Working with COVID-19 at AU
Athabasca University has commenced planning for how it will resume more normal operations when the province green-lights post-secondaries to re-open. The government recently issued re-opening guidelines for post-secondaries.
This planning has not (so far) entailed significant consultation with staff about concerns and issues. The AUFA exec have asked the membership engagement committee to quickly solicit and summarize member concerns to inform AUFA’s input to AU.
Initial list of concerns
The April AUFA telephone survey and subsequent informal canvassing of AUFA members suggests five main areas of concern:
Exams
The short-term fixes implemented to allow examinations to continue during the pandemic have been identified as having multiple shortcomings. Some students are not able to use online exam arrangements (e.g., due to lack of computer access, a private space, childcare issues, or disability accommodations). Some exams are not suitable for online delivery and some online delivery systems are struggling to cope with the volume. Managing these many problems creates significant additional work for AU staff that is simply being added on to existing workloads. Some members have indicated that this situation is becoming untenable.
Childcare
The disruption of schooling and other childcare services poses a significant issue for many AUFA members. This disruption may continue for some time to come as providers grapple with their own difficulties with re-opening, or it may re-occur if COVID-19 surges again. President Fassina’s assertion in April that AU will not, in the long term, be able to retain staff who cannot work full time has made many staff reluctant to reveal the difficulties they are facing.
Support for teleworking
The present teleworking policy only applies to AUFA members who are academic staff. If other staff are continuing to work from home (permanently, periodically, or on a part-time basis) to facilitate physical distancing, address outbreaks, or accommodate staff or family members with compromised immune systems, additional supports are required. Campus-based staff have identified concerns about improper ergonomic set-ups, inadequate computer equipment, and uncompensated home office expenses.
Safety on campus
Campus-based staff have identified physical distancing and common use areas as important issues. Some office arrangements (e.g., cubicle-based set-ups, narrow passage ways) do not provide adequate space for physical distancing. High-touch surfaces in common areas (e.g., exterior doors, stair railings, washrooms, printers, and kitchen areas) will also require aggressive cleaning or other measures to prevent infection. Campus-based staff also indicate visitors to campus (e.g., students, delivery people) pose a risk of transmission that needs to be controlled.
Outbreak protocols
Several Alberta workplaces have reported outbreaks of COVID-19. If there is suspicion or diagnosis of a case on an AU site, AU will need to develop protocols that are adequately protective of other staff. This may include instructing supervisors to approve or direct working from home and developing a mechanism by which to notify staff of outbreaks.
Your Thoughts
These initial issues represent only a partial list of the potential issues and concerns associated with returning to on-campus operations. The membership engagement committee is interested in any thoughts, ideas or concerns that you have related to AU’s plans for re-opening.
Please provide any comments or concerns you wish AUFA to take forward to AU’s COVID-19 planning group. You may choose to include your name or submit an anonymous comment.
Rhiannon Rutherford, Chair
Membership Engagement Committee