Tigers Support Tigers
Stay 6 feet apart
Wear your face covering
Wash your hands
Monitor symptoms
The University of Missouri is embarking on a gradual return that complies with guidance from the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services and the advice of our experts from MU Health Care. During this time, many members of our community will continue to work remotely in consultation with their supervisor. Throughout the summer, the number of faculty and staff working on campus will steadily increase in preparation for an expected full return in fall 2020. Those with pre-existing conditions or known risk factors should work with their supervisors to determine an individual plan for how work can be completed. For more information, see HR-700, a UM System policy instituted to address the evolving challenges of the COVID-19 situation.
All requirements are subject to modification per new guidance from federal, state and local public health officials, other new information resources or best practices as they become available.
President Mun Choi and members of Mizzou’s leadership team hosted virtual town halls to give updates on the Show Me Renewal Plan and answer questions from faculty, staff, students and families. To see recordings and transcripts of the town halls, visit the Office of the Chancellor’s website.
Employee Frequently Asked Questions
Online training
All faculty and staff are required to complete training that will provide general guidance for our return to campus. Training is available in myLearn now and is due September 5.
Health and safety
When returning to your workspace, please do your part to socially distance, maintaining at least 6 feet distance from others at all times. If it is not feasible to maintain a 6-foot distance, such as in an elevator or restroom, wear a cloth face covering. (Employees are responsible for providing their own face coverings and should follow CDC guidelines regarding their use.
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. Before coming back to campus, each member of the community must agree to adopt these practices and take training on these measures.
Community safety and expectations
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
Before the campus is repopulated fully, 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 use this form to 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.
- A minimum 6-foot distance in all directions must be maintained by participants.
- Designate staff members who will wipe down high-touch surface areas between meetings.
- Departments must purchase their own wipes, sprays, etc.
- Departments may contact UM System Procurement for product needs.
- 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 12 days upon return and inform their supervisor if they become symptomatic.
Housekeeping
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.
