Dear faculty and staff,
President Lovell and I understand it has been a very challenging week on campus. Thank you for your continued patience and flexibility and for supporting one another as the university navigates an unprecedented situation and identifies the best courses of action over the coming days and weeks.
It is important to remember that the university remains open even in the absence of our students. Faculty and staff should report to campus as usual so that collectively we can work to move classes online. For your reference, guidance on leave policies and remote work is included below. Further, a list of human resources-specific frequently asked questions is available for non-exempt (hourly) employees and exempt (salaried) employees.
A cross-disciplinary team is meeting several times per day to determine the complex, campuswide implications of the decisions we announced yesterday to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. See below for information regarding issues affecting our faculty and staff as we work to continue academic instruction and keep campus operational.
Self-quarantine guidance from the Wisconsin Health Department
As we shared in yesterday’s email message, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services is recommending that any faculty, student or staff who has traveled WITHIN THE PAST 14 DAYS where there is community spread of the coronavirus (international and domestic locations) MUST SELF-QUARANTINE for 14 days, less the number of days since they arrived home, before returning to campus. For instance, if you returned from one of these areas 10 days ago, you must quarantine for 4 days. The CDC has an interactive map that shows the number of confirmed cases by state and the status of community transmission in each state – hover over each state to see the information. The CDC also has an interactive map that shows the number of confirmed cases by international country and the community transfer in each country – hover over each country to see the information.
Those who are 14 days symptom free may return to campus. You can work and learn online per university policy. Visitors to Marquette are being asked to follow these same guidelines.
Any employee who is self-quarantining should notify their supervisor and Human Resources.
Amended sick leave policy
The Department of Human Resources has temporarily modified UPP 4-06 (Attendance; Non-Faculty Employees) and UPP 4-08 (Sick Leave) as follows:
- Suspending the requirement for a physician’s release to better accommodate an employee’s return to work following recovery from COVID-19.
- Allowing employees to care for a COVID-19 affected and symptomatic immediate family member (immediate family as defined by the Department of Labor includes children, spouse or parent) without the requirement of applying for Family Medical Leave. These modifications will be in effect through the end of April 2020 (subject to change).
Working remotely
You must request authorization to work from home from your supervisor. Your supervisor will consider several factors, including: the service needs of the department, the nature of the work being performed, and whether a computer is available for use. Some positions and departments may proactively assign people to work from home. Not all roles at Marquette University lend themselves to work from home, so communication with your supervisor is key.
Information Technology Services has set up a dedicated website to provide resources for faculty and staff working from home.
Class adjustments for the week of March 16
Faculty members should email their classes about adjustments to assignments and coursework for the week of March 16. Students are expected to complete assigned readings and coursework as they are able.
Federal Work Study students
Per U.S. Department of Education guidelines, all Federal Work Study students will continue to be paid during this time. Student employee managers will receive a separate communication from the Office of Student Employment later today with further guidance on student employment.
On-campus events
The university is suspending all on-campus events with more than 50 attendees until at least April 10. This includes on-campus events sponsored by outside groups. Please reach out to scheduled speakers to let them know. This also includes scheduled on-campus Admissions events. Admissions is working to develop remote and virtual options for prospective students as they make their college decisions this spring.
No decision has been made on currently scheduled Commencement activities, but it will be made no sooner than April 10.
Marquette Child Care Center
The Child Care Center is currently open. Parents who have children in the Child Care Center have been communicated with separately by the Child Care Center director.
For more information, Marquette’s COVID-19 website is being updated multiple times each day with new Frequently Asked Questions. In addition, watch your email for updates from Marquette Today.
In the spirit of cura personalis, if you have any other unique circumstances not covered in this update, please reach out to your supervisor so that you may receive whatever assistance or support you need.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kimo Ah Yun
Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs