By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Faculty and staff at Bowling Green State University who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 should be allowed to work from home, according to a resolution approved Tuesday by Faculty Senate.
The resolution was drafted and presented on behalf of faculty members Katherine Meizel and Sheri Wells-Jensen, of the BGSU Disability Affinity and University Resource Group. It was approved unanimously. The senate held its meeting using Webex.
“Bowling Green State faculty and staff include individuals who are particularly susceptible to complications from this highly contagious illness or who live in close proximity to other highly susceptible people,” according to the resolution as read by Jenn Stucker, chair of the senate.
Teaching and other work can be done effectively working remotely, the resolution argues. However, it takes time “to effectively transfer such activities to online or distance delivery.”
Because of that, the resolution wants staff and faculty who are vulnerable themselves or live with others who are vulnerable “be given the option to work remotely until there is an accessible and reliable vaccine.”
They should be able “to do so without fear of reprisal.”
The policy should be put into place as soon as possible to allow for the appropriate plans and arrangements to be made.
“We don’t know what will happen in the fall whether we’ll be online or not online,” Wells-Jensen told the senate, “but we’re concerned that people who are in legitimate, real danger from this virus have the opportunity to work usefully and participate at the university without fear.” The resolution provide that “we’ll have a safe way to do this, and we can keep our loved ones safe as well.”
