Special Message on Mental Health and Well-being
Dear Colleagues,
A new year always holds countless opportunities and many things to look forward to – and this year is no exception for our University.
Yet, as we enter 2022 with COVID-19 still part of our daily lives, many of us are finding it challenging to balance multiple, and often competing, responsibilities in a pandemic that has stretched on far longer than we ever anticipated two years ago.
As faculty and staff, we are dedicated to supporting our students, but that also means we must prioritize our own mental wellness. To help support employees this semester, Human Resources is sponsoring a variety of events in partnership with CommPsych, our professional counseling service offered through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The first events are currently being planned for mid-February with dates and details to be shared in coming weeks.
Please also remember an important resource available for you is the EAP, which provides confidential counseling, and resources on financial, legal and work-life matters. These services are offered free of charge. EAP is just a call away at 1-877-603-8259 or TDD: 1-800-697-0353.
Additionally, Academic Affairs and Student Affairs are working together to strengthen a network of care and support for our students. These resources were recently shared with students to help them as they begin the semester. Please take a few moments to review the information so that you may help support students you interact with.
For Faculty
We know that the ongoing pandemic means that you will have students who will miss class for quarantine or isolation. This will be stressful for them and you as we navigate the semester. It is essential that you explain your classroom policies related to COVID-related absenteeism, accommodations and late assignments. COVID-related policies are on the Office of Legal Affairs website under suggested syllabus messages.
During the course of the semester, you may need to move your classes to remote or hybrid instruction for a short-term (five days or less) period to accommodate needs for quarantine or isolation for students in your classes (e.g., 25% or more of students in quarantine or isolation), your own children whose schools have moved to remote instruction, or your own need for quarantine or isolation (see UNC Charlotte Academic Procedure: Faculty Illness ). These short-term changes in instructional methods can be made at the discretion of the faculty member with sufficient notice and appropriate communication to the students in their classes. You must alert your department chairs about the necessity for change before contacting students. For changes lasting longer than five days, you will need to seek approval from your dean.
For Staff
As a reminder, any staff member whose job duties allow for it – and with permission from their supervisor – may work from home one day a week through June 30, 2022, while we continue to assess our teleworking policy (University Policy 101.22). This decision can be made at the office and department level between supervisors and staff members to ensure the needs of both the employee and the University are met.
Should you or your family be directly impacted by isolation or quarantine, please work with your supervisor to make appropriate arrangements for your personal health and safety and that of our communities.
Finally, we want to call your attention to a recent change to the Charlotte academic calendar. Refresh Weekend replaces what was formerly called Spring Weekend. This decision is intended to bring greater awareness to the importance of self-care. No classes will be held on April 15-16, and you will see dedicated programming leading up to this weekend that focuses on the importance of taking time to rest, recharge and refresh ourselves, including some special programming for employees.
As we enter a new semester, we encourage you to take advantage of the resources available to you to take care of yourself and others in Niner Nation.
Sincerely,
Sharon L. Gaber
Chancellor
Joan F. Lorden
Provost
Richard Amon
Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs