SUBJECT: Please read! Face Coverings and Accommodation Process

Dear Colleagues:

As faculty who will be teaching on campus in the fall semester, I want to emphasize the importance of following all the university’s policies and guidelines for promoting the health and safety of the campus community during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the university’s face coverings policy which requires everyone — including faculty teaching in classrooms and laboratories — to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth while on campus grounds, inside and outside. It is therefore an absolute requirement that all faculty teaching on campus make use of face coverings for the entire duration of their time on campus and in the classroom. Please understand that failure to comply with this fundamental safety requirement will have consequences.

If you believe you may not be able to comply with the face covering policy I ask that you contact the Human Resources Office or your department chair no later than August 14, 2020. in order to determine whether an accommodation needs to be made for your situation. We would hope to work through all accommodation requests by August 28, 2020.

Further, prior to coming to campus for the first time, and before August 14, 2020, all faculty must complete the online training COVID-19: Working Safely at U-M. Faculty must agree with all attestation statements at the end of the course to receive credit for the course.  You need to complete the training and certification only once.  We will follow up with department chairs for those faculty who have not completed the training by August 14, 2020, to ensure all faculty coming to campus are in compliance with this requirement.

As always, I want to thank you all for your hard work and dedication to our students in these volatile times.  The Office of Human Resources and the Provost’s Office will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

With best wishes and take care, 

Sue
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor