HR News

Welcome back to Syracuse University and to our first day of the fall semester! I give thanks that we are again at the start of a new academic year. I know how hard so many people have worked to make this semester possible.

I thank each and every one of you who have enabled our return to campus.

For those of you who cannot be on campus with us for now, we welcome you virtually; we hope you will be enabled to stay engaged with our community, and we will work hard to be able to be with you in person soon.

This semester is unlike anything any of us has ever experienced. The global pandemic has been and will continue to be a great challenge. But it is a challenge I know we can take on together.

Our faculty, staff and students have reimagined every aspect of the Syracuse University experience. There are changes to how we teach, how we learn, how we use campus spaces and libraries, how we live, eat, interact and socialize. To our students, faculty and staff who have worked so hard to make this day possible—I thank you.

All that work will not alone be enough. To our students, our ability to stay on campus—your ability to remain in Syracuse—is up to each of you and how you act each day. If you choose not to social distance; if you choose not to wear a mask; if you choose to gather in large groups, then sooner than you imagine, we all will be sent home. That has happened at other schools, and it can quickly happen here. You have all seen the Stay Safe Pledge. We must live by that pledge if we want this semester to continue in person. We must look out for ourselves and for each other in protecting our Orange family and our community.

Let’s do it with grace. Grace means we respect each other. Grace means we value every individual and their contributions to the Orange family. Grace means we think about the impact of our actions and choices on others. And grace means we treat each other with kindness.

At Syracuse University, the Orange family has in the past risen to challenges and succeeded together. Let’s all show the world that the Orange can do that now and defeat this virus.

Welcome to the new academic year. And Go Orange!

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

As the fall semester gets underway—with so many changes in procedures for living and learning on campus—we would like you to be aware of important changes in the way Syracuse University must handle complaints of sexual harassment. These changes are required of all U.S. colleges and universities as part of new federal Title IX regulations published by the U.S. Department of Education in May 2020.

First, be aware that Syracuse University and Chancellor Kent Syverud took a formal stand against some of these new regulations during a public comment period in 2019. We did so because we believe that some of these mandated changes may discourage survivors of sexual assault or sexual harassment from coming forward. However, we are required to carry out the new procedures as mandated by federal guidelines and will do so with the balance, fairness, equity, seriousness and justice that is warranted by any complaint of sexual harassment or sexual violence.

Some examples of the new procedures, which are published in full on our policy page, include:

• A complaint must be heard in a live (in-person or virtual) hearing at which both parties (the complainant and the respondent) each have an advisor who may cross-examine the other party and witnesses.
• If either party attends a hearing without an advisor, the University must provide one for them free of charge.
• If either party or witness refuses to participate in a hearing and be subject to cross-examination, the University may not consider any of their prior statements in reaching a determination on responsibility.
• The University must offer an opportunity to appeal the outcome of the case on specific grounds.
• The University cannot informally resolve a case unless a complainant first files a formal complaint and all parties agree to informal resolution.

Formal complaints of sexual harassment will be investigated by the Title IX team in the Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services (EOIRS), with a hearing conducted by an external hearing officer who makes a finding of responsibility. More specifically:

• In complaints against students, if there is a finding of a policy violation, the case goes to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for sanctioning. Parties may appeal the outcome to an appeals panel.
• In complaints against staff, if an individual is found responsible for a policy violation, the case goes to the senior human resources business partner for sanctioning. Parties may appeal the outcome to the senior vice president and chief human resources officer.
• In complaints against faculty, if an individual is found responsible for a policy violation, the case goes to the Academic Freedom, Tenure and Professional Ethics Committee of the University Senate to recommend sanctions to the associate provost for faculty affairs, who issues a decision. Parties may appeal the outcome to the vice chancellor and provost.

One important area that remains unchanged is the definition of “Responsible Employees”—people who are obligated to report incidents of sexual harassment should they become aware of them. This means that all faculty and staff, except those who are designated as privileged resources (e.g. counselors, chaplains, medical professionals), must report incidents of sexual harassment to me, as Title IX officer, and my office.

As a University community, we remain committed to resolving complaints of sexual harassment or sexual violence in a manner that is fair and even-handed and respects the rights and interests of all parties. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the updated University policies and procedures on sexual harassment and contact me with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Sheila Johnson-Willis
Chief Equal Opportunity and Title IX Officer

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

Welcome back to Syracuse University. And to those newly joining us, welcome to the Orange family. It is so good to be together again. After a long summer for all of us, it has been a joy to see our new students arriving in phases over these last few weeks. There is nothing better than seeing our community back on campus together, engaging with each other and living the Orange experience. And for those students studying remotely or from afar, you are as much a part of our Orange family as ever.

A lot has happened in the world since we were all together last. The pandemic has taken a horrible toll on lives, families, communities and our country. While a source of stress for all of us, many of you have felt this pain in deeply personal ways. At the same time, there are renewed calls for justice, equity and to end anti-Black racism and hate in all its forms. This should give us all hope.

Just as the last few months have been unlike anything we have seen in our lifetime, so too, will be this fall semester. As we return to our studies, research and academic pursuits, I want to thank everyone who has played a role in bringing us together again. There are many changes we have made to our campus. Some you see: signs everywhere reminding you to social distance and wear a face mask, outdoor classrooms, and over a thousand hand sanitizer stations in our buildings. Other things aren’t visible to the eye: the new air filtration systems in our buildings, the countless hours faculty have dedicated to reformatting their classes, and the time spent by staff to get our campus ready.

We’re together because we want our students to have the best possible experience at Syracuse University. And we want to remain together for the entire semester. That will require all of us to be responsible for ourselves and each other in doing everything we can to create a safe environment. That means wearing a mask wherever you go, practicing social distancing, and not congregating in large groups on or off campus. I know it’s not what we are accustomed to. But nothing is business as usual these days.

Being together means living, learning and working with people who hail from diverse and unique backgrounds. It is one of the things that makes our university such a special place. Let’s extend grace to one another as we make new friends, open ourselves to understanding the experiences of others, and treat our community with kindness. We are a community that is inclusive, equitable and welcoming. What is unwelcome here must be racism, anti-Semitism, prejudice, bias or harassment of any kind. We are an anti-racist campus, and our actions must follow those principles. And it starts with all of us.

As we begin this semester together, let’s enjoy this moment that we have all been working toward and waiting for all summer. We are happy you are with us, wherever you are.  And let’s commit to those things that will allow us to stay together for the semester: wear your mask, keep your distance, and look out for yourself and for each other. Here’s to our new academic year.

Sincerely,

Kent Syverud, Chancellor and President

Dear Members of the Syracuse University Community:

The start of every new semester brings with it excitement and anticipation.  This year, those emotions are heightened and for some include anxiety associated with a return to campus life during the COVID health emergency. Excitement and anxiety are both equally valid emotions during this extraordinary time.

As we look to next week and a return to campus for the majority of our residential population, the diligence and resilience of those already on campus—our student-athletes, our quarantining first year students and so many of our faculty and staff—give us a reason for optimism. That is because they have set a standard and an example for the heightened compassion and respect and grace toward others that will be so necessary of the entire campus community as we move forward together to re-start residential campus life at Syracuse University.

In that spirit, we offer important updates on the following topics:

For Our Community

• Wear your mask!
• COVID Dashboard
• Lubin House Temporarily Closed
• Weekly Roundup Virtual Update Session
• Call for Volunteers

For Students and Families

• Residential Move-In
• Barnes Center Fall
• Important Testing Reminder
• Bookstore Pick-Up and Delivery Options
• Fall 2020 Housing FAQs
• Stay Safe Pledge

For Faculty and Staff

• Flexible Work Policy
• Labor Day Schedule
• Service Provider and Vendor Access
• Promoting Academic Integrity
• Course Development Support
• Reminder from the CTLE

For Our Community:

Wear Your Mask!: As more and more members of our community arrive on campus, I want to remind you of our mask policy: Syracuse University requires face masks or face coverings for all students, faculty, staff and visitors while on campus and in public settings—indoors and outdoors.

COVID Dashboard: Syracuse University’s COVID-19 Dashboard is now online, providing the community with a snapshot of important public health statistics. The data will be updated every Tuesday (and more often as the situation warrants) and reflects new, active and recovered cases as well as the number of tests administered on campus. The dashboard includes all positive cases associated with the University, whether located in Central New York or outside of Central New York.

Lubin House Temporarily Closed: Due to the ongoing restrictions around density reduction, social distancing and other public health guidelines, Lubin House in New York City will be temporarily closed. No overnight stays, events, classes, lectures or gatherings will be permitted for the foreseeable future. We hope to reopen Lubin House just as soon as it’s safe and appropriate to do so. We will keep our community updated.

SU Safe Weekly Roundup Virtual Update Session: Those with an syr.edu email account are invited to join us on Zoom later today from 1 to 2 p.m. ET for my final weekly virtual update discussion. This week, I’ll be joined by Carrie Grogan Abbott, director of first-year and transfer programs; Joe Hernon, director of emergency management and business continuity; Chris Johnson, associate provost for academic affairs; Amanda Nicholson, interim deputy senior vice president in the Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience; Ramesh Raina, interim vice president for research; and J. Cole Smith, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The discussion will focus on public health and safety protocols, the student experience, student behavior and expectations, and reopening to residential learning. For those unable to participate live, the link to the video will be posted on Syracuse.edu/Fall2020.

Call for Volunteers for Syracuse Welcome: Faculty and staff are invited to help welcome first-year and transfer students during Syracuse Welcome, Monday, Aug. 17, to Sunday, Aug. 23. Volunteers are needed to work alongside the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs, from supporting central check-in and testing at Skytop to greeting and wayfinding at residence halls. Those interested in volunteering are asked to reserve volunteer date(s) and time(s).

For Students and Families:

Residential Student Move-In Next Week: In a few short days, Syracuse University will begin welcoming students for move-in and, for our new students, Syracuse Welcome, Syracuse University’s orientation program. New students living on campus will be moving in Aug. 17-20, and returning students will move in Aug. 20–23. All students will check-in at the Syracuse Welcome Check-in Center located at Skytop Parking Lot to go through check-in procedures, including to verify pre-arrival testing and participate in an on-site COVID screening, before being cleared to move into their residence hall or South Campus apartment. This year, the move-in period was also extended to reduce density and support physical distancing.

Barnes Center at The Arch Services: In preparation for the Fall 2020 opening, the Barnes Center at The Arch has announced important updates related to its services, hours and processes to further support the health, safety and well-being of all campus community members. Detailed information is available on the Barnes Center Fall 2020 website, including facilities and hours. Outlined below are a few highlights:

• Recreation: To expand offerings, the Barnes Center will be launching an outdoor cardio and weights area near the Women’s Building, and weekend Outdoor Adventure trips, all at locations in Central New York, have been increased. Outdoor fitness classes will also be added to the many virtual fitness opportunities. In accordance with New York State executive orders, indoor gym facilities cannot open during this time. As such, cardio equipment, weight rooms, basketball courts, track and gymnasiums in the Barnes Center cannot be used. The pool, climbing wall and esports room all remain available and can be reserved through the Wellness Portal.
• Health Care: Beginning Aug. 17, health care services (including the pharmacy) will be available seven days a week. Appointments should be made by calling 315.443.8000. Drop-in hours will not be offered.
• Counseling: Zoom, phone and in-person appointments will be available. Appointments should be made by calling 315.443.8000. Drop-in hours will not be offered; however, a limited number of same-day appointments will be available.
• Health Promotion and Mindfulness: The Crowley Family MindSpa will remain open, with added sanitization measures in place, and be available to reserve through the Wellness Portal. In-person pet therapy will not be offered this fall. Educational offerings will occur virtually and in-person, including the Wellness Leadership Institute and Health Hub.
• Confidential support remains available 24-hours a day, seven days a week for students experiencing a mental health crisis, seeking support for sexual and relationship violence, or needing medical consultation by calling the Barnes Center at 315.443.8000.

Important Reminder about COVID Testing: All Syracuse University undergraduate and graduate students are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result before returning to campus (moving into on-campus housing or returning for in-person classes). This includes students who live off campus. To comply with the pre-arrival testing requirement, students generally have two options: 1) Participate in the at-home COVID test program offered by Syracuse University by visiting the LetsGetChecked COVID testing portal and requesting a home test kit; after you submit your test, your results will be automatically submitted to the Barnes Center at The Arch. 2) Arrange to be tested in your local community and provide the University your test results. To submit your test results to the University, visit the Student Patient Portal, log in using your SU NetID and password, click “Upload Forms,” select “COVID-19 Documents,” and follow the upload instructions. To learn more about testing, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Bookstore to Offer Pick-up and Delivery Options for Textbooks and Course Materials: The Syracuse University Bookstore is asking students to place their orders for textbooks and course materials online, as physical access to the store will be limited at the start of the fall semester. Ordering online will be the quickest and easiest option for students to receive their materials. Bookstore staff will establish an online ordering pick-up location outside of the store and will also offer free delivery to all on-campus locations, including South Campus. Students living off campus can also request delivery of their materials, offered at a flat low-cost shipping rate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fall 2020 Housing: The Housing, Meal Plan, and I.D. Card Services Office has received a high volume of questions from students and families about how decisions about distance learning or quarantine requirements for Fall 2020 will affect their billing, roommate selection and housing assignments. To address these concerns, a new Housing section has been added to the Fall 2020 FAQ page.

Stay Safe Pledge: As a reminder, students and families received the Stay Safe Pledge, a campus commitment to protecting the health and safety of all Orange community members. The pledge outlines the practices students will be expected to uphold to keep themselves and the Orange community healthy and safe from the spread of COVID-19. Students are encouraged to review and commit to the pledge prior to their arrival in the fall. If students cannot abide by the practices in this pledge, they are encouraged to study remotely. Whether or not a student takes the pledge, failure to comply with the directives may result in a referral to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) for violation of the Code of Student Conduct and subsequent sanctions.

For Faculty and Staff:

Updated Staff Flexible Work Policy and Form: To support flexible work arrangements for eligible staff that can help reduce office density and further enhance the safety of the campus workplace, the Office of Human Resources has updated its Flexible Work Policy and will continue to partner with leadership from schools, colleges and administrative units to approve and document such arrangements. Read more on SU News.

Changes to Academic Calendar and Faculty and Staff Working on Labor Day: With classes scheduled for Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 7) due to our revised academic calendar for the Fall 2020 semester, the Office of Human Resources has instructed each school, college and administrative unit to determine plans for staffing on the University holiday. Faculty who teach courses on Mondays are expected to hold classes online and in-person as they would any other week, and school, college or unit leaders will notify staff members who support the academic experience that they may also be required to work. Read more on SU News.

Service Provider and Vendor Access to Campus: Service provider, vendor and visitor access to campus will be restricted during the fall semester to support the University’s efforts to provide a safe and healthy campus. Service providers, vendors and individuals conducting business with a University office/department must only be allowed to access University buildings, when necessary, to provide essential support for University operations. Their access must be approved in advance by the relevant dean, director or unit leader (or their designee).

Package deliveries, including deliveries from FedEx and UPS, will continue to be re-directed to the Hawkins Warehouse. Facilities Services will deliver the packages from Hawkins to their specific on-campus delivery locations and also pick up outgoing mail and packages from building mailrooms and mailboxes.

Departments and University personnel coordinating to have an on-campus visit(s) by a service provider, vendor or other individual conducting scheduled business with a University office/department, are asked to:

• Obtain dean, director, or unit leader (or their designee) approval prior to authorizing a service provider, vendor, or individual conducting business at the University to come on campus. For research laboratories, the principal investigator must also authorize their visit.
• Schedule the on-campus visit(s) by the service provider, vendor or individual conducting business at the University in advance of their planned arrival on campus.
• Advise the service provider, vendor or individual conducting business at the University of their obligation to complete the University’s COVID-19 Safety Certification for Service Providers and Vendors form.
• Confirm the service provider, vendor or individual conducting business at the University has completed a COVID-19 Safety Certification before their arrival to campus. A copy of the submitted certification form will be emailed to Purchasing and to the University contact email they enter on the form.

To learn more, contact the Purchasing Department or visit the Environmental Health and Safety website.

Promoting Academic Integrity: In the interest of promoting academic integrity, CTLE and CLASS have developed a set of quick steps we urge faculty and instructors to take now using the Reviewing your syllabus for effective online assessment page in Answers. Promoting academic integrity effectively does not require a large investment of time up front. The key is reviewing your syllabus now to ensure you have sufficient flexibility and opportunity to address academic integrity throughout the upcoming semester. Additional recommendations for Promoting Academic Integrity in the Classroom during the semester are available on the CLASS website.

Faculty Course Development Support: For support with instructional design, content production, video recording and customization of your Blackboard course space and more, you can take advantage of the Blackboard Course Transition Services. To request assistance or find out more information, please fill out the Fall Course Development form. Please also remember these online coaching and consultation opportunities:

• NEW: PlayPosit Training (multiple times available)
• Teaching and Technology Tuesdays (Tuesdays at noon ET)
• Zoom Training: Teaching with Zoom (multiple times available)
• Kaltura Training Sessions (multiple times available)

We are also offering the Faculty Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Workshop Series (asynchronous):

• Identifying and Reducing Implicit Bias in Pedagogical Decision-Making
• Establishing Civility and Positive Climate in Your Teaching Environment
• Problematizing Identity and Intersectionality on the College Campus
• Transparent Teaching: An Evidence-Based Inclusive Practice
• Navigating Challenges of Diversity in the Classroom

Reminder from the CTLE: As faculty prepare for and begin teaching this fall in new modalities, they will face new challenges. Some of their plans will succeed beyond their wildest dreams. Some will fall short of the imagined best scenario. Regardless of outcome, the CTLE team is available to listen, operate as a sounding board, make suggestions and share your amazing ideas—with credit of course. It’s not too late to bounce a new idea off of the CTLE team or to revise a plan. Email them at help@syr.edu.

I remain deeply grateful to the thousands of faculty, staff and administrators who have worked so hard to prepare Syracuse University to welcome thousands of new and returning students to what many believe is among the most beautiful college campuses in the country. And we can’t wait to welcome our students, to see you in person, and to support you in achieving your academic and personal aspirations as part of our Orange family.

Sincerely,

J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

The Office of Human Resources (HR) has worked diligently to bring faculty and staff members back to the campus work environment since early June. While the University has gone to great lengths to ensure the campus workplace is as safe as possible in the face of the COVID-19 health emergency, it also recognizes the need to continue to support flexible work arrangements for benefits-eligible staff under certain circumstances—including arrangements that support reduced office density and enhance the safety of the campus workplace.

To that end, HR has updated their Flexible Work Policy and documentation process to allow for even greater flexibility for staff members in support of the Return to Campus Plan for Faculty and Staff. HR will continue to partner with leadership from schools, colleges and administrative units to approve and document flexible work arrangements for eligible staff members, including:

• Flextime/staggered shifts
• Remote work (in full or for partial days/weeks)
• Compressed work schedules
• Alternate-day arrangements

Please note that the availability of flexible work arrangements varies widely by school, unit and position based on business and operational needs and approvals are made at the discretion of a staff member’s supervisor and senior leader.

Staff members who would like to request a flexible work arrangement should initiate the conversation with their immediate supervisor, who will collaborate with senior leadership and their senior HR business partner.

Due to the extraordinary circumstances of the Fall 2020 semester, the University is operating under a revised academic calendar that includes holding classes on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 7, 2020). Faculty members who hold classes on Mondays are expected to conduct in-person and online classes as they would any other week.

That said, Labor Day continues to be a paid University holiday. The Office of Human Resources has asked each school, college and unit to identify the level of staff needed to support classes being held on Monday, Sept. 7, and notify staff accordingly about expected work schedules. Exempt staff members who work on Labor Day will be allowed a different day off and non-exempt staff members who work that day will receive holiday pay (or overtime pay if applicable).

Staff members with questions about their work schedule should contact their immediate supervisor. Faculty can reach out to their deans for further guidance.

In light of COVID-19 relief rules recently issued by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Labor, and guidance issued by the University’s insurance carriers, certain employee and retiree benefit notice, election and claims deadlines have been extended.

Notifications include:

• Extension of special enrollment deadlines for group health plans;
• Extension of the 2019 health and dependent care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) deadlines;
• 2020 mid-year FSA election changes and increase in carryover amounts;
• 2020 FSA reimbursement of over-the-counter medicines and menstrual care products;
• Extended plan claim and appeal deadlines under the University’s group health and disability plans;
• Premium payment relief for certain employees and former employees enrolled in group life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), as well as an extension of deadlines to request rights or benefits under the plan; and
• Extension of the COBRA election deadline, COBRA premium payment deadline and the deadline for qualifying event and disability notices.

View the Human Resources COVID-19 Benefit Notifications webpage for further information. If you have any questions on how these notifications may apply to your specific situation, contact HR Shared Services at hrservice@syr.edu or 315.443.4042.

Syracuse University Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation Mike Haynie is hosting a series of weekly virtual update sessions to assist University community members in preparing for the Fall 2020 semester. A new video will be added each week through August 14.

Dear Members of the Syracuse University Community:

Earlier today, the State of New York announced the addition of three states, Illinois, Kentucky and Minnesota, as well as Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, to the New York State Department of Health’s existing travel advisory and quarantine order.

Today’s announcement expands the list of travel advisory states to 34, increasing the number of Syracuse University students who must quarantine for 14 days in New York State (or in another non-travel advisory state) prior to the start of the semester. We anticipate this list to continue to evolve as COVID-19 cases spike in various regions.

This latest news is yet another reminder of the fluid and rapidly changing circumstances the global pandemic is creating. We are working quickly to determine how many students are impacted and how the University may be able to support them in achieving the quarantine requirement.

We are sensitive to the enormous stress and anxiety caused by the ever-shifting circumstances. We hope to have more information to share with you, and more specifically, the students and families from the states added to the travel advisory, as soon as possible.

As a reminder, please be sure to visit Syracuse.edu/fall2020 for the latest on our planning efforts.

Sincerely,

J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

Amanda Nicholson
Interim Deputy Senior Vice President, Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience

Dear Members of the Syracuse University Community:

A short time ago, the State of New York announced the addition of 10 states to the New York State Department of Health’s existing travel advisory and quarantine order.

Specifically, the states added to the travel advisory today include Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Virginia and Washington; one state (Minnesota) was removed from the list. This is in addition to the states already included in the order: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.

Today’s announcement expands the list of travel advisory states to 31 and significantly expands the number of Syracuse University students who—as a requirement of the New York State Department of Health—must quarantine for 14 days in New York State (or in another non-travel advisory state) prior to the start of the semester.

As we have said previously, we expect this list to continue to evolve in the weeks to come. We recognize that for our students and their families in these newly added states, planning for the return to campus just became significantly more challenging. Please know that we continue to engage with New York officials—alongside many of our peer colleges and universities statewide—to advocate for safe alternatives to the existing 14-day self-quarantine requirement.

We will share more detailed information on quarantine options for this expanded population of impacted students as soon as possible. In the meantime, Syracuse University will continue to do everything it can to support the safe return of all our students to campus. We remain chiefly focused on safeguarding the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and our neighbors throughout the Central New York region.

Sincerely,
J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

Amanda Nicholson
Interim Deputy Senior Vice President