News for Employees
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Guidance for Employees with Childcare Concerns
Employees who are parents, guardians, or caregivers may face challenges this fall as K-12 students attend school virtually and as childcare facilities close or reduce numbers. To lessen these challenges, UW–Madison has issued guidance on workplace flexibilities for employees who are working on site or telecommuting. If you have concerns about caring for a child due to in-home virtual learning or a lack of childcare, you are encouraged to first contact your supervisor to discuss your situation and explore possible flexibilities. You may also contact the human resources department at your school, college, or division. Every employee concern will be individually evaluated based on duties, work environment and workplace needs. Learn more at go.wisc.edu/84g8ux.
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Bus Route Changes and Public Health Measures
Changes to campus bus routes operated by Madison Metro Transit took effect this week in a return to fall semester service. Daytime service via Routes 80 and 84 has been changed to better accommodate demand. Late night Routes 81 and 82 have also been adjusted. To protect public health, face coverings will be required of all riders other than those needing accommodations. Capacity limits will be in effect, and yellow “trailer buses” will travel behind each Route 80 and 84 bus to provide overflow capacity. Buses will also receive extra cleaning and disinfecting. For details, visit transportation.wisc.edu/smart-restart-hub.
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Campus Leaders to Discuss Smart Restart on Friday
A Smart Restart update for the full campus community will take place on Friday, Aug. 21, 9–10:30 a.m., on YouTube. Chancellor Rebecca Blank and other university officials will provide an update on the university’s plans for resuming campus activities. Questions for the panelists may be sent in advance to smartrestart@vc.wisc.edu. Last week, an Employee Forum on Smart Restart featuring Chancellor Blank and others aired live on Aug. 13. This session is now available for viewing on the UW–Madison YouTube channel.
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Use This Tool to Self-Monitor for COVID-19 Symptoms
All members of the UW–Madison community are expected to monitor themselves daily for symptoms of COVID-19. An online COVID-19 Symptom Tracker has been developed by University Health Services to make symptom self-monitoring easier. The tracker asks a few simple questions and provides recommended next steps based on the user’s responses. UW–Madison is not collecting or storing any personal information entered into the Symptom Tracker. Employees, students, contractors, and campus visitors and guests are all welcome to use this tool. Find the Symptom Tracker at healthscreen.wisc.edu.
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Some In-Person Events and Meetings to Resume
UW–Madison has issued new policies regarding how and where students and employees can gather for in-person events and meetings that fall outside of the formal classroom experience. These policies seek to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 to the campus community while allowing some in-person activities to resume. The university recommends that events and meetings continue to be held virtually whenever possible. In-person events should also allow for virtual participation by attendees who choose not to or are unable to participate in person. The campus policies apply to all programs, activities, meetings, or gatherings, regardless of their location on or off university property. The policies may be modified as new information becomes available from national, state and local public health agencies. The most current university event policy can be found on the Smart Restart website at smartrestart.wisc.edu.
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Smart Restart Sessions for Supervisors
Online training is being offered for managers and supervisors who would like to become more familiar with campus resources related to Smart Restart. In the hour-long session, supervisors will review the Smart Restart website and have an opportunity to ask questions. Smart Restart Information for Supervisors is scheduled for several dates and times beginning Tuesday, August 25. To register for one of the free sessions, visit go.wisc.edu/1wj903. Additional sessions may be scheduled to meet demand. Supervisors can also find other resources related to the university’s plans on the Smart Restart website for supervisors.
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Online Smart Restart Forum to Address Employee Questions
As part of Smart Restart, an online forum for faculty and staff will be held at noon on Thursday, Aug. 13. Chancellor Rebecca Blank, Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Laurent Heller, Chief Human Resources Officer Mark Walters and other panelists will answer the most frequently asked questions from employees and governance leads. They will also discuss topics gathered from the survey emailed to employees last week. The forum will focus on issues such as employee health and safety, facilities modifications, positive case reporting, accommodations, benefits and leave, transportation, and childcare and caregiving flexibilities. Employees are encouraged to email questions to smartrestart@vc.wisc.edu before and during the session. The forum will be streamed live and will be available for viewing later on the UW–Madison YouTube channel.
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COVID-19 Testing Offered on Campus
University Health Services (UHS) is offering no-cost COVID-19 testing to students, faculty and staff on campus. You can make an appointment for testing using the MyUHS web portal at myuhs.uhs.wisc.edu/login_dualauthentication.aspx. All UW–Madison students and employees have a MyUHS account. To prepare for your test, log in to your MyUHS account and make sure your Profile details are correct. Go to Forms to review and sign the UHS Information and Consent Form. Then go to Appointments to schedule a COVID-19 test. For details, go to uhs.wisc.edu/medical/#testing.
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Guidelines Issued for Positive COVID-19 Test Reporting
UW–Madison has developed protocols for what to do when individuals working, living or learning on campus test positive for COVID-19. This includes contact tracing to notify others who may have been in close contact with a COVID-positive individual, providing necessary cleaning to workspaces and classrooms, and assisting Housing residents who must be isolated or quarantined.
University Health Services (UHS) will automatically receive all results for tests conducted by UW–Madison or reported to Public Health Madison & Dane County. There is no need to report these results. However, all employees who receive a test from public health agencies or health care providers outside of Dane County are expected to report their positive test results to UHS. To report your test results using the online form, log in to your MyUHS account and click on Messages, select New Message, and then choose COVID-19 Outside Result Reporting. Those who are unable to access the online form can send a secure email to covidresults@wisc.edu or call (608) 890-0000. UHS will follow up on every confirmed positive COVID-19 test report. For additional details, go to uhs.wisc.edu/medical/testing/#test-results.
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TeachOnline@UW Opens Fall Sessions
TeachOnline@UW is a free instructor learning community for those who are developing and plan to teach an online credit course. Participants explore research-based online course design and teaching best practices in two courses: Plan & Design and Facilitation & Management. Applications are due August 20 for the fall Plan & Design course and October 12 for Facilitation & Management. For details and to apply, visit teachonline.wisc.edu.