New guidelines and/or recommendations about telework, travel, gatherings, meetings, classes, and other events go into effect.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) have activated Step 2 of the UMB-UMMS Recommendations and Policies Regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for students, faculty, and staff.
Here are the details:
COVID-19 TELEWORK POLICY
At the outset, we emphasize that we will remain open during any period of episodic telework. The UMB President or UMMS President declare that the transition to UMB/UMMS episodic telework will start on Saturday, March 14, 2020. The regular restrictions on teleworking are waived during this episodic telework period.
During this period of episodic telework, the goal is to dramatically reduce the number of people on campus. When this announcement is made, all employees who are able to work remotely are immediately reassigned to telework.
For specific UMB or UMMS telework policies, please refer to your organization for additional information.
The evaluation of the need to implement telework will be continuous.
Read more about the telework policy.
NEW TRAVEL RULES AND ADVICE FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS
(1) We prohibit work-related out-of-state travel.*
(2) We strongly discourage personal travel outside of Maryland.
(3) Travel related to a regular commute is permitted.
(4) Travel of a guest to attend a campus event is prohibited.
We may restrict access to UMB or UMMS facilities for anyone who travels against this advice.
*There are the following exceptions to this subsection: (a) travel that is within 75 miles from the traveler’s normal workplace for essential clinical or client matters. Granting an exception requires the approval of the Dean (with advance notification to the Provost) for UMB employees, students or faculty practices, or UMMS Executive for UMMS employees. This decision will be made based on information at the time the individual has chosen to travel; or (b) Travel to return home by an individual already travelling at the outset of Step 2.
GATHERINGS
We have defined several different types of gatherings: administrative meetings; classes/education; UMB/UMMS-hosted events for internal or external audiences; on-campus events hosted by a non-UMB/UMMS organization; off-campus events attended by UMB/UMMS personnel; Commencement; patient care-related gatherings; recruitment/admissions; and laboratory research. See below for specific guidance for each category.
ADMINISTRATIVE MEETINGS
In-person meetings will be prohibited. In light of the telework policy, all other meetings should be moved to virtual means or canceled. A Dean, Vice President or UMMS Executive can make an exception on a case-by-case basis for a meeting deemed essential to critical operations (e.g. clinical team meetings) that must occur in-person that can be achieved with social distancing.
PATIENT CARE-RELATED GATHERINGS
Please refer to UMMS or individual health care facility guidance regarding gatherings that involve managing patient care.
CLASSES/EDUCATION
Any class in which technology can be used to deliver instruction virtually should be transitioned to that method as soon as possible. Any class that currently cannot be delivered virtually may be delivered in-person with appropriate social distancing through Saturday, March 14, 2020.
After Saturday, March 14, all in-person didactic instruction is suspended through at least April 5, 2020, and replaced with an alternative means of delivery.
Students and faculty should be prepared for the possibility that the remainder of in-person classes for this semester will be delivered virtually.
Special consideration should be made for students who are near graduation so that they fulfill their requirements of graduation. Education formats such as clinical, lab, small simulation, field placements, internships, and other similar experiences may continue with approval from the Dean (in consultation with the Provost). Please see the Clinical Rotations for Students guidelines that were provided on Monday, March 2, 2020 ,that still apply. Here is that link:
We will re-evaluate this policy section as needed.
UMB/UMMS-HOSTED EVENTS FOR INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL AUDIENCES
UMB/UMMS-hosted events scheduled on or before April 5, 2020, will be canceled.
For events scheduled after April 5, 2020, it is advised that event hosts consider COVID-19 risks and advice from government health officials along with other factors that trigger a “go/no-go decision.”
Please keep in mind that COVID-19 risks may cause cancelation of events in the foreseeable future. We will re-evaluate this policy concerning events on an ongoing basis.
ON-CAMPUS EVENTS HOSTED BY A NON-UMB/UMMS ORGANIZATION
All on-campus events hosted by a non-UMB/UMMS organization are canceled until April 5, 2020, until further notice.
OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS ATTENDED BY UMB/UMMS PERSONNEL
We recommend that you follow the guidance provided above in the “UMB/UMMS-Hosted Events for Internal or External Audiences” section.
COMMENCEMENT
UMB will make a decision on commencement activities no later than April 5, 2020.
STUDENT RECRUITMENT/ADMISSIONS
Student recruiting and admissions in-person events are prohibited until further notice.
LABORATORY RESEARCH
For students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty, implementation of the 6-feet social distancing rule in research laboratories.
To read the full policy, which includes Step 1 recommendations that went into effect on March 10, click on the link below.