Coronavirus Information

Update: March 15, 2020, 10:16 p.m.

Dear Colleagues,

Given the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Buffalo State College will be as flexible as possible to promote recommended social distancing and limit population density on campus to reduce the spread of this virus. To accommodate the needs of our faculty and staff, effective immediately, employees may submit a request for a temporary alternate work arrangement (i.e. alternate location or flexible schedule) to their supervisor/department head as their situation relates to COVID-19. Any approved temporary request is subject to revision, suspension, or revocation based on future guidance by the college or the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) and/or SUNY.

All requests must be based on the expectation that Buffalo State, and all its units/offices, are open for business, and that we must provide continuity of operations. In addition, it is a requirement that offices that provide forward-facing services will continue to have adequate staffing to meet the needs of our community. In other words, if there is an expectation that a student, their family, faculty, staff or other individuals would reasonably expect a college employee to greet them in person, an appropriate college employee must be present during normal working hours.

We understand that due to the nature of their work, not all employees have the flexibility to make use of an alternate work arrangement. 

An employee should initiate a conversation with their supervisor if they wish to and believe they can perform their duties in an alternate work arrangement. A decision will be based on the following:

• The temporary alternate work arrangement is COVID-19-related (e.g., child care due to school/daycare closing, elder care support, additional underlying health risks of the employee or member of their immediate household, etc.). Employees must charge appropriate accruals for situations unrelated to the COVID-19 outbreak.  
• The supervisor’s confidence that the person’s alternate work arrangement is adequately conducive to completion of full core duties.
• Work duties will be performed during their normal work day.
• Normal in-person operations, if applicable, will continue.
• The employee will be available for work-related discussion online or by phone.

Ultimate approval will be made at the level of the appropriate Cabinet member and Human Resource Management.

Documentation and Process

Supervisors must communicate that the following responsibilities apply:

• A specific work schedule, including work days and hours, will be agreed upon in advance. Records of work activities will be maintained. 
• Employees who are unable to work due to illness will charge sick leave and will report their absence to their supervisor. Normal departmental procedures apply.
• Employees who wish to be relieved of responsibility for work on a particular day or days will use vacation and/or personal leave (if applicable). Normal departmental procedures apply.
• If necessary for performing their assigned tasks, employees may reasonably be expected to provide their own equipment, as well as internet and phone service.
• In the rare situation, an employee is loaned college equipment to use off campus, the employee will be responsible for the safety and security of such property.
• Supervisors will be responsible for ensuring that all tasks, job responsibilities, and processes are completed in a timely manner, and that all deadlines are met.
• College employees will be responsible for maintaining proprietary and confidential information (ideally using VPN for data transmittal) and for abiding by SUNY, government, and federal policies and guidelines, including those of our accrediting agencies.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Human Resource Management at kawalel@buffalostate.edu or (716) 878-4822.

We ask that you continue to monitor our COVID-19 information website, which contains all communications sent to our college community, as well as regular updates via your Buffalo State email.

Over the last several days, faculty and staff have demonstrated once again that we are a responsive, resilient, and caring community. The days ahead will be challenging, but together we can get through this.   

Thank you,

Katherine Conway-Turner
President
Buffalo State College