Johns Hopkins University's current mix of in-person, hybrid, and remote operations will be maintained through at least June 30, 2022, the end of the current academic year. The pilot program, a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, was initiated at the start of the fall semester.
The announcement was made to the university community Nov. 1 in an email from Sunil Kumar, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; Laurent Heller, senior vice president for finance and administration; and Meredith Stewart, interim vice president for human resources.
"As you know, we entered this semester with a set of comprehensive plans for conducting our work in a mix of modalities—in person, hybrid, and remote—and thanks to your hard work and creativity, that experimentation is going well," they wrote. "We are able to be together in person much of the time and have sustained the health of our community, and we know that many of you have appreciated the increased flexibility this plan has afforded."
Kumar, Heller, and Stewart said that Johns Hopkins still has a great deal to learn about the optimal work arrangement for the university community and therefore will be engaged in a process of assessment, informed by faculty and staff input and feedback.
Surveys will be sent to employees and focus groups scheduled in the coming months.
"With support from Human Resources, divisions and departments will be evaluating and adjusting their plans, considering best practices from other parts of the university and outside organizations, and helping us determine what is working well and what enhancements or improvements are needed," they wrote. "We will seek to balance the desire for consistency across the institution with the individual needs of our divisions and departments, and to ensure that varying work arrangements don't hinder individuals' professional growth and opportunities."
Read the full text of the message here.
Posted in News+Info
