Phased Limited Return to Campus

Hello Staff and Administrators:

Over the last several weeks, we have received information about the fall return to campus.   I understand that many of you feel that the University has not been communicating enough with staff and administrators about the campus plans.  Given the rapidly changing guidance of federal, state, and local agencies involving the pandemic, we have been reluctant to send out information that we know would be changing by the day and/or hour.  With that being said, we want to communicate timely, effectively, and thoroughly, as we prepare for the transition of our students and employees returning to campus life.  In addition, we will re-start the monthly staff forums, much as we did last fall.

While we prepare for our students, faculty, and staff to return to campus, we are doing so two-fold:  a) with health and safety as a continued priority to keep our students and employees safe and b) with an understanding that COVID-19 has impacted the lives of our community in many different ways and this transition semester is necessary.  Thus, we want to provide you with the latest information on the following:

  • Phased Return to Campus Work:  Under a phased approach, administrators are preparing for a campus return for their staff and for themselves.  In doing so, they will be required to undergo a 3-Step process which includes a) completing required training, b) preparing the workspace by assessing the work area, and c) communicating with their employees in a timely manner.  All steps are required for preparation for summer and fall return to campus.  Employees may be contacted by their appropriate administrators as they work through their departmental plans.
  • Training:  For all employees returning to campus, they are required to complete the Mandatory COVID-19 Training: “SF State: Working Safely During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Administrators will also be required to complete an additional training: “Managing through COVID-19.   The required training will be accessible through CSU Learn. Appropriate administrators will be able to review the completed training for their staff via CSU  Learn.  Contact sfehs@sfsu.edu for questions or technical support.
  • On-Site and Hybrid Work:  As President Mahoney mentioned in her letter dated April 5thFrom the President: Preparing for a Safe Return to Campusstaff, and administrators are expected to be on-site 2-3 days/per week based on organizational need and to support our students and employees who will be working on-site.  In some cases, staff and administrators may need to be on-site daily, depending on departmental and campus needs. Please understand that this is not a “one size fits all” but a transition approach in the best interests of SF State. If there are reasons that employees are unable to return to work on the days expected due to medical reasons and may need accommodations, please contact Disability Programs & Resource Center(DPRC) for further information.
  • Telecommuting:  The University is currently working on an updated Telecommuting Policy and Agreement that will eventually go through the meet and confer process with our labor unions. However, as we did last March 2020, many staff and administrators completed temporary telecommuting agreements. Appropriate administrators must ensure that work arrangements are documented with a new temporary telecommuting agreement and work schedule.   The Work Plan document is also attached for reference.
  • Vaccination Requirement:  As Chancellor Castro announced, the CSU system will require students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before the start of the fall semester.  The CSU will be meeting with the labor unions over a Vaccination Policy. We will provide updated information on timing of vaccination requirements; how students, faculty, and staff will verify that they have been vaccinated; and the exemptions process once it becomes available.  While we wait to provide more information, we strongly encourage everyone who is able to get vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.  For employees who may be unable to get vaccinated for religious or medical reasons, SF State is reviewing information for mandatory testing requirements or protocols available on campus in the interests of keeping all employees safe.
  • Mental Health Support:  This past year has been hard on students, employees, and their families, and lingering concerns continue to affect many people and contribute to feelings of uncertainty. Everyone should pay attention to how they are impacted and work to actively care for their mental health in addition to physical health.  Employees have a number of resources available through the Employee Assistance Program, including emotional support and counseling. The MyLifeMatters service also has a special hub of COVID-19 resource topics including supporting at-home children, financial stress and stability, caring for older adults, working remotely, and more.
  • Transportation to Campus:  The University is working with SFMTA to provide Muni services to the Campus in the fall term. We are currently discussing alternative shuttle services in the event the M line is not operational for fall. More updates will be available later in the summer. BART continues to offer service throughout the entire BART system.
  • Parking: Parking remains available on campus in all lots, pursuant to established parking fees or semester passes.
  • Campus Services:  Beginning in the fall, University services, including most dining venues, the printshop, etc. will be open and available to students and employees.

Additional information will be posted on the main Campus Plan: A Phased Return website.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Regards,

Ingrid C. Williams, Ed.D. (she/her/hers)
Associate Vice President of Human Resources

Sent: 5/19/2021

Dear Colleagues,

As you are aware, the Fall 2020 semester will be conducted primarily via virtual modalities and only a very few classes have been approved to return to face-to-face instruction. Therefore, a limited number of employees will return to campus to ensure the continuity of essential services. Most employees will continue to work under a telecommuting arrangement, and we will provide accommodations in other instances where possible.  

Employees will have at least two weeks to report to campus after receiving notification from their immediate supervisor.  

SF State will continue to prioritize the health and safety of its faculty, staff, and students as we gradually move toward a phased repopulation of the campus with the fewest number of people necessary to perform in-person services. We will be working in close consultation with our unions to ensure a clear, comprehensive, and actionable plan informed by the latest guidance from the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the state Department of Public Health, and the CDC.

We anticipate this phased repopulation plan to be a living document. During this time, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has worked very closely with the Fall Planning Committee and the Budget and Logistics Committee to carefully develop a phased approach, allowing for a careful – and safe – return to on-campus business. Faculty, staff, and students will return to campus with workplace safety protocols in place.

Before returning to the SF State campus, the plan currently calls for all employees to do the following:

  • Complete the required training: “Working Safely During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The training will be assigned directly from CSU Learn. This mandatory training is required by Cal/OSHA regulations. Similar mandatory training for non-employee students coming to campus will be available through CSU-Bridge and iLearn. Since this training includes information about COVID-19 and measures that can help protect you at home as well as on the job, it is being assigned to all employees, even those who have not been approved to work on campus and are working from home exclusively. Training will be updated as circumstances change.
  • Complete a daily online health screening prior to coming to campus.

Upon arrival at the SF State campus, all employees, students, and visitors must do the following:

We look forward to your safe return to campus. Please view a copy of San Francisco State University's Draft Repopulation Plan. Should you have any questions or have reasons that you are unable to return to campus, please contact Human Resources at hrwww@sfsu.edu or (415) 338-1872.

Regards,

Ingrid C. Williams, Ed.D. (she/her/hers)
Associate Vice President of Human Resources

Sent: 8/7/2020