More than 130 administrators, faculty and staff continue to work together with public health experts to develop safety plans that support our renewal of on-campus activities this semester. We’ve implemented a number of policies and procedures for our UM System employees and our MU students, faculty and staff aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Beginning October 19, the university will begin checking #CampusClear apps with health monitoring stations at Ellis Library and MizzouRec. For more information on the app and screening locations visit the #CampusClear information page.
Health and safety
Our guiding principle is to promote and support the safety of the entire MU community. We are closely monitoring public health guidelines and have developed protocols and behaviors individuals can do to keep themselves and others safe.
Faculty should report a positive diagnosis to their department chair and dean, and staff should report to their supervisor and division leader. COVID-positive faculty and staff should isolate at home.
Before faculty and staff members can return to campus, they will need to have a statement from a public health case investigator indicating the date they were released from isolation. The case investigator should ask them if they need a note, or they can request one. These letters will be emailed to them as an attachment and should be kept as they may be required to show proof of the release.
Supervisors, department chairs or division directors must fill out a COVID-19 Tracking Form when a faculty or staff member reports a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. However, beyond this form, deans and supervisors should NOT disclose the identity or any personally identifying information of COVID-19 diagnosed employees. Contact tracers will contact individuals who were possibly exposed.
There are many creative workplace solutions to balance work and personal needs. HR-700: HR Policies for Employees in Response to COVID-19 includes the option for employees who are at high-risk from COVID-19 — including people 65 years and older — to request reasonable work accommodations. Employees interested in requesting accommodations should reach out to their supervisors. Supervisors can get additional support and next steps from their campus HR representative.
Employees of MU Health Care will follow different workspace requirements. Other university divisions may employ more restrictive practices for workspaces as needed.
WORKING ALONE IN AN OFFICE: You do not need to wear a face covering while you work alone in a private office with the door shut.
DURING MEETINGS: Always wear a face covering in any in-person meeting, even if seated or standing 6 feet apart. Also, please arrange seating at a conference table so that chairs are a minimum of 6 feet apart, including across the table.
FACE COVERINGS FOR PUBLIC INTERACTION: Those who have direct contact with the public, whether in a shared working space or alone in a public-facing office space, must always wear face coverings, even when behind plexiglass or other barriers. If you have any questions whether this applies to you, consult with your supervisor.
WORKING WITHIN SHARED OFFICE SPACE: If you work in a shared office space where you are at least 6 feet away from others, you do not need to wear a face covering while seated at your workspace, but it is highly recommended you do so. You do need to wear a face covering every time you stand up from your workspace, including when standing and working at an adjustable desk, as well as walking to other locations within the office. This requirement applies even when the workspace has a partition of any height.
WORKSPACES WITHIN SIX FEET: If you work in a shared office space and the distance of your workspace from others is less than 6 feet, even if you have partitions, you must wear a face covering while seated or standing at your desk and at all times while in the shared space. In this case, you will also need to eat in a breakroom or outside. You will not need to wear a mask if you happen to be alone in the shared office for a period.
BREAKROOMS: When individuals eat or drink together indoors (like a breakroom), they must remain at least six feet apart from others and return face coverings immediately after consumption is complete.
Whenever a face covering is required, it must always be kept over your mouth and nose.
Employees are responsible for providing their own face coverings and should follow CDC guidelines regarding their use.
Our commitment to excellence
While activity inside the classroom may look different this year, we’re finding new ways to continue Mizzou’s core mission of education, research, outreach and inclusive excellence.
Visit the employee FAQ section to learn more about how we can all adjust to support our community.
An HR Care Team has been created to provide enhanced outreach to faculty and staff who have reported a positive diagnosis or have been in close contact with a positive individual. Supervisors, department chairs and department directors must report employees with a positive diagnosis or who are close contacts to a positive individual to HR through the COVID-19 Tracking Form. The HR Care Team will then reach out by e-mail and phone to faculty and staff to ensure that they have information regarding available leave options, community resources, basic guidance related to isolation/quarantine from the Columbia/Boone County Health Department, and what information to gather to provide to their county health department when contacted.
The HR Partner will also work closely with supervisors, chairs and department chairs regarding leave options and any return to work questions.
Mental health resources
Mental health is an important aspect of overall well-being. It may be difficult to avoid mental health challenges right now, but there are things we can do to improve our ability to cope with difficult situations and mental health concerns.
Visit our resources section to find ways to maintain good mental health and to improve your emotional well-being.
Working in the office
Building coordinators, communications staff and other designated department personnel should assess work environments, meeting rooms, breakrooms and other areas to ensure social distancing. Refer to the Preparing Office Spaces for Proper Social Distancing Resource Guide to assist you in planning. Some considerations:
Keep fire doors closed; do not block open to avoid using door handles.
Always consider accessibility. Some spaces may be too narrow to allow for floor-mounted physical interventions.
Account for visitors that come into office suites for contact tracing purposes as needed.
Please use campus-approved signage when possible. Your division’s communications staff member may email a request for additional signage that currently is not available.
This year, COVID-19 requires all of campus to work together to prepare for students, faculty and staff to be back on campus. Units are expected to pay for their own supplies such as masks, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, plexiglass, etc., however, the university is working to create cost efficiencies by placing bulk orders through The Mizzou Store. If a unit needs additional supplies not offered through bulk purchasing, a special request must be made and approved by the Incident Command Team. Please usethis formto place a bulk order and/or a special purchase request.
Social distancing
Employee traffic patterns are difficult to retrain, so avoid creating one-way traffic patterns, which will be difficult to manage. Focus on supporting an environment of social distancing.
Walk commonly traveled paths, identifying short cuts that should only be used by personnel who are returning to their work area.
Print signage to discourage cut-throughs near blocks of workstations.
Avoid congestion in work spaces
To ensure social distancing guidelines, assess each office and cubicle. You may need to leave some workspaces empty to separate team members or move employees to less populated areas of the office.
Meetings
When possible, meet virtually. Maintain a social distance of 6 feet if an in-person meeting is necessary.
Refer to local guidelines for room capacity restrictions.
Place capacity signage on or near door.
Always wear a face covering in any in-person meeting, even if seated or standing 6 feet apart. Also, please arrange seating at a conference table so that chairs are a minimum of 6 feet apart, including across the table.
Designate staff members who will wipe down high-touch surface areas between meetings.
Departments must purchase their own wipes, sprays, etc.
Furniture should be arranged to comply with social distancing practices.
Space chairs 6 feet apart; stack and zip-tie or remove and store additional chairs to prevent use.
University-sanctioned travel
No university sanctioned travel (includes travel by road and/or air) is permitted until further notice. Exceptions may be made by a dean or vice chancellor and must be supported by a compelling reason (for instance, travel required as part of grant compliance) and accompanied by support documentation. Follow the CDC guidelines for travel and comply with the county regulations of their destination. In all cases, the traveler should monitor for symptoms for 14 days upon return and inform their supervisor if they become symptomatic.
Events
All university-sponsored on-campus events to be restricted to 20 people or fewer
An event is any communal gathering on or off campus, outside of a classroom setting, lasting longer than 15 minutes.
Events held by outside groups will largely be prohibited.
Event organizers from campus organizations can request special approval for an event with more than 20 attendees by completing the COVID-19 Event Request form. However, an exception will only be granted for events that support MU’s academic mission in which participants are required to adhere to strict social distancing, face covering requirements and specific protocols related to serving food and beverages.
Custodial Services has disinfected all campus spaces prior to repopulation, per CDC guidelines. Custodians clean high-touch surfaces such as building entrance door bars and elevator buttons frequently throughout their shift.
Classrooms, restrooms and common areas are cleaned daily, Monday – Friday.
Individual offices are the responsibility of the occupants.
