The Higher Ed Workplace Blog

Higher ed HR pros are working tirelessly to update institutions’ policies and procedures after the sudden shift of work operations as a result of the public health crisis. On top of this workload, institutions must now prepare to be in compliance with the final Title IX rule by August 14. The new rule changes how colleges and universities must handle allegations of sexual assault and harassment.

On May 28, CUPA-HR, along with the American Council on Education and other higher education organizations, sent a letter to Congressional leaders requesting “temporary and targeted” liability protections for institutions of higher education for incidents related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organizations stressed in the letter the importance of liability protections as colleges and universities begin to reopen their campuses to students and faculty from all over the world.

Many institutions will return to campus this fall with tighter budgets and a leaner workforce. Preparing the internal talent pipeline and keeping employee skill sets agile through upskilling will be critical to navigating these challenging times.

On May 19, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued revised enforcement guidance clarifying employers’ obligations to record work-related COVID-19 cases during the public health emergency. The enforcement guidance, titled, “Revised Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19),” sets forth criteria determining when a case of COVID-19 illness is work-related, and thus recordable.

As higher education leaders plan for possible delays in campus openings, the staff who service the infrastructure of the campus and maintain its upkeep may be most at risk of being furloughed or losing their jobs. According to the recently released CUPA-HR 2020 Staff in Higher Education Annual Report, it is critical to consider expected student enrollment when benchmarking for the number of staff needed for certain positions.

On May 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published detailed guidelines for reopening schools and businesses that were closed due stay-at-home orders resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The 60-page document summarizes the agency’s initiatives, activities and tools in support of the Whole-of-Government response to COVID-19 and also provides specific guidance for reopening child care centers, schools, day camps, restaurants, public transit and businesses with workers at high risk (individuals over age 65 and those with underlying medical conditions). The CDC also updated its page outlining considerations colleges should take into account when reopening.

A recent CUPA-HR research report provides a snapshot of health professions faculty, one of the fastest-growing disciplines in higher education.

In today’s world, leaders have more information available to them than ever before, but this torrent of information isn’t helping them meet the challenges of ethical leadership. Research shows that what leaders need is not more information, but insight. We gain insight by asking questions and digging deeper into data, thus gaining a better understanding of data in the context of our organizational challenges and overarching goals and values. And although insight may lead to better thinking, it takes more than simply thinking about an idea to transform our organizations into positive, ethical workplaces.

CUPA-HR General Counsel Ira Shepard highlights recent rulings around a medical resident’s dismissed ADA lawsuit, a former professor’s suspension and tenure denial for violating university policy, a college coach’s right to jury trial over a retaliatory discharge claim, the reversal of a $13 million jury verdict awarded to a professor in a sexual harassment case, and several universities involved in class action ERISA suits.

On May 12, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing titled, “COVID-19: Safely Getting Back to Work and Back to School.” The hearing allowed the committee and four public health experts to discuss risks and best practices moving forward for reopening workplaces and schools as states begin to reopen their economies after COVID-19 closures and lockdowns.