As recently announced, beginning Jan. 4, 2027, the standard flexible work arrangement (FWA) will be four days onsite and one remote day per week until further notice.
Also, all existing schedule exceptions will be reviewed, and any staff member whose schedule exception is not renewed will have until Jan. 4, 2027, to adopt the 4:1 schedule.
Workplace Flexibility for Staff
The university's baseline standard for staff is either a fully in-person schedule or a hybrid schedule with four days onsite and one day remote each week.
Exceptions to the 4:1 Standard
Certain positions or groups of positions may be eligible for alternative arrangements, specifically:
- Working fewer than four in-person days per week
- Working completely remotely.
Approval Process: All exception requests must be approved in advance by the supervisor, the VP or dean, and the FWA Committee.
Purpose and Context
Over the past several years, our university community has been on an important journey in reimagining how we work together, and our ability to innovate, solve problems and foster community is strongest when we are working together in the same physical space.
Decisions regarding flexible work arrangements are based strictly on operational and business needs and will be determined by the supervisor and leadership.
Guiding Principles
While the specific guidelines provided above are intended for staff, both faculty and staff are expected to embrace the following principles. Placing in-person collaboration at the center of our daily interactions is fundamental to our university's success.
- Advance the mission of the university. Every faculty and staff member directly contributes to the university's mission to deliver excellent education and research. Because we are predominantly a residential university, flexible work requests will be considered in the context of the mission rather than group or individual preferences.
- Support the effectiveness of teams and individuals. Flexibility in the workplace will be balanced with organizational objectives and job function.
- Role-Based Exceptions: Roles requiring less than four days per week on-site typically involve highly technical work, require substantial uninterrupted deep focus, and have minimal dependency on regular colleague interaction.
- Collaborative Balance: However, decisions on flexibility will consider both team contribution/collaboration requirements and an individual's effectiveness in meeting their responsibilities including essential engagement with colleagues and students in support of our mission.
- Recognize and appreciate the benefits of being physically together. Sustaining the positive CMU culture and community requires staff and faculty working together in person. The energy of our campus — the exchange of ideas, the mentoring of students, the collaboration across disciplines, planned and spontaneous interactions and the shared sense of purpose — is foundational to who we are as an institution and to the impact we have on the world.
- Value the opportunity for flexibility. The 4:1 posture inherently includes flexibility. These guidelines encourage supervisors and employees to work together on how best to support the work and well-being of staff as we strive to advance the overall mission of the university.