Administrative Responsibility:   Senior Vice President for Finance & Business Operations and Chief Financial Officer

PURPOSE

This policy identifies situations in which the University may invoke Remote Operations for those staff members able to work offsite.

SCOPE

This Policy applies to all WSU employees and non-employees (students, etc.).  Critical infrastructure individuals are addressed within the policy below.

DEFINITIONS

N / A    

POLICY

Remote Operations Policy 

Wayne State University will transition to remote operations when severe weather conditions or other interruptions compromise the safety of its students, faculty, and staff, both at the university and in transit to or from the university, or the efficiency of campus operations.  Insofar as practicable, an announcement will be made before 6 pm the day before a move to remote operations. Announcement of a move to remote operation requires faculty members (i.e., an instructor who leads the impacted class/lab) to cancel their affected in-person classes and to (1) schedule online synchronous class(es) at the regularly scheduled class time during remote operations where feasible, or (2) to make other appropriate arrangements with their students to ensure continuity of academic operations. This will enable the University to remain open and continue to perform academic research, serve its students, and serve the community.  Supervisors should exercise appropriate discretion and flexibility concerning non-instructional staff who have the ability to work from home. Where possible, non-instructional staff who do not have the ability to work remotely will make alternate arrangements with their supervisor. A move to remote operations will not affect existing Flexible Work Arrangements.

NOTE: Designated Public Safety, Facilities Planning and Management, Computing and Information Technology personnel, non-academic student services, and other employees with certain research/animal care responsibilities must report for work even when remote operations are in effect.

Trigger events such as weather, utility interruption or network connectivity issues on or near campus (or extension centers) may cause the university to move to remote operations.  These events include the following:

1. Weather (e.g., predictions of or actual snow, rain/flood, wind, tornado)
2. Utility Interruption (e.g. electric, natural gas, domestic/wastewater, steam) - the university's Chief Housing Officer (if housing facilities are impacted) may also be consulted
3. Network Connectivity The Office of the Associate Vice President, Computing and Information Technology (C&IT), will assess connectivity issues and provide information to the Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Operations and the Provost

The departments listed above will closely monitor the situation based on information provided by the appropriate authorities.  The Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Operations determines the need for and scope of moving to remote operations and/or may assess whether University closure is warranted pursuant to 10.1 Severe Weather Closure.  

Details surrounding a remote operations event will be communicated through the WSU website (http://www.wayne.edu), WSU Academica (http://academica.wayne.edu), WDET-FM (Public Radio 101.9), and local radio and television stations.  A message will also be sent to cell phones and email addresses registered with Wayne State Alerts.

PROCEDURE

N / A

APPENDICES

None

RELATED UNIVERSITY/BOARD POLICIES

1. 10.1 Severe Weather Closure

Effective Date: 10/1/2022

Revised Date: 10/1/2022

Reviewed Date: 10/1/2022

To be reviewed, at minimum, every three years and/or revised as needed by:  Senior Vice President for Finance & Business Operations and Chief Financial Officer.

Next Review By Date: 10/1/2025

SUPERSEDES POLICY

N / A

HISTORICAL DATES

None