Late last week, Chancellor Malhotra issued a mandate which severely restricts campuses and faculty from continuing basic COVID safety protocols. The Chancellor's mandate was issued without prior consultation with faculty, staff, or student organizations. Chancellor Malhotra should have conferred with us before imposing this new position.

The Chancellor's decree has given rise to legitimate faculty concern. The IFO advocates for flexibility for faculty and campuses to manage safety protocols in classrooms and campuses.

You can help our advocacy efforts right now by signing a petition to urge the Chancellor to change his rigid requirements. Allowing faculty to protect themselves and their most vulnerable students must be part of the next phase of managing this pandemic. Taking away the rights of faculty to implement COVID safety protocols makes our campuses and communities less safe.

Faculty members who are vulnerable to COVID have options. If you or someone you live with are at high risk of severe complications due to contracting COVID and you are required to teach face-to-face without the appropriate safety protocols, you may seek accommodation. Before initiating your request for accommodation, we encourage you to contact your IFO disability advocates, faculty association, or our IFO legal team. If you have any questions about reasonable accommodation, please contact Kathryn Engdahl at engdahl@ifo.org.

We'll continue the fight. Please take care, and we wish everyone a restful spring break.