Start of the Academic Year and Community Expectations for Staff

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

To: Yale Staff

Dear Colleagues,

On July 1, President Salovey announced that the university will welcome graduate and professional school students and a portion of the undergraduate population back to campus for the start of the 2020-2021 academic year. Thanks to the hard work of many members of our community, students are now arriving in New Haven and educational programs across the university are starting at the end of this month. Campus operations have ramped up over the summer with over 11,000 staff and faculty currently approved to resume work on campus.

Increasing on campus operations for the fall semester

The start of the academic year and the resumption of academic, research, residential, and administrative activities will not require the return of all staff to campus. However, more staff members will need to return to work during this next phase of reactivating campus operations. 

Unit leaders are currently determining which work obligations must be conducted on campus and which tasks can be completed remotely. These decisions will be made based on the level of support necessary for academic and research functions in the university, the mode and frequency of interaction with students, population density inside office buildings, and the overall nature of the work. We anticipate that on-campus staffing requirements may change as the fall semester progresses. Staff members who are requested to return to campus will receive at least seven days’ notice prior to their expected return date. The Dean of the school or the appropriate Vice President will make the final decision regarding the approval to return to campus.

Guidance for staff working remotely

If you are not asked to return campus and are able to work from home, our current assumption is that you will continue to work remotely until at least January 4, 2021. If you are unable to work from home, we will strive to provide alternate work assignments consistent with the workplace guidance issued on July 1.

What to expect when returning to campus

If you are requested to return to campus, your supervisor will notify you and send you a communication that outlines what to expect when you are approved to return to campus. This notification will include details regarding mandatory safety training, health guidelines, and instructions for ordering your face coverings and other protective supplies.

Parking

Parking fees will continue to be waived until the end of the calendar year although access to certain lots will be limited to those who have approval for reserved parking.

Community wellbeing and expectations

Yale’s staffing decisions will continue to be guided by the advice of public health experts. Promoting your health and wellbeing and supporting you as you return to work is one of our top priorities. In that spirit, we also remind you that your health and the wellbeing of our community is a shared responsibility. Whether we work remotely or on campus, it is essential that we follow university and public health protocols designed to minimize the transmission of COVID-19. If you are asked to return to campus, we urge you to carefully review the Health and Safety Guidelines and the Statement of Expectations for Faculty and Staff, and adhere to all the health and safety measures described. If you anticipate that you will be unable to commit to these conditions, please reach out to your supervisor before you return to campus.

We thank you for your sustained hard work during this unusual time. You have inspired us, our faculty, and our students with your resiliency, determination, and creativity in the past few months. We offer you our best wishes for a safe and successful start to the new year.

Sincerely,

Scott Strobel
Provost

Jack Callahan
Senior Vice President