About: University of South Carolina Upstate

The University of South Carolina Upstate is a public university located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Formerly known as the University of South Carolina Spartanburg, the school changed its name in 2004. USC Upstate offers both undergraduate and graduate programs for students. The University of South Carolina Upstate is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and it is one of four accredited four-year schools in the University of South Carolina System.

The school, originally known as the Spartanburg Regional Campus, was opened in 1967 as a two-year college with an initial enrollment of 177 students. As a result of increased enrollment, the school became a four-year university in 1975 and was renamed the University of South Carolina Spartanburg. During the following years, both the campus and the scope of the university expanded, and the school began offering graduate degrees in 1994. In 2004, the name of the school was changed to the University of South Carolina Upstate to better reflect its mission to educate the people of SC’s upstate region.

USC Upstate offers degrees through its College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business Administration and Economics, School of Education, and School of Nursing. The University of SC Upstate actively encourages academic enrichment and achievement through its Honors Program by providing challenging coursework and opportunities to academically advanced students. The program provides an array of classwork opportunities, from advanced sections of classes to complete honors courses. The program also encourages intellectual advancement by placing high standards for honors graduation which include community service and honors seminars.

University of SC Upstate sponsors thirteen collegiate teams known as the Spartans. The athletic department’s colors are green, white, and black, while the university’s colors are garnet and black. The teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference and Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). USC Upstate student-athletes compete in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s soccer, baseball, softball, cross country, track & field, and women’s volleyball.

In recent years the U.S. News and World Report ranked the University of South Carolina Upstate as one of the top four public comprehensive colleges in the South. USC Upstate strives to prepare its students to participate as responsible citizens in a diverse and knowledge-based society, to pursue excellence in their chosen careers, and to continue learning throughout life.

Rebecca Allison, General Manager at the Hampton Inn Spartanburg. This Spartanburg Hotel invites guests to step back in time to the colonial era or indulge in modern luxuries and recreation in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Hampton Inn & Suites Spartanburg Hotel on North I-85 is situated to offer easy access to the Duncan business centers and is just minutes from Wofford College. Guests can take a short drive into Greenville to see historic landmarks or enjoy world-class entertainment. This Spartanburg hotel offers a full range of services and amenities to make your stay exceptional.

9 Things To Do When Your Roof Leaks

Springtime storms can bring a lot of rain, which can reveal roof leaks. What should you do when an April shower finds its way into your living room?

First, control the interior damage as quickly as possible.

Move any items that have not yet become soaked. If furniture or other items cannot be moved, cover them with plastic sheets to protect them from the water. Collect dripping water in a leak proof container and make sure the container is on a solid surface.

Remove the water.

Begin to dry up water that has soaked into carpet and furniture. For carpeting that has become wet, you may need to pull the carpet away from the padding. Expose the backing to air and allow it to dry. This will also give the padding underneath a chance to dry, and reduce the chance that mold will grow. Circulate as much fresh air as possible around the affected areas.

Call your insurance agent.

If your living space has sustained a considerable amount of damage, call your insurance agent. Your policy may or may not cover damage to the interior from a roof leak. Do not wait to call the agent. They can usually inspect the damage within hours of your call and help you get started on the process of cleaning up or replacing your damaged contents.

Inspect the roof, inside and out.

As soon as possible, check the roof for obvious sources of standing or pooling water. Make sure the valleys, gutters and downspouts are clear of debris and allow the water to move freely off the roof and away from the house. Inspect the roofing materials. Make sure all parts of the underlying roof are covered with shingles, and that the water barrier is not exposed in any way. Keep in mind that the water’s point of entry into the living space may not be directly below the roof leak. Roof leaks can “travel” so inspect the entire region of the leak carefully. You may also find it useful to inspect the roof from the attic space above the living quarters. That may provide a better indication of how the water is entering the structure.

Clear the gutters and downspouts.

Remove any obvious blockages and clear the downspouts if they are clogged. You can often do this with a garden hose. If the downspout is clogged, and it cannot be cleared with a hose, you may have to remove the downspout from the gutter and clear it by inverting the downspout or using a broom handle or other long object to push the debris out of the pipe. When it is clear, reattach it to the gutter and direct the water away from the foundation.

Inspect the flashing.

Some roof leaks are not the result of clogged gutters or downspouts. Instead, leaks occur where the roofing material is worn or damaged. In other cases, the flashing around chimneys, vents, or roof projections is damaged and allows water into the structure below. Inspect the flashing, where chimneys, dormers, vents and other attachments abut the roof. If the flashing is in poor condition, it may need to be replaced. If the sealing around the flashing is damaged, a generous application of roof tar may plug the leak.

Look for hidden damage.

Roof leaks often develop over time, so water may collect unnoticed for some time before it enters the living space. When you inspect the attic, check for any hidden damage that the leak may have caused. Look for wet spots on the roof planks or panels, discolored wood, damaged OSB panels, strange odors and dirt on the insulation. Check the interior for bulges in the ceilings and walls, peeling paint, and badly cracked plaster or wallboard. All of these are signs that something may not be right in your attic or walls.

Check for pests.

Ants and other water-loving pests will find wet wood a very attractive place to build a nest. If you experience a sudden invasion of ants, powder post beetles, pill bugs, sow bugs, earwigs or other water-loving pests, immediately look for wet wood. An exterminator can rid your house of these pests, but the only way to make sure they stay away is to remove the wet wood and remediate the problem.

Call a licensed roofing contractor.

If your inspection reveals a lot of water damage, or an old roof that simply needs replacement, and if you aren’t up to replacing it yourself, call a licensed roofing contractor to repair or replace your roof. Simply re-shingling the roof will not repair most roof leaks. If the roof is leaking, the most likely cause is a breakdown of the waterproofing layer underneath the shingles. In that case, all old shingles should be torn off, and the water proofing layer, along with the shingles, should be replaced.

Re-roofing can be expensive, so be sure to get several estimates from different contractors before selecting someone to do the work. Verify that the contractor you choose is licensed, has insurance and will apply for the proper municipal permits to do the work. Do not allow the contractor to begin work on the house if permits have not been issued and make sure the contractor replaces all of the damaged wood prior to re-roofing the house. After the roof work is complete, ask the contractor to go over proper roof maintenance with you, and be sure to get a final inspection from your municipal housing authority.

We Just Can’t Get Enough of this New Organic, Vegetarian fast food.

When you think about fast food, what comes to mind?

If you’re like me, you probably start salivating as you imagine greasy burgers, gloriously deep-fried onion rings, and calorie-laden milkshakes. Yum.

Basically, this. Image via Thinkstock.

A new fast food restaurant in California is aiming to broaden that image by introducing a vegetarian option.

Andy and Rachel Berliner, the founders of Amy’s Kitchen, originally launched their line of vegetarian frozen, canned, and prepackaged foods in grocery stores (you’ve probably seen Amy’s organic, vegetarian, and vegan food in your local grocery store) after they found themselves frustrated with the vegetarian options available at the time.

Then the Berliners decided they wanted to take their mission one step further, envisioning a fast food restaurant where employees (who were paid a living wage plus health benefits) served vegetarian meals full of fresh local veggies.

That idea became Amy’s Drive Thru, one of the first organic, vegetarian drive-thru restaurants in the country.

As of their opening in July, Amy’s Drive Thru has proven to be a ridiculous success.

On opening day, Amy’s served over 500 people most of whom waited for more than an hour in line just to order. And although they expected business to slow a bit in the following weeks, the demand has just continued to grow.

There it is the restaurant that vegetarian fast food dreams are made of. All photos below via Amy’s Kitchen.

Why the crazy business? An Amy’s spokesperson told Upworthy that it’s likely all about pent up demand. People love fast food, but they want variety. And Amy’s is delivering.

Not to mention, the food at Amy’s Drive Thru is getting rave reviews.

Amy’s serves organic veggie burgers, burritos, mac ‘n’ cheese, pizza, salads, chili fries, and even milkshakes (and, yes, you can choose from dairy or non-dairy options). Every menu item at Amy’s can be made either gluten-free or vegan as well.

The coffee, vegetables, and even the milk come from local farms, too. “Our relationships with farmers and our knowledge of how to make delicious food on a large scale has really made this project possible. We’ve been able to keep the quality high and the prices reasonable,” Andy Berliner said in a press release.

Yep that’s fast food.

I know, I know but this broccoli cheddar mac ‘n’ cheese is fast food, too. It’s also vegetarian and chock full of local ingredients. Drool.

Allergic to gluten? No worries. You can order gluten free everything (including pizza) at Amy’s.

So here’s to reimagining fast food in a new way, and keeping low price points at the same time.

A single burger at Amy’s will only set you back $2.99. And a bowl of mac ‘n’ cheese? $4.69.

Fast food has become popular largely because it’s convenient, easily available, and affordable, but we’re all ears for ideas about how to add variety to that description.

Amy’s Drive Thru seems to have it in the bag: fair wages for employees, local farm support, low prices, and a sustainable business model. Their tables, chairs, and building materials are even upcycled and sustainable.

So … who wants to take a trip to California with me?

Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/people-cant-get-enough-of-this-new-organic-vegetarian-fast-food?c=tpstream