A Hybrid Fall Semester for Working

Date: 7/23/2021
To: Staff
From: CPP Employee and Org Devel & Advancement 
Subject: A Hybrid Fall Semester for Working

Dear colleagues, 

Thank you for your continued resilience and flexibility as we adapt to the uncertainties of the pandemic and the shifting state and county protocols. We are grateful to the employees participating in Stage II of our repopulation plan who have helped us learn more about effectively supporting our community and preparing for a larger repopulation. 

Based on your feedback, as well as the recent rise of COVID-19 transmissions and hospitalizations in the region, we are scaling back the pace of our repopulation plan for staff. Fall semester includes more in-person and hybrid opportunities for learning, and, similarly, we will now include hybrid working options for staff that utilize existing remote tools and technologies where it is operationally feasible.  

Aug. 2 remains the official start of our staff employees’ return to campus (Phase 3 of Our Safer Return), which means that every office that provides services to students and the university community should be open with in-person staffing during the university’s business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Divisional vice presidents will be working with their managers to develop staffing and operational plans to ensure continuity of service, while providing flexibility and hybrid working options for staff. We understand that staffing and operational plans will vary across divisions and departments, due to the differences in function. As such, we will not have a single university standard for the configuration of staffing and operations, as long as departments meet the expectation of providing in-person services during business hours. 

To support their teams, divisions and managers have been provided a range of resources. We encourage employees to engage in discussions with their managers about these resources. 

Fall 2021 will be a transitional time for our campus to adjust to this new environment. There is much to learn about working and collaborating effectively in this hybrid environment, and we look forward to using the fall term to understand and assess these changes.  

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we prepare for a new academic year. As public health protocols evolve and impact our campus operations, we will continue to share updates via email, through the weekly Safer Return News email and the Safer Return website.  

We look forward to welcoming you and our students to campus this fall. 

Kimberly G. Allain 

AVP, Employee & Organizational Development & Advancement 
Division of Administrative Affairs