Tag: coronavirus

Summaries of Recent CUPA-HR Letters and Other Advocacy Efforts

Over the last few weeks, the American Council on Education (ACE), with the support of CUPA-HR and other higher education organizations, sent letters to Congress and federal agencies regarding policies impacting institutions of higher education as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a list and summaries of the letters CUPA-HR has recently signed... View Article

HR and the Courts

Each month, CUPA-HR General Counsel Ira Shepard provides an overview of some labor and employment law cases and regulatory actions with implications for the higher ed workplace. Here’s the latest from Ira: University Sued by Faculty Union Claiming Layoffs of Adjunct Faculty Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Violates the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security... View Article

Higher Education Community Asks Congress for COVID-19 Liability Protections

On May 28, CUPA-HR, along with the American Council on Education (ACE) and other higher education organizations, sent a letter to Congressional leaders requesting “temporary and targeted” liability protections for institutions of higher education for incidents related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organizations stressed in the letter the importance of liability protections as colleges and... View Article

OSHA Issues Revised Guidance on Recording Work-Related COVID-19 Cases

On May 19, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued revised enforcement guidance clarifying employers’ obligations to record work-related COVID-19 cases during the public health emergency. The enforcement guidance, titled “Revised Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19),” sets forth criteria determining when a case of COVID-19 illness is work-related, and... View Article

CDC Releases New Reopening Guidelines and Updated Considerations for Higher Ed

On May 19, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published detailed guidelines for reopening schools and businesses that were closed due to stay-at-home orders resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The 60-page document summarizes the agency’s initiatives, activities and tools in support of the Whole-of-Government response to COVID-19 and also provides specific guidance... View Article

Checking in With Ira Shepard: Employee Health and Safety on Return to Campus

CUPA-HR Vice President and Chief Learning Officer Sissy Meredith is back again with Ira Shepard, CUPA-HR’s general counsel and of counsel at Saul Ewing Arnstein and Lehr, this time with a focus on health and safety considerations for returning to campus, including developing or updating policies and protocols for personal protective equipment, temperature checks, employee... View Article

Checking in With Sheraine Gilliam-Holmes: Building Community Amid the Craziness

CUPA-HR President and CEO Andy Brantley catches up with Sheraine Gilliam-Holmes, executive director and chief human resources officer at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. Sheraine shares how the HR team collaborated with colleagues across the university to create programming that engages APSU parents working remotely to acknowledge the challenges of working from home with... View Article

Preparing for the Return to Campus: Two Institutions Share Their Approach

In March, many colleges and universities had policies and procedures in place that provided guidance for moving to online instruction and telework arrangements while ensuring that their communities stayed safe and well. However, now, as we pivot toward fall, we’re in uncharted territory. Enrollment and budget shortfalls are likely, and COVID-19 will continue to be... View Article

Checking in With Jay Stephens: Returning to Campus

CUPA-HR Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rob Shomaker catches up with Jay Stephens, vice president for human capital services at Kansas State University, to find out how Kansas State is planning for the return to campus. Central to the university’s planning efforts is building a framework of criteria based on the university’s guiding principles.... View Article

Checking in With Jenna Elmer: Each of Us Has a Heroic Path

CUPA-HR President and CEO Andy Brantley catches up with Jenna Elmer, assistant director for HR in facilities management at The University of Arizona. Jenna shares thoughts on listening, leading with grace, and helping each employee find a way to be active in the fight, whether it’s the person pulling on the hazmat suit, a supervisor... View Article

Checking in With Heather Hart at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana: Communication and Productivity Across Multiple Campuses

Wes Harmon, senior manager of learning and professional development at CUPA-HR, catches up with Heather Hart, executive director of human resources at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana-Lafayette. Heather shares ways her institution communicated across their 18-campus system and the work plans they developed to assist with identifying gaps and strategically deploying resources and people.... View Article

Checking in With Janet May at Houston Community College: Employee Well-Being

Wes Harmon, senior manager of learning and professional development at CUPA-HR, catches up with Janet May, chief human resources officer at Houston Community College. Janet shares ways that HCC has promoted well-being among faculty and staff by keeping the lines of communication open and consistently promoting flexibility, kindness, consideration and compassion. Related Resources COVID-19 Resources... View Article

Alert: DOL and IRS Issue April 1 Guidance on FFCRA Leave

Key Issues CUPA-HR > coronavirus DOL and IRS Issue April 1 Guidance on FFCRA Leave April 1, 2020 (WASHINGTON INSIDER ALERT) - On April 1, the Department of Labor (DOL), the Treasury Department, and the IRS issued additional guidance on the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act,... View Article

CARES Act Educational Stabilization Fund — Provisions for Higher Ed

The novel coronavirus is exacting tremendous strain on campuses across the country. Students are experiencing unprecedented disruption, and colleges and universities are confronting financial and operational upheaval. The resulting revenue losses could adversely impact institutional ability to sustain pay and benefits for faculty and staff. In light of this crisis, the American Council on Education... View Article

House Passes Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act

As COVID-19 inflicts unprecedented disruption across every sector of the economy, the unemployment insurance (UI) system is undergoing extraordinary strain. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) reported that 3.3 million people filed for unemployment insurance during the week that ended on March 21 — the biggest spike in unemployment filings in U.S. history. Analysts predict... View Article

4 Tips for Keeping Your Newly Remote Team Engaged

For most institutions, the onset of the COVID-19 crisis required rapid response on countless fronts, including moving a substantial number of employees to full- or part-time work from home. However, as the technical and logistical dust has settled, and the reality of long-term remote work has set in, many teams have wrestled with finding a... View Article

Congress Passes Emergency Bill That Will Continue Providing GI Bill Educational Assistance Benefits to Student Veterans Transitioning to Online Learning Due to COVID-19

On March 19, the House of Representatives passed Senate bill S. 3503, an emergency bill that will continue providing GI bill educational assistance benefits to student veterans who have had to transition to online learning for emergencies and health-related situations such as COVID-19. CUPA-HR supported the American Council on Education (ACE) in sending a letter... View Article

Behind the Scenes: How Your HR Peers Are Managing the COVID-19 Crisis

Across the country, institutions are adapting to COVID-19 by exploring and implementing solutions for business continuity, as well as care of faculty, students and staff. CUPA-HR recently asked members to share what they’re doing in response to the outbreak, what workforce conversations and actions are taking place on campus, what campus communications plans have been... View Article