Friday, Mar 13, 2020
Dear Faculty and Staff,
We are writing to follow up on the email communication you received earlier today regarding our coronavirus (COVID-19) preparations.
First, thanks to all of you who have been working very hard these past few weeks to plan and prepare for this outbreak and to help to ensure continuity of our classes and operations, to the extent possible, as we try to mitigate transmission of the virus.
Second, we would like to reiterate that the University remains open throughout the extended spring break except for Friday, March 20, which is a University holiday.
Third, we wanted to provide you with additional information regarding our operations over the next few weeks. We hope you find this helpful. We will continue to provide updates via email and our website at www.rider.edu/coronavirus as we know more information, particularly as it concerns our operations, including classes and events, immediately following spring break. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact your supervisor or Human Resources at 609-896-5140.
Travel restrictions and requirements
Until further notice, all non-essential domestic and international university-sponsored air travel is suspended. Exceptions to this policy require the approval of the division head. If you have questions about any University-sponsored travel over the next several weeks, please talk with your supervisor or dean.
Please notify your dean or supervisor if you are conducting personal travel to any country with a CDC Level 3 travel health warning. See the CDC website for more information. You will not be allowed to return to either campus after traveling to any CDC defined level 3 country until you have self-isolated for 14 days upon your return to the U.S. and you are symptom-free.
We ask that deans and supervisors, in turn, notify Human Resources if someone from your college, school or department is self-isolating as per the above.
Work from home considerations
Department heads have been urged to extend their preparedness efforts to include work from home considerations. Telecommuting guidelines will be liberally applied during this period of time, to allow employees who are able to remain productive remotely to do so on an as needed basis. Please be in touch with your dean or supervisor for further information specific to your situation.
We encourage you to refer to www.rider.edu/oitconnect for information and resources for working and/or communicating remotely. We also encourage departments to test the various methods outlined on this site so you are comfortable using them before having to do so remotely.
We appreciate the work of our deans, department chairs, faculty and the TLC to support remote instruction should that become necessary. For further information and resources in support of that work, visit the TLC's Keep Learning website.
Direct deposit
We encourage all employees to consider setting up direct deposit of your paychecks if you have not already. This will reduce the number of checks that require printing if we are minimally staffed during an outbreak. Please use this link to sign up.
If you become ill or are in direct contact with someone with coronavirus
The CDC recommends that you call ahead to your personal healthcare provider before going in to be seen if you suspect you have coronavirus. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
If you are confirmed to have coronavirus, stay home, take care of yourself and do NOT return to campus until your personal healthcare provider has determined the risk of secondary transmission to others to be low. This is based on CDC guidance. No doctor’s note will be required other than for the processing of longer absences covered under our short-term disability policy.
If you are in direct contact with someone confirmed to have coronavirus, whether or not you yourself have symptoms, do NOT return to campus until you have self-isolated for 14 days and are symptom-free, or have been released to do so by a physician.
In either case, let your supervisor or dean know of your absence. Deans and supervisors, in turn, should contact Human Resources. This will help them provide coverage in your absence and inform continuing decision-making and planning as we consider the extent of the outbreak on our campuses. Generally, we will apply existing leave time policies. Situations involving individuals who feel they have unique circumstances will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
We understand that there may be a heightened need to care for ill family members given the nature of the outbreak. University policy allows for the use of sick pay in these situations. Again, a doctor’s note will not be required and telecommuting policies will be liberally applied.
University health insurance relief
We are pleased to announce that our healthcare partner, Aetna, has taken a number of proactive measures to support employees and their dependents enrolled in university-sponsored medical coverage.
A detailed description of those measures can be found here. They include:
• Waived co-pays for all diagnostic testing related to COVID-19.
• No co-pay for telemedicine visits for any reason for the next (90) days
• Aetna will send a care package to any covered employee who is diagnosed with COVID-19.
Food service during extended spring break
Please see the dining website for hours of our retail food operations over the next two weeks.
Please also know that we continue our enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols overnight and throughout regular operating hours.
Minimizing the spread of germs
As a reminder, there are many ways in which each of us can minimize the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like coronavirus and the flu.
As per the CDC:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
The University will continue to provide the most up to date information at www.rider.edu/coronavirus.