March 15, 2020
Dear Student Affairs Team,
As you learned today from President Fenves’ email, the university will operate tomorrow with our staff focusing on three key areas:
- Providing continued support to our education and research missions in preparation for the March 30 transition to online learning;
- Maintaining critical mission services on campus such as public safety, utilities, core administrative functions, IT support for online learning, business operations and vital research functions; and
- Supporting students who are on campus, living in residence halls and relying on university services.
Collectively our Division offers a wide variety of resources, services and functions; our approach to Student Affairs operations that will begin tomorrow must carefully consider the needs of each audience. With many students currently residing in Austin, living in UT Austin-owned residences and returning from international travel, supporting them remains central to what we do. With that in mind, the Senior Team worked diligently through the weekend with their staff supervisors planning for how their respective departments will address the three key areas outlined above.
This evening, your department director or direct supervisor will share information regarding whether you need to work on campus, work remotely or some other arrangement. The large majority of our staff are able to work on campus or remotely. Additionally, our staffing plans must prioritize accommodations for staff who are at higher-risk of potentially becoming ill. You should know, discussions are underway to explore all the options available to preserve your compensation regardless of your established work arrangement.
During the next two weeks, staff should continue to be flexible and ready to pivot in case we modify our service levels. Staffing levels are based on this current set of service levels and are not comparable to snow day or winter break staffing levels.
Human Resources has a dedicated web page about teleworking, telemedicine and telecounseling through the Employee Assistance Program. I appreciate your patience and dedication to the university as we move into this uncharted territory.
Sincerely,
Soncia Reagins-Lilly
Your Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students