Carnegie Mellon University ———

COVID-19 Updates

Information and resources for the CMU community

COVID-19 Updates  ›  Returning to On-Site Work

Return to On-Site Work: Guidelines & Requirements

The university has outlined a phased transition plan to gradually bring activities back to our campuses. As the phased approach advances, we will update these pages with additional information as needed.

Phase one allows for the continuation of on-site work by essential employees (faculty, staff and researchers), and the return to on-site work by those whose physical presence fills a strong CMU business or mission-critical need. Anyone returning to on-site work must first receive university approval.

Remote instruction will continue for all summer courses through August 1. We are currently planning for fall semester classes to begin in Pittsburgh on the previously scheduled date of August 31, under the hybrid model described in earlier communications.

Steps Select Units Will Take to Return On-Site

  1. Selection: A small number of units/labs are selected by university leadership as pilot participants to return for on-site work. Gradually, additional units and labs will be selected for return.
  2. Planning: Department heads/supervisors for the units selected for return to on-site work will develop on-site work plans for their units.
  3. Approval: Plans are reviewed; approved units notified.
  4. Individual considerations: All employees whose unit is approved to return on-site will be responsible for reviewing health considerations and clearances, and work with their supervisor to plan their return.
  5. Safe implementation: All employees whose unit is approved for return to on-site work will be advised of, and must review enhanced safety and health requirements which are contained in the plan which has been approved for the unit’s return, and agree to adhere to them.
  6. Reporting and improving: Departments heads/supervisors provide progress reports to ensure that compliance continues to be demonstrated. Improve processes based on feedback.

Faculty, Staff, Researchers

For purposes of this section, “employees” is deemed to include all faculty, staff and researchers, including student researchers, RAs and TAs.

Principles

On-site presence should be limited to essential personnel and individuals whose work responsibilities support a defined business need and have been approved to be on campus.

Prior to returning to on-site work, personnel who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, received a positive diagnosis or have had close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual within the last 14 days must stay home and cannot return to work until they are cleared by a healthcare practitioner and they have provided documentation of that clearance to Human Resources.

Enhanced measures should be implemented to stop or minimize the potential for transmission of COVID-19 on CMU’s campus and other CMU work locations.