To Our Faculty and Staff:
With COVID-19 case counts breaking records in our region, yesterday’s stay-at-home advisory from the city and county provides a real opportunity to slow this devastating surge.
Effective Monday, Nov. 30, we ask that everyone who can work from home effectively stay off campus through Thursday, Dec. 17 (the advisory’s end date).
Of course, some faculty and staff must be present to perform their duties. Aspects of research require in-person handling of equipment, samples and other items. While most classes are remote the week of Nov. 30, some faculty favor teaching from technology-enhanced classrooms. And our health, facilities, security and other staff need to be present to provide a broad range of university services.
Employees unsure about whether they are expected to report to campus starting Monday, Nov. 30, should confer with their supervisors, chairs or program directors no later than Tuesday, Nov. 24.
For individuals who will continue to work on campus, we will require weekly COVID-19 testing starting Monday, Nov. 30, through Thursday, Dec. 17. We will provide additional details about this process early next week, but provide preliminary information now in our FAQs.
As with masks, physical distancing and other prevention measures, we take these steps to help protect the health of the campus community. For some, contracting COVID-19 can be life-threatening or even fatal. For others, its consequences may not be fully known for years. We must do what we can to stop the pandemic’s spread.
Our Community Commitment emphasizes that we have a collective responsibility to one another. Throughout this semester, you have demonstrated remarkable dedication to its tenets. Thank you for all you have done to keep the campus safe as Case Western Reserve fulfills its mission of education and research.
We wish you all a wonderful holiday.
Scott Cowen
President
Ben Vinson III
Provost and Executive Vice President