CALS COVID-19 faculty updates
March 14, 2020
Dear CALS faculty,
Thank you for all you are doing to manage the constant flow of new information on campus as you adjust your own plans at work and at home. With this email, CALS is expanding our mailing list for important COVID-19-related emails and posting all COVID-19-related college emails on our website. If you wish to be removed from this list, please email the cals-comm [at] cornell.edu (CALS Office of Marketing and Communications).
Remote work for faculty and staff
The university has set an expectation to transition faculty and staff to a remote work environment by close of business on Friday, March 20. Please take every effort to enable as many employees as feasible to work remotely for the foreseeable future. If you or an employee in your unit face barriers to working remotely, please reach out to your Human Resources representative or your unit chair or director for assistance. The college authorizes chairs and directors to begin remote work within their units as soon as they are ready to do so.
CALS OIT has develop the following Remote Work Resources site that includes a matrix of solutions to potential barriers staff might face while working remotely. Prior to reviewing the matrix please make sure you thoroughly review the university’s COVID-19: Remote Work Guidelines for Employees website, found here along with other guidelines and resources to help with the transition.
Undergraduate Student Employment
The provost has clarified that undergraduate students may not conduct work on campus for the remainder of the semester. Please see further details in this note.
Messaging for research lab continuity
All labs should be organizing a continuity plan that includes flexibility for remote work and social distancing. Here is sample language you can customize to communicate with your lab members about what is happening.
Post-docs
We have had questions on this topic - all post-doctoral fellows and associates should follow Cornell guidelines and policies issued for faculty and staff.
In our current working environment, and the shift to remote work, creating a welcoming environment for new members of our community is not sustainable, and we must focus our attention on current members of our community. Therefore, the following are effective as of Monday, March 16:
Pausing all staff searches
All searches to fill staff positions are suspended immediately until further notice. Please work with your HR representative regarding individual searches and next steps.
Pausing appointment of unpaid academic visitors
The college will no longer appoint new unpaid academic visitors that may require access to any of our campus facilities. If you have current invitations or letters of appointment outstanding, it is critical that you make contact with your invited guest and cancel their plans to come to campus.
Please work with your HR representative regarding individual cases and next steps.
We understand that many members of our community may feel anxious about this evolving public health situation or have concerns about friends and family living in areas currently experiencing the outbreak. Please take care of yourselves and those around you.