Faculty & staff
Montreal's public health situation is evolving rapidly. Please check back here regularly for updates.
Last updated: May 6, 2022, 11:41 a.m.
Resources
Contact with suspected cases
Have you been in contact with someone who has tested positive? Do you have questions about coming to campus?
Research
Re-opening of labs; FAQ for research activities and processes.
Technology
Get technological support from Instructional and Information Technology Services.
Teaching
Essential principles and support from the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL).
Your well-being
- Working through change: Resources to support you through times of renewal.
- CU Cares: Volunteer to help others.
Frequently asked questions
In-person teaching – 2021-22
In-person exams will proceed by exercising ongoing vigilance in following public health directives and the health and safety measures put in place by the university. Get more information.
Students who need a space to attend a remote class on campus are welcome to use the Library's non-silent study spaces.
They can also take advantage of new individual and group study spaces in the basement of the FB Building.
Please note that the Grey Nuns Reading Room remains closed until further notice.
For other options, students can reach out to their faculty:
- The Faculty of Fine Arts may also have spaces for students to connect to remote courses while on campus. To find out if a space is available, please have them contact their department.
- Students in the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science can also contact Student Academic Services to ask if there are additional spaces available to connect to a remote course while on campus.
- Students in the John Molson School of Business currently registered in a course can book a study room in the MB Building.
- The Faculty of Arts and Science may also have spaces for students to connect to their remote courses while on campus. To find out if a space is available, please have them contact their department.
Students have been advised to contact their course instructors for accommodations if they face circumstances that threaten their academic progress. Learn more about the types of support in place to minimize the adverse effects of medical or other concerns.
Concordia is not requiring faculty to record their classroom lectures. Should a professor choose to record their lectures, the university can support them in their bimodal instruction. Faculty are encouraged to put their class materials, including their recordings where available, on Moodle. Training for Moodle and YuJa is available to all faculty and staff. Registration is available on the IT Training page.
Environmental Health and Safety’s (EHS) COVID Case Management Team reviews each case. If they need additional information, they may communicate with you.
The team determines the risk level of contacts and notifies those considered high-risk. This is done while respecting your confidentiality.
Those who become symptomatic, test positive, or are told by a health professional to isolate should not come to campus. They must stay home and refer to Procedure for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases.
In the event a student requires immediate medical attention and cannot leave campus on their own, instructors should call Campus Security at 514-848-3717.
Campus Security will take the necessary steps to ensure the student obtains medical assistance.
If a professor tests positive for COVID-19, they must complete the COVID-19 Self-Declaration Form.
If an instructor is unable to teach a class in person due to an illness, they can deliver their course remotely by recording their upcoming lecture. In the event a professor is too ill to record their lecture, the university will request that another instructor deliver the course in their absence.
Should an instructor see someone who is not wearing a procedure mask in a shared indoor space, they should kindly remind the individual to put one on.
If a student in a class refuses to wear a procedure mask, faculty should ask them to step out the classroom and remind them that they can pick up a free one from a campus access point.
Failure to comply with COVID-19 health protocols can result in the university revoking an individual’s access-to-campus privileges. In the event that someone refuses to wear a procedure mask, please contact Campus Security at 514-848-3717 for further assistance.
COVID-19 safety directives are available on Environmental Health and Safety’s web page.
Instructors can send their questions about health and safety protocols to Environmental Health and Safety by email at ehs@concordia.ca.
Instructors can consult the procedure for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases by visiting Environmental Health and Safety’s webpage.
Some classrooms have tape on the ground to mark where faculty can keep two metres from students’ seating area.
In-person Convocation ceremonies are dependent on evolving public health directives. Watch the Convocation site for the latest updates.
Working from home
Transition period
Concordia is taking the opportunity to use the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years as a transition period to assess which initiatives to carry over from the past year, including introducing a set of hybrid work guidelines for the majority of Concordia staff.
At the end of the transition period, Concordia will assess and re-evaluate the situation, as well as the university’s collective experiences, to make decisions about the future of hybrid work.
All employees have access to Zoom. Teaching assistants must activate their Concordia email address (firstname.lastname@concordia.ca) to gain access to the university’s Zoom license. Once activated, they can use Zoom for the duration of their contract.
The university will continue to provide guidance on working from home through Learn, teach, work from home and the CU at Home website, as well as regular virtual meetings and town halls for units, supervisors and members of the administration.
Concordia's Virtual Private Network (VPN) service allows staff and faculty who are working remotely with access to services. Instructions are available on the dedicated IITS webpage. Support is also available at the IITS Help Desk (help@concordia.ca).
Faculty and staff can contact the IT Service Desk if they’re having problems connecting to their office computer or maintaining a remote desktop connection.
If their office computer has been shut down or lost power, employees are asked to provide their office room number in their service request. This will allow IITS to send someone to turn it back on.
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has made available information on how to work from home while minimizing the risk of injuries — particularly linked to an employee's desk and computer setup.
Because some people may have specific concerns, EHS is also booking online appointments for ergonomic consultations. Concordia employees who need to speak with an EHS expert can email a request to ehs@concordia.ca.
No, a medical certificate is not required. If an employee has been instructed to self-isolate by public health authorities, we also ask that they complete the Self-Declaration Form.
Yes, if an employee incurs an injury while working for the university remotely they should report it to their supervisor.
They should also fill in this injury form and email it to their supervisor and copy EHS at OHP@concordia.ca.
Please note: If the injury requires medical attention or lost time, a doctor’s note is required.
For additional information, faculty and staff can refer to concordia.ca/campus-life/safety/injury.
Info for staff
Employees are encouraged to find out more about what's in place for 2021-22.
Staff must use their vacation entitlement as per their union’s or association’s collective agreement or policy.
Even if vacations may be different during these unusual times, it is important for Concordians to take time off to disconnect and find space to relax and recharge.
Staff should discuss any plans with their supervisor.
Human Resources has created a guide for staff and faculty trying to adjust to new ways of working. Additional resources are also available on the Working Through Change page on Carrefour.
As per usual practice, overtime must be pre-approved by the employee's manager.
Info for managers
Managers are encouraged to find out more about what's in place for 2021-22.
- If they have not already done so, instruct them to complete the COVID-19 Self-Declaration Form, also located on Carrefour.
- If they are able to work and can complete their tasks remotely, there is nothing further to be done.
- If they are too ill to work remotely, please contact medicalabsence@concordia.ca so that they can be placed on sick leave, according to the rules of their contract or collective agreement.
- If they are well enough to work but cannot perform their regular tasks remotely, please contact labour@concordia.ca.
Should a manager see an employee who is not wearing a procedure mask in a shared indoor space, they should kindly remind the individual that they need to put one on.
Cases of non-compliance will be addressed through the respective collective or employment agreement or policy.
In the event that an employee refuses to wear a procedure mask, managers should contact Campus Security at extension 3717 (or call 514-848-3717) for further assistance.
Yes. Even if vacations may be different during these unusual times, it is even more important for faculty and staff to take time off to disconnect and find space to relax and recharge.
Yes, managers should request vacation plans from their employee(s) and schedule them as usual taking into account service requirements. All employees are entitled and encouraged to take vacation days during the pandemic.
Given that vacations provide incredible benefits for an individual’s mental health and wellness, Concordia is not providing the option for employees to monetize their vacation days.
Employees cannot carry over personal or family days from one year to another. Collective agreements and official university policies remain in effect during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For any questions on changes to an employee’s work conditions, managers should contact a representative of Employee and Labour Relations.
Human Resources has created a guide for staff and faculty trying to adjust to new ways of working, some tips and tricks for managers, and a guide to keep managers and staff fully engaged and productive while working from home.
Managers who have specific questions on navigating these challenging times can also reach out to Natalie Camirand, manager of organizational development.
For more information on how to hold effective online meetings, managers can refer to these tips for virtual meetings. If they have employees working remotely and on campus, Human Resources also offers strategies for hosting hybrid meetings.
For other resources to support employees through times of change, managers can visit Human Resources’ dedicated Working Through Change page on Carrefour.
- If a manager knows that someone on their team lives alone, feels lonely or is experiencing difficulties adapting to working remotely or in a hybrid fashion, they should make sure to connect with them regularly to keep track of how they are feeling. Managers and employees are encouraged to brainstorm together and identify ideas that may help them get through this situation more easily.
- Managers can also suggest that staff try to maintain their relationships and support each other by keeping in contact. Everyone has a role to play in lifting their own spirits and, consequently, lifting the spirit of the community.
- If a manager is worried about one of their team members or colleagues, they may refer them to Concordia’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 1-800-663-1142 (English services) or 1-866-398-9505 (French services). They may also suggest that they visit the EAP website. All contact between Concordia employees and their EAP counsellor is confidential and at no cost.
HR & benefits
Human Resources continues to serve the university community remotely. Employees can reach out using one of the following email addresses.
Contact | Reason | |
---|---|---|
HR Reception |
General inquiries |
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Payroll |
Salary, Record of Employment, tax waivers |
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Letter of Attestation |
Staff (non-faculty), required for mortgage, immigration, etc. |
|
NOHCE submissions |
Notice of Hire for Casual Employees form taken from Carrefour in order to process timesheets payment |
|
Employee Services |
|
|
Pensions |
Pension eligibility, estimation, retirement income, pension benefit entitlements, beneficiary designation changes |
|
Employee and Labour Relations |
Inquiries about collective agreements, grievances / complaints |
|
Medical Absence |
Sick leaves, short and long-term disability and SAAQ claims |
|
Work-related injuries | OHP@concordia.ca | Work injuries and CNESST claims |
Employment |
General inquiries, external applications |
|
Training |
Training and Learning and Development |
Physical drop-in hours have been cancelled. Employees may contact Human Resources at the email addresses noted above.
Yes, the university’s EAP is available to all Concordia employees — including their spouses and dependent children — until May 31, 2022, at no extra cost. Accessible 24 hours a day, seven days per week, the program offers counselling services and a wealth of online resources.
Travel
Necessary research/academic travel is allowed.
Staff intending to travel outside of Canada for official university business must receive prior authorization from their supervisor. Faculty continue to be required to inform their department chair if the intended travel conflicts with teaching or service responsibilities.
Exceptionally and until further notice: faculty, postdoctoral students, graduate students and research personnel who wish to conduct research fieldwork outside of Canada must complete a request for Continuing Essential Field Research Activities. For more information, faculty and staff are encouraged to consult Concordia’s message on work- or research-related travel outside of Canada. The travel registry is to be used for international travel related to Concordia business, in order to provide support in case of an emergency. Travellers are strongly encouraged to complete the registry before any international travel. Read the OVPRGS Notice on travel outside Canada.
COVID-19 vaccination requirements for entry to Canada stipulate that only fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed entry into Canada. Barring a very limited number of exceptions, those who are non- or partially vaccinated will be refused entry.
Concordia recommends that all faculty, staff and students who are not fully vaccinated should do so as soon as possible.
For more information, Concordians can consult the Government of Canada’s list of approved vaccines.