Response to COVID-19: Introducing remote working
From Kane Kilbey, UVic Emergency Operations Centre Director and Susan Lewis, Associate Vice-President Academic Planning
As published in the campus update on Friday, the provincial health officer (PHO) has recommended a measured and evidence-based approach to COVID-19, while encouraging universities to continue to take steps to remain open, and promoting robust strategies to prevent the spread of the virus.
We continue to follow that advice while promoting strategies to prevent the spread of the virus such as regular hand washing, self-monitoring and isolation, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of high touch objects and surfaces, suspension of non-essential travel, cancellation of events and gatherings of 50 or more people, and transition away from face-to-face instruction and evaluation for the remainder of the term.
On March 18, in order to further advance these goals and advice, the university will be publishing guidance to unit leaders to facilitate the introduction of a principled approach to working remotely. Like our transition away from face-to-face instruction and evaluation, the university recognizes that it would be inappropriate to offer a one-size-fits-all approach to advancing the PHO’s social distancing goals in the workplace. As a result, we are asking unit leaders and teams to apply a set of common principles and use their best judgement to introduce remote work, while continuing to deliver service to our students and our community, as we complete the remainder of the term.
Similar to our approach to face-to-face instruction and evaluation, all such remote working arrangements will be introduced as an interim measure and assessed on a regular basis. At this time, we expect such arrangements to be in place until April 10, by which time the university will have assessed if these measures are appropriate to continue, subject to any new advice from the PHO.
As noted above, information will be sent to unit leaders on Wednesday and additional resources and FAQs will be added to the COVID-19 website in the coming days.