Transition from Phase 2 to Phase 3: URI Research Resumption Plan (posted June 3, 2020)
Phased Plan for Resumption of Research Activities at URI (posted May 19, 2020)
June 3, 2020
Dear URI Research Community,
Thank you all for working with my office over these past few difficult months, as we all learn to manage our way through the COVID-19 crisis, and with new social crises seeming to mount on a daily basis. Our university, our local community, and our civil society are being tested in ways that we could not previously imagine. We have asked everyone to draw down your research and campus-based scholarly activities to protect the safety of themselves and others, and we are all very eager to return to the work that we are passionate about as scientists and scholars.
As you know, about two weeks ago I released a guidance document titled, “Principles and Framework Guiding a Phased Approach to Restarting University Research Activity.” That plan was developed with the major input of two separate faculty & administration committees, and we are currently in Phase 2 of the five-phase plan for resumption of research within our academic buildings.
At this time, our OEHS group and the COVID-19 task force is working with all building managers to complete plans for expanding access to university buildings, and each building will have its own specific plan.
It is now time to do the same for all laboratories and creative spaces (studios, etc.). A move from Phase 2 to Phase 3 is predicated on the availability to test for the virus at the population level in Rhode Island to properly monitor community-based spread of the virus. I am happy to say that, as a state that has been very proactive and careful in its response to the pandemic, we are reaching that point here in Rhode Island.
Attached to this message are three documents:
3) a brief document that contains safety reminders that should be reviewed by just about everyone.
Every head of a laboratory or creative space, or their designee (e.g., lab manager) must complete the attached “safety plan” and provide this electronically, following the instructions at the top of the first page. In the case of labs that are contiguous with shared rooms, I am asking that each separable research group (with their own staffing, students, collaborators) submit individual plans. Each plan must be reviewed and approved, also electronically, by your home college dean or their designee (e.g., an Associate Dean for Research) BEFORE you can move from Phase 2 to Phase 3. Please see the above referenced first document (the .pdf file) for a table to remind you of the differences between phase 2 and phase 3.
I am sending this to you all now, so that you have little less than two weeks to complete and submit your individual safety plans. Once approved by your home college, you will be able to move to Phase 3 on Monday, 15 June.
IMPORTANT: The Division for Research & Economic Development will be holding a virtual town hall meeting, at 12pm on Tuesday, 09 June, to discuss all of these next steps and to answer any questions. Please use this URL link to connect to the town hall meeting: https://rhody.webex.com/meet/tedmyatturi.edu
I know that you all understand how important this is, and we want to make sure that we ramp up again in our research activity both rapidly and safely.
Thank you,
Peter J. Snyder, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research and Economic Development, &
Professor of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, U.S.A.
Office Telephone: (401) 874-4576
E-Mail: pjsnyder@uri.edu