College Transitioning to Remote Work for Many Employees

As this email is being sent, we are not aware of any positive cases of COVID-19 in Grinnell or at Grinnell College. But we are aware that the ever-changing situation, and saturation news coverage nationally and internationally, may be causing anxiety and disruption. Our Grinnell College community has done an extraordinary job of both getting our students home and working on transition plans for continued operations and instructional continuity. We are so grateful for the energy and generosity of this community.

Given the level of concern expressed by some staff and faculty, and what may at times seem like confusing information coming from multiple sources, we have decided to ask most of our staff and faculty to work remotely beginning Wednesday March 18, 2020. Anyone supervising student workers still working on campus should communicate this information to them directly.

There are, however, a number of essential jobs that provide services we need to continue on campus including Information Technology Services (ITS), Dining, Facilities Management (FM), Student Affairs, Campus Safety, Mail Services, and Student Health and Wellness (SHAW). We may need volunteers to help with some of these services so please be on the look-out for emails from Rachel Bly asking for help. 

If your full-time or part-time position is such that you cannot do your work remotely, you will still be paid. Supervisors retain the ability to assign alternative work to you that could be completed remotely. No matter where you are working — on campus or remotely — practicing preventive measures such as handwashing, maintaining a six-foot physical distance, and covering your cough remain important ways you can help prevent transmission and infection of COVID-19.

If you are part of an area providing essential services, including those listed above, that need to continue on campus this week — and you have underlying health conditions or are at higher risk — please inform your supervisor and Human Resources. You should consult with your supervisor about the possibility of being assigned work that can be done remotely.

We will continue to communicate with you as the pandemic progresses and as we re-evaluate operations.

Thank you for all that you have done for Grinnell College and the community these past few weeks. We want you and your family and other loved ones to be safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Raynard S. Kington
President

Anne F. Harris
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College