Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Iowa City Community School District decision to hold virtual classes in fall

The University of Iowa understands that the decision made by the Iowa City Community School District Board of Education to hold virtual classes for K-12 students in the fall presents many UI employees with the challenge of balancing their children’s education with work demands.

We know that dealing with this evolving situation can cause stress and anxiety. The UI is committed to working with employees and supervisors to determine how to best use flexible work arrangements and other available options to manage challenges many employees may be facing. University Human Resources will share additional information and guidance in the coming weeks.

 

Reminder: Virtual campus update on human resources’ support for employees returning to campus

The University of Iowa will host a virtual campus update focused on human resources’ support for employees returning to campus from 2 to 3 p.m. today (July 15) and 9 to 10 a.m. tomorrow (July 16).

The update will be presented by Cheryl Reardon, associate vice president and chief HR officer, and Joni Troester, senior assistant vice president and deputy chief HR officer.

The presentation is one of a series of virtual campus updates focused on different elements of the plan for the fall 2020 semester, which was released on June 17.

The updates will be streamed live on the UI’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/universityofiowa.

The updates also will be recorded and published to the UI’s coronavirus website, coronavirus.uiowa.edu.

Members of the campus community who have questions after reviewing the fall 2020 plan should email their question 24 hours in advance to UI-CoronavirusQuestions@uiowa.edu. Viewers will not be able to submit questions live during the updates.

You can find the dates and times of upcoming virtual campus update here.

 

Update on Study Abroad and student travel

The current ban on UI student travel abroad has been extended for departures through Oct. 15, 2020. This recommendation is based on established student travel policy that prohibits travel when there is a DOS level 4 do not travel advisory from the U.S. Department of State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Level 3 warning, and the need for students to have advance time to solidify alternate study plans.

The UI travel advisory committee (with representation from International Programs, General Counsel, and Risk Management) will reassess the recommendation each month, each time considering viability for student travel departures within the upcoming three-month period. Monthly reviews are guided by established UI international travel policy for students and risk indicators in place at the time of assessment.

The review schedule is as follows:

  • June 15, 2020: Student travel ban extended through Sept. 15, 2020
  • July 15, 2020: Student travel ban extended through Oct. 15, 2020
  • Aug. 15, 2020: Decision regarding departures through Nov. 15, 2020
  • Sept. 15, 2020: Decision regarding departures through Dec. 15, 2020
  • Oct. 15, 2020: Decision regarding departures through Jan. 15, 2021. This is the final assessment point for remaining fall and Winterim departures.
  • Nov. 15, 2020: Decision regarding departures through Feb. 15, 2021.
  • Dec. 15, 2020: Decision regarding departures through March 15, 2021. This is the assessment point for spring break departures.
  • Jan. 15, 2021: Decision regarding departures through April 15, 2021. Monthly assessments will be extended beyond this month as needed.

 

Reminder: Travel guidelines

Effective June 15, 2020, the university returned to normal approval processes for all domestic travel. Trips for all domestic travel need to be created and approved through workflow. ProTrav is available for the creation of domestic trips for purposes other than COVID-19.

Please follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on travel: CDC Travel Guidance.

As always, travelers should continue to take everyday preventive actions recommended by the CDC to help prevent the spread of the virus.

International travel will continue to be restricted. The Iowa Board of Regents’ rolling 30-day university-sponsored international travel ban remains in effect, and travel to any area with high numbers of infection should be avoided. As the COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation, the board will continue to evaluate this on a daily basis and provide additional guidance if needed.

The university continues to follow and monitor the travel warnings issued by the CDC and the U.S. Department of State.