Dear colleagues,

As we continue to navigate COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus), I wanted to take a moment to reach out.

Please know your health, well-being, and safety, and that of your family members, loved ones, and the university community at-large, remains our top priority.

Daily responsibilities that can be completed remotely should be. Employees that decide to and are able to work remotely will receive full university support. Employees should connect with their direct supervisor immediately to discuss their individual working environment and supervisors should continue to be supportive of these requests.

If it is determined that your role and responsibilities require you to be on campus, please know that your health and safety is our top concern. Employees are empowered to make decisions around their working environment that are best for their own health and personal needs. Daily communication with direct supervisors will continue to be key in talking through these decisions.

Efforts to reduce the on-campus population of students and employees support the overall public health goal of limiting the potential spread of the virus. The reduced on-campus population reduces the public health risk for the entire community — including those working on campus and working remotely.

As we scale our operations to meet the needs of a campus community in transition, flexibility will remain central to all our efforts.

For example, employees and supervisors will need to be flexible in the instance that an employee’s schedule is adjusted based on evolving campus or personal needs. Flexibility will also be vital as we shift to remote working environments and gain comfort with virtual tools and systems.

I want to thank you in advance for your patience as we make ongoing operating decisions that best serve the needs of the campus community.

I encourage you to refer to the most recent communication from Vice President for Human Resources Bryan Garey that was sent yesterday. In it you will find information around:

  • Utilizing employee leave;
  • Exploring alternative work options;
  • Tips for staying healthy; and
  • Accessing Hokie Wellness resources.

Please also continue to visit the university’s COVID-19 site for the latest university updates and employee FAQs.

Thank you for your continued perseverance in the face of uncertainty and for your steadfast commitment to Virginia Tech.

Ut Prosim,

Dwayne Pinkney,
Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer

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