UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, recently held his first all-campus forum for 2023, welcoming all back to campus and extending wishes for a happy, healthy and successful New Year. He also noted how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the work environment on a local and national scale.
“We continue to better understand the ramifications of the pandemic,” he said, and how it has impacted everything from child and elder care to the balance of work. “We need to continue to have a thoughtful and open approach as to how we manage the meaning and place of work.”
Last month, the University of Nebraska announced a new Alternative Worksite Policy, which outlines processes for staff seeking remote or hybrid work arrangements.
“This new policy is an attempt to continue to bring individuals back together following the pandemic and to create a collaborative family-like environment on the campuses, similar to what we had pre-pandemic,” Dr. Gold said during the Jan. 12 forum.
The policy, available in full here, applies to all administrative, office and service, managerial/professional and student employees across the NU System. Complete details on the Alternative Worksite Policy, including Q&As on remote, hybrid and out-of-state work, are available here.
“Our supervisors and leaders will provide a balanced approach for any needs for remote work,” he said, urging staff to discuss arrangements with their supervisor.
Members of the medical center community can view the January forum.
The med center continues to monitor COVID-19 data, said Jane Meza, PhD, interim executive director for the UNMC Office of Health Security, including hospitalizations and the highly transmissible XBB.1.5 variant, which currently makes up 27% of new infections in the U.S.
Dr. Meza encouraged individuals wear masks in public, crowded indoor areas and stay up-to-date with boosters. Only 15% of individuals in the U.S, she said, have received the bivalent booster, which helps protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death. “It’s not too late; you can still get your booster.”
Testing remains available throughout the state; details can be found on the UNMC coronavirus website.
In other matters, Dr. Gold provided updates on:
- The 90-day legislative session, which began Jan. 4, and will include discussion on the University of Nebraska System’s FY23-25 biennial budget request. He also noted passage of the omnibus federal budget, which includes planning funds for Project NExT, as well as new funds for behavioral health and graduate medical education.
- All campus leadership searches including the UNMC College of Nursing dean search, which has finalists visiting campus this month.
- Conversations about the expansion project at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Discussions continue regarding programming and how space will be utilized as no final decisions have been made on program planning and support space.
- A new coffee vendor that will fill the space formerly occupied by Dunkin’ Donuts on the fourth floor of Wittson Hall. Watch UNMC Today for an announcement in the near future.
- The work of focus groups tasked with identifying and prioritizing information management challenges and opportunities related to both education and research. The groups’ recommendations will be incorporated into the UNMC Strategic Plan, which soon will be distributed for campus input.
- Strategic planning update with outcomes of the 2023 “Future Scenario Stress Tests,” including new areas related to the priorities derived from the recent NU System Culture Survey.
- Awareness of winter season related mental health challenges, including access to support services.
Dr. Gold closed the forum, as he began, thanking all for participating and looking to the future and the opportunities that lie ahead: “I’m honored and humbled to be part of this great institution.”