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June 2, 2020

This message was sent to University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno faculty and staff.

On May 26, 2020, ÁùºÏ±¦µä Governor Steve Sisolak announced that ÁùºÏ±¦µä is ready to move into Phase 2 of the State’s ÁùºÏ±¦µä United: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan which began Friday, May 29. As the Governor’s announcement states: In Phase 2, state offices may begin to resume some services to the public where necessary, although online services are still available and encouraged.

On May 28, 2020, President Marc Johnson announced the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno is moving into Phase 2 of recovery starting June 1, 2020. In this phase, the University has begun a gradual return to campus that prioritizes the health and safety of all members of our community. The plan to return was developed by faculty and staff across our University community with significant input from medical, health and safety professionals.

Please review the Phase 2 COVID-19 related policies and procedures Planning for the Return of the Pack: Phase 2.

There are two significant changes from Phase 1.

• Permission from the President to work on campus is no longer required
• The Daily Health Assessment must be read each day by the employee. Signatures by the employee and supervisor are no longer required nor is retention of forms.

I want to share other resources available to you.

Training

A variety of training courses have been developed which will guide an orderly and safe return to campus. The following employee training modules have been made available on WebCampus (Canvas).

• General COVID-19 Training for University Personnel. Required for all on-campus employees
• COVID-19 Training for Research Laboratories and Creative Activities. Required for anyone working in a research laboratory or studio
• Supervisor’s Training for COVID-19. Required for anyone supervising at least one employee
• Well-Being in the Time of COVID-19. Voluntary for all on-campus employees

COVID-19 training is now available in a version of Canvas to on-campus contractors, vendors and affiliates without a University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno NetID. Learn more about online COVID-19 training.

In addition to the above trainings, additional resources are listed below.

Resources for all employees

• Planning for the Return of the Pack: Phase 2 (Policies and procedures)
• . Some employees took their desktop computer from campus to work remotely. These computers must be reformatted and reimaged before connecting to the on-campus network.
• Procedures for Implementing the provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act 

Chair/supervisor resources

• Supervisor’s training for COVID-19 – Available on WebCampus (Canvas)
• Procedures for Implementing the provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act 

Academic support

Assistance and support for online delivery

The Office of the Provost is working to provide appropriate resources to assist you, and the Teaching & Learning Technologies (TLT) office is providing six one-week classes for faculty who wish to learn and incorporate best practices in online pedagogy. There is a $250 award for successful completion of the training. Course registration is available on this TLT webpage: Going online Fall 2020.

Many faculty have expertise, training, and experience in online delivery. A few faculty members have graciously offered to be a resource for faculty who are preparing for mixed delivery (on-line and in-person) to convert their class(es). If you have expertise in online delivery and are willing to mentor another faculty member who is converting their class to an online format, please let the Provost's Office know by emailing Alissa Mortensen by Wednesday, June 3. The list of volunteers and contact information will be posted to the Provost's website.

An academic faculty meeting June 8: Instruction in Fall 2020

A message from Provost Carman to academic faculty: Please join us for an Academic Faculty Meeting on Monday, June 8, from 3-4:30 p.m. for a discussion that will focus on meeting the challenges of employing alternate modes of instruction for the fall semester. The panel will include experts from the office of Teaching & Learning Technologies (TLT)and 365 Learning as well as Faculty Senate leadership. The goal is to give you an update on how we are planning and preparing for fall instruction and, importantly, to address questions that I am sure you will have. In order to help us better prepare for the meeting, I encourage you to submit your questions in advance to provostoffice@unr.edu. To join the meeting, which will take place as a webinar on Zoom, .

Employee information session

Employee information session (via Zoom) Wednesday, June 3 from 3:30-5 p.m.

In an effort to keep you informed about the latest developments regarding Phase 2 and beyond, the University will be holding a Planning for the Return of the Pack: Employee Information Session on Wednesday, June 3, from 3:30-5 p.m. To join the session, which will take place as a webinar on Zoom, please register online. You must register for the session. Once registered, participants will have a reserved spot. Although we have increased the number of participants who can join the meeting, we recommend you register early. The meeting will be recorded and available to view online.

Please continue to seek out the University’s latest coronavirus information and updates.

The above resources have been developed for your well-being and safety. In this time of challenge, remember to take care of yourselves, your friends and your families. The current situation calls for tolerance, compassion. patience and understanding by our University community. Thank you for your support of the University’s mission. If you need help or have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your supervisor or Human Resources.

Sincerely,

Tim McFarling
Associate Vice President for Human Resources