Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues,
I am writing regarding Puget Sound’s Work on Campus Plan, the COVID-19 Supervisory and Monitoring Structure, and spring semester planning.
Work on Campus Plan
The Work on Campus Plan has been renamed and updated. Previously called the Return to Work on Campus Plan, this plan addresses COVID-19 prevention, detection, and response. Puget Sound has implemented, adjusted, and added multiple measures to foster safe and healthy operations.
We encourage you to monitor your email and the website (pugetsound.edu/coronavirus) for ongoing COVID-19 guidance. As a reminder, all faculty and staff members are expected to be familiar with and comply with Work on Campus Plan safety protocols. It provides important information about staying safe at work in alignment with requirements and guidance from the governor’s office, local. It states public health officials, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Please review the updated Work on Campus Plan, particularly these new sections:
- Testing (page 4): On-campus faculty and staff COVID-19 testing was implemented and will continue throughout the academic year. It is important to familiarize yourself with the campus testing protocol.
- Vehicle Use (page 6): These procedures were established for university-owned Facilities Services vans and are managed by Facilities Services.
- Campus Visitor Guidelines and Procedures (page 6): See the complete Campus Visitor Guidelines and Procedures.
As a reminder, COVID-19 prevention training, is required for all faculty and staff (including student staff) members before or immediately upon returning to work on campus. We strongly encourage all faculty and staff members to take this short training required by L&I now, even if you have not yet returned to campus.
COVID-19 Supervisory and Monitoring Structure
In July, we introduced faculty and staff to a new COVID-19 Supervisory and Monitoring Structure located here. This structure identifies key roles for conducting oversight and coordination of COVID-19 protocols. Department heads/chairs and program directors serve as COVID-19 Leads for their areas of responsibility unless otherwise determined by the provost/area vice presidents. The structure also includes important roles for COVID-19 Coordinators and each faculty and staff member.
Today department heads/chairs and program directors will receive additional COVID-19 Supervisory and Monitoring Structure guidance from Bryan Necessary, director of Environmental Health and Safety. It is vital for all faculty and staff members to support department, program, and university COVID-19 prevention protocols and measures.
Spring Semester Planning
As shared earlier by President Crawford, we will be prepared to resume in-person instruction and operations for the spring semester if conditions allow for it. Courses will be offered in several different instructional modes, including in-person, remote, and hybrid (a combination of in-person and remote instruction). Comprehensive planning is being finalized to protect campus community health while expanding campus operations.
On behalf of the COVID-19 Management Group, thank you for supporting our campus community's health, safety, and well-being. Please join tomorrow’s 1 p.m. town hall meeting for faculty and staff members. It is an opportunity to learn more about spring operating and health protection plans.
Sincerely,
John
John Hickey l Executive Director of Community Engagement and Associate Vice President for Business Services