RC Contingency Planning – updates:
Karen H: In response to your requests regarding working group recommendations; due to the obstacles we encountered in internal (written) communication I wanted to hold an informative meeting.
- The AdHoc Committee is meeting often, in addition to other working groups, focusing on the Fall semester.
- Given the complexity and phased nature of operations, the APRS is now working with the President, SVPFA and Provost on the phased ramp up of Research Operations, building on the work of the Research Council.
- Currently RC (and ORS) awaits approval of the plan from executive leadership and are creating forms and process to enable ramp-up.
The Research Ramp up – discussion:
- Resuming Research will be in line with the ongoing UNE re-opening processes. In general, research ramp-up approval (individual and research teams) will be a 3-part process:
- HR part: Working on back to work training for the UNE community. It is currently under legal review. No timeline yet, but we hope it will be in place to start process as June 1st.
- Research Operations: It will continue as it is with plans submitted to APRS for review. Requests will be forwarded to me. A newly created form, based on the proposal from the Laboratory – Operations and Safety working group, is in the process of legal review.
- EHS: Working on workplace safety plans and PPE checklists. Defining the types of PPEs, resourcing, distribution, etc. Including on-site testing capacity.
- These are parallel processes. We can share these general information with our groups.
- Timelines: We will wait for HR’s procedures. Until then, Research Community will do what we can.
- Approvals: No automated processes or approvals.
- Travel: There are no changes in near future.
Closing:
- Your recommendations are very valuable and beyond expectations. Please be flexible about your frustrations.