September 4, 2020
To All Course Instructors and Staff,
As we prepare for a new term, we have launched a new centralized COVID-19 website for faculty, staff and students. It regroups all the documents and information that pertain to how we are continuing to navigate the ongoing public health crisis at Carleton.
Over the summer, we also updated a number of policies and processes in preparation for a fall term unlike any other. The health and safety of all members of the Carleton community is the university’s top priority. Working from home, maintaining physical distancing and hand hygiene remain the primary approaches to minimize the risk of virus transmission. The information below is provided for those who cannot work from home.
Accessing Campus
Employees are expected to continue to work remotely if their duties can be performed remotely. As we slowly and progressively return to campus, you will receive information from your manager/dean if and when you are permitted to return to campus and the circumstances under which a return would occur.
Before returning to campus, all employees must complete the COVID-19: Infection Prevention and Control Training on cuLearn.
Building access is restricted to authorized personnel only with exception of buildings and spaces that are designated as publicly accessible. Visit the Building Updates webpage for a list of publicly accessible buildings and spaces, hours of operation and access protocols.
To ensure the health and safety of all members of the Carleton community, and to ensure a two-metre (six-foot) physical distance, access to the tunnels has been restricted to authorized individuals only and those with approval to use the tunnels for accessibility purposes.
Mask Policy
Carleton has updated its Mask Policy to comply with the Mandatory Mask bylaw adopted by the City of Ottawa and the recommendations of public health officials. Masks are required in all publicly accessible spaces within buildings and in non-publicly accessible workplaces where a two-metre physical distance cannot be consistently maintained, or in common or shared spaces.
Updated Safe Meeting Protocols
It continues to be strongly encouraged that all meetings are held online or through teleconference options. If a face-to-face meeting is required, please review the updated Safe Meeting Protocols for on- and off-campus meetings.
Updated Travel Advisories
All university-related (including research and field work) incoming and outgoing international travel, including to and from the United States, and non-essential domestic travel, remains suspended until further notice as per the updated Travel Advisories. Exemptions for university-related (including research and field work) domestic travel need to be approved by the relevant dean or vice-president in consultation with Environmental Health and Safety and Risk Management as required.
Parking on Campus
Carleton will be waiving all parking fees for the fall term and will not be issuing parking permits to students, faculty or staff at this time. You can rest assured that your parking space will be maintained. Parking Services will review its fees for the winter term and provide an update to the campus community.
We encourage all members of the Carleton community to consider donating their monthly parking rate to the Carleton Student Emergency Fund 2020 on FutureFunder to provide immediate assistance to Carleton students in these challenging times.
COVID Reporting and Feeling Unwell
If you are feeling unwell or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you are required to stay at home. If you are on campus and are feeling unwell, please leave campus immediately and inform your manager/dean electronically.
Reporting all cases of symptoms potentially linked to COVID-19 is mandatory.
Employees may also want to download COVID Alert: Canada’s free exposure notification app.
Template Messaging for Departments/Units
As we continue to deliver our services remotely, it is important that students and members of our community remain informed on how to connect with your department/unit. We have developed suggested communication guidelines and templates to ensure our students, internal service providers and members of our community receive consistent and clear information regarding our service delivery.
Thank you for all that you are doing to continue supporting our students and each other during this challenging time.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Blanchard
COVID-19 Lead
On behalf of the COVID-19 Steering Committee
Friday, September 4, 2020 in Coronavirus
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