Hybrid Work at UFV

Information regarding the Hybrid Work at UFV program coming soon! 

Hybrid Work at UFV

The Hybrid Work Policy (HWP) has been designed to reflect how we approach work in general while achieving our central goals. The way we work is more dynamic now than it ever was before. Community, culture, and technology flow together to shape how we gather, engage, and deliver on the university's mandate. The university's core objectives remain the same. We come together, exploring our world, seeking to expand the width, depth and breadth of our collective understanding.

This natural evolution of the ways we deliver on our core function was given a sudden boost in 2020 with the jarring, unplanned arrival of COVID.  All members of the UFV community admirably met this challenge.  We swiftly adapted our programs and curricula to move to remote delivery in service of our students.  The effort was remarkable.  It also served to accelerate our understanding of what a university could look like in the future. 

Our efforts were commendable yet unrefined. Over the last few years, we have worked in a temporary “pilot” phase. Assessing and learning from this pilot was crucial, and we thank you all for your patience and feedback. The pilot's experience built a solid base for an integrated and durable model to serve the future needs of UFV.

We wish to share several key themes underlying the policy structure. These themes are critical to understanding how we see this policy being deployed.

• A university is a gathering place.
• In concert, we explore and define our reality.
• Technology should serve, not detract from, our interests in this regard. 
• Our mission is to engage learners, transform lives and build community.

We are pleased to share the principles in the policy document in service of these themes. 

Principles:

• The importance of the academic mission is centered around teaching, research, and service commitments.
• The commitment to prioritizing student experience and outcomes.
• The goal of sustaining or improving service levels, quality of work, and productivity.
• The desire to protect and promote institutional culture, team dynamics, and the potential for collaboration, creativity, and innovation.
• The importance of having vibrant campuses and learning, research, and community engagement sites.
• The need to ensure optimal space utilization and financial sustainability.
• The commitment to a consistent institutional approach while maintaining the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Workplace Location Decision Tree

As you consider participation in the Hybrid Workplace Pilot, your decisions might be different depending on the need of the positions within the department or division. The process used to evaluate needs and individual requests should be consistent and equitable. This decision tree provides a framework to ensure a consistent process occurs.

Key Questions to Consider

1. What are the essential functions of the position?
2. Would working from home compromise or enhance those essential functions?
3. Is it necessary to work on Campus?
4. What perceived unfairness or inequity might exist if work from home is approved?
5. Are there space constraints alleviated by a work-from-home rotation?
6. Is in-person customer service a component of the job?
7. Does each of the employees have the necessary equipment to support hybrid work?
8. Are there performance concerns related to working from home during the pandemic – that need to be discussed and resolved?