Reducing the number of people working on campus; Governor Lamont’s March 20 Executive Order; parking

Monday, March 23, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to clarify what the progression of this pandemic and Governor Lamont’s Executive Order 7-H mean for our campus and how they affect our work.

Governor Lamont’s Executive Order. On March 20, Governor Lamont signed an executive order requiring all workplaces, with the exception of those delivering specific functions, to become virtual by 8 p.m. today.

Although the order excludes specific activities and services, including online education, providing essential health care, some research, public safety, and taking care of student residential populations, we are strongly urging most faculty and staff to work remotely.  

Further reductions in on-campus workforce. In the strongest possible terms, we are urging most faculty and staff to work from home. This will facilitate and support public health officials’ advice to maximize social distancing at this crucial time. Our goal is to protect each of us, our colleagues, and the general population. This is a significant health care challenge, and the best way to avoid getting or spreading the virus is to minimize social interaction and avoid community spaces. With very few exceptions, everyone at Yale should work from home.  

  • Staff. We will ask a smaller number of staff to continue to work on campus. If you are one of these individuals, your supervisor will notify you. Do not report to work tomorrow without first confirming with your supervisor that you need to be on campus.
  • Faculty. We strongly encourage faculty, postdocs, and graduate students to teach and conduct research remotely. Faculty, postdocs, and graduate students who have received an exception from their dean or the vice provost for research to continue critical research on campus should follow the guidance provided by the Office of the Provost, YSM, and FAS.

Parking. The university will not charge parking fees for April and will continue to provide free parking to any employee who is asked to work on campus. There is no need to email the parking office to request a rebate.

Work-Life resources. This is a stressful time for all of us. We understand that some of you are facing additional challenges, such as caring for children or other family members. Wellness information and resources for parents can be found on the COVID-19 WorkLife Resources webpage.

What to do if you think you have symptoms of COVID-19. If you feel sick, please check Yale’s COVID-19 website for resources about symptoms and how to contact your healthcare provider.  

It has been extraordinary to see you transform our campus in one week to a workplace that operates remotely. Much of the transition has gone smoothly, with staff and faculty continuing to support the mission of the university from their homes. We are also deeply grateful to those supporting needed functions on campus.  

Today is the first day of classes, with students returning to their online studies and faculty reengaging with course instruction. There is also a significant research effort being organized within the university’s laboratories that is seeking to track, treat, and cure COVID-19. Thanks to these exceptional efforts, our university remains open, and we continue to advance our core mission of teaching, research, and practice.   

Thank you for all that you are doing for our community and for Yale.  

Scott Strobel
Provost
Henry Ford II Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry

Jack F. Callahan, Jr.
Senior Vice President for Operations