Message from the VP for Human Resources: Return of our Non-Clinical Staff to Campus
July 30, 2021
Dear Colleagues,
This Monday we will see thefull return of our non-clinical staff to campusas we prepare to welcome our students back to campus later this month.
We have gone through a lot together over the last 17 months. Many have continued coming into SLU each day to ensure the critical on-site activities necessary for the fulfillment of our mission. Others have dutifully carried out their responsibilities remotely while navigating the many disruptions that have been commonplace in home offices. Our colleagues within the School of Medicine and SLUCare have continued seeing patients and returned to normal on-campus operations in June.
For those full- and part-time staff who have worked primarily remotely since March 2020, Monday’s return to on-campus work will affect many of us differently. But we know that we are better together than apart. The change may be challenging at times, but we will get through it together.
As you prepare for your return to campus, please find below helpful information:
Protocols for Return to Campus for those who are not Vaccinated
The University announced in Junethat all faculty, staff and students who will be present on our St. Louis campuses this fall will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved medical or religious exemption. Note that even if you are not yet vaccinated, you can return to campus under our current protocols.
However, the University will begin enforcing our vaccine requirement soon. Vaccines are available on campus by making an appointment. You still have time to submit your proof of vaccination. If you have not done so already, you should provide your proof of vaccination through theby Aug. 1. Please emailpandemic@slu.eduwith any questions.
Note: SLUCare employees are required to upload their vaccination information into the portal.
Mask Mandate Reinstatement
As was announced on July 23, 2021, health officials for the City of St. Louis recently issued a city-wide order for face mask use in all public places. In compliance with this government order, the University requires face masks to be worn until the City’s guidance changes. All employees are required to wear face masks in all indoor shared spaces, however, you are not required to wear your face mask if you are working in a private office with the door closed. We are confident that our community will successfully continue adapting to changing circumstances caused by the pandemic.
Resources Available to Assist You With the Transition Back to the Office
For the last two months, we have offered several programs intended to assist individuals as we transitioned back to normal campus operations. A list of these programs with links to access them can be found here.
The University’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - administered by ComPsych - is a free resource available to you to speak with a licensed counselor if you are having trouble coping with the stresses related to COVID-19 or return to campus.
- Employees can reach them by calling 1-800-859-9319.
- Eight counseling sessions per issue are available free of charge to every employee and their family members.
- ComPysch has also put together a set of resources specifically aimed at helping our employees cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. They include webinars, short videos and other information. To access these resourcesand use the Web ID: SLUEAP.
If you need Human Resources support, please contact your assigned Human Resources Consultant. If you are uncertain about who that contact is, please contacthr@slu.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
In response to questions we have been asked during the preparation for our return to normal campus operations we have developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions. You can reference these questions by clicking.
Parking Upon Your Return to Campus
The parking gates for our on-campus parking lots/garages will be open on August 2 and 3 as we welcome those who have not been back on campus. If you do not currently have a parking permit, and wish to reestablish your parking permit you can do so by visiting the mySLU portal, Tools tab, and selecting the Parking Icon.If you wish to make the parking effective for the month of August we recommend you do this on or after August 1.
In Closing
I want to reiterate how excited we are to have our community together again. There will be challenges associated with our return to normal operations, but we will get through it as OneSLU, like everything else we have encountered over the last 17 months. Thank you for your continued care for one another and for the mission of Saint Louis University.
Sincerely,
Mickey Luna
Vice President, Human Resources