Alerts

In accordance with guidance issued by South Carolina Governor McMaster, Coker University will extend online instruction through the end of the spring semester, including final exams. Current guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on community gatherings has further reinforced our decision. 

Additionally, after careful consideration, we have decided that it is best to postpone Spring Commencement to a time in which we can safely gather as one Coker community. All graduating students will have their degrees conferred at the end of the semester, though we will not hold a traditional ceremony. This is a heartbreaking decision, as we know that for each graduating student Commencement represents years of hard work and significant academic commitment. We want to reassure you that Coker is committed to Commencement ceremonies that allow us to recognize the achievements of our new graduates at a date later this year. As we develop plans for a rescheduled ceremony, we will provide updates giving as much advance notice as possible regarding date and time for this important celebration. Please encourage your family and friends who have made lodging or other reservations in the Hartsville area to postpone their plans and make all of the necessary changes so that they may join us at a later date. We all look forward to a wonderful celebration of Coker University’s Class of 2020 later this year! 

An email from Coker’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Brianna Douglas, is forthcoming regarding details and logistics for how our community will proceed with conducting the remainder of our semester online, including residential check-out. We know that there are still many unanswered questions as we continue to transition to this new normal. We will launch a dedicated web page for updates and additional information within the next 48 hours and will continue to send you updates by email as needed.

Thank you for your continued patience, adaptability and resilience as we all learn to work together through increased distance, and with even greater care for one another, in order to meet the challenges ahead.

Coker University continues to closely monitor COVID-19 and while the situation is evolving rapidly, our top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of our community, on and off campus.

As Covid-19 continues to spread, National and State health leaders have offered more definitive guidance, including new guidelines issued by South Carolina Governor McMaster this afternoon. In accordance with Governor McMaster’s recommendations, and those of public health officials, Coker University will continue online instruction through Friday, April 3rd, with on-campus classes scheduled to resume on Monday, April 6th. This represents a change in the plan we previously communicated. Between now and April 5th, the dining hall will maintain to-go meals, and on-campus activities will be conducted in an online format, or have been postponed / cancelled. We also ask that faculty and staff continue to work from home. Further details on returning to campus will be forthcoming.

These are uncertain times, and Coker University will continue to follow the guidance of Federal, State and local officials. As they communicate new information, Coker will in-turn communicate any revisions to our current plan with our campus community as quickly as possible. We will provide further updates as often as we are able, and a detailed update no later than Thursday, March 26th, and again on April 3rd. 

We’re grateful to all of the Coker community as we have come together to change our approach to campus life, broadly and in creative and impactful ways. And we’re mindful that this rapidly changing situation creates uncertainty for us all. Coker remains committed to providing information, guidance and resources to help you in this difficult time. We encourage you to regularly visit the Coker alerts webpage, and to watch your email for announcements.

Social distancing is critical to our community response. Please continue to take steps to keep yourself and those around you safe.

We continue to monitor COVID-19 in our local community in conjunction with our partners at Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center. At this time, it has become necessary to close the Center for Health and Wellness in order for the hospital to reallocate resources in this time of need.

As a Coker student, our neighbors at Caring Hearts Pediatrics have extended their office to accommodate students in need of medical care at this time. The Caring Hearts office is within walking distance of campus.

Here is additional information:

Address: 518 E Carolina Ave, Suite B, Hartsville, SC 29550

Phone: 843-383-4426 (Call ahead to let them know you are coming.)

Hours:  Monday through Thursday 8am to 12pm and 1:30pm to 5pm

Friday 8am to 12pm

Other: Spanish speaking staff members available at all times. Please bring proof of insurance and a photo ID.

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Students and employees in need of medical care may use our community partners at Caresouth-Carolina as well. 

Address: 1268 South Fourth Street, Hartsville, SC 29550

Phone: 843-332-3422 

Hours:  Monday through Friday 7:15am to 6pm

Saturday 9am to 1pm

Other: For individuals without health insurance, a sliding scale for payment is provided.

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As a reminder, if you are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and/or believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and are unable to return home to self-quarantine, please contact any area healthcare provider, including Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (843-339-2100). Per DHEC, if an individual doesn’t have a primary care physician, MUSC Health is providing free telehealth screening to all South Carolinians. Anyone experiencing symptoms can visit MUSC.care and use the promo code COVID19 and be screened without having to leave your home.

For counseling services, please continue to email list.counselingservices@coker.edu to schedule an appointment for a virtual counseling session.

Coker University continues to closely monitor the rapidly changing situation around the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As the situation evolves, our top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of our community, on and off campus. I’m writing to update you on major imminent changes that will limit exposure to the disease among members of our community:

All seated and hybrid classes will be moved to online instruction beginning Friday, March 13th, continuing through at least Friday, March 27th. Additionally, all university-sponsored events are cancelled through the same time period.  

Academics
Effective Friday, March 13, Coker will transition to online instruction using Blackboard and Google Meet. Students are expected to access Blackboard daily, and are required to check their Coker email frequently for direct communication from instructors. 

The decision to move to online instruction was not made lightly. With the knowledge that some students may have limited access to the internet, faculty are prepared to accommodate a variety of situations that will enable students to continue to meet their academic requirements. Any student without access to participate in online instruction must assume responsibility to communicate those limitations to their professors in order to make alternative arrangements.  

Students taking in-seat classes at our bridge program sites –Florence-Darlington Technical College, Midlands Technical College, and Northeastern Technical College– will now meet virtually, as well, beginning Friday, March 13th, through at least Friday, March 27th.

Residence Life
We strongly encourage all residential students to return home until in-person classes resume. 

Students who desire to remain in the halls will need to complete this form. Those who need to remain on campus for extenuating circumstances will also receive academic instruction remotely and must prepare for limited interactions. If any student would like to return to campus prior to March 29th, they are required to email list.reslife@coker.edu for approval.

Until further notice, guests will not be allowed in the residence halls including commuting students. Housing is alcohol-free during this period as well. No student may possess or consume any alcohol, even if they are of age to do so.

We recommend students bring any essential materials home with them as they leave campus, including laptops, textbooks, and any other academic materials necessary to continue coursework remotely.

For support, Residence Life can be reached at list.reslife@coker.edu. 

Athletics
This evening, the South Atlantic Conference and NCAA elected to cancel all remaining competitions for this academic year. In addition, the South Atlantic Conference has decided to cancel all practices for the remainder of the semester. 

Students Participating in Work Study and / or Internships
Students participating in Coker’s work study program and / or an internship should contact their supervisor for next steps. If you are a work study supervisor, please look for more information in an email from Meaghan Isgett.

Campus Offices and Operations
All faculty and staff are asked to report to campus for their regular work schedules tomorrow, unless approved by a supervisor. However, effective Monday, March 16th, Coker will move to limited staff on campus only. Most employees are asked to work remotely, though some staff may be required to report to campus given the nature of their job responsibilities. If this is the case, a supervisor will communicate directly with you about when to report to campus. This reduction of on-campus work will not affect Campus Safety or the support services outlined below.

Support Services
Campus Safety officers will remain in full-force on campus 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Campus Safety can be reached at 843-383-8140 or by emailing list.campussafety@coker.edu. 

Dining Services will remain open on a limited hours basis beginning with breakfast tomorrow morning through at least dinner services on Saturday, March 28th. However, Dining Services will only provide “meals to go” available for pick up in the serving area. The dining area of Linville Dining Hall will be closed. Meal pick up times are as follows:
Breakfast: 9-10 a.m.
Lunch: 12-1 p.m.
Dinner: 5-6 p.m.

The Center for Health and Wellness will remain open during its usual hours Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The Center for Health and Wellness can be contacted at 843-383-8141 or via healthservices@coker.edu.

Counseling Services are available through Coker’s Center for Health and Wellness by phone or Google Hangouts. Counseling services are available by emailing list.counselingservices@coker.edu to schedule an appointment.

Facilities Support Services will continue as normal during this time. Requests should continue to be submitted via the ticketing system that can be found online at this link.

IT staff will continue to provide support for the campus community. Please continue to use the support@coker.edu email to make support requests.

Student Success Center staff will be available for any guidance or support for students, through Google Hangouts or Google Meet. 

Travel
Through at least Friday, March 27th, university-related travel to any location is prohibited. 

Visitors 
Effective Friday, March 13th, all non-essential visits to campus are suspended through at least Friday, March 27th. 

At this time, all measures outlined above are in place until further notice. If and when a change is warranted, we will give as much notice as possible to our campus community.

Protecting the health and well-being of our community is at the forefront of this difficult decision. The goal of these changes is to minimize the need to gather in large groups and spend time in close proximity in classrooms, dining facilities, and our residential buildings. These changes are one aspect of Coker University’s comprehensive contingency planning and are consistent with the recommendations of leading health officials and similar decisions made by a number of our peer institutions.

These past few days have been a powerful reminder of just how connected we are to one another. We understand there are personal and logistical challenges to these extraordinary measures, and university leadership, faculty, and staff are here for support as we navigate this uncharted territory together. 

Important Reminders
Any member of the Coker community exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) at this time should self-quarantine at home and contact the closest medical facility to discuss screening. 

If a residential student is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and/or believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and are unable to return home to self-quarantine, they are asked to stay in their room and contact the Center for Health and Wellness at 843-383-8141, healthservices@coker.edu (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m). Outside of the Center for Health and Wellness’ normal operating hours, you can contact any area healthcare provider, including Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (843-339-2100).

Per DHEC, if an individual doesn’t have a primary care physician, MUSC Health is providing free telehealth screening to all South Carolinians. Anyone experiencing symptoms can visit MUSC.care and use the promo code COVID19 and be screened without having to leave your home.

Here are some tips for avoiding the spread of germs. To learn more about the COVID-19 virus, please refer to this CDC fact sheet.

The COVID-19 situation continues to change rapidly and Coker University will continue to operate with guidance from DHEC and Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center, as well as SCICU and the Council for Higher Education. We will continue to keep you updated via email and updates at coker.edu/covid19. 

Coker University is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation around the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Coker continues to follow the guidance for institutions of higher education as provided by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Coker officials continue to meet daily and to collaborate across all departments. 

As the situation evolves, our top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of our community, on and off campus. We are planning for several contingency scenarios while ensuring the continuity of Coker’s promise to provide a quality education to all students. Among the scenarios being considered is the possibility of a shift from in-seat classes to online instruction for a period of time. Coker is prepared to make informed decisions regarding online classes as new COVID-19 information becomes available. We will continue to keep our campus community updated with pertinent information and additional health and safety measures via regular email communication and updates on coker.edu/covid19. 

At this time, the university remains open and operational with appropriate measures to protect the health of our community. All campus activities, classes, events, and athletic competitions are continuing as scheduled.

As a reminder, any member of the Coker community exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) at this time should self-quarantine at home and contact the closest medical facility to discuss screening. 

If a residential student is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and/or believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and are unable to return home to self-quarantine, they are asked to stay in their room and contact the Center for Health and Wellness at 843-383-8141, healthservices@coker.edu, or nfloyd@coker.edu (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m), and residence life at list.reslife@coker.edu. Outside of the Center for Health and Wellness’ normal operating hours, you can contact any area healthcare provider, including Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (843-339-2100) and Hometown Urgent Care (843-309-3028). 

Per DHEC, if an individual doesn’t have a primary care physician, MUSC Health is providing free telehealth screening to all South Carolinians. Anyone experiencing symptoms can visit MUSC.care and use the promo code COVID19 and be screened without having to leave your home.

As a reminder, here are tips for avoiding the spread of germs. To learn more about the COVID-19 virus, please refer to this CDC fact sheet.

Coker University is continuing to follow the guidance for institutions of higher education from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Coker officials are meeting daily and collaborating across all departments, including residence life, dining, facilities, athletics, academics, administration, and IT. 

At this time, all campus activities, classes, events, and athletic contests are continuing as scheduled.

Coker is not sponsoring any university-related travel to any location with a CDC level 3 or level 2 health notice, which includes China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, and Japan. Between now and the end of the spring semester, we’re asking any students, faculty, and staff to please fill out this form reporting any individual travel plans to any countries with a CDC level 3 or 2 health notice. 

As a reminder, any member of the Coker community exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) at this time should self-quarantine at home and contact the closest medical facility to discuss screening. 

If a residential student is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and/or believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and are unable to return home to self-quarantine, they are asked to stay in their room and contact the Center for Health and Wellness at 843-383-8141, healthservices@coker.edu, or nfloyd@coker.edu (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m), and residence life at list.reslife@coker.edu. Outside of the Center for Health and Wellness’ normal operating hours, you can contact any area healthcare provider, including Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (843-339-2100) and Hometown Urgent Care (843- 309-3028). 

Per DHEC, if an individual doesn’t have a primary care physician, MUSC Health is providing free telehealth screening to all South Carolinians. Anyone experiencing symptoms can visit MUSC.care and use the promo code COVID19 and be screened without having to leave your home.

Here are some tips for avoiding the spread of germs. To learn more about the COVID-19 virus, please refer to this CDC fact sheet.

We will continue to keep our campus community updated with pertinent information through regular email communication and updates on this page, coker.edu/alerts. 

Coker University is following the guidance for institutes of higher education from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). 

At this time, all campus activities, classes, events, and athletics are continuing as scheduled.

Coker is not sponsoring any university-related travel to any location with a CDC level 3 or level 2 health notice, which include China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, and Japan. Between now and the end of the spring semester, we’re asking any students, faculty, and staff to please fill out this form reporting travel plans to any countries with a CDC level 3 or 2 health notice.  

As a reminder, any student exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) at this time should self-quarantine at home and contact the closest medical facility to discuss screening. If a residential student is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and/or believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and are unable to return home, they are asked to stay in their room and contact the Center for Health and Wellness at 843-383-8141, healthservices@coker.edu, or nfloyd@coker.edu (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m). Outside of the center’s normal operating hours, you can contact any area healthcare provider, including Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (843-339-2100) and Hometown Urgent Care (843- 309-3028). 

Per DHEC, if an individual doesn’t have a primary care physician, MUSC Health is providing free telehealth screening to all South Carolinians. Anyone experiencing symptoms can visit MUSC.care and use the promo code COVID19 and be screened without having to leave your home.

Here are some tips for avoiding the spread of germs. To learn more about the COVID-19 virus specifically, refer to this CDC fact sheet.

We will continue to keep our campus community updated with pertinent information through regular email communication and updates on this webpage, coker.edu/alerts.  

Coker continues to work with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center to monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19). 

At this time, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Carolina and no suspected cases within our campus community. 

All campus activities, classes, events, and athletics will continue as scheduled.

As a precautionary measure, we’re asking all students that attend classes on our Hartsville, S.C., campus to fill out this form if they have traveled outside the state of South Carolina within the last two weeks. 

Any student exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) at this time should self-quarantine at home and contact the closest medical facility to discuss screening. 

SC DHEC guidelines for screening:

Beginning Monday, March 9, 2020, if a residential student is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and/or believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19, they are asked to stay in their room and contact the Center for Health and Wellness at 843-383-8141, healthservices@coker.edu, or nfloyd@coker.edu (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m). Outside of the center’s normal operating hours, you can contact any area healthcare provider, including Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (843-339-2100) and Hometown Urgent Care (843- 309-3028), or campus safety (832-383-8140).

We’re taking precautionary measures: 

• Coker is monitoring the situation with guidance from Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center and DHEC.    
• If a residential student, for whatever reason, is unable to return home to self-quarantine, they should contact the Residence Life Office (list.reslife@coker.edu).
• Faculty and IT are asked to have plans in place for distance learning should on-campus classes need to move online for any period of time. 
• Coker Athletics continues to monitor competitions and team travel with guidance from the South Atlantic Conference and the NCAA. 
• Coker’s Center for Health and Wellness resumes regular hours on Monday, March 9 (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m). While the Center for Health and Wellness can assist with cold and flu like symptoms, it is not a COVID-19 testing center. Residential students that are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or believe they might have been exposed are asked to stay in their room and contact the Center for Health and Wellness at 843-383-8141 or healthservices@coker.edu or nfloyd@coker.edu (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m). Outside of the center’s normal operating hours, you can contact any area healthcare provider, including Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (843-339-2100) and Hometown Urgent Care (843- 309-3028), or campus safety (832-383-8140).
• If students with compromised immune systems need special accommodations, please email the director of the Center for Health and Wellness, Nicole Floyd, at nfloyd@coker.edu.
• Our partners at National Resource Management advise us that facilities and housekeeping continue to use hospital grade disinfectants, cleaners, and soaps, and have been asked to pay special attention to high traffic areas such as classrooms, weight rooms, the dining hall, etc. 
• The university is working with students studying abroad on a case-by-case basis.

How you can help: 

• If you are a student preparing to return from spring break and exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, self-quarantine at home and call the nearest medical facility to discuss screening.  
• If you are planning international travel between now the end of the spring semester, please advise Susan Henderson, Provost, at shenderson@coker.edu. 
• If you see a soap dispenser is low in any bathroom on campus, please submit a work order here.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has information for travelers, including a list of frequently asked questions. Check for travel advisories regularly as things are changing rapidly. 
• Information is available on the Darlington County Emergency Management Department’s Facebook page, the CDC’s website, and DHEC’s website. 
• Follow these tips for avoiding the spread of germs. To learn more about the COVID-19 virus specifically, refer to this CDC fact sheet.

Coker University is monitoring COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, in consultation with Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center.  We will continue to monitor the situation and will post any updates to this page.

• As with any cold and flu season, follow these tips for avoiding the spread of germs. To learn more about the COVID-19 virus specifically, refer to this fact sheet from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• The CDC has also published an information for travelers page. If you have recently returned from international travel, or you are planning international travel within the next two weeks, please advise Susan Henderson, Provost, at shenderson@coker.edu. 
• Coker University representatives, along with representatives from other member schools of South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, will be participating in a state-wide call / webinar sponsored by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) today, March 4, and the University will continue to monitor the situation with guidance from the CDC and DHEC.  
• The Darlington County Emergency Management Department posts situation updates, so  please consider following their Facebook page. The CDC page contains additional information as does the South Carolina DHEC page, and please watch www.coker.edu/alerts for additional University updates.

From Darlington County Emergency Management Department, March 3:

“We are actively following details surrounding the COVID-19 strand of the corona virus. As of 9:00 a.m. this morning, there are NO confirmed cases in South Carolina, however, cases are increasing across the nation. We are trying to stay updated by monitoring the most recent information from SC DHEC and CDC.

Our best defense against this virus is to use the same precautions encouraged for cold and flu prevention. The flu is still at a high level of activity for Darlington County and the Pee Dee Region.

•Wash your hands as often as possible and use hand sanitizer only until you are able to wash your hands again.

•Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

•Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze and do not reuse tissues

•Avoid leaving home when you are sick

•Avoid being too close to other individuals. Stay at least six feet apart when possible

There is not a recommendation for the general public to use face masks or N95 respirators. This prevention measure is intended for those with a confirmed virus and to prevent them from spreading the disease further.”