We are pleased that the arrival of new and continuing students heralds UVM’s return to fully in-person instruction, activities, and support services. This was the goal we described in our memo of June 29, and you all play an important role in achieving it.

As we welcome students back, we are aware that some employees are interested in remote work opportunities. Today, we are publishing the Interim Telework Policy and the Telework University Operating Procedure (UOP). Requests for telework will be reviewed using the criteria identified in the UOP. On the basis of the criteria, supervisors will forward their recommendation on each request to the relevant dean, vice president, or vice provost, who will make decisions regarding the frequency that individuals will be allowed to work remotely.

We expect the electronic telework request forms and agreement to be available in the middle of September. Please hold all formal requests for on-going telework until Human Resource Services notifies employees that the e-forms are ready for use. In the meantime, staff who wish to request an on-going telework schedule should begin conversations with their supervisors about what might be feasible, keeping in mind the business needs of the University. It’s important to note that supervisors may not request medical information from employees, nor should employees disclose medical information, as part of their telework requests. Employee medical information should only be shared as part of an ADA accommodations request.

Deans, vice presidents, and vice provosts may determine that previously established temporary telework schedules may remain in place beyond September 2 until the formal telework request e-forms are available, or they may decide that based on business needs it is necessary for employees to return to their traditional non-remote work sites. To appropriately welcome and support our students and colleagues, offices must be adequately staffed in person during established business hours as of September 2.

Working together, we know that we can use the telework lessons learned over the past 18 months, and at the same time meet the needs of our students and maintain our vibrant campus community. We look forward to seeing you on campus in the near future.