Recently, President Abel Chávez, PhD, initiated an exploration into the possibility of implementing remote work on Fridays for employees during the duration of the summer months. This initiative aims to promote flexibility and enhance work-life balance among our faculty and staff members.
Over the next several weeks, the university will begin testing a new summer remote-work Fridays program. Most employees, except for those in Facilities Management and University Police, will work remotely on July 19, July 26, Aug. 2 and Aug. 9. Depending on the results of this summer’s test, the program could be extended to include all Fridays next summer.
The goal of the program is to preserve university equipment/facilities, provide efficiencies, allow scheduled time for facility and technology maintenance/upgrades, and provide more flexibility for employees.
In order to meet the needs of our students and the university during remote Fridays, employees are expected to maintain the following:
Availability and Responsiveness: Employees must maintain regular working hours and be accessible so that colleagues, supervisors, and students can reach them as needed. Please review the linked instructions for forwarding office phones to a cell phone or to Webex (please note: Webex forwarding will not be available until next week).
Communication: Clear and timely communication is essential. Employees should respond promptly to emails, messages, and calls from colleagues, supervisors, and students.
Attendance at Virtual Meetings: Employees must attend/participate in virtual meetings, such as departmental meetings, project meetings or student appointments.
Productivity and Deliverables: Employees are expected to meet deadlines for assigned tasks, projects, and deliverables.
Data Security and Confidentiality: Adherence to university policies regarding data security, confidentiality, and privacy is crucial.
Professionalism: Employees must maintain professionalism in all communications and interactions with students, colleagues and others.
During remote-work Fridays, most buildings/facilities will be closed including the cafeteria, the MARC, the UWAC and the library. Library services will be available virtually through the library website. The C-Store will have limited hours from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Summer hours will continue to be observed during this time.
Detailed questions about remote work should be directed to supervisors or division heads.