Dear colleagues,

As Governor Baker announced a phased reopening of Massachusetts and in alignment with Boston University’s plan for a phased return to the workplace, the School of Public Health is also preparing to engage in drafting appropriate protocols for employees’ safe return to the workplace. While the first phase of the campus-wide Research Recovery Plan has been launched, offering a toolkit as the University engages in this endeavor, it is important for our community to also think carefully on the key steps involved when it comes to our entire community being back on premises. In that vein, I have convened a working group, coined SAFER (Safe Actions for Employees’ Return), which will focus on the following:

  • Protecting and promoting public health by supporting our faculty, staff and students in advancing the mission of the School in education, research, practice and administration.
  • In doing so, ensuring that the physical workplace which we return to is properly fitted to maximize the safety of our faculty, staff and students.
  • Subsequently establishing proper guidelines vis-à-vis on premises staffing levels and options thereof, to help shepherd us toward adopting safe and sustainable practices and protocols in alignment with the larger university and in compliance with local orders/ordinances of the City of Boston, as well as the State of Massachusetts Reopening Model.

I would like to take a moment to thank the following team members who have graciously accepted to serve as part of this working group:

  • Patricia Fabian, EH Professor and Chair of Faculty Senate
  • Ryan Wisniewski – Chair of Staff Senate
  • Amanda Velez – Director of Educational Initiatives, Education
  • Meredith Hanna – Executive Director of Administration, HLPM
  • Patricia Gonzalez – Director of Administration, CHS
  • John Douglas – Director of Administration, EH
  • Lorraine Kiley – Director of Administration, Epi
  • Bradford Francis – Director of Administration, Biostatistics
  • Susan Gomes – Director of Administration, BEDAC
  • Abdoulaye Kouyate – Director of Administration, GH
  • Gina Duong – Director of Administration, CLER
  • Joline Durant – Director of Faculty Services – Research Administration
  • Tom Dauria – Assistant Dean – Budget Planning and Finance
  • Michael Koehler – Director of Facilities and Building Operations

These team members will work closely with constituencies in their respective departments as we work jointly in this working group to optimize safety in the workplace.

Thank you for your input, patience and collaboration as we move forward with plans for a phased return of our workforce to the workplace, aiming to accomplish our first priority – the safety of all.

One final aspect meriting attention. Under normal circumstances, given this upcoming Memorial Day weekend, we would do an early release, ending the regular workday on Friday, May 22 at 2:00 PM.  To that end, I encourage us all to do the same, even as we work virtually. I trust that all staff will check with supervisors to make sure that core functions are met. That said, I hope everyone is able to unplug early on Friday and take the long weekend to truly decompress, rest and hopefully enjoy some much desired sunny weather.

 

Sincerely,

Ira

Ira Lazic, MPA
Associate Dean for Administration & Finance
iralazic@bu.edu

View all announcements