Dear colleagues, On Friday May 22, we advised the campus community that we were preparing for a phased return to campus and field or community research. We are pleased to report that this phased return will begin shortly. Following new provincial Guidance for Post-Secondary Institutions issued on May 23, and the Workplace Guidance issued earlier in May, the Recovery Steering Committee has worked quickly to ensure that we can adhere to occupational health and safety requirements, while getting researchers back to campus as quickly and as safely as possible. Currently:
- We will begin very shortly to issue approval notifications via email for Expanded Research Designation. Notifications will continue to be issued on a rolling basis.
- Please do not return to campus without an email confirming that your Expanded Research Designation has been approved.
- Those who receive an approved Expanded Research Designation must submit a Workspace Safety Plan to their Department and adhere to UCalgary Re-Entry Protocols. Details will be included in your Expanded Research Designation approval notification.
Ongoing:
- Researchers who wish to return to research activities on campus, in the field, or in the community must continue to request either Critical Research Designation or Expanded Research Designation. Visit research.ucalgary.ca/covid-19 to determine which exemption to apply for.
Important considerations:
- All graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who were included in Expanded Research Designation applications will be asked to provide consent to the Faculty of Graduate Studies or the Postdoctoral office that they are ready to return to in-person activities. Supervisors will be advised when their graduate students or postdoctoral scholars have provided consent.
- Human Ethics, Animal Care, and other approvals/certifications do not in and of themselves constitute approval to work on campus. Critical or Expanded Research Designation is required to work on campus.
I understand that many of you are eager to get back to your research, scholarship, and creative activities as quickly as possible. Fortunately, our teams have worked swiftly to create the UCalgary COVID-19 Re-Entry Protocols and the Workspace Safety Plan template (which will be included with your ERD approval notification). We are committed to keeping campus safe for everyone and ensuring that our phased re-entry to campus can proceed without disruption. If you have questions or comments, please contact us at [email protected]. Sincerely,
Dr. William Ghali
Vice-President (Research) |
