As part of the plan to return to on-site operations, researchers are required to acknowledge their awareness of the university policies and procedures on the following:

• What to do if they feel ill, may have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 over the past 14 days and/or diagnosed with COVID-19 
• What the university response will be in the event of a positive diagnosis in a facility/area.

All research faculty should have already developed continuity plans for their lab groups in preparation for a ramp down of research. A return of on-site research will require you to summarize these plans in the event that public health circumstances require another suspension or remote migration of research activities within 24 hours.

Use the researcher pandemic preparedness guide (a 2-page self-examination; .pdf) to help you with your plans.

Every individual person, lab/facility and activity that wishes to restart work on-site is required to be covered by an approved work plan. Faculty PIs and facility directors are encouraged to review the current plan template (.docx) so that they are familiar with the requirements. However, please note the following:

• Do not submit a plan to the OVPR unless approved to do so by your dean’s office.
• The plan template content and structure will likely change over time. Check periodically for new versions/updates before completing your own plan when requested to do so.

Research plans are “living documents” that may be modified or revised as circumstances require.  Revisions can include:

• Addition/removal of personnel.
• Addition of new spaces.
• Additional usage of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face shields, to facilitate training or other lab activities that require individuals to be in close contact.
• Revised processes for training new lab members.
• Change in research projects if they affect safety (e.g. addition of animal work or resumption of human subjects studies)

 The process to revise/amend an approved return to research plan is:

• Revise the Word document version of your currently approved to reflect the changes you would like to make. Please do the following:
  • Use “track changes” or similar approach (highlights, different colors) to make changes easy to identify.
  • Ensure that the plan is self-consistent. That is, revising one section does not create conflicting information or process with another section. 
  • Ensure that any additional rooms/spaces and/or personnel that are added to a plan are considered in the processes and procedures that are described in the document. For example: additional personnel may require enhanced scheduling tools and processes.
• Work with your Associate Dean for Research (ADR) to review plan amendments and receive any other relevant guidance.

All return to campus research plans, at minimum, need to address the following health and safety compliance considerations as outlined by university policy:

• Physical distancing
• Anyone who is sick must stay home
• On-site personnel must undergo temperature checks when required
• Cloth facial coverings
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Hand-washing
• Food handling

All projects/facilities seeking to return to on-site operations must hold a consultation with CMU Facilities Management and Campus Services (FMCS) to be advised on proper cleaning protocols as well as the roles and responsibilities of lab personnel and/or others (including FMCS) in ensuring regular cleaning and disinfecting of active spaces. Details on these consults can be found in this back to work cleaning guidance (.pdf). 

In most cases, while FMCS can assist with an initial cleaning, it will be most appropriate for a lab to continue to oversee its own routine (daily) cleaning.

FMCS will facilitate the procurement of cleaning supplies and make them available to labs/facilities. Through August 31, 2020, FMCS will cover the related expenses. After August 31, the lab or department may incur a charge for cleaning supplies.

In all circumstances, FMCS will continue an expanded cleaning and disinfection regimen for common areas daily, based on scheduled occupancy.

As part of the return to on-site operations, every lab/facility must have a process to track the date, time and duration that personnel spend in a space. This information may be used to facilitate response processes such as contact tracing and cleaning in the event there is a positive COVID-19 case in a lab or building. An electronic tracking system is recommended. See the Best Practices for Planning to Return to On-Site Research document for guidance/recommendations for setting up an electronic log system if your lab/facility does not have one in place.

All approved projects/facilities are required to provide a weekly report on plan execution and compliance issues. Details related to structure and content of weekly reports will be provided to plan owners once the plan submission review and approval process is complete.

As part of pandemic safety and preparedness planning human subjects researchers must review and follow the following guidance documents:

• Pandemic Safety and Preparedness Guidelines for On-Site Human Subject Research (.pdf) REVISED 11/20/20
• COVID-19 Screening Process and Questions for Participants in On-Site Research Studies (.pdf) REVISED 11/20/20
• COVID-19 Related Information for Participants in On-Site Research (.pdf)

In addition, research plans require that human subjects researchers provide details about the frequency of studies, the typical pool of subject participants, the processes that will be put in place for administering screening as well as the process with which researchers will meet and guide participants across campus to the study location.

Human subjects researchers continuing to do studies remotely are advised to review the following guidance documents:

• Performing human subject studies remotely (.pdf) (IRB and the Information Security Office (ISO))
• Temporary guidance (.pdf) on issuing human subject payments for remote studies, including options for using MTurk, PayPal, Venmo and gift cards.

Graduate students are vitally important to our research activities, and when your research is returning to on-site work, you can and should be included in the plans submitted for authorization to return. These plans are designed to ensure that all lab participants, including graduate students, are aware of and are able to meet the safety measures CMU is requiring for resumption of on-site activities. As we continue to expand on-site research, graduate student program timing will be one factor that deans consider as they prioritize the order and pace at which activities return.

Students who have questions and concerns about their work or returning should discuss with their faculty advisor, their department and college, and as always can reach out to Amy Burkert, Vice Provost for Education, for additional guidance and support.