Email from President Barker to Clemson faculty on Thursday night football games

by TigerNet Staff - Thu May 09 09:08:42 GMT-04:00 2013

Dear Clemson:

As you know, Clemson will host a Thursday night football game on November 14, 2013, as part of our commitment to the Atlantic Coast Conference and its television contract with ESPN. This is the first Thursday night home game we have hosted since 2002.

For many years we avoided Thursday night home games because of the challenges it presents to academic and university operations. However, we do have an obligation to support the ACC’s television contract, from which we benefit. Earlier this semester, I appointed a team of faculty, staff and student leaders to work with athletics and administrative groups to advise on strategies to minimize impact, and I have received their recommendations.

To manage the logistical challenges and minimize inconvenience to students, classes and labs scheduled after 12:15 p.m. on the main campus shall be deferred and accommodated in an alternative fashion such as rescheduling the class, teaching online or adjusting assignments. Facilities will be available on Saturday, Nov. 16, to provide a fallback date for rescheduling classes or labs. However, the final decision regarding the means of accommodation shall be up to the individual faculty members.

Administrative offices on the main campus will close at noon. Staff – with a few exceptions (such as those needed to provide game support or other critical services) -- will be expected to take 3.5 hours of accrued annual leave or take the day as their optional holiday. We would like to be able to provide staff with more flexible options, but it is important that we treat all staff equitably and comply with federal and state labor and personnel regulations.

Cars will need to be relocated to designated spaces by 1 p.m. Thursday, November 14, to avoid towing. Students will be encouraged to move their cars by midnight Wednesday, and additional shuttles will be provided to assist them.

Plans are in development for managing parking, transit and other operations that may be impacted. More information will be available at the beginning of the semester, but we wanted to give faculty and staff as much advance notice as possible to provide time to accommodate these changes.

Sincerely,

--Jim Barker