TO: UTSA Supervisors

FROM: Sylvia Ann Enriquez, Associate Vice President for Human Resources

DATE: March 30, 2020

RE: HOP 9.15, Campus Closure Due to Weather or Safety Considerations

Recently, Human Resources has received questions regarding whether HOP 9.15 is applicable to UTSA’s current alternative work situation. As communicated on Monday, March 23, the university transitioned to a primarily remote telecommuting workforce, shifting the majority of our employees from their current on-campus workplaces to temporarily working from home through the end of the spring semester, mirroring our move to online course instruction. A minimal amount of employees remain on site to perform essential on-campus functions. The university has not closed but rather remains operational in an alternative method of telecommuting with limited on-site personnel.

HOP 9.15 relates to the suspension of operations and classes due to inclement weather or safety considerations which may make traveling to or from campus hazardous to students, faculty and staff. At this time, no university suspension or closure has occurred, and operations and classes are continuing through alternative means. Because of this, no part of HOP 9.15, including the possibility of compensatory time, is applicable to the present circumstances.

The decision to shift to telecommuting and online classes was made in alignment with local, state and federal coronavirus guidelines. This step was taken to help safeguard the health and safety of our campus community and to ensure the continued functioning of operations at the university. While the majority of our functions can be conducted remotely, there are some that can only be conducted on campus, such as facilities maintenance and housekeeping. For those functions, we require essential non-remote employees to continue to physically report to work on campus at this time. In addition, there are also emergency personnel who are considered essential on-site.

Thank you,

Sylvia Ann Enriquez
Associate Vice President for Human Resources