College of Medicine Pandemic Response Friday Round-Up – Week of June 21-25
College of Medicine leaders updated faculty, staff and students on June 25 about the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
Continue to wear your masks
While restrictions are lifting across the state, this guidance does not apply to health care. The Centers for Disease Control has not changed its guidance for health care-related settings, so the College of Medicine continues to require all employees and students to wear a mask until further guidance is provided. There are conversations taking place among system and college leadership as well as clinical leaders about the use of masks inside vs. outside. In the meantime, please mask up while on-campus (indoors and outdoors). The masking policy can be found here.
Interim direction for employee work locations, including fully remote
Penn State College of Medicine Human Resources advised managers this week that location decisions – on-site, fully remote or a hybrid approach – will remain at the discretion of our individual business units through December 2021. Human Resources has provided guidance for working effectively with remote teams.
The College of Medicine has initiated a joint collaboration with Milton S. Hershey Medical Center to determine the best way to utilize office space on campus. This committee is meeting weekly to establish a formal recommendation. This interim solution has been established to provide the College of Medicine’s office space task force the necessary time to recommend a more permanent solution to the Dean.
Employees should reach out to their supervisors if they have any questions.
Get vaccinated and enter to win prizes
Penn State is strongly encouraging faculty, staff and students to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to upload their vaccination status to the University after they receive their final dose.
The University is offering a number of incentives to faculty, staff and students who receive a vaccine and share their vaccination status. It’s important to note that all students and employees at all campuses who are already vaccinated for COVID-19 — not just those who get a vaccine in the future — and share their vaccine status with the University will be eligible. Each week, drawings will be held for the following prizes (subject to taxes for employees):
- $1,000 payment
- $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble (four winners per week)
- Football signed by Penn State Football coach James Franklin
Having COVID-19 symptoms?
Guidelines on reporting COVID-19 related illness have not changed. Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms is reminded not to come to work. Faculty, postdoctoral fellows and staff are required to contact Occupational Medicine (814-863-8492) while all students should contact Student Health (717-531-5998).
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