Dear Colleagues
The University of Maine System and its Universities and Law School are looking ahead to plans for Fall 2021 and what that may mean for in-person and remote working.
While employees whose duties required an in-person presence – such as maintaining physical campus operations, conducting research and teaching in-person courses – have been working consistently on campus and will continue to do so, all employees who have been working partially or completely remotely may also be advised to return to campus in the future.
These are some additional details and updates:
If you have worked or are working on campus during the current academic year:
If you have worked primarily in-person this spring, please assume and expect that you will continue to be in-person, including for Fall 2021. If you are a University employee engaged in direct student interactions, support or instruction; research or public service best conducted on-site; or, have been teaching one or more courses which typically would have been held in person but which used a different modality during the current academic year; please assume and expect that you will be primarily in-person for Fall 2021. Please use this information and expectation to inform your decision-making and planning for the Fall 2021 semester.
If you have worked or are working primarily remotely during the current academic year:
If you have worked or are currently working primarily remotely, you may continue doing so for the time being unless otherwise directed by your supervisor or other appropriate University officials. In the coming weeks and months, as long as the public health situation improves, our Universities expect to begin planning for increasing numbers of employees to return to work on site to their primary working location(s). Exactly who, when and how is currently being discussed and reviewed by all University Presidents, the Dean of the Law School and the Chancellor. The University intends to communicate further before the end of May about the future return to campus.
Returning to campus for fall and the future:
The University of Maine System is in the process of examining the return to as much of a traditional fall semester as possible, including the return to campus of more personnel over the summer as needed to make that kind of a fall a reality. Please see the guidance above for the time being and, again, please watch for more information regarding employees returning to campus to be communicated by the end of May.
Employees at greater risk for COVID-19:
All of the above notwithstanding, employees at greater risk for COVID-19 should continue to work remotely. For more information about understanding if you are at greater risk, visit the CDC’s People Who Are at Higher Risk for Severe Illness (External Link) page. This pandemic continues to be a rapidly evolving situation. This information is subject to change. Employees should check the Health Advisory page routinely for updated information or changes in existing information. Working on campus continues to involve safety constraints. To provide for social distancing and other pandemic practices, the University may in certain cases continue to limit the personnel in certain offices, programs or facilities.
You can expect to hear more about the plans and details for fall return no later than the end of May.
Your HR Team
