Dear faculty,
The following email went out to department chairs and administrators today. Please work with your department leaders to determine the critical and essential research happening within your research group.
Message to chairs and department administrators
As noted earlier, the School of Medicine is aligning with the overall guidance provided by the University earlier today about winding down of research activity. You may have also seen an email follow from Deb Bruner with additional attachments and guidance.
We will send an invitation for a brief call with department administrators tomorrow to discuss the information below and answer any questions.
DETERMINING CRITICAL AND ESSENTIAL RESEARCH
REQUESTS FOR EXCEPTIONS REGARDING GRADUATE STUDENTS IN LABS
Based on guidance from Laney, critical functions should not be assigned to graduate students. Graduate students should begin working remotely immediately, or as soon as the research ramp down process is complete, but no later than the March 23 deadline. Undergraduates, volunteers, and visitors, including non-Emory students, are not permitted in any laboratory, even those conducting critical research.
Any waiver requests for graduate students should follow the process outlined in the guidance. Chairs should refer to the critical and essential research documents above when drafting their waiver. Please cc: Lisa Carlson at Lisa.Carlson@emory.edu when emailing your request to LGS.
MAINTAINING SAFE FACILITIES
Thank you for your continued leadership during this challenging time. Know that we appreciate the incredible level of effort you are putting forth to ensure the continued success of our research enterprise.
The following email went out to department chairs and administrators today. Please work with your department leaders to determine the critical and essential research happening within your research group.
Message to chairs and department administrators
As noted earlier, the School of Medicine is aligning with the overall guidance provided by the University earlier today about winding down of research activity. You may have also seen an email follow from Deb Bruner with additional attachments and guidance.
We will send an invitation for a brief call with department administrators tomorrow to discuss the information below and answer any questions.
DETERMINING CRITICAL AND ESSENTIAL RESEARCH
- Department chairs should approve the list of critical and essential research for your departments. This does not have to be submitted to the School of Medicine at this time.
- Department leaders do need to submit to SOM the PIs and labs requested to continue critical and essential research. This is a simplified process to gather only the information needed to maintain facilities and ensure the safety of our teams.
- Submit one sheet per department by March 23 to Josh Rosenberg at josh.rosenberg@emory.edu.
- If you need help determining what is critical and essential work, consult the following:
- Guidance to help you determine whether your fundamental research meets the University’s definition of critical and essential [requires Emory login/password]
- Recommendation for management of clinical trials [requires Emory login/password]
- Emory University Research Continuity FAQs [requires Emory login/password]
- Should support for decision-making around the criticality of research be needed, a process will exist within the dean’s office. Contact Josh Rosenberg at josh.rosenberg@emory.edu.
- Checklist to ramp down non-essential research [requires Emory login/password]
REQUESTS FOR EXCEPTIONS REGARDING GRADUATE STUDENTS IN LABS
Based on guidance from Laney, critical functions should not be assigned to graduate students. Graduate students should begin working remotely immediately, or as soon as the research ramp down process is complete, but no later than the March 23 deadline. Undergraduates, volunteers, and visitors, including non-Emory students, are not permitted in any laboratory, even those conducting critical research.
Any waiver requests for graduate students should follow the process outlined in the guidance. Chairs should refer to the critical and essential research documents above when drafting their waiver. Please cc: Lisa Carlson at Lisa.Carlson@emory.edu when emailing your request to LGS.
MAINTAINING SAFE FACILITIES
- The SOM Space and Facilities Administration (S&FA) team is increasing cleaning and sanitizing protocols for spaces that will remain in use. To request enhanced services email SOM.Space.Admin@emory.edu.
- Key contacts:
- SOM Space and Facilities Administration: SOM.Space.Admin@emory.edu
- University Work Management (Facilities, Custodial Services and Access Control)
- Routine requests or scsc@emory.edu
- Critical requests: 404-727-2172 (x72172)
- Emergency contact: 404-727-6111
- Public Safety/Emory Police Department
- Non-emergency: 404-727-8005
- Emergency contact: 404-727-6111
- The definition of critical and essential only applies to the project and the job function; not to the person. This is in no way a valuation of an individual’s contributions to their labs or to Emory.
- We are taking extra steps to ensure employee health and safety during this time.
- All employees should be encouraged to contact OIM with any concerns about exposure or if they believe they have symptoms of COVID-19.
- Many additional questions can be answered on the University’s COVID-19 FAQs page.
Thank you for your continued leadership during this challenging time. Know that we appreciate the incredible level of effort you are putting forth to ensure the continued success of our research enterprise.