Telecommuting policy extended locally through March 1, 2021

The following message was sent by email to faculty and staff on Dec. 22.

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Dear Colleagues,

The current Telecommuting Pilot Program for state employees, first announced by the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations in March 2020 and later continued to Jan. 1, 2021, has not yet been formally extended.

The College will exercise its discretion and continue our current telecommuting practices through March 1, 2021. 

The extension of this telecommuting program applies to employees represented by CSEA, UUP and PEF, as well as M/C employees. We hope this information will assist with planning for the weeks and months ahead and provide some peace of mind in advance of the holiday break.

This does not impact the planned modalities for academic instruction for spring 2021. Extending telecommuting is consistent with our spring semester plan, which includes instruction that is significantly remote or hybrid, and with protecting employee health and safety as we continue to see growing spread of COVID-19 in the Mid-Hudson Valley region.

We anticipate that the dates for telecommuting will be extended SUNY-wide or Statewide, and such guidance or directive will supersede our current practices. We will share that information when it becomes available. However, we also recognize that employees are still navigating K-12, the care of elders, as well as staggered work schedules that have contributed greatly to reducing campus density and protecting the campus community.

Wishing all members of our campus community light, hope and good health this season.

Tanhena Pacheco Dunn
Associate Vice President for Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion