As UMBC plans to welcome a limited number of students, faculty, and staff back to our physical campus this summer and into the fall, the Fall Planning Coordinating Committee has created a Return to On-Campus Work Plan. This plan lays out several phases and provides departments tools to request campus access for vital services. We anticipate remote work continuing for the majority of employees for the foreseeable future.
We know that this continues to be a challenging time for many in our community and their families. This plan has been designed to prioritize the well-being of employees and the safety of the work environment. In addition, the plan will be adapted as our understanding of COVID-19 evolves.
We know that this continues to be a challenging time for many in our community and their families. This plan has been designed to prioritize the well-being of employees and the safety of the work environment. In addition, the plan will be adapted as our understanding of COVID-19 evolves.
The plan emphasizes several core concepts for moving forward:
- Proceed thoughtfully, consistently, and deliberately when making decisions.
- Be compassionate and flexible. Supervisors/Department Heads are asked to work with employees who may have childcare concerns, are in a high-risk group, or have other circumstances that warrant special consideration. Be mindful of the anxiety that employees may be feeling.
- Be ready to adjust based on guidance from USM, CDC, and/or state and local governments.
- Implement scheduling in a fair manner.
- Communicate often.
We are currently in Phase 1 of the plan – Summer Pilot Research Activities and Preparation for Limited Return to Campus (June 15 - August 2, 2020). During Phase 1, employees who can effectively work remotely will continue to do so. A limited number of employees are working on campus, including some faculty who have been approved to return to work on campus for research and creative achievement purposes. Visitors and students not approved to be on campus are strongly discouraged from coming to campus.
Phase 2 will begin on August 3, 2020. During Phase 2, most employees will continue remote work. A limited number of faculty and staff will work on campus to offer specific services that support the student experience, research and creative achievement, and campus operations. Only those employees who have received the necessary return to on-campus work approval will be permitted to work on campus.
Please visit the updated Employees section of the Retrievers Return website to view the plan in its entirety. The site includes information on the process supervisors and department heads can use to create and submit a Return to On-Campus Work application. It also provides information on safety standards that will be required of departments with returning employees, as well as accommodation processes for employees who may be unable to return to campus. We will be updating the website regularly and adding additional information on health and safety precautions and resources. There are also a variety of supports and resources available on the website for employees and their families.
Next week, shared governance groups are hosting two town halls with members of the Fall Planning Coordinating Committee. The Faculty Senate is hosting a town hall on Tuesday, June 30, at 3:30 p.m., and the Professional Staff Senate and the Non-Exempt Staff Senate are hosting one on Wednesday, July 1, at 4 p.m. Login information for both is available here.
If you have questions about this plan and your individual situation, we encourage you to first reach out to your supervisor to discuss your concerns and understand their future plans for your team. If you have additional concerns, or wish to discuss a situation confidentially, please reach out to Human Resources.
Provost Philip Rous and Lynne Schaefer, Vice President for Administration & Finance
Fall Planning Coordinating Committee Co-chairs
Phase 2 will begin on August 3, 2020. During Phase 2, most employees will continue remote work. A limited number of faculty and staff will work on campus to offer specific services that support the student experience, research and creative achievement, and campus operations. Only those employees who have received the necessary return to on-campus work approval will be permitted to work on campus.
Please visit the updated Employees section of the Retrievers Return website to view the plan in its entirety. The site includes information on the process supervisors and department heads can use to create and submit a Return to On-Campus Work application. It also provides information on safety standards that will be required of departments with returning employees, as well as accommodation processes for employees who may be unable to return to campus. We will be updating the website regularly and adding additional information on health and safety precautions and resources. There are also a variety of supports and resources available on the website for employees and their families.
Next week, shared governance groups are hosting two town halls with members of the Fall Planning Coordinating Committee. The Faculty Senate is hosting a town hall on Tuesday, June 30, at 3:30 p.m., and the Professional Staff Senate and the Non-Exempt Staff Senate are hosting one on Wednesday, July 1, at 4 p.m. Login information for both is available here.
If you have questions about this plan and your individual situation, we encourage you to first reach out to your supervisor to discuss your concerns and understand their future plans for your team. If you have additional concerns, or wish to discuss a situation confidentially, please reach out to Human Resources.
Provost Philip Rous and Lynne Schaefer, Vice President for Administration & Finance
Fall Planning Coordinating Committee Co-chairs
