Dear colleagues:
We continue to update our COVID-19 preparedness efforts as new developments take shape. Leadership met this morning to enhance the University’s travel guidelines for employees and students. This is important as we head into spring break. Please read carefully and make note of the following guidelines for employee work and personal travel in the near term.
Concordia University asks everyone in our organization – administrators, faculty, and staff – to do the following:
- Cancel work travel planned for any country with a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice. Any other work-related international travel must be approved by your supervisor and is likely not to be approved between now and April 30, 2020.
- Reconsider personal international travel between now and April 30, 2020. Any international travel, including cruise travel, must be reported to HR. If you travel to a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice country or take a cruise, you will be asked to complete a 14-day self-quarantine upon your return.
- Curtail domestic work travel, particularly air travel scheduled now thru April 30, 2020. Work with your supervisor to determine how travel-related business goals can be achieved using Zoom or other telework tools. Employees will not be required to travel if they have a concern for their own health and well-being.
- At any time, should employees be exposed, or suspect they may have been exposed, to COVID-19, they will complete a 14-day self-quarantine. Faculty and staff who are able to perform their job functions from home would do so during voluntary self-quarantine. For those unable to perform their job functions from home, the university’s sick leave policy may be extended to cover self-quarantine days. HR will provide necessary guidance.
We recognize that COVID-19 preparedness efforts may be disrupting your regular work. This is an unprecedented situation. We will continue to keep you apprised as details and strategies develop. Additional guidelines for student activities and athletic travel are also being communicated to those staff and faculty leaders. We will be distributing an ALL STUDENT email as well that will outline guidelines and precautions for students who may be planning personal travel over spring break.
Continue to practice good habits for hygiene and wellness. If you are sick, do not come to work. Take precautions to keep your workspace clean. Think with care about the impact you and your decisions could have on the health and well-being of others, and particularly those most vulnerable to this virus.
Check your Concordia email regularly (including over spring break) for important updates and advisories. We will use email to send out any changes to normal operations.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to your supervisor or Human Resources with any questions about these efforts. Thank you for your partnership in this effort. I invite you to join me in prayer for the continued good health of all in our Concordia community.
University self-quarantine policy
The University follows CDC guidelines for self-quarantine:
- Stay home for 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread, ongoing community spread (as determined by the CDC or State Department Level 3 Travel Health Alerts or as directed by the University) and practice social distancing.
- Take these steps to monitor your health and practice social distancing:
- Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever. Also watch for cough or trouble breathing.
- Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work, school or church for this 14-day period. Discuss your work/school situation with your employer/school before returning to work.
- Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares during the time you are practicing social distancing.
- Avoid crowded places (such as shopping centers and movie theaters) and limit your activities in public.
- Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).
In Christ’s Service and Yours,
Allen J. Prochnow
Executive Vice President