Colleagues,
As we look forward to starting a new academic year in the fall, I want to update the Academic Affairs Principles for Staff Remote Work. Beginning September 1, 2023, Academic Affairs expects full student services to be available in person on campus from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
We have made great strides in our student success efforts, as seen in the increased persistence and graduation rates we have achieved in recent years. I continue to be grateful to everyone who works tirelessly every day to support our students. I want to acknowledge and express thanks for the efforts that offices across Academic Affairs have made to shift resources to meet changing student needs. Nonetheless, we have much to do in order to achieve our broader goals. An essential step toward centering the students in all we do is ensuring they get the services they need when they are needed.
In support of our Students First commitments, it is imperative that students receive timely service so that they can persist and progress toward their degrees. While we adopted a number of remote-access services during the pandemic that will continue to be useful components of our service portfolio, it is important that staff be available to meet with students on campus to respond to inquiries made at the front desk/service counter.
In support of these student success goals, I affirm the expectation that Academic Affairs staff will be principally in-person, effective September 1, 2023. While remote work arrangements will remain available, the expectation is that staff will have a maximum of two remote work days, subject to the approval of their supervisors. To support opportunities to be together, I ask that all Academic Affairs offices align our in-person work schedules on Wednesdays so that we can increase these chances to be together and affirm our community.
All PSU employees continue to be eligible for remote work agreements in line with Human Resources policies and the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA). Such arrangements must be made with supervisors and under the guidance established by the provost and division heads. Managers will continue to be responsible for working with their units to develop and maintain in-person and remote work schedules that can meet Academic Affairs and unit goals in providing adequate staffing to meet students’ needs.
I have so much appreciated the increasing in-person presence on campus and in the city. I am reminded every day of the benefits of the kind of problem-solving and collaboration that comes from connecting in person. I very much look forward to seeing all of you and plan to stop by and visit. See you all on Wednesdays!
Best,
Susan Jeffords
Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs
