May 10, 2021
Dear NCCU Faculty and Staff:
Over the past year, we have experienced many changes and challenges in our lives and on our campus. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) has remained dedicated to delivering The Eagle Promise to our students and supporting faculty and staff. Many administrators, faculty and staff continued to work on campus throughout the pandemic; their work has demonstrated the commitment, compassion and care that NCCU has in delivering a high quality education and superior service to our students. As we move into a new phase of COVID-19 recovery, it is critical that we bring students back to the thriving campus we all know NCCU to be.
In order to continue reopening our campus in the safest possible way, the NCCU COVID-19 Operations, Recovery and Continuity Plan available here was recently updated. This document is the result of over a year of planning, experiences and guidance from our public health partners. With minimal numbers of employee reports of COVID-19 and the rate of COVID-19 transmission for faculty and staff on campus in the single digits, we know that NCCU is a safe work environment.
We are encouraged by the increasing pace of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and downward trend in new cases. NCCU joins other University of North Carolina System institutions in delivering a Fall 2021 experience that more closely resembles “normal,” while also taking the necessary precautions to ensure that the university remains an environment that protects the safety and well-being of its campus constituents. Our plan includes inviting all enrolled students back to campus and transitioning classes that became remote due to COVID-19 back to in-person, on-campus courses and hybrid instruction.
To prepare for NCCU’s return to normal operations, we are announcing an employee return date of July 12, 2021. We are providing this date now so employees who are currently working remotely have sufficient time to prepare for a full-campus return. Here are several important reminders for the coming weeks:
- ADA accommodations or other workplace supports should be coordinated with supervisors and the Employee Relations and Affirmative Action Office in the Office of Human Resources (919-530-5144);
- Get Vaccinated! The NCCU COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic is open. You can receive the vaccine on campus. Review available dates and times in the weekly email notifications. The clinic accepts walk-in or scheduled appointments for the vaccine you prefer; and
- Employees should become familiar with the Fall 2021 Operations, Continuity and Recovery Plan and understand the university’s COVID-19 procedures and guidelines here.
Please look for notifications regarding upcoming town halls, as well as emails that address questions related to the full return to campus plan. There may be several outstanding answers related to NCCU’s full-scale return right now, however we will continue to communicate facts related to COVID-19, as well as update our guidance throughout the semester as public health information and recommendations continue to emerge and evolve.
Additional updates will be circulated via email leading up to July 12 and posted on the NCCU COVID-19 webpage here: www.nccu.edu/coronavirus.
Thank you for your ongoing efforts to assist us as we “Protect the Nest.”
Sincerely,
Dr. Johnson O. Akinleye, Chancellor
Dr. Yolanda B. Anderson, Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Mr. Michael E. Hill, Chief Human Resources Officer
