Iowa State employees will have 80 hours of additional sick time off available for coronavirus-related absences and the option to use the Family and Medical Leave Act to receive partially paid leave to cover for their children's closed schools or child care providers.
Numerous individuals in departments across campus helped the university transition its spring semester courses to virtual instruction in little more than a week. The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and information technology services also aided instructors.
The board also greenlighted ISU requests regarding the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, parking rates, student housing rates, a new P&S compensation structure, honorary degrees and a new B.S. in environmental engineering.
Some tips and tricks for employees now working from home.
Elements of June orientation for first-time students will be conducted online. So, to provide extra time for students to connect on campus, ISU will add an optional "Week of Welcome" to students' August move in.
A campuswide effort to inventory personal protective equipment in labs to share with local health workers has drawn more than 170 would-be donations.
Forward-thinking preparations help ISU Dining quickly shift from serving thousands of daily meals in multiple venues to providing personalized pickup service for about 500 students still living in residence halls.
Collaboration on campus and beyond connected a distillery in northern Iowa with the College of Veterinary Medicine, replenishing the college's hospitals, diagnostic lab and other facilities with difficult-to-find hand sanitizer.
Students and employees with a Net-ID can use Wi-Fi service outside Jack Trice Stadium through a partnership between ITS and the athletics department.
The unprecedented response to the COVID-19 pandemic evolves rapidly. Each week as needed, Inside Iowa State will recap how coronavirus is affecting the university and share relevant resources for employees.
