A Message from Dr. Barbara Gaba - March 17, 2020

March 17, 2020

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Yesterday, Governor Murphy announced that all public and private schools in the State of New Jersey are to close indefinitely effective March 18, 2020 and that all teaching will move to online classes.  Following that announcement, the Governor’s Office and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) clarified that statement as it pertained to colleges and universities stating that colleges and universities were not mandated to “close” but rather continue to have resources available to our students such as computer labs, Internet access, tutoring, and advising.

For the safety and health of our staff, and in an effort to exercise social distancing as directed by the Governor, effective Wednesday, March 18th through Monday, March 30th, only staff specifically identified as essential to operations will be permitted to be on campus and access campus buildings. All other staff are to work from home.

We are utilizing some of this time to clean and sanitize offices and public areas. It is imperative that we limit the number of persons on all campuses once we have buildings sanitized.

Essential personnel:

1. Housekeeping and facilities staff will report to work as scheduled. Housekeeping and facilities will clean and sanitize buildings at all three campuses during this time.
2. College Security staff will report to work as scheduled. Security operations will continue as usual for this period of social distancing.
3. Facilities will also assign staff to check on buildings at all three campuses during this time. Facility staff should be prepared and ready to be called in should any situations arise where they will be needed.

Transition of work from campus to home:

1. Where possible, all work will transition from your workspace on campus to your home. Each Cabinet member will meet with Department directors and supervisors to assign work to be done at home. Human Resources will be sending out Safe College trainings for the year. This would be a good time to get these done.
2. All questions regarding assignments should be directed to your Cabinet Member.
3. All FERPA and printed Student/Staff information regulations must be followed.
4. Staff is expected to be available and on call during regular working hours while completing their work assignments at home.
5. Staff is expected to view and respond to emails and phone calls during regular business hours.
6. All staff, including full-time, part time and student workers normally scheduled to work, will continue to be paid while your work has transitioned from campus to your home.
7. If you are not able or choose not to accept assigned work that can be done from home or will not be available and on call during regular business hours for the rest of this week and through the week of March 23-29, you will be required to take vacation/sick or personal leave.  Please call the absent phone line (609) 646-5040.

Payroll:

1. March 27th payroll will run as scheduled.
2. Please be sure to approve payroll on or before 10 AM on Monday March 23, 2020.
3. Paper checks will be mailed as usual.

This situation is changing every day. Please review your email, text alerts and/or our website every day for updates.

If you would like additional information about COVID-19 from the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, please see this link: https://nj.gov/highereducation/documents/pdf/index/3-16-2020COVID-19_HigherEducationGuidance.pdf

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance while we navigate this unprecedented event.

Sincerely,

Dr. Barbara Gaba

President