Members of the Northern community,

Several months have passed since unprecedented events caused instruction to move online and virtually emptied our campus. In those weeks, routines and in some cases lives have abruptly changed. Underlying these changes is an emerging awareness that this pandemic is likely to be with us many months. Everyone is eager to resume Northern's vibrant campus life, but COVID-19 remains active in our area.

With that in mind, Northern has been planning to restart campus operations using a controlled and coordinated approach that focuses on mitigating the potential risk of spreading COVID-19. That planning includes these Guidelines for Returning to the Workplace. Please take time to review all guidelines to address your questions and concerns and learn practices to help protect everyone's health.

Attached are documents about our return to work plans, which will be in full effect beginning June 1, 2020. The documents have been approved by the S.D. Board of Regents, in accordance with state and federal regulations. The documents cover the following topics:

• Guidelines for returning to the workplace
  • Dates on which different employee groups may begin to transition back to campus
  • Details on altered schedules and staggered arrival and departure times, remote meetings, social distancing, masks and cleanliness
  • Remote work arrangements for those at greater risk
• Remote work policy

I encourage you to review these documents and direct any questions or concerns to your direct supervisor and I (susan.bostian@northern.edu).

Purchasing has placed orders for many of the requested supplies that have been submitted through the Return-to-Campus Taskforce. Not all supplies will arrive on campus by June 1. The Return-to-Campus Taskforce plans to share its findings in the upcoming week.

It is important that we all do our part to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 on campus and in our communities.  Together, we must find safe and innovative methods that provide our students with an on-campus experience full of discovery and engagement. With diligence and awareness, we can strive to make Northern an exemplary community leader in pandemic response.

I understand there may be many questions moving forward. I will assist how I can, using the guidelines established by the BOR. Thank you for all you are doing to sustain Northern in the face of ongoing uncertainty. We will continue to safely navigate this time with resolve, resilience, and resourcefulness.

Stay safe and healthy,

Susan Bostian