View Online Dear VCU Faculty and Staff: As we all do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19, VCU leadership continues to make decisions in the best interest of the VCU community and those we serve. To that end, effective Monday, March 23, the university will operate under a mandatory telework environment for all non-designated employees, with only designated employees reporting to campus until further notice. The move to mandatory telework is designed to practice social distancing for both those who telework as well as those who continue working on campus. If you work in the VCU Health System or support the health system, further guidance will be forthcoming. Please review the following resources and guidelines relative to your employee type so you can prepare. Please note that resources, guidelines, and employee designations may change as this situation evolves. Non-designated employees: Develop a telework plan. Managers and employees should work together to establish expectations for responsibilities and regular touchpoints. Managers are instructed to be flexible in developing telework arrangements. Employees should continue to perform regular work duties if possible. Special projects or professional development that can be completed remotely should also be considered. Managers, please have employees complete the Managers and employees should work together to establish expectations for responsibilities and regular touchpoints. Managers are instructed to be flexible in developing telework arrangements. Employees should continue to perform regular work duties if possible. Special projects or professional development that can be completed remotely should also be considered. Managers, please have employees complete the COVID-19 Incident Response Temporary Telework form . Non-designated employees who feel they have a compelling reason to work on-campus, please discuss your designation with your manager. Designated employees: Demonstrate practices that limit exposure. Designated employees are those who are required to work or have a compelling reason to be on-site during this public health crisis. Managers and employees should establish essential operations, coverage and responsibilities for on-campus work. In order to practice social distancing while on-campus, stagger schedules, limit face-to-face work, and maintain a reasonable distance whenever possible. Designated employees should only report to work during the hours they are needed for in-person work and should work remotely when possible. For information about designating employees, see the staffing section of the VCU Human Resources COVID-19 FAQ . Designated employees are those who are required to work or have a compelling reason to be on-site during this public health crisis. Managers and employees should establish essential operations, coverage and responsibilities for on-campus work. In order to practice social distancing while on-campus, stagger schedules, limit face-to-face work, and maintain a reasonable distance whenever possible. Designated employees should only report to work during the hours they are needed for in-person work and should work remotely when possible. For information about designating employees, see the staffing section of the



Vice presidents, deans and department heads: Submit your operational plan. Leadership in each major business unit will be contacted separately to submit plans for how their office will operate.



Resources: Managers and their employees should work together to ensure they have the necessary tools to complete their work responsibilities in a timely manner remotely, have taken precautions to ensure data security, and are in regular communications. Visit telework.vcu.edu for resources on working and collaborating remotely or log into remotely or log into Talent@VCU for telework training resources.



Leave options: In addition to telework, employees may also use leave to cover time away from work. Visit the leave section of the In addition to telework, employees may also use leave to cover time away from work. Visit the leave section of the VCU Human Resources COVID-19 FAQ for more information about all of your paid leave options including the use of Public Health Emergency Leave, which is available to all faculty and staff as well as wage employees. Please know that your safety and wellbeing remain our top priority and that our commitment to an inclusive community remains strong whether we are in a virtual or on-campus environment. Please continue to support each other. We sincerely thank you for your dedication, creativity and hard work during these uncertain times. If you have questions, please email COVID-19@vcu.edu or visit https://covid-19.vcu.edu/. Sincerely,

Gail Hackett, Ph.D.

Provost and Sr. Vice President for Academic Affairs

Meredith L. Weiss, Ph.D.

Vice President for Administration Web:president.vcu.edu Email:presoffc@vcu.edu