That depends on your circumstances. Some offices require specific equipment or technology that will require certain employees to work from campus. Those offices should practice social distancing and take all precautions to keep unauthorized personnel out of the workplace. Some employees will be eligible to work remotely and in consultation with supervisors will be given appropriate and available equipment to perform work remotely. University employees will have access to buildings but most doors will be locked to the public. If you do not have a key to enter the building, you may need to call UDPS or SWTJC PD for assistance. You may visit with your supervisor to determine if a building key can be issued to you. While working on campus, you should have your office door closed and locked with a sign indicating that the office is closed to visitors and contact numbers to reach office staff in that department. Again, the building will be closed to the public, but other employees working in the building may need to reach other departments for assistance.

Supervisors are strongly encouraged to show flexibility with work schedules including but not limited to flexible hours and when needed offer remote work from home and support for employees with children or elderly family members at home. Supervisors in collaboration with division heads are reviewing essential business operations that must continue during this unprecedented time. Some employees may work on campus with little to no physical public engagement to promote social distancing. Some employees will work remotely based on their job duties. Others will receive emergency leave due to the nature of their positions that do not allow work from home. The University’s goal is to follow CDC guidelines and limit large number of employees from returning to campus. Additionally, supervisors are asked to use video or teleconferencing to engage with employees as needed. To access the telecommuting forms go to: www.sulross.edu/section/315/human-resources

For the purposes of this situation, the State of Texas authorized all administrative heads of state agencies and institutions of higher education to grant leave to employees during an emergency. The Texas Governor recently declared the COVID-19 situation as a state of disaster which authorized state agencies to use reasonable means necessary to cope with this disaster. For the State of Texas resolution click the following link: https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-declares-state-of-disaster-in-texas-due-to-covid-19.

At Sul Ross this means that the President is authorized to allow emergency leave until further notice while we actively work to find solutions to continue our higher education mission. We will continue to monitor the actions by the state of Texas and provide new information as it becomes available. Our primary goal continues to be that our employees are paid on time and do not use personal leave at this time.

Yes, all requests for telecommuting must be approved by each department supervisor. And as of March 16, 2020, all employees whose jobs allow remote work are encouraged to seek approval from supervisors to telecommute.

There is a limited supply of laptops available. The OIT staff are evaluating the number and supervisors will determine who requires the equipment to conduct university business remotely. VPN access will be given to specific categories of employees based on supervisor recommendations. Requests for equipment should be submitted through LTAC.

Yes, employees who cannot perform job functions except while on campus like custodians, grounds keepers, etc. will continue to receive emergency leave but may be called in for limited work if needed and the employee is able. Once employees return to campus, they should ensure that all forms are completed and turned in to the Human Resources Office.

The University is actively promoting social distancing. If an employee is able to work remotely, we ask that you continue to do so and regularly check in with your supervisor. If your job does not allow for remote work, you will be given emergency leave until further notice. The University expects employees to honorably self-monitor your ability to continue working. The circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic are concerning but business must continue for the University to remain current and not fall behind our work when we are able to return.

Yes, as long as supervisors approve the work, they may continue to provide their service to the university. It will be imperative for departments to find creative solutions for all areas of work that must still be processed during this time.

Checks will be mailed to your mailing address on your W-4 forms for the next payroll distribution on April 1, 2020. Direct deposits will continue to be made according to our regular schedule. If you are not enrolled for direct deposit, contact Human Resources at 432.837.8058 or humanresources@sulross.edu to enroll today. We will move to direct deposits as soon as we are able for all employees to prevent delays with pay checks and will have more instructions for employees soon.

At this point, the University will remain on emergency leave but the situation changes rapidly. The use of sick leave or other leave may become necessary in the future but at this time, we will continue to use emergency leave for employees who cannot work.

You should immediately contact your medical provider. Stay home and avoid contact with others. Please self-report to your supervisor and Health Services Center so that the University can take additional precautions to disinfect shared spaces and prevent additional spread.

The spread of the infection appears to occur rapidly and may go unnoticed. Please understand that we value your privacy but we also want to ensure that we are taking precautions for the health and safety of the community. We must all do our part to avoid spreading the infection including reporting our status when necessary.

Under Governor Abbott’s Executive Order, the mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers was lifted except for individuals traveling through certain airports.

Detailed information is available here: https://www.dps.texas.gov/covidtravel/.

All university employees may travel unrestricted without a requirement to self-quarantine unless you feel sick or display symptoms associated with COVID-19. If so, please contact your medical provider and your supervisor and remain in contact during quarantine. If you or anyone in close contact with you tests positive for the virus, please report that to your supervisor so that the university may take additional precautions to clean work areas.

Yes, you must leave. In extreme cases, you may be escorted off the property. Again, all employees need to understand that we are putting the collective good ahead of one individual to lessen the exposure of the virus.

All university offices should remain locked and only allow authorized personnel to enter but if someone enters without permission, you should ask the following questions before providing assistance and while practicing social distance. You should also have a sign on your door that tells visitors that the office is closed and has contact information for people who need assistance to get in touch with the office staff:

1. Have you travelled outside of the city in the past 7 days?
2. Did you travel into high risk areas or use public transportation (airline, bus, train, etc.?) in the past seven (7) days?
3. To your knowledge, have you or members of your household been in contact with someone who has COVID-19?

If the answer is yes to any of the questions, employees should maintain social distance, display professionalism and compassion and ask the person to leave the area but offer them the opportunity call or email their questions.

The University will keep outer entrance doors locked and will only allow access to authorized personnel into the buildings but in the event that someone unauthorized like a student or member of the public enters, please use the following guidelines. Employees are asked to use their best judgement in interacting with others they believe display symptoms or self-disclose that they travelled from a high risk area. While maintaining social distancing and displaying professionalism and compassion, ask the person the relevant questions as described above and/or ask the person to the leave the area and call/email instead for help. Supervisors must be ready to exercise judgement in support of employees in these cases.

Essential services are typically required under all circumstances. Given the uniqueness of this situation, it will be important for employees to monitor their official Sul Ross email as more communication comes out.

The local government officials will utilize local health experts and data that may be unavailable to the University. You should follow the guidelines provided by your local government and inform your supervisor.

Some departments have student workers working remotely similar to full-time employees to continue business operations. We are suspending normal university policies related to requirements for students to receive their pay checks. At this time, students will be paid emergency leave for at least the week of March 16-20, and that may be extended pending state guidelines. Supervisors will continue to assess students’ ability to perform remote work or to have limited students on campus and will provide recommendations for future payments. If students are not currently living on-campus, we encourage them to remain at their current off-campus living arrangement whether at home with family or otherwise, until further notice.