcsports.com/tickets or call 843.953.COFC (2632).
Special thanks to President Andrew Hsu for the continuance of this initiative. Go Cougars!
The Staff Advisory Committee to the President is pleased to invite you to our Fall Staff Drop-in on Friday, October 4. The drop-in will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the President’s House in the courtyard at 6 Glebe. The President will stop by for a brief time around 12:15pm.
Meet your fellow staff members from across campus, enjoy light refreshments, and enter to win raffle prizes (drawings at noon and 12:45 p.m.). The drop-in coincides with Cougar Spirit Day! Show your Cougar spirit by wearing Cougar colors or Cougar spirit attire.
#CougarSpirit
Following recent suggestions from our faculty and staff, the College of Charleston has decided to conduct an institution-wide Workplace & Campus Culture Survey – the first since 2015.
Click Here to Take The Survey (To start the survey, use the login credentials that were emailed to you.)
The data we receive from this survey will be helpful as we strive to create the best workplace possible, and it will help to inform our College’s strategic plan, which is now in development. The results of this survey will be compared to results from other colleges that were surveyed in Spring 2019. If you can complete the survey keeping in mind how you experienced the workplace and culture in Spring 2019, that would help ensure reliable comparative data.
Survey topics will include work quality, communication, management, workplace culture, benefits, and many other subjects. You will be able to access the survey wherever a computer is available, even at home. We will also have a paper survey available for those without network access.
On Monday, September 16, employees received an invitation with details about the survey and how to access it. Email invitations will be sent from ModernThink, the firm conducting this survey on our behalf. Paper surveys will be delivered via supervisors. At the close of the survey, we will receive reports that summarize the organizational competencies and relationships that most directly impact and influence our culture.
Please know that the survey is voluntary and completely confidential; our institution will not be able to trace results back to individuals. Your survey will be processed by ModernThink LLC, an independent management consulting firm focusing on workplace quality in higher education.
I strongly encourage everyone’s participation and hope you will take this opportunity to share your honest feedback. This is your chance to make your voice heard. I am very interested in hearing about your work experience. A high response rate helps ensure an accurate representation of our work community. Please know that your participation will also provide valuable input as we define the future of our College together via our new strategic plan. Please visit our Strategic Planning website to learn more about how to get involved and submit any further input. Thank you, in advance, for your participation.
If you have any questions, please contact Chief of Staff Paul Patrick at patrickpd@cofc.edu or 843.953.5500.
Message from: Andrew T. Hsu, Ph.D., President, College of Charleston
The College of Charleston’s 2019 Annual Benefits Fair is set for Monday, Sept. 23, in the Stern Center Ballroom. Walgreens will be on site giving out flu shots, too! More info: https://today.cofc.edu/2019/09/13/2019-annual-benefits-fair/