COVID-19 Update April 9: Reduced staffing on campus; holiday weekend

Reduced capacity for campus services

As Roanoke College continues to respond to the Governor’s Stay at Home Order, employees from Dining Services, Housekeeping, Maintenance and Grounds (who cannot work from home) have been sent home (with pay and full benefits.)

Many departments are now working at reduced capacity and select campus buildings are closed as fewer staff are working in offices on campus. Employees may be asked to come in to work for partial or full days for business continuity but, many departments are now working at reduced capacity. We expect the timing of remote work to correspond closely with the Governor’s Stay at Home order, targeted to end in June

The Commons

Today the Commons will be operating on the normal lunch and dinner schedule. Friday through Sunday, the Commons will be open for lunch / brunch only, however the students on the meal plan will have a take-home meal for dinner. The Commons will not be open for dinner service this weekend.

Starting, Monday, April 13, the Commons will be serving students still on campus who are on the meal plan. These students will receive lunch and a take home meal for dinner and breakfast. The Commons will be closed to all staff starting April 13. Dining services have reduced staff and we are working to minimize interactions in Commons.

Housekeeping

Housekeepers are conducting routine cleaning and sanitation once or twice a week in certain buildings depending on demand. If you are in your building and notice a lack of housekeeping and need service, please email Jeff Taylor at jetaylor@roanoke.edu or call the housekeeping office at 540-375-2279.

Maintenance/Grounds

If you have maintenance issues, please continue to submit work orders. Response times may be longer but if there is a critical need, it will be addressed as soon as possible. If there is an emergency, contact Campus Safety at (540) 375-2310. 

Deliveries at the Shops will only be received on Monday, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  If you have an urgent delivery need outside of this time, please contact Mike Vaught at mvaught@roanoke.edu to discuss.  Grounds will continue attending to lawn care needs during this period, with mowing and other related campus maintenance scheduled several days per week.

Holiday weekend

With the holiday weekend approaching, many of us might normally travel for Passover or Easter. While the Governor’s order does not prohibit travel, the College is discouraging travel and advising employees to stay at home to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you do travel, remember that many facilities along the way may not be open or offering the same level of service. 

If you travel to a region where the COVID-19 outbreak is considered a hotspot, please notify your supervisor before you return to work on campus. This helps to ensure the health and safety of your co-workers. 

As a reminder, there are no classes on Friday, April 10, Good Friday. This year staff is being given the entire day as a holiday and the College will be closed. 

Thank you to everyone at Roanoke College for your hard work and dedication to Roanoke’s mission during this critical time.