The University of Georgia and Georgia Tech are moving forward with phased plans to return employees back to their campuses, in some cases as soon as next week.
The schools have been closed to students and most employees since mid March as more confirmed cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in Georgia. UGA and Georgia Tech have the two largest work forces of any public colleges or universities in the state, with more than 18,000 employees, according to state data. UGA is first with about 11,000 employees.
Georgia Tech wrote in a 30-page plan it submitted to the University System of Georgia that all of its police officers would return to their normal 8-hour shifts by Sunday. The plan calls for various percentages of employees in different departments returning to work at different times throughout June, July and August.
Some employees will continue to work remotely as the school continues to develop its plan that follows state and federal health guidelines to protect workers from the novel coronavirus. Georgia Tech released a video Thursday outlining the general guidelines for a return to campus.
UGA's plan, announced in a letter Thursday, calls for a phased return for many employees, starting June 15. Vice presidents, deans and department heads will determine when workers can return to campus. UGA's plan would also follow state and federal health guidelines.
The United Campus Workers of Georgia has raised claims that some employees have been told they must be at work. UGA leaders have said employees can work remotely if they do not feel safe on campus.
Georgia State University unveiled its plan earlier this week for an employee return to campus. Georgia State has about 53,000 students, the largest enrollment of any school in the state.
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