Spring planning information for faculty and staff

This message was shared with Ohio University employees on Dec. 8, 2020.

Dear Ohio University Faculty and Staff:

As we near the end of the fall semester, I write to provide some details about what to expect as we move toward the spring. Since the start of the pandemic, we have taken great efforts to safeguard our community and sustain our academic and research mission. We will continue to use the best current data and best science available to achieve these goals.

Our current plans for Spring 2021 build on lessons learned from fall in terms of campus activity and work. With that in mind, here is how we will continue to work in the spring:

• Remote Work: In the spring, the majority of our employees will continue to work remotely if they are able to do so. There will be cases in which departments return portions of their workforce to campus or rotate personnel to reduce density. Supervisors, department chairs, and program directors will provide employees with specific dates and instructions, and when possible, notifying individuals at least two weeks in advance of a specific department’s return to on-campus work.
• Phased Return: The University will host its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration on Monday, January 18, 2021. Spring semester classes will begin on Tuesday, January 19 instead of Monday, January 11. Spring Break will be eliminated to discourage travel to and from campus, but students will be provided with three “mini-breaks” on Tuesday, Feb. 9, Wednesday, March 3, and Thursday, April 1 to allow for breaks. Classes will conclude by April 24, with most final exams held between Monday, April 26 and Friday, April 30.
• Continued COVID Prevention Efforts: This fall, the University implemented Presidential Health Directives and Policy 44.102 that established specific health requirements for University community members as necessary to mitigate current community health risks. Those policies will remain in place this spring, and it is essential for all University students, faculty and staff to follow protocols in order to maintain increased density on campus. We will continue our partnership with OhioHealth to provide expanded services for students and employees during the pandemic.

Thank you for your continued patience, flexibility, and dedication. It has been remarkable to see the many ways everyone has worked collectively to support the University’s mission and to provide our students with an exceptional experience during these unprecedented circumstances.

Sincerely,
Colleen Bendl 
Chief Human Resources Officer