Coronavirus Update May 4, 2020: Remote working, summer transition update

Current Coronavirus (COVID-19) Situation - UCCS Update #17 (12 p.m. - April 30, 2020)

The Governor has moved Colorado to a “Safer at Home” Order, which is allowing for some relaxation in public movement while maintaining social distancing and prevention techniques. We are closely following all guidance being provided by Governor Polis, along with public health officials at El Paso County Public Health and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, with the health and safety of our faculty, staff and students as the guiding priority.

Below is a summary of some key information for campus employees as we transition from the spring to summer semesters.

• Remote working until further notice. While the Governor is allowing businesses to begin reopening, UCCS will continue to operate in a remote status until further notice. This is an extension from previous communications, which indicated that we would return to campus after May 15.
• Campus access. While Colorado has moved to a Safer at Home Order, campus access will remain limited to those who previously had access during the Stay at Home Order.
• Phased return to campus. When we do begin to bring faculty and staff back to campus, it will be done in phases. Supervisors will work with their employees on when and how that will occur.
• Return to campus task force. I have assembled a task force to evaluate how and when we will reopen, and those members have been identified based on their position on campus and their experience in this stage of recovery efforts. The focus is to identify the timeline for return, which areas will return first, and how to bring employees back to campus in compliance with any local, state or national public health guidance.
• Option to remain at home. Even if your department or office has been cleared to return to campus, some may still want to work from home to limit any potential exposure to yourself or a loved one. Campus will issue new instructions for employees with concerns about returning to campus. High risk individuals will be given due consideration as specified in public health guidelines.
• Student employment in the summer. As we transition to the summer semester, student employment will shift to only work performed, not for hours that they would have been scheduled. Students whose positions will not continue will receive instructions from the Office of Financial Aid, Student Employment and Scholarships.

Our goal is to bring students, faculty and staff back to campus for the fall 2020 semester, but only if it is safe to do so. We will continue to monitor conditions and make adjustments as needed.

I know that this a challenging time for us, and I’m proud of the way faculty and staff were able to adapt so quickly to maintain the core educational mission this semester. We will continue to adapt as needed as more information becomes available and know that we are mapping out multiple ways that can bring people back to campus as quickly and safely as possible.

Thank you for your tremendous work.

Chuck Litchfield, CAPT, USN(ret)
Vice Chancellor
Administration and Finance