Dear colleagues,

This week the University of Calgary has decided to extend work from home for most of our employees who are able to do so through to June 30, 2021 – the end of the academic year.  

This means UCalgary faculty and staff must work from home – except under the following conditions:

• Campus access is required to use tools and equipment.
  Some positions, such as those involved in ongoing research, have unique requirements for ongoing access to tools and equipment, and greater reliance on the physical campus setting. This is distinct from where materials or equipment are needed from time to time, such as accessing paper files. Positions that have an ongoing reliance on equipment that cannot be removed from the campus in order to be productive are permitted to continue to work on campus.
  
  
• Work involves secure data and confidential information.
  Work that involves access to and handling of confidential, classified or sensitive information and data in some cases is best performed on campus, particularly if this information is not in electronic form.
  
  
• On-site preparation and attendance are required to deliver services to faculty, students, staff and the public

In all cases where work is being performed on campus, an approved workplace safety plan must be in place, and all must comply with those plans.

Why are the work from home guidelines being extended until June 30?

Our focus has always been on ensuring the safety and security of our campus community. A key feature of this strategy is to limit the number of people on campus at any time to create a safer, physically distanced environment for those who must be on site to work or learn effectively. This is why some student classes and some research activities are continuing in-person while other tasks have been shifted to remote work. By keeping this balance, we are better able to keep everyone safe.

One purpose of announcing the extended the working from home guidelines is to recognize that some employees need to plan ahead around things such as child care, and having certainty around the timeline of remote working will allow for this.

We realize that extending the work from home guideline is not good news for everyone and that many of you want to return to campus sooner. If the situation changes rapidly for the better you may be able to come back sooner.

In these uncertain times, the University of Calgary strives to provide as much clarity and certainty as possible. 

Please continue to take care of each other and stay safe. 

Thank you,
Dru Marshall.
Provost