Dear Faculty and Staff,
As the situation around the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to develop, I want to provide you with an update on steps the College is taking to provide for the well-being of our students, faculty and staff. The College is keeping abreast of the information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of State and local health agencies as it relates to our College community, both here and abroad.
What You Need to Know: Preparedness
- In accordance with guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Mercy College Facilities and Operations Team has implemented the following cleaning and disinfection protocols.
- Hiring of additional personnel to provide increased frequency of cleaning on high contact surfaces including but not limited to doorknobs, light switches, countertops, elevator buttons, computer and podium keyboards, and vending machines with an enhanced viral disinfectant.
- Installation of 80 additional hand sanitizer dispensers across all campuses and locations, and ensuring that adequate supplies of sanitizer are available.
- Additionally, signage has been posted across all campuses with safety recommendations about washing hands, preventing the spread of germs and knowing the symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). We all have a responsibility to be vigilant about protecting ourselves and others, including staying home when sick, as well as washing hands with soap and water, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- We know this can be a stressful time, which can create fear and anxiety, leading to social stigma toward people and places. Mercy College does not tolerate discrimination in any form and assures all students, faculty and staff that the College will not tolerate discrimination associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19). If you have experienced discrimination related to the coronavirus outbreak, you are encouraged to contact Tom McDonald, Title IX Coordinator/Equity Compliance Specialist, at (914) 674-7679 or tmcdonald7@mercy.edu.
- If there is a future need to close any Mercy campus, the College plans to move campus courses to online courses using Blackboard. As an institution, we are obliged to continue teaching students regardless of the circumstances. School deans communicated with faculty and students regarding online training and moving courses online via Blackboard.
- For all administrative and technical employees, should there be a future need, your appropriate administrator will have the authority to implement a telecommuting work arrangement. Specific guidelines about telecommuting will be provided, when and if, we need to move to this type of arrangement. For now, it is recommended that employees with assigned lap-top computers take their computers home with them at the end of each day, in case the College should move overnight to a telecommuting arrangement.
- The College is in the process of identifying and notifying both Mercy College employees and private-contracted employees, who are considered essential personnel, as to their expected operational roles and responsibilities should the College close its campuses.
- Thoughtful consideration should be given to essential travel only. Please be advised, that at this time, Mercy College has suspended any new Mercy College-related travel to countries designated by the U.S. Department of State as a Level 3 and Level 4. Please visit the State Department website for more information.https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/
- The College has created a dedicated coronavirus webpage www.mercy.edu/coronavirus that provide updates and instructions for the College community.
What You Need To Do
- If you have not recently updated your personal contact information with the Human Resources Office, we ask that you take a moment to do so through the Mercy Connect self-service portal, particularly as it relates to your personal phone number. Additionally, please ensure your profile is updated in Mercy Alert https://mercy.regroup.com.
- To avoid coronavirus (COVID-19) related phishing attempts, please exercise caution in handling any email with a coronavirus or COVID-19 related subject line, attachment or hyperlink, and be wary of social media pleas, texts, or calls from unknown outside sources.
- If you have a compromised immune system and believe you need an accommodation, please contact the Office of Human Resources to discuss possible arrangements.
- The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a resource available to all employees, providing no-cost counseling service to help address stress and other personal issues you and your family may face. The EAP can be reached 24 hours a day and 7 days a week at 800-327-1850 or www.Guidanceresource.com.
- For questions or to provide information that might be useful to the College, please email HealthAlert@mercy.edu.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Annette Piecora
Director of Human Resources