Retrieving Work Materials and Belongings

Sent on behalf of Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara A. Bichelmeyer and Vice Provost for Operations Mike Rounds

Dear Staff and Faculty,

Thank you for the cooperation that’s been demonstrated as we begin to gradually repopulate campus facilities. The overarching goal has been to reduce the risk of viral transmission through limiting the presence of individuals in our buildings and facilities.

KU buildings remain locked for the security of equipment, property and work in progress, as noted in the March 20 message from Police Chief Chris Keary. Only those who were previously deemed on-site mission-essential employees, or who have been invited to return as part of the phased campus repopulation plan should be working on campus. Employees who are working remotely should continue doing so.

Those continuing to work remotely have asked whether they can access their offices and work spaces to retrieve needed resources or personal belongings. Yes, and individuals should work with their unit director to schedule and gain access. The visits should be as brief as possible, and those entering buildings and facilities will be expected to know and follow protocol that will help ensure greater safety. At this time, individuals entering campus structures will be expected to follow health and safety guidelines, including:

• Review and follow posted protocol (where they are present) upon entering, including assessing personal health.
• Wear a mask or face covering at all times when in common areas of the building or when others are present in offices and additional spaces.
• Follow traffic flow markings in buildings (where they are present) and practice social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet of space between you and your colleagues.
• Refrain from allowing unknown people in, blocking doors open, or allowing others to follow behind.

These actions and precautions will help provide a more secure environment for individuals who must work on site and will help guard against loss of valuable work and resources.

There may also be situations that require individuals working remotely to occasionally return to campus offices and workspaces to use specialized equipment for short periods. Again, those individuals should coordinate longer visits through their unit directors. If the visit is to a building that is not yet part of the repopulation schedule, unit directors should submit a request for post-visit deep cleaning by custodial staff through the Maximo service request system.

We know many of us are eager to return to our offices and work spaces and re-establish our connections to the teams and colleagues we miss. We appreciate your patience as we come back to these spaces in an orderly fashion that helps ensure greater safety for all members of our community, including those who may be at higher risk. We’re all in this together.

Respectfully,

Barb and Mike

Barbara A. Bichelmeyer
Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor

Mike Rounds
Vice Provost for Operations