Safer Return at Cal Poly Pomona

Returning to In-Person Work for Academic Affairs Staff

Date: 5/27/2021
From: Provost - Vice President for Academic Affairs 
Subject: Returning to in-person work for Academic Affairs staff

Dear Academic Affairs Colleagues,

Thank you for your ongoing resiliency and commitment during this uniquely challenging time. I also want to offer my gratitude for all that you have done to assist our students reach their goals. Commencement is a very symbolic and important event for our students and their families. Your support made this year’s unique Commencement possible. Twenty ceremonies over the course of four days represents a monumental achievement, and thanks to your support we were able to provide the recognition and celebration our graduating students so richly deserved.

Our campus community focus continues to rest on our safer return to campus. Last Friday, you received a communication from Employee and Organizational Development and Advancement (EODA) announcing Cal Poly Pomona’s Employee Repopulation Plan; a prioritized and staged approach for safely and gradually returning to in-person work on campus (full message). I’m writing to provide additional details specific to Academic Affairs staff.

As outlined in the Employee Repopulation Plan, employees will return to work in one of three stages. The first stage began on May 24 and includes 120 self-designated employees participating in a pilot program. Stage II will involve a prioritized, approach for individual units and divisions based on the operational and functional needs of our university.

Summer is a time of vigorous and dynamic activity or Academic Affairs that includes advising at new student orientation, faculty on-boarding, a robust faculty professional development program and the need to prepare labs, studios, and other instructional spaces to make sure we are ready for the start of the fall semester. 

Here’s what this means for Academic Affairs staff:

  • Starting June 21, all Academic Affairs staff with direct service to labs, faculty, and students and/or support roles to faculty and students will be expected to return to in-person work on campus for a minimum of two days per week. Additionally, they will all work remotely on Fridays. Staff can expect to be engaged in conversations with their manager and unit leadership to develop their work schedule in accordance with the unit’s repopulation plan.
  • This approach will remain in place until August 2, at which point Stage III begins and all staff employees will be expected to work in-person a minimum of 50 to 100 percent based on current public health restrictions in effect at the time. If these restrictions change, employees will be notified.

As always, we will continue to follow the latest public health and safety guidelines and restrictions. Also, understanding that employees may have extenuating circumstances related to health, personal and family needs, and childcare, I invite you to work with your HEERA manager, as needed, to consider alternate work schedules or a leave of absence. The EODA message from Monday included additional guidelines for HEERA managers to support developing your unit’s employee repopulation plan.

Thank you for your contributions in assuring that we safely and gradually return to campus. The personal interactions we enjoy among our campus community remain essential to excelling as an institution and in providing the one-of-a-kind Cal Poly Pomona experience that defines our polytechnic university. As the time of remote work nears its end, I look forward to being with you and fostering the vibrancy that exemplifies our campus community.

Sincerely,

Sylvia A. Alva, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs