Dear Biology Community,

I hope this notice finds you safe and well. We are excited to start planning to bring employees back to campus, consistent with public health guidance, with the goal of having full onsite operations by September 13, 2021, in time for fall quarter. Fall may seem like a long time off, but we are sending this message as far in advance as possible to give you time to plan and so that we can support your successful return to onsite work.
Though we don’t know what the public health guidance will be in September, please know that the safety of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority. The University has developed and implemented robust safety guidance and protocols that all employees are expected to review and follow.
Understanding and complying with safety procedures is a shared responsibility. In order to ensure we can be together safely, each of you will be required to:

· Participate in a one-time safety training -- All employees will receive training on the University’s COVID-19 Prevention Plan and our unit’s safety plan.

· Vaccinate against COVID-19 – All employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than the September 10, 2021, or before working on site at a University location, whichever comes first. Employees may declare an exemption for medical, religious or philosophical reasons.

· Complete required COVID-19 Vaccine Attestation – The Workday attestation form must be submitted as soon as possible after you are fully vaccination, have decided to declare an exemption, before working on-site, or September 10, 2021, whichever date is earliest.

· We anticipate that even after September 13, some of our employees will want to continue to work remotely at least part of the workweek in a hybrid arrangement. Approval of remote work arrangements are contingent on a supervisor’s approval of a remote work plan.

Staff (non-academic employees) who have concerns regarding their ability to return to onsite work or wish to request a hybrid or remote work arrangement as soon as possible, please contact:

•         Sarah Morrow and Michele Conrad to discuss your needs, including a request for remote work (100% telework). 100% remote work arrangements must be approved by central Human Resources offices.
• Your manager/supervisor to request a hybrid work arrangement (partial week telework, partial week onsite). Once discussed with and approved by your supervisor a request must be submitted to Sarah Morrow and Michele Conrad for a submission and approval by CAS and in some cases by HR.
• The Disability Services Office (DSO) if you anticipate you will need a disability accommodation to remain working fully remote.

Supervisors who have staff they would like to return to campus/on-site prior to the September 13, 2021 date must provide their staff with a 30-day notice in advance of the return to campus request. Please contact Sarah Morrow for more information about that, if necessary.
We are looking forward to enjoying the increased collaboration, communication and celebration of having our teams back together.

Regards,

Sarah Morrow