COVID-19 campus update: Employee Health and Safety Acknowledgement, Recreational Services phased reopening
COVID-19 campus update: Employee Health and Safety Acknowledgement, Recreational Services phased reopening

COVID-19 Campus Update

A message from Human Resources

Reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for everyone in the University of Iowa community is critical to our shared mission of teaching, research, service, and patient care. This requires shared responsibility, and the university expects our faculty, staff, and student employees to take reasonable precautions to protect their fellow colleagues and themselves. As an employee of the university, we are asking for your commitment to this shared responsibility when you work on campus. 

When you log into your Employee Self-service portal, you will see a banner message that will direct you to an Employee Health and Safety Acknowledgement, which will include workplace health and safety practices and illness and exposure protocols based on the latest guidance from UI experts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Iowa Department of Public Health and other governmental agencies.

We ask that you read the statement carefully and acknowledge your commitment to follow all of the outlined expectations. If you have any questions regarding the expectations or if you have concerns regarding your specific circumstances, please contact your local human resources representative.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Reardon, chief human resources officer and associate vice president

Recreational Services to Begin Phased Reopening

Recreational Services is planning a phased reopening of facilities and redeploying programs this month.

In addition to following public health and university guidance regarding protective equipment, social distancing, and cleaning, the department will take additional measures to limit exposure to the COVID-19 virus in its facilities, which include:

  • Spacing machines, equipment, and program participants a minimum of 6 feet apart
  • Requiring face coverings at indoor facilities
  • Setting density restrictions of no more than 50 percent maximum occupancy for indoor facilities
  • Marking workout areas to show the appropriate physical distance
  • Adding signage to remind members to use hand sanitizer upon entry and exit, wipe down equipment before and after use, and abide by physical distancing guidelines
  • Training team members on new cleaning protocols, which include:
    • Wiping down equipment whenever a patron fails to after use
    • Educating patrons on additional cleaning expectations
    • Cleaning common touch points on machines and equipment multiple times a day
    • Pre-cleaning and disinfecting all equipment before opening activity rooms

At this time, anticipated dates for a phased reopening are as follows:

  • July 13, 2020: Hawkeye Recreation Fields, Macbride Nature Recreation Area, outdoor basketball courts, rugby/cricket fields
  • July 20, 2020: Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, Field House, Hawkeye Softball Complex, Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex
  • Aug. 24, 2020: Fitness East, Outdoor Rental Center, UI Challenge Course 

Membership fees will be reinstated on Aug. 1, 2020.

Given the fluid nature of presence of the virus in the community, plans are subject to change. More detailed information on Recreational Services’ phased reopening plan can be viewed on its COVID-19 web page.