january-2022

UW Bothell COVID-19 Communications

Communications sent in January 2022:

 

 

 

January 25, 2022 | Our return to in-person classes - A message to all UW Bothell students


Dear UW Bothell students,

I write to follow-up on yesterday’s message from the UW president and provost. I want to emphasize the good news that the improving public health situation and the resulting reduction in coronavirus-related disruptions allow us to follow through with our plans to return to largely in-person classes and learning experiences on Monday, Jan. 31.

  • What this means is that you can expect your classes to be in the original format listed in the time schedule unless your instructors inform you otherwise.
  • At the same time, your instructors are being asked to remain flexible when it comes to student absences due to illness or other coronavirus-related disruptions, including the need to quarantine or because of day care or school closures.
  • Please note that while instructors will work to find ways for you to make up missed coursework, they are not required to provide a synchronous remote option for classes that are being taught in person.

I want to express my thanks to you and everyone in the UW Bothell community for adhering to health and safety guidance. Because of your care, we have no evidence of in-classroom transmission in winter quarter classes that have been meeting in person this month. To ensure this continues, please

You may have seen that we have provided surgical masks at the entrance to all our Bothell campus buildings. Starting next Monday, Jan. 31, students can each pick up two KN95 masks at the Husky Hall Welcome Center.

Details about other resources and policies can be found on the main UW coronavirus webpages. I also encourage you to check out the UW Bothell coronavirus webpages for more campus-specific information.

As the president and provost noted in their message, being together in community, whether in person or online, is a defining part of the Husky Experience. This includes learning inside and outside the classroom — and providing support for each other when any of us are in need.

Follow this Counseling Center link if you need mental and emotional health assistance. We also ask that you provide flexibility to instructors and staff members who are balancing many of the same pandemic-related challenges you are.

Unfortunately, I cannot promise this will be the last time the pandemic disrupts our operations but rest assured that your safety is the primary driver of all our decisions. Please accept my sincere appreciation for your continued patience and grace as we move through the rest of the quarter and academic year.

Sincerely,

Kristin G. Esterberg
Chancellor
Professor of Sociology
University of Washington Bothell

January 25, 2022 | Our return to in-person classes - A message to all UW Bothell faculty and staff


Dear UW Bothell faculty and staff,

I write to follow-up on yesterday’s message from the UW president and provost. I want to emphasize the good news that the improving public health situation and the resulting reduction in coronavirus-related disruptions allow us to follow through with our plans to return to largely in-person classes and learning experiences on Monday, Jan. 31.

This has only been made possible by the care and concern for the safety of our community that you — and our students — have shown over the last few months and weeks.

Coronavirus case counts at our University and in the region have been declining and are expected to continue to decline. Importantly, we have no indication of classroom transmission in classes that have been meeting in January.

Based on these improvements, we can welcome students back to largely in-person classes and experiences. 

  • Instructors should return their classes to the mode of instruction listed in the time schedule. In consultation with your dean, chair or director, however, you may alter a course’s instructional modality, including a temporary change to remote instruction, for limited periods of time if there are COVID-related factors that impact your ability to teach in person, such as a need to isolate or quarantine or disruptions to day care or K-12 schools.
  • We ask that instructors be flexible with those students who need to miss class due to illness or other coronavirus-related disruptions, including the need to quarantine or because of day care or school closures. While we ask that you provide options for them to continue their learning and make up any missed work, we do not expect you to provide in-person and remote instruction simultaneously.
  • We ask staff to continue prioritizing in-person services. At the same time, we also encourage unit leaders to continue to be flexible with remote-work arrangements for staff, so long as prioritized operations can continue.
  • As needed, instructors, staff and students can request accommodations due to health conditions or other extenuating circumstances.

I want to express my deepest thanks to you and everyone in the UW Bothell community for adhering to health and safety guidance. Please continue to stay home when sick, get a booster shot when eligible, avoid unmasked gatherings and wear well-fitting, high-quality masks. In addition to the surgical masks in the dispensers at the entrance to all our campus buildings and the KN95 masks that have already been made available to you, we will be offering each student two KN95 masks that they can pick up at the Husky Hall Welcome Center starting next week.

Details about other resources and policies can be found on the main UW coronavirus webpages. I also encourage you to check out the UW Bothell coronavirus webpages for more campus-specific information.

As the president and provost noted in their message, being together in community, whether in person or online, is a defining part of the Husky Experience. This includes learning inside and outside the classroom — and providing support for each other when any of us are in need.

Students can access mental and emotional health resources through our Counseling Center. Faculty and staff can get support through CareLink, so do not hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

Unfortunately, I cannot promise this will be the last time the pandemic disrupts our operations but rest assured that your safety is the primary driver of all our decisions. Please accept my appreciation for your continued patience and grace as we move through the rest of the quarter and academic year.

Sincerely,

Kristin G. Esterberg
Chancellor
Professor of Sociology
University of Washington Bothell

January 5, 2022 | Reducing COVID-19 transmission – updates on testing and KN95 masks


Dear Colleagues,

As you heard from University and campus leadership on Monday, we each have a role to play in reducing coronavirus transmission. This includes wearing well-fitted, high-quality masks, getting booster shots, getting tested when we have symptoms, and staying home when sick or symptomatic.

Note: If you are enrolled in the Husky Coronavirus Testing program, you can pick up and drop off self-administered COVID-19 testing kits in the Commons Hall (UW2) lower level on Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during winter quarter. This will help you avoid those long lines for COVID-19 testing that seem to be everywhere.

For the last two years, Facilities teams have been hard at work keeping our campus and buildings safe, clean and well-stocked with cleaning supplies, hand sanitizers and disposable surgical-style masks.

Today, as an additional layer of protection, we are pleased to announce that UW Bothell is able to provide a limited number of free KN95 masks to UW Bothell and Cascadia College employees. KN95 masks likely offer better protection against transmission and acquisition of COVID-19 than most other masks. 

  • These KN95 masks will be distributed through your unit supervisors and offices. To streamline distribution, supervisors should submit one request for their unit as soon as possible. Because we have limited supplies at present, requests should be limited to 10 or fewer KN95 masks per employee in each unit. 
  • Supervisors should submit their KN95 mask request using the “COVID Supplies Request Entry” link in the campus work order system. Facilities teams will then distribute masks to each requesting supervisor, who will in turn make the masks available for employees who may request them.

Please contact Nicole Sanderson or Courtne Russell at uwbfs@uw.edu or 425.352.5466 if you have additional questions.

With best wishes,

S. Gowri Shankar, Ph.D., CFA
Vice Chancellor, Planning & Administration
University of Washington Bothell

January 4, 2022 | UW Bothell – updated telework process and forms


Dear UW Bothell staff and faculty,

Based on cross-campus feedback and as outlined in the Chancellor’s Executive Team communication on Dec. 14, 2021, managers at the UW Bothell Cabinet level (or their designees) will be afforded more flexibility to evaluate requests for hybrid and remote work outside of the policy of working at least three days on site and up to two days remotely — provided that access to services are not interrupted and equity is maintained within each team. 

  • Campus leadership also expects that student-facing and public-facing offices will be open during our core business hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday.
  • This link will take you to Organizational Excellence & Human Resources’ SharePoint site where you will find information about the process as well as telework agreements that will need to be completed by no later than Feb. 1, 2022.
  • Your new agreement will cover the time period starting Jan. 3 and will serve as a base model until Sept. 2, 2022.
  • If you have not yet discussed this change in telework flexibility with your manager, expect this conversation to be forthcoming soon.

If you have questions or need assistance, please reach to your manager or contact OE/HR at uwboehr@uw.edu.

Thank you so much for your patience as we work together to keep building the UW Bothell community during these uncertain and challenging times.

Beth Beam
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Organizational Excellence & Human Resources
University of Washington Bothell

January 3, 2022 | Navigating the start of winter quarter 2022


Dear UW Bothell faculty and staff,

Welcome back from winter break. I hope you had some much needed rest and relaxation. I know the short time away gave me an opportunity to spend time with family and friends (albeit most of it virtually) and to reflect on the past year and the new year to come. For this, I am most grateful.

UW President Ana Mari Cauce and Provost Mark A. Richards wrote the UW community late last month and then again earlier today with updates — including many helpful links — on how COVID-19 continues to affect operations across all three campuses.

I write today to emphasize the UW commitment to putting safety first. I strongly encourage you to go to the main UW coronavirus webpage and main UW Bothell coronavirus webpage for the latest on health and safety protocols, online instruction for the first week of the quarter, and other University activities and services, both in person and remote.

I also want to spotlight the need for us all to remain flexible with students and with each other as we navigate the ongoing pandemic. Students may be absent or need more assistance or accommodations than is typical. Colleagues may be dealing with new or shifting priorities, may be slower than usual to respond or may be absent from work. Even with all our efforts, each one of us may experience disruptions in the many services and resources we rely upon.

I know we will achieve much success this quarter, as we continue to show the patience and grace that has marked our community’s work over the last two years. As we embark upon this winter quarter, let me remind you: 

  • Do not hesitate to stay home if you are sick.
  • Consider getting a vaccine booster as soon as you can.
  • Enroll in the Husky Coronavirus testing program if you have not done so yet.

Please also let your direct supervisor or staff in Organizational Excellence & Human Resources know if you have questions or concerns. You can also always contact my office.

Despite the challenges we face, I know this quarter and the rest of this academic year will be filled with all that makes UW Bothell and the UW such a vibrant community — discovery, teaching, learning and service to each other and the community.

I look forward to seeing you on campus soon.

Sincerely,

Kristin G. Esterberg
Chancellor
Professor of Sociology
University of Washington Bothell