5.28 Faculty Remote Work

(Adopted 7-13-2023)

Faculty shall be provided the opportunity to utilize flexible work arrangements to meet the needs of both the employee and the College.  Flexible work arrangements are based on the specific needs of the department and the ability of the individual employee to work effectively in a flexible work arrangement.  Faculty-requested flexible arrangements are a privilege, not an expectation of employment, Faculty with flexible work arrangements remain subject to applicable College policies and procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and federal and state laws.

Procedures (Adopted 7-13-2023)

5.28.1     Definitions

Continuity of Operations – Completing all regular duties as assigned for a designated role within the department/division with minimal negative impact on business operations or student needs.

Work Week – A typical faculty work week consists of 40 hours spread over five days, normally Monday through Friday.

Work Day – A work day is a contract day during which faculty are expected to meet their course load, office hours, and committee requirements.

Situational Remote Work – Working from a location other than the College campus due to unexpected needs.  Situational Remote Work can be short-term (1-3 business days) or long-term (more than 3 business days, but not permanent).  Situational Remote Work is intended to facilitate continuity of operations for the College and work-life balance for the employee by allowing the employee to work from a remote location due to temporary needs or circumstances.

5.28.2     Remote Work Requirements

Faculty will not be permitted to work remotely on days when they are scheduled to teach an in-person class(es).  To be considered for remote work, faculty must meet the following requirements:

  • Have a reliable internet connection or access to a College-issued hot spot sufficient to support video conferencing and access to needed platforms to complete job responsibilities. The College will not reimburse costs for home internet service or other technology purchased by the employee.
  • Have a mobile phone or landline to forward/answer calls.
  • Keep their electronic calendar/availability status updated by posting regular work hours, using statuses such as “working elsewhere” and “out of office” to identify times when working remotely or taking personal/medical leave, and ensuring meetings, scheduled work tasks, etc. are posted on the calendar.
  • Include days that are remote work and days that are “in office” in the email signature.
  • Be responsive to communication via email and phone, as well as respond to all communication in a timely manner.
  • Maintain a secure workspace, including maintaining the confidentiality of documents and conversations.
  • Provide an appropriate electronic device or have access to a College-issued device that will ensure effective completion of the job.
  • Be available to work from campus in specific circumstances as identified by the department chairperson and/or division dean.
  • Have the appropriate work ethic and sense of responsibility to work from a remote location.
  • Not be on a Performance Improvement Plan.

5.28.3     Approval Process

After evaluating any technical or security concerns associated with their remote work request, the faculty member will complete a Remote Work Request form and submit it to their division dean.

  1. The division dean will review the Remote Work Request form and ensure the faculty member’s required position duties can be performed from a remote location.
  2. The division dean will evaluate the request and make a recommendation to the Vice President of Academic Affairs
  3. If approved, the approval section of the Remote Work Request will be completed and documented.
  4. While the Remote Work Plan can be reviewed at any time, at minimum a review will be conducted at the end of each fall and spring semester.

5.28.4 Situational Remote Work

  1. Requirements
    To be considered for situational remote work, faculty must meet the following requirements:

    • Have a reliable internet connection sufficient to support video conferencing and access to needed platforms to complete job responsibilities.
    • Have a mobile phone or landline to forward/answer calls.
    • Keep their electronic calendar/availability status updated by posting regular work hours, using statuses such as “working elsewhere” and “out of office” to clarify available times, and ensuring meetings, scheduled work tasks, etc. are posted on the calendar.
    • Be responsive to communication via email and phone, as well as respond to all communication in a timely manner.
    • Maintain a secure workspace, including maintaining the confidentiality of documents and conversations.
    • Have the ability to teach their entire course load remotely for a short period
    • Provide a plan for communicating the change in instructional mode with students.
    • Ensure that students have the appropriate technology (if applicable) to receive the class instruction.
    • Provide a plan for providing feedback to students (if applicable) during the remote period.
    • Have the appropriate work ethic and sense of responsibility to work remotely.
    • Not be on a Performance Improvement Plan.
  2. Approval Process
    1. Requests should be submitted as early as possible.
    2. Approved requests should be consistent with the college and department mission and not compromise the services provided to any stakeholder.
    3. Employees and supervisors should ensure that students or colleagues are not adversely affected by situational work arrangements.
    4. The Vice President of Academic Affairs or designee will have the discretion to approve the request or require the faculty member to utilize medical leave or personal leave if it appears the faculty member will not be available to maintain continuity of operations.
      1. Short-Term Situational Remote Work
        Requests should be made to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, after consultation with the division dean, either verbally or in writing, and should explain the situation necessitating the employee to work from a remote location.   Verbal requests should be documented in writing within 24 hours.
      2. Long-Term Situational Remote Work
        Requests for remote work due to unexpected instances that require the faculty member to be away from the campus for more than three days should be submitted in writing to the Vice President of Academic Affairs after consultation with the division dean.  Faculty must submit:

        • The timeline anticipated for the situational work request.
        • A plan for meeting their course load requirements during the remote work period.
        • The preferred method of outreach while working remotely (e-mail, text, phone call) and a plan for response.