Effective March 30, SAU employees will work remotely or from home with the exception of those who will be reporting to campus on rotating schedules to meet critical staffing needs. On-campus student services will continue to be provided as previously stated. Housing is still open, dining services will continue, University Police will continue patrolling campus, health services will still be available, and select computer labs will still remain accessible to our students.
Directors and department chairs across campus are working with the Risk Management Task Force to ensure that personnel have the resources needed to work remotely during this public health crisis. During this University-mandated policy, employee duties, obligations, responsibilities, and conditions of employment with SAU will be unaffected by working remotely. Likewise, salary, retirement benefits, and University-sponsored insurance coverage will remain unchanged.
Please contact your direct supervisor if you have questions about off-campus work assignments. Updates regarding the response to the public health emergency will continue to be provided as needed through campus email.
What do faculty need to know?
Deans and department chairs have set up meetings for Monday, March 16. Resources and assistance to move content online will be available throughout the process.
Faculty members who are high risk or who have high-risk family members are encouraged to take precautions to protect themselves and their families. This includes the ability to work from home to deliver online content.
What do staff need to know?
SAU Staff will be off for the entire week of Spring Break – Monday, March 23 – Friday, March 27.
During this time, we realize many employees are concerned for the safety of themselves and their families. We encourage all faculty, staff and contractors working at SAU to express any concerns with supervisors. If working from home or taking extended sick leave is necessary to protect high-risk family members or care for children displaced due to school closures, those options are readily available. The most valuable resource we have is our people, and we stand committed to supporting decisions that keep them safe.
What about campus events?
Effective March 16, all campus events are suspended through the remainder of the spring semester.
What should I do about personal travel plans?
Effective immediately, any faculty, staff, or student who travel internationally, via public transportation, or to or through domestic areas of significant outbreak will be required to remain off campus for a period of 14 days following travel.
For example, under these guidelines, those who choose to travel to any of these locations or via these methods during Spring Break will not be allowed to return to campus until April 13.
This is out of an abundance of caution to keep our campus as contaminant-free as possible and retain adequate staff levels to provide services.
What is considered an area of “significant outbreak”?
Areas of significant outbreak as defined internally are those areas in which 5 or more cases have been confirmed. The New York Times publishes a map, updated daily, with confirmed cases by state.
Additionally, many state health departments and government websites provide lists and/or maps of confirmed case counts. PLEASE consult this information prior to travel.
- Find the name of the county in which the city is located you wish to visit. This information is useful when searching for coronavirus data.
- Visit the state health department website for the state you wish to visit.
- Find the coronavirus outbreak data.
- If the information you need is not on the state health department website, search for the local health department or the city/county government website.
- Data by county and city is available on a majority of state health department websites. Keep looking if it isn’t. The data is online.
- Review this information prior to making decisions to interact with the public or travel in these locations.
- Review this information again before returning to campus
When using these resources, make CERTAIN to view the most current information. Document (screenshot/print) confirmation that the area to which you travel meets these guidelines. These resources will be used by SAU to determine reentry.
What about University-sponsored travel?
All system-affiliated travel is suspended until further notice.
As a faculty member, what if I am self-quarantined?
Course delivery methods already exist for any faculty member required to self-quarantine. Support is available through the Office of Online Learning, department chairs, deans, and the Provost’s office.
As a member of the SAU System community, what happens if I do not self-report?
Any faculty or staff member who does not self-report and becomes a public health risk OR who does not fully comply with required self-quarantine recommendations will be reported to human resources for possible disciplinary action.
