This message to all faculty and staff has been approved by Renisha Gibbs, Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Finance & Administration Chief of Staff.
Florida State University continues to monitor the COVID-19 Coronavirus situation closely. At this time, there are no reported cases on campus or in Tallahassee and Leon County. There is no immediate risk for the FSU campus. The University shifted to online courses as a mitigation strategy to reduce the amount of people on campus. This was a crucial preventative measure due to spring break and the various travel plans of our students. Faculty and staff who travel to impacted areas during this time, should also follow recommendations to self-isolate. However, it is strongly recommended that all faculty, staff, and students refrain from domestic and international travel except for emergency purposes.
Being Prepared
It is important for all employees to be prepared for remote work in the event of an outbreak. However, because there are currently no reported cases of COVID-19 in the area, employees are expected to adhere to their normal work hours and locations, whenever possible. If there are individual circumstances that warrant an employee working remotely, contact the Office of Human Resources. These situations will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. This is an evolving situation and procedures will be updated based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), and World Health Organization (WHO). For the most up-to-date announcements regarding the University’s response to COVID-19, please refer to the FSU Coronavirus page.
We strongly recommend you formulate a plan in case you are required to self-quarantine for a 14-day period for any reason. If you travel to any other area with an outbreak, contact the Office of Human Resources if you need to self-quarantine or self-isolate.
FSU Workplace Policies
Faculty and Staff play an important role in helping transition coursework to online content and continuing the operations of the institution. Understandably, there are many questions about how preventative self-quarantine and the possibility of remote work and moving classes online, impact existing Human Resources Policies. The Office of Human Resources has provided specific guidance for faculty and staff questions related to our policies. The Coronavirus Workplace Guidance page and FAQs provide full details to assist faculty and staff during this time.
Resources
In an effort to better assist employees who have questions during this time, we have created a Human Resources Coronavirus Task Force. If you have questions, please refer to the contacts listed below.
| HR Coronavirus Task Force Contacts | |||
| General Questions | Renisha Gibbs | (850) 644-8082 | rgibbs@fsu.edu |
| General Staff Issues | Tracey Pearson Back-up contact: Julie Ritter |
(850) 644-3694 (850) 645-2733 |
tvpearson@fsu.edu jritter@fsu.edu |
| General Faculty Issues | Rebecca Peterson Back-up contact: Tiffany Ward |
(850) 645-2202 (850) 644-0184 |
rpeterson@fsu.edu tnward@fsu.edu |
| Payroll Questions | Phaedra Harris | (850) 644-7705 | pharris@fsu.edu |
| Attendance & Leave Questions | Christine Conley | (850) 644-1978 | caconley@fsu.edu |
| Communications | Shelley Lopez | (850) 644-6602 | s.lopez@fsu.edu |
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a useful resource for confidential professional and personal support and can be reached at (850) 644-2288.
For questions regarding students, please contact Tyler Shannon (850) 644-9555. For Academic concerns, please contact the Office of the Provost (850) 644-1816.
Final Thoughts
Our faculty and staff are important to us. We understand that this unprecedented event can cause a lot of questions and anxiety. We want you to know that your well-being is of the utmost importance and we are here to support you. We are doing everything in our power to circumvent any potential health risks while maintaining the University’s daily operations. While this time is challenging, we appreciate your understanding and patience as we work through this critical time together.
Renisha Gibbs
Associate Vice President for Human Resources/F&A Chief of Staff