Dear colleagues,

I hope that the break between semesters provided you the opportunity to rest and recharge. We have challenges ahead of us as we continue to face significant public health impacts of the pandemic and as we process the insurrection that occurred at our nation’s Capitol last week with the potential for future violence leading into the inauguration next week.

Our University community can play an important role in our understanding of both, as we saw in the fall semester with COVID-related projects such as the Pandemic Journaling Project and our research-based wastewater and pooled sampling approaches. We are just beginning to unpack the attack in the Capitol and I encourage you to participate in upcoming events to discuss what happened (see below for event details) and to be prepared for how you will participate in our academic community surrounding these events. Just as we have recently undertaken direct efforts to develop more robust educational efforts in the areas of anti-racism and climate change, so too do we seek to intervene in meaningful, constructive ways in these additional challenges.

As one note of good news, I am pleased to share that the average Student Evaluation of Teaching score for instructors in the past semester was 4.3 compared to 4.2 for the fall one year ago. This is a true indication of the hard work all of you have put in this past semester.

With the spring semester starting in just a few more days, I wanted to reach out with some additional reminders. We have also recently updated our FAQs with more information on the spring semester. Please click here to view our FAQs.

Course modality – first two weeks

• All courses must be delivered remotely during the first two weeks of the spring semester (Jan. 19-31). This is to allow the residential student quarantine to occur simultaneously with the start of classes, as well as to complete baseline testing for off-campus students who will have in-person components to their schedules.*Please note that this item does not apply to UConn Law and Health programs for which there are different academic calendars and approaches to course modality.

Student move-in

• Residence halls are again limited to about 50% capacity, as they were in the fall. Students in residential assignments must test for COVID-19 before arrival, and will be tested again upon arrival to campus. Move-in will take place on Jan. 16 and 17. More information is available at https://reopen.uconn.edu/living-on-campus/.

UConn Promise

• All students, faculty, and staff are expected to continue to uphold the UConn Promise, which includes wearing a mask in public, maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others wherever possible, and regular hand washing. More details are available at https://reopen.uconn.edu/uconn-promise/.

Final assessments and final exam opt-out

• Modality: With the last two weeks of the semester occurring fully remotely, all final assessments must be delivered remotely, regardless of the modality assigned to a course. Finals are scheduled for May 3 to 8. Instructors have the option to opt-out of a final exam and structure their final assessment in the form of final papers, final individual/group projects or presentations, portfolio reviews, or other forms of cumulative assessment. If you plan to opt out of a final exam, please make sure to notify the registrar by using the form at https://registrar.uconn.edu/final-exam-opt-out/.
• Reading Days: These are scheduled for April 29 through May 2 in the spring semester. On Reading Days, instructors may not hold regularly scheduled or make-up classes, nor have assignments due or exams scheduled for these days. Fully optional activities including office hours, study sessions, and/or other accommodations may be scheduled during these days.*Finals and Reading Day dates vary for UConn Law and Health programs.

Quarantine accommodations

• If a student has been placed in medical quarantine, their instructors will receive an email from the Dean of Students office seeking assistance for the student to continue their studies for in-person courses remotely. Faculty and other instructors were incredibly supportive of students in quarantine last semester and we appreciate your efforts to ensure that students are able to keep up while in quarantine this semester. The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning has created a set of FAQs to support instructors working with quarantined students in their class: https://ecampus.uconn.edu/dean-letter-faq/.

Syllabi reminders

• Posting and sharing: Instructors are encouraged to share their syllabi with their students as soon as possible by posting them on HuskyCT and/or directly emailing them to students through HuskyCT. Instructors may also reference the syllabi resources from CETL at https://cetl.uconn.edu/syllabus-design/.
• Authentication requirement: UConn is required to verify the identity of students who participate in online courses and to establish that students who register in an online course are the same students who participate in and complete the course activities and assessments and receive academic credit. Syllabi should include information for students on the methods instructors will use in courses for authentication. Please see this resource guide for more detail: https://kb.ecampus.uconn.edu/2020/12/02/authentication-of-students/.
  • Please see updated guidance sent by the Provost’s Office on Jan. 15, 2021: https://provost.uconn.edu/2021/01/15/updated-guidelines-authentication-of-students/.
• Assessment/exam proctoring: Instructors using Lockdown Browser with Respondus monitor are advised to indicate this in your syllabus. This will allow students an opportunity to test the technology and identify any potential complications that may arise during the exam, e.g. technology, accommodations, or objections to accepting the Lockdown Browser’s terms of use agreement. More detail on this at https://provost.uconn.edu/2021/01/05/syllabus-resources-for-spring-2021/.
• Pronouns: Instructors are encouraged to include their pronouns in syllabi and can also add them to their WebEx profile. ITS has provided guidance on updating your WebEx profile and display name, available at https://confluence.uconn.edu/ikb/communication-and-collaboration/webex-video-conferencing/using-your-webex-account/customizing-your-webex-profile.

COVID testing, reporting and vaccination

• Testing
  • Faculty and staff: Employee baseline testing for spring 2021 is taking place from Jan. 4 through Jan. 22. Human Resources has shared testing dates, times, and locations with employees on the On-Campus Registry. Information about testing is available on the HR website: https://hr.uconn.edu/employee-covid-testing/.

• • Undergraduate and graduate students (including graduate student employees): Student Health and Wellness (SHaW) provides testing and medical information for students. Please visit https://studenthealth.uconn.edu/updates-events/coronavirus/.
• Reporting
  • Faculty and staff employees: Guidance for reports of positive COVID-19 diagnoses for employees and managers is provided through HR at https://hr.uconn.edu/covid-19-hr-faqs/.
    • Graduate student employees should follow the above guidance, as well.

• • Undergraduate and graduate students: Please refer to SHaW’s FAQs:  https://studenthealth.uconn.edu/updates-events/coronavirus/. Students who test through SHaW will have their results automatically updated with the University. Students who test outside of the University can upload their results to the SHaW Patient Portal.
• Vaccination
  • HR is coordinating vaccine administration for UConn employees. All employees are encouraged to participate in the Town Hall this Friday, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. More information on the Town Hall, as well as current details on vaccination timing, are at https://hr.uconn.edu/employee-covid-vaccine/.

• • Guidance is not yet available for student vaccination, although graduate assistants with on-campus duties will be included in upcoming phases.

Space reservation

• Students may reserve campus spaces at Storrs and the regional campuses for studying purposes. More information on accessing campus facilities and services is at https://reopen.uconn.edu/campus-services/.

Technology support

• Students: Please visit the Keep Learning website for resources, https://onlinestudent.uconn.edu/keeplearning/.
• Faculty and staff: Please visit the Remote Work website for resources, https://remotework.uconn.edu/.

GA duties assignment

• GAs should have a list of duties, signed by GAs themselves as well as the employer, along with their offer/contract before they start their duties.

Political discussions

• With the insurrection at the Capitol last week and the approach of Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, we start the semester in the thick of politically heated topics that are challenging for many of our community including our students. We encourage our instructors to engage on these topics in their classes to the degree they are comfortable doing so.
• Relatedly, the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, Human Resources, and the Provost’s Office are partnering to host a community conversation on the siege at the U.S. Capitol. We will host a session Thursday, Jan. 14 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and Friday, Jan. 22 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Please visit https://diversity.uconn.edu/response-to-current-events/ for more details. Employees need not charge personal time to attend the event. These are among many events being hosted across UConn, including an upcoming panel hosted by our academic deans. Details for these community conversations and others as they develop can be found at https://diversity.uconn.edu/response-to-current-events/.

I am grateful to be in this work with each of you as we strive to provide a supportive and challenging environment that prepares our students to be engaged and productive citizens. Thank you for all you do.

Sincerely,
Carl

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

 While the fall semester is still eight months away, we must begin our initial planning for instruction now. There are many decisions and developments that will occur between now and August. Thus, our planning should provide a flexible starting point that will allow us to adapt as conditions change with safety as the primary driver of our decisions.

The first important step in our fall semester planning is the initiation of class schedule proofs ahead of the start of registration in the coming weeks. For now, the starting point for fall 2021 proofs is based on the teaching schedule from fall 2019. This approach allows us to consider the possibility of a more fully in-person experience in fall 2021, and allows for maximum flexibility to reduce density based on emerging public health data over the coming months. We strongly considered all options as a starting point in close collaboration with our Academic Planning Group, but the reality is that the logistics of moving from largely virtual to something more in person is simply less feasible than starting largely in person and shifting to virtual as appropriate.

We have shown a commitment to prioritizing safety throughout the past year and that same commitment will be in place as we determine any reduction in density and specifically in-person learning and working for the fall. Moreover, decisions about density will depend on numerous factors that include state guidelines; availability of vaccinations; and the findings from a working group I will be charging soon on the Future of Learning at UConn that will set a path for what learning can and should look like for our students in a post-pandemic environment.

We are seeing signs of progress with the first phase of vaccinations underway and are taking every step available to provide vaccination for those who will be in person in the fall. However, if you are not offered the full course of a vaccine in time for it to provide maximal protection by the start of the fall, you will be given the opportunity to conduct your classes and other work duties virtually ¹. We will also be mindful of infection rates, with a reduction of in-person presence tied to those rates. Additionally, we will consider health and other relevant exceptions that would necessitate someone continuing to teach and work remotely, such as the presence of an immunocompromised member of your household. Finally, in instances where a course delivered online better meets unit needs amid a more in-person semester, we will continue to support autonomy for department heads, instructors and deans to make those decisions that are in the best interests of the University and our continued commitment to our proud educational mission at UConn.

Following this message, the registrar will be in touch with more detailed instructions for departments to begin the process of preparing proofs. I will continue to work closely with deans for each school and college and the Senate Executive Committee and UConn AAUP to review this approach as we move forward in planning for the fall semester. Human Resources is also a key partner in our preparations as they lead employee vaccination coordination. I encourage you to engage in their Town Hall this Friday, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. More information is at https://hr.uconn.edu/employee-covid-vaccine/.

It is our hope that this approach for fall 2021, combined with the values we have led with to protect safety this year, will provide the confidence our community needs to begin planning now.

Please reach out to me directly at carl.lejuez@uconn.edu and consider attending my office hours (https://provost.uconn.edu/) if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Carl

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

 

¹ At this time we are not able to require employees to be vaccinated and thus we are focused on whether a vaccine is offered as the key decider in someone not being asked to teach/work in person. At this time, those choosing not to be vaccinated will not be prohibited from working in person. All individuals, vaccinated or not, are required to continue to wear a mask and observe all other state guidelines until further notice.

Dear Colleagues,

In the fall semester, Dean Langley and I convened a committee to assess the future of journal subscriptions at UConn. As journal costs continue to rise, library budgets at institutions of higher education often remain flat or shrink. This has put pressure on libraries to make increasingly difficult choices to limit and /or eliminate staffing, programming, and support services to maintain journal subscriptions.

Without swift intervention, this will begin to have even greater detrimental effects on library services. UConn is among institutions considering how best to adapt our model of journal content access in ways that have less impact to the Library’s overall budget and acknowledge the paramount importance of journal access in the University’s mission of fostering excellence in research and instruction at all levels.

Based on our discussions as a committee, we are rolling out a pilot to test an alternate model of delivery that would be phased in over several years where journal subscriptions would not be renewed, and instead we would be able to provide articles on an a la carte basis at the same speed and convenience currently available. The change occurs primarily behind the scenes in how the Library pays for and delivers journal materials. Any decisions about journal subscriptions will in no way negatively impact other resources/services you have come to rely on including access to databases and other search tools to help you find the articles and other materials needed for your work.

Moreover, the approach is aimed at providing the same journal support at a cost that is viable long-term, which will allow us to address impending budgetary shortfalls in the Library and to re-invest any additional savings back into the Library to reverse damaging reductions in staffing and services over the past several years.

As we explore the necessary systems to support a potential widespread shift to an article-on-demand system, we will pilot the approach over the next six months with a small number of select journals (about 1% of current subscription and database titles held by the end of FY 2020-2021). During this interim period, the Library will share updates and progress on their website to keep our communities apprised. Work will continue over the spring and summer for an integrated approach to be piloted more broadly throughout the fall 2021 semester.

If this approach is not deemed acceptable, the committee will go back and work through other options. Regardless of the approach we decide upon, a commitment to the quality of journal service to the academic community will be foremost in our decisions.

The Library has created an FAQ about this project, which is available at this link: lib.uconn.edu/research/collections/future-of-journals/.

Support of the mission of the Library to provide access to and stewardship of the world of information is of utmost importance. I know many of you understand the truly difficult situation the scholarly communications crisis has brought to universities across the U.S. Institutions are seeking ways to take aim at the pricing and publishing models that have led to this juncture, and we are carefully tracking the successes of other institutions as we seek solutions tailored best for UConn’s diverse users and needs.

Our success will provide an opportunity to manage our Library budget without the burden of being dominated by the unsustainable increasing costs of journal subscriptions. Instead, the Library will be positioned to be nimble in support of the critical endeavors of the Library and of the University as a whole. In close collaboration with the members of the Future of Journals Subscription Committee, Dean Langley and I will monitor and assess the transition throughout the pilot project. We encourage you to reach out to any of us with feedback and/or questions. You can also email the Library at journalsfeedback@uconn.edu.

Sincerely,
Carl

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

On Monday, January 18, the University will observe the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to reflect on the meaning of Dr. King’s work and sacrifice. In recent years, the University has requested student services and academic departmental offices remain open on the holiday to meet the needs of new and returning students as they prepare for the spring semester on campus. Starting this year, the University is encouraging all departments and offices that can close in observance of the holiday to do so. We recognize that certain critical university operations and departments serving our residential students such as dining, facility operations, and residential life remain open to meet student and campus needs. However, it is our intention that, wherever practical, University operations will be closed to observe the holiday. More information on holiday observances is available on the HR website. Questions regarding scheduling or time issues should be referred to Labor Relations at laborrelations@uconn.edu.

Further details about commemoration of the holiday at UConn will be shared in the coming days.

Sincerely,

Scott Jordan
Executive Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

After a very long year, we have finally made it to 2021. The last several months were particularly taxing with so many in our community giving their all to support our academic mission. The spring semester will still have its challenges, but there are many ways in which your hard work in the fall has provided a foundation and template to build upon for the spring. I cannot thank you enough for all you have been doing.

In advance of the spring semester starting in two weeks, our office wanted to share with you a few key reminders and resources for your syllabi for the spring 2021 semester.

One of the most valuable resources at your disposal is the syllabus guidance created by CETL, available on their website. A helpful starting point is their syllabus template, which you may review by clicking here. All instructors are welcome to use any of the language in this template to make the process of building your syllabi easier. Additional instructional resources can be found on UConn’s Keep Teaching website.

In particular, I want to draw your attention to a few areas that are new or modified in the context of COVID-19:

Authentication

• UConn is required to verify the identity of students who participate in online courses and to establish that students who register in an online course are the same students who participate in and complete the course activities and assessments and receive academic credit. Your syllabus should include information for students on the methods you will use in your course for authentication. Please see this resource guide for more detail: https://kb.ecampus.uconn.edu/2020/12/02/authentication-of-students/

Assessment/exam proctoring

• In many cases this semester, you will be administering exams and assessments remotely. The use of Lockdown Browser with Respondus monitor during online examinations may be a useful way to help promote academic integrity. If you plan to use Lockdown Browser with Respondus monitor, we recommend that you indicate this in your syllabus. This will allow students an opportunity to test the technology and identify any potential complications that may arise during the exam, e.g. technology, accommodations, or objections to accepting the Lockdown Browser’s terms of use agreement. Please work with your students who identify such complications during the practice or actual exam. Further guidance is available at https://ecampus.uconn.edu/keep-teaching-assessment/.

Reading Days

• Reading Days are scheduled for April 29 through May 2 in the spring semester*. On Reading Days, you may not hold regularly scheduled or make-up classes, and you also may not have assignments due or exams scheduled for these days. Please be mindful of these restrictions on Reading Days when constructing your syllabus. Fully optional activities including office hours, study sessions, and/or other accommodations may be scheduled during these days.
  *Reading Day dates vary for UConn Law and Health programs.

Inclement weather

• In the event that the University cancels classes because of inclement weather, this applies to all courses (remote, hybrid, in-person). For asynchronous courses, this may mean that you adjust deadlines by a day or two. Even in the event that the University does not cancel classes amid inclement weather, some of your students may report difficulty with technology or Internet accessibility. Consider including a note about how to contact you in such events, as well as a link to the University’s inclement weather policy, https://policy.uconn.edu/2011/10/27/emergency-closing-policy-2010-2011/.

Finally, we encourage you to share your syllabi with students early this semester – ideally a week before the first day of class. In addition to posting syllabi in HuskyCT for course-enrolled students to view on the first day of classes, faculty are encouraged to send a copy by email to all enrolled students or alternatively upload their syllabus link here (https://ecampus.uconn.edu/syllabuslink/) to provide access to all students so they can better prepare  for the semester, as well as make decisions earlier if they determine they would like to drop any classes.

Thank you for all you do to prepare rigorous and engaging course material for your students. Your efforts are noticed and appreciated.

Sincerely,
Carl

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Winter Weather FAQs from Human Resources and the Office of the Provost for Storrs & Regional Personnel

Please review the Emergency Closing Policy carefully for details about how decisions are made related to winter weather, expectations of employees, and other information.

1. I’m working from home due to COVID-19, and I received a notification that the University is curtailing on-campus operations due to a snowstorm. Do I continue to work from home?

Yes. Due to this year’s extraordinary circumstances, many UConn employees are working from home. As such, winter weather does not prevent employees from performing their job functions from home. HR encourages managers to be accommodating with employees who are able to perform their duties through a flexible schedule during winter weather days, due to childcare or snow removal needs.

2. My child’s school has closed for winter weather; do I need to use accrued time if I’m unable to continue working from home?

HR encourages managers to be accommodating with employees who are able to perform their duties through a flexible schedule during winter weather days. Employees using a flexible schedule with manager permission are not required to use accrued time. If a flexible schedule isn’t possible and an employee is unable to perform their regular duties while their children are home due to winter weather, the employee must take accrued time (e.g., personal, vacation, holiday) with approval from their manager.

3. I have lost power and internet access due to a winter storm – what do I do?

Employees who lose power or internet access due to a winter storm should notify their manager as soon as possible and discuss what work can be accomplished at home without power. Employees should keep track of the outage and arrange a flexible schedule once power/internet has been restored to make up the lost time. If an outage is severe and widespread, Human Resources may issue alternate guidance to the entire UConn workforce.

4. If classes are canceled because of inclement weather, does that affect online classes?

Inclement weather class cancellations apply to all classes — including those online.

5. How will inclement weather cancellations and closures affect exams, including finals, that are being conducted entirely online?

The University will make every effort to continue finals as scheduled to cause minimal disruption. In a typical semester, finals could be canceled because travel to campuses may be restricted because of severe weather. In this semester, where all final exams, projects, presentations, and papers are administered remotely, considerations are based more on internet access. If, for example, severe weather leads to widespread power outages, the University may need to cancel classes and reschedule final assessments to a later date. The Office of the Registrar in conjunction with the Office of the Provost will determine the makeup finals schedule in these instances. If the University cancels classes on a day when a course was scheduled to take an exam (non-final), the exam will need to be rescheduled.

6. What if the University hasn’t canceled classes, but I’m unable to connect online?

Instructors: In exceptional circumstances when a faculty member determines that they are unable to conduct a class session or deliver their final exam because of impacts caused by severe weather, the faculty member must notify his or her dean and department head to identify a solution to allow the class or exam to move forward as scheduled or to identify an alternative solution. Students: Students should contact their professors as soon as possible if they must miss a class or other activity due to weather conditions. Faculty should provide options for them to make up missed work.

7. If a student is unable complete a final assessment as scheduled due to weather issues, can they reschedule the final?

Storrs & Avery Point students who are impacted by weather and/or power outages who are unable to take an exam as scheduled should contact dos@uconn.edu to request to reschedule the exam. Regional campus students (Hartford, Stamford & Waterbury) should contact the Regional Campus Student Services staff at their home campus to request to reschedule the exam. The email request should include the following: Subject line:       Request to reschedule final exam Student Name: Student ID#: Course Name & Number: Exam Time: Please provide the reason for concern (i.e., power outage, Wi-Fi outage, etc.).

 

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to share an update regarding the extension of the Pass/Fail deadline for undergraduate students for the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters.

The deadline to designate a course as Pass/Fail for the fall 2020 semester is now 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2020. The deadline to designate a course as Pass/Fail for the spring 2021 semester is now 11:59 p.m. on May 14, 2021. These extended deadlines were approved by the University Senate on Monday, Dec. 7. As a reminder, this is available only to undergraduate students.

Submitting a Pass/Fail Request:

• Major advisor and/or program director approval is required for all Pass/Fail requests.
  • Please review this FAQ for more detailed information on Pass/Fail eligibility and process for the 2020-21 academic year: https://advising.uconn.edu/pass-fail-policy-faqs/.
• More information on submitting a Pass/Fail request, as well as a link to the Pass/Fail form, can be found here: https://registrar.uconn.edu/fall-2020-pass-fail/.
• Undergraduate students may submit Pass/Fail requests (via the form) through Monday, Dec. 28, at 11:59 p.m.
  • This extension allows for undergraduate students to review their final grades once they have been submitted.
  • Semester grades are due to the Registrar by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23.
  • Undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to submit Pass/Fail requests as soon as possible after grades are received, so that approvals may be processed in a timely manner.

I want to thank the members of the Senate Scholastic Standards Committee and the Undergraduate Student Government for their extensive work to review and formulate this proposal, as well as other changes pertaining to academic standards. Further, I am also appreciative of our advising and student services offices and staff who have been incredibly flexible and creative in assessing and suggesting changes aimed at accommodating differing student needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sincerely,
Carl

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

As we approach the start of finals, I am reaching out with a reminder on Reading Days for the fall 2020 semester.

Reading Days are scheduled from Tuesday, Dec. 8 through Sunday, Dec. 13, as well as on Thursday, Dec. 17. In line with Senate By-Laws, instructors may not hold classes, or assign assessments or other course work (mandatory or optional) on these days. Instructors may offer office hours and optional study sessions during this time. Further, if a student requests an accommodation for an exam to be rescheduled during Reading Days, this can be allowed at the instructor’s discretion.

The extended number of Reading Days is one of several adjustments the University has made in partnership with University Senate in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. More detail on this year’s academic calendar is available at https://registrar.uconn.edu/academic-calendar/. Additional detail on Senate decisions and amendments can be found at https://senate.uconn.edu/.

***Please note, the above does not apply to the School of Law, School of Medicine, or School of Dental Medicine.***

Thank you,
Carl

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear UConn community,

I am sharing an update regarding withdrawals from classes. The University has extended the deadline for withdrawals through Friday, Dec. 11.

Undergraduate students who are interested in withdrawing from a class must seek the permission of an advisor to do so. Graduate students must seek the permission of their major advisor. This is a temporary extension to allow students maximum flexibility in managing the impact from COVID-19 to their academic record. Students who withdraw from a class at this point in the semester will have a “W” on their transcript for any such course. This is the same designation as would be applied any other semester when students drop classes after the second week of classes.

To begin the process, students must contact their advisor to discuss the impact of potentially withdrawing from a course. Students seeking to withdraw from more than one course, or students who have already dropped a course earlier this semester and wish to withdraw from additional courses, will need further approval from their school’s or college’s dean, or at regional campuses, the regional advising director/dean’s designee.

Students may access the withdrawal form through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, at https://registrar.uconn.edu/forms/.

The Provost’s Office, the Registrar’s Office, the University Senate, Senate Scholastic Standards, and Undergraduate Student Government are also continuing discussions on the Pass/Fail deadline for undergraduate students. We will share further updates as soon as we have finalized details.

Sincerely,
Carl

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

 

 

 

Dear colleagues,

We are reaching a couple of significant milestones in our fall semester: the end of in-person courses and Thanksgiving Break. You have been tremendous partners in adapting creatively and thoughtfully as we have had to update guidance throughout the semester pertaining to instruction and research, among many other areas. Thank you for all you have done to keep yourselves, your students, and your colleagues safe.

As we see COVID positivity rates increase in the state and around the country, we want to share a few reminders about precautions specific to research activities that will help us mitigate exposure risk and protect the health and safety of faculty, staff, students, patients, the public, and human research subjects.

• All activities that can be done remotely should be done remotely.
• Maintain adherence to public health measures, including social distancing, wearing masks, and frequent hand washing.
• The density in labs and shared spaces should be minimized.
• Anyone experiencing any symptoms should remain at home. It is not possible to tell the difference between a cold and COVID based on how you feel.
• If you are exposed to someone who is positive for COVID, you should follow current guidelines regarding quarantine and the need to follow up with a healthcare professional.
• Review guidance from the Office of the Provost and Office of Undergraduate Research related to undergraduate participation in research during and after the Thanksgiving recess. Please note for UConn Health, UConn students under quarantine should not continue to participate in research activities at UConn Health until their quarantine is lifted.
• There are no plans to ramp down research activities at this time; however, researchers are encouraged to review guidance from the Division of Environmental Health and Safety and the OVPR on safely ramping down research activities.

These precautions are grounded in the same principles that have informed our guidance since last spring, including:

• Directives and guidance from local, state, and federal authorities to minimize disease spread and exposure, such as restrictions related to essential businesses, social distancing, reduced density, stay-at-home orders, travel, and masks.
• All research colleagues on campus must be registered with the Office of Human Resources On Campus Registry with the exception of graduate assistants and student workers. Please refer to HR’s guidance about the Spring Registry issued on Nov. 16. During semester break and in the spring semester those research colleagues that are concerned about potential exposure may contact their manager or Principal Investigator who will notify HR that a test is requested.  Employees testing is encouraged.
• Principal Investigators (PIs) remain responsible for providing direction and oversight of their projects, labs, and/or research sites, and personnel including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and staff.

If someone in your lab or research program tests positive for COVID or has come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID, you should follow current University guidelines regarding reporting. If you have employee-related questions, please contact hr@uconn.edu or hr-employeeresource@uchc.edu, respectively.

If you have any questions regarding research activities, please visit the OVPR website or contact ovpr@uconn.edu.

Thank you,
Radenka and Carl

Radenka Maric
Vice President for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs