Fwd: Strategy to return research activity in CMU Pittsburgh facilities

[Artur Dubrawski]

Team,

Please let me and Trish (cc-d) know if you have reasons to believe that
some of our research activity should return to campus or to other
facilities outside of our homes in the foreseeable future.

Thanks
Artur

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Michael McQuade <ovpr at andrew.cmu.edu>
Date: Fri, May 22, 2020 at 11:54 AM
Subject: Strategy to return research activity in CMU Pittsburgh facilities
To: <awd at andrew.cmu.edu>


Dear CMU Faculty and Researchers:

President Jahanian’s email
<https://www.cmu.edu/leadership/president/campus-comms/2020/2020-05-14.html>
last Thursday announced the beginning of CMU’s return to the Pittsburgh
campus following Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s move
<https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-announces-13-counties-will-move-to-yellow-phase-of-reopening-on-may-15/>
to “yellow” in Allegheny County as of May 15. Research is one of the
primary missions of the university, and we have heard from many faculty and
researchers who are eager to re-engage activities in CMU facilities. Today,
I am pleased to provide information
<http://cmu.edu/coronavirus/researchers/index.html> about our initial plans
to bring research activities back to our Pittsburgh facilities in a phased
fashion. We are committed to returning to on-site research operations as
soon as safely possible.

Our plan, developed by a working group comprised of representatives from
across our Pittsburgh research operations and with input from the broader
CMU community, will begin by piloting the return of selected research that
cannot be done remotely. The safety, health and well-being of our community
remains our highest priority. We know that there will be some in our
community who will not be able to return to campus as quickly as others due
to medical or personal issues. Please be assured that in preparing for the
return of research to campus (as, indeed, the return to campus overall), we
have those individuals in mind and the university is developing processes
to address their circumstances in a thoughtful and compassionate manner.
The process for returning research to campus will be guided by continual
assessment of the most up-to-date information available in order to
minimize the risks posed by the pandemic. As with all on-site activities,
it is essential that everyone adhere to the COVID safety requirements the
university has established
<https://www.cmu.edu/coronavirus/return/min-requirements.html>.

In the first phase, beginning now, the deans are selecting a small set
of research activities from among those that must be done in a CMU facility
and which represent a variety of use cases. These pilots will allow us to
test and improve our processes and safety requirements and our ability to
adhere to them. For now, *all researchers must continue to operate remotely
until authorized to return to our facilities*.

Each research activity wishing to return to a CMU facility — an individual
researcher, a large group lab, a research support facility, a creative
studio, etc. — must submit a plan using the template found on the COVID
researcher resources site
<https://www.cmu.edu/coronavirus/researchers/index.html>, describing the
research activity it is proposing to do on campus, why it can’t be done
remotely and how the activity will be conducted in a manner that will meet
safety requirements required by the university, as well as by those
specific to the needs of the project. Initial pilots selected by the deans
have been, or will be, notified shortly to prepare and submit their plans.
Plans must be approved by the respective deans and me before work can begin
in a CMU facility.

As we learn from and see success in our pilot projects, we will gradually
expand access for additional research activities that have approved plans.
We will approve research activities in a rolling manner until all
activities that must be done in a CMU facility can return and operate
safely. Throughout the process, deans and ADRs will communicate details for
submitting plans to those desiring to return to our facilities.

Two additional realities impact the return of on-site research. First,
other campus activities (such as education and administrative functions)
may also be restarting, and we need to ensure that we can collectively meet
our low density and other COVID-related safety protocols. Second, while we
hope it will not be the case, we must plan for the possibility that a local
resurgence of the COVID-19 virus may force us to once again move research
out of our facilities. For this reason, all returning activities must detail
emergency and rapid ramp down procedures
<https://www.cmu.edu/coronavirus/researchers/index.html#lab-continuity> as
part of their plans.

Research is a vital part of CMU’s mission and we are excited to now be able
to begin to restart research in our facilities. Please remain flexible
during this important pilot phase. I will continue to keep you informed as
we progress. Thank you again for your patience and for all your efforts.

Sincerely,
Michael

J. Michael McQuade
Vice President for Research
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