college of charleston

College of Charleston Athletics Will Welcome Basketball Spectators

College of Charleston has announced it will welcome spectators for the upcoming 2020-2021 men’s and women’s basketball season.

The college was granted approval from the South Carolina Department of Commerce to open their arena doors to spectators with some restrictions in place.

College of Charleston’s TD Arena currently seats 5,100. However, as a part of the approved reopening, the arena will be reduced to only 30 percent capacity. In addition to reduced capacity, a variety of other game day safety measures will be required and announced at a later date.

College of Charleston season ticket holders will receive an email in the coming weeks with information on the status of their ticket purchase and their options surrounding renewal opportunities. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the college is also transitioning to mobile tickets during the upcoming basketball season.

In an effort to protect the health and safety of athletes and staff, both men’s and women’s basketball teams will operate on a revised schedule intended to limit travel.

Click here for more information on the upcoming College of Charleston basketball schedules.

New In Charleston

College of Charleston Still Set to Hold Graduation in October

The College of Charleston will hold its Spring 2020 commencement ceremony on Saturday, October 10th. There will be four different ceremonies in total – the first one beginning at 9:00 am and the last one beginning at 6:00 pm.

While the College of Charleston is not allowed to have an in-person audience, the ceremony will be live-streamed through CofC’s Facebook page and their website.

The ceremony will take place in the Cistern Yard, located at 66 George St. “Crossing the Cistern” is a long-held tradition at the College and due to the adjustments in this commencement, 2020 graduates will have the opportunity to cross the actual cistern – instead of just crossing a stage like it is normally performed.

Since an audience will not be allowed, 2020 graduates will have the option to participate in a future graduation ceremony when it is safe for audience members to attend.

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College of Charleston Suspends All Fall Sports Competitions

As of August 10th, the College of Charleston has suspended all fall 2020 sports competitions. This will include men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s cross country, and women’s cross country. All of the above sports teams plan to continue practicing in preparation for a spring 2021 season.

Now, year-round sports of men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, sailing, and equestrian will also be practicing in lieu of an actual competition season. They hope to resume come springtime.

The Director of Athletics, Matt Roberts, issued a statement regarding the matter. “We thank our local medical community and sports medicine staff for their tremendous efforts of implementing our current return-to-sport medical protocols and testing to get us back on campus safely… With the increased concern around the country and amongst the Colonial Athletic Association-member schools to postpone fall sports competition, we remain hopeful our fall student-athletes and coaches have the opportunity to pursue championships in the spring.”

Furthermore, the winter sports team season remains on the schedule. More information is sure to be announced as we near the season start date.

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College of Charleston Hopes To Redesign One of Their Buildings

While the College of Charleston along with many other college campuses are without people, improvements are taking place. The CofC staff and faculty have used this time to continue to maintain the historic buildings. As this year approaches, the College looks to renovate the Simons Center for the Arts as well as a revamping of McAlister Residence Hall.

Vice President of Facilities Management, John Morris, weighs in on the matter. “[TheCofC Staff] is doing all of this and also dealing with the personal anxieties we’re all dealing with. It’s a lot to juggle, and I know it’s not easy for them. I’m proud of their dedication and commitment during these challenging times,” Morris tells The College Today.

As COVID-19 continues to delay the reopening of schools, this opportunity to enhance the architecture and design of the school is being taken advantage of. With so many beautiful projects that have ensued, it’s likely CofC will be in its best shape once they choose to reopen.

Along with the redesigning of the Simons Center and McAlister Dorms, the College is upkeeping all surrounding facilities. These renovations are keeping employees working and getting paid. Safety precautions have been put in place to keep CofC employees that have to be on campus safe.

“Y’all are going to be amazed when you get back at some of the things that we’ve been doing – campus is looking beautiful,” says Milton Summers, Deputy Director of Central Energy at the College.

New In Charleston

College of Charleston Freezes Tuition for the 2020/2021 Calendar Year

As of June 9th, the College of Charleston Board of Trustees voted in favor of a tuition freeze. The 2020-21 academic year is the first semester set to be enforced. What this means for Charleston students is affordable and accessible academics. There won’t be any unexpected surges in tuition costs.

College of Charleston president Andrew T. Hsu comments, “I appreciate and applaud the Board of Trustees for not increasing tuition. While College administrators will need to be even more creative in dealing with rising costs, not raising tuition is the right thing to do.”

Undergraduate SC residents will continue to pay $6,259 per semester. Out-of-state undergraduates will still pay $16,424. This tuition freeze offers relief for those fearing a high increase in response to COVID-19.

In effect July 1st through Sept. 30, the board will enforce this change. Throughout the 2021 fiscal year, the board will regroup and discuss further changes. This could mean increases in the College’s dormitory halls or an increase in meal plan costs. Both budgets are subject to change in the coming August/September board meeting.

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Lowcountry Colleges Release Plans for Upcoming Classes

Multiple higher institutions around Charleston have come to decisions regarding upcoming summer and fall classes as the cornoavirus pandemic continues.

Here is a list with the latest information released by colleges in our area regarding class structures:

The Citadel

Summer classes will remain online with the exception of certain lab-based courses planned for in-person instruction during the second term (July 4 – August 7) as social distancing allows. On May 12, Citadel President Glenn Walters announced intentions for cadets to return in August for in-person classes. The college plans to welcome freshman on August 17 and have upper-class cadets return on August 25. Classes will tentatively start for graduate students on August 26, and on August 28 for cadets.

College of Charleston

Summer classes are currently only being offered online. Earlier this month the college established “internal working groups” to research various possibilities for the fall semester including, “Evaluating everything from instruction delivery and housing to employee work schedules and campus events/activities,” communication director Michael Robertson said. Proposed recommendations will be submitted in mid-June.

Trident Technical College

Classes will remain online throughout May, and a small number of hands-on courses will be offered starting June 15 with increased safety measures, according to a college spokesperson. There has not yet been an announcement about fall courses as of May 13.

“These measures include the mandatory use of masks, reconfiguration of work spaces in labs where needed, installation of barriers where appropriate, closure of common areas, making hand sanitizer widely available, marking spacing for queues, and extensive signage explaining safety protocols and our expectations for behavior while on campus,” said public infomration director David Hansen. “While we are preparing to reopen June 15, that date could change based on the availability of PPE and other factors.”

Featured

Exploring Charleston In 24 Hours: Your Guide To The Holy City

Featured Image Source: Explore Charleston FB

24 hour trips are great for a quick getaway or an easy way to explore a new city in a short amount of time. And, there’s no better place in the South for a day trip than Charleston, South Carolina.There’s a reason Travel + Leisure Magazine ranked Charleston the No. 1 city in the United States six years in a row.

The Holy City has risen to the world’s stage as a top travel destination, and we’ve got your guide on how to spend just 24 hours in our magical city:

Stay

While Charleston has all of the national hotel chains, visitors can better soak in the spirit of the city in one of the many boutique hotels all over the city. Check out Zero George Street to experience beautifully manicured gardens or the Planters Inn in the center of the historic district. Both hotels are steps away from great food and nightlife.

Eat

Charleston has become the epicenter of the food scene throughout the Southeast. For good reason, with endless options from traditional southern cuisines to modern high-class dining. If you only have one dinner in town, you can’t go wrong with Husk. The treasured creation of world renown chef, Sean Brock. Be aware, reservations book up well in advance so call ahead.

See + Do

For art lovers, the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art on the College of Charleston’s campus curates a small collection with exhibits from famous artists around the world. For those visiting on the weekend, the Charleston Farmers Market, in Marion Square every Saturday, brings in vendors from all over the Lowcountry selling fruits, vegetables, and artisan goods.

Explore

Charleston has everything, even activities for outdoor, adventure seekers. Rent a kayak and explore the Lowcountry in an off-the-beaten-path way. Kayaking gives those the opportunity to see wading birds, oyster beds, barrier islands, and wild dolphins up close. Paddling through the Lowcountry is sure to give anyone an experience they’ll never forget.

Even though it is impossible to experience everything Charleston has to offer in just 24 hours, it is still possible to see much of the city and get a feel of the culture due to the high walkability and short walking distances in between the majority of attractions. The Holy City is sure to leave any visitor with a desire to come back.

Guest Columns

Here Are A Few Tips To Biking Your Way Around Charleston

Featured Image Credit: Camels and Chocolate

Biking can be a lot of fun when you’re gliding down quiet side streets filled with flowers and historic houses. Off the peninsula, however, that can be a different story. No bike lanes, limited bike racks, and crowded roads on the outskirts might make you want to rent a bike when you go downtown!

Here are some helpful tips if you are teetering between purchasing a bike or renting one.

College of Charleston supplies a free daily bike share program for its students. However, this requires a valid Cougar Card. For people who are not students but wanting to experience the whimsical experience of riding through historical Charleston; there is a different option for you.

Image Credit: Bike Law

Holy Spokes, a self-serve bike share service that has stations all throughout downtown Charleston. All you have to do is just download the app to pay and use the bikes. Holy Spokes offers a free 60 minutes a day to MUSC students and employees. It’s definitely a great alternative if you are not looking to purchase a bike.

Looking to purchase a bike? The College’s Student Government Association holds a bike auction at the beginning of each school year. They auction all the bikes that the campus police have confiscated for abandonment or rule violations. This auction takes place in late August and only accepts cash/check. Rather buy new? Downtown has two bicycle shops: Affordabike and The Bicycle Shoppe.

Image Credit: Charleston City Paper

Live downtown and don’t want your bike to be confiscated or stolen? CofC requires all bikes to be registered with the campus police or the City of Charleston. It is only a dollar to register your bike and will help if something happens to it. Bikes can be a hot item downtown therefore, it is important to protect your bike from thieves. Using a U-lock instead of a chain is highly recommended. Chain locks can be easily snipped with bolt cutters. The city can also confiscate your bike if you are on campus and do not use the provided bike racks.