The University of Mississippi

Office of the Chancellor

Letters from the Chancellor

Full Return to Working on Campus by June 7, 2021; Guidance for returning to work in on-campus spaces

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear faculty and staff,
 
As we complete another academic year, I want to share my tremendous gratitude for everything our faculty and staff have contributed to navigating the challenges of the past 15 months while continuing to meet our mission and serve our students. I also want to specifically thank all of those in our campus community who played a role in our COVID-19 planning and response efforts. We’re grateful to those who made the necessary adjustments and adaptations to ensure that our mission continued to move forward.
 
We have announced a return to full operations in Fall 2021. The university will operate at full capacity as a traditional, residential campus with the usual campus presence and occupancy within office and workspaces for Fall 2021. We recognize that many in our workforce have been working on campus since July 2020, and doing so safely by following our campus protocols.
 
Given the prolific availability of vaccines, we have reached the point to prepare for full-capacity operations on campus as they were in Fall 2019. If departments are ready to return, they can return to campus at this time. By June 7, 2021, all personnel on contract or employed for the summer are expected to return to working on campus if they have not done so already. Any exception to returning to campus workplaces by June 7, 2021, requires prior approval of the department head.
 
Reasonable accommodation requests may be approved for qualified employees with disabilities, and requests will be managed through Equal Opportunity & Regulatory Compliance. Telework or alternative work arrangements that were in place before the pandemic will be allowed to continue. People who are needed on campus to deliver Orientation programs and support students, services, and activities for summer school need to return as directed by their supervisor.
 
We know there is interest among employees whose positions may lend themselves to working remotely to understand the university’s approach to telework. The Work Strategies Task Force is working with Human Resources to update telework guidelines, and plans to release those later this summer.
 
Parameters and protocols, as directed by the Protocols and Parameters Task Force and approved by the Chancellor, remain in place, including a mask requirement indoors in public spaces and when in the presence of others. Mask use outdoors is optional, but encouraged by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) if you are not vaccinated. We will continue to monitor the presence of the virus in our community and follow guidance from the CDC, Mississippi State Department of Health, our health care professionals, and appropriate professional organizations as we make decisions moving forward.
 
From now until June 7, employees will have ample time to get vaccinated and make necessary plans for returning to their on-campus workplace. Additional details about returning, including information about additional protocols, parking decals for those who did not purchase decals this year, and any other guidance regarding work parameters will be communicated by the appropriate departments or units. Human Resources will host drop-in hours and a town hall for supervisors in May, so watch for dates and details on those programs very soon.
 
Those who have not yet been vaccinated can get information about vaccines on the university’s COVID-19 website. Those who are not in Mississippi can learn about vaccine availability and locations on the VaccineFinder website.
 
I am energized about the prospect of returning our full workforce to the campus, and I look forward to bringing our community back together in support of our mission.
 
Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

Salary and wage increases for FY2022

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear faculty and staff,
 
Over the last 14 months, I have watched our faculty and staff excel to new heights and perform heroically in the face of adversity brought on by the global pandemic. In the wake of that exceedingly demanding period, I’m pleased to share that the university will provide salary and wage increases for the upcoming fiscal year 2022. We’re honored to make this investment in you, your families and your lives.

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Statement on outcome of the trial in Minneapolis

Letters from the Chancellor

To the university community,

The death of George Floyd served as a new inflection point in our nation’s pursuit of justice and equal treatment under the law. We must recognize and acknowledge how deeply the events of the past year unleashed powerful emotions among countless friends, colleagues, neighbors, our community, and the entire nation. Our hope is that today’s outcome of the trial in Minneapolis offers an important step toward healing and progress.

At the University of Mississippi, we strive to uphold the principles of respect, fairness and civility, personal and professional integrity, honesty and freedom. As we aspire to live these values each day, we embrace the quest to build a better and more just future. As a community, we stand in support of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and all people working to create a more equitable, inclusive and safe world.

We encourage you to take advantage of the resources available to our campus and community. The University Counseling Center will be staffed until 7 p.m. and can be contacted at 662-915-3784. The Stronger Together Dialogue Series, sponsored by the Center for Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement, will host its next installment on “The Quest for Justice in America” on Thursday, April 22 at 6 p.m. Visit this webpage to register for the online event.

Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

Appreciation for team implementing COVID-19 vaccines on campus

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear students, faculty and staff,

I’m writing to share my gratitude, admiration and congratulations to the entire team that is managing the administration of COVID-19 vaccines on our campus. We worked closely with the MS State of Department of Health and the IHL to acquire vaccine doses to administer to our employees. Those efforts came to fruition last Friday and Saturday as nearly 500 members of our campus community began receiving first doses at the Tad Smith Coliseum. And, with Mississippi announcing today that they are currently offering COVID-19 immunizations to persons 16 and older, I encourage everyone to get a vaccine at their earliest convenience through any of the available vaccination sites for which they are eligible.

An operation of this magnitude does not happen overnight. The planning for this project has been in the works since December, when we launched our Vaccine Distribution and Administration Task Force. I’m tremendously grateful to Provost Noel Wilkin, Dean David Allen and all of the task force members for providing valuable leadership.

I also want to recognize several others including Dr. Lauren Bloodworth, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice; Dr. Sandy Bentley, director of Pharmacy Health Services; Dr. Sam Payton, director for research, assessment & planning; and Alex Langhart, director of University Health Services. I’m grateful to these servant leaders for how they assist our community through all their work and expertise on the vaccination site.

We’ve heard from many of you about the professionalism and smoothness of the whole process. A big part of that is due to the behind-the-scenes work by Drs. Bloodworth, Bentley and Payton. Responsible for the coordination and logistics among other things, Dr. Bloodworth is to be commended for the execution and efficiency of the site. As you can imagine, the vaccine process and requirements are intricate and complex, and we’re grateful to Dr. Bentley for navigating those details skillfully. I want to thank Dr. Payton for building and managing the appointment platform. Her attention to detail and trouble-shooting skills are outstanding. I also want to recognize Alex Langhart for his continued leadership and invaluable expertise to our overall COVID-19 response including the vaccine rollout.

And, of course, we could not have accomplished any of this without the army of enthusiastic, dedicated and skilled volunteers of pharmacy students, residents and faculty as well as other healthcare professionals. A big thanks also to the numerous administrators and staff who contributed time and expertise across a number of areas.

Standing up this vaccination site gets to the heart of our commitment to protect the health of our community. It also aligns with our mission as an institution of higher education. We have the talent and expertise at the ready in our School of Pharmacy and across our campus. This project gave our students and residents a fantastic opportunity to hone their skills in a clinical setting.

We remain focused on our goals of getting vaccines in arms so that no doses go unused and vaccinating as many people on our campus as we can. The hard work of this team drew lots of praise and attention, including a story from Fox13 News. Kudos to the entire team for handling this with confidence, proficiency, professionalism and caring.

I’m so proud to be a member of this remarkable university community, and I hope that you will join me in thanking all of those in our campus community who are working diligently to keep us safe.

With gratitude,

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

 

Pathways to Equity: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Institutional Strategic Plan 2021-2026

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear students, faculty and staff,
 
Earlier this semester, we launched our new five-year strategic plan for diversity, equity and inclusion called “Pathways to Equity.” Many of you attended the Diversity Summit, where the plan was unveiled. I’m grateful for your attendance and your ongoing commitment to our pursuit of an equitable living, learning and working environment for all.
 
As members of our campus community, please take time to read the plan and engage with those in your area who can help you learn more about your role in advancing the goals of the plan. Every college, school and administrative division is developing plans for their respective areas, so there are ample opportunities for continued involvement and input.
 
As an institution of higher education, we are committed to providing a world-class education and opportunities that are open, accessible and affordable. “Pathways to Equity” serves as a foundation for how we further embrace this institutional responsibility. It offers a roadmap to address challenges and disparate outcomes at all levels of our campus community so we can ensure that everyone can participate fully and thrive at the University of Mississippi. 
 
We can all take pride in how “Pathways to Equity” is action-based, driven by a commitment to equity, data-driven and reflects best practices. A fundamental aspect of the plan is how it was developed to address equity and diversity at the university level as well as within schools, colleges and administrative units.
 
I’d like to thank those who helped make this plan a reality, especially Dr. Shawnboda Mead and the dedicated team within the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. Their work will have a significant impact on how we foster a stronger university climate that goes further in valuing every individual and promoting respect. “Pathways to Equity” will help us make positive and lasting change so all are able to thrive intellectually, socially and culturally. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor