Connecticut College

Dear Colleagues,

During yesterday’s Monthly Meeting for Faculty and Staff, President Bergeron authorized additional days of paid leave for benefits-eligible staff, noting that the early departure of students from campus this fall and the extended winter break offer a unique opportunity to express her appreciation for staffs' persistent and hard work - efforts that have enabled students to safely live and learn on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Additional Paid Time Off:
Benefits-eligible staff will receive one day off with pay on Nov. 25, which is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  Additionally, staff who are scheduled to work throughout the winter break period (Dec. 22, 2020 through Feb. 7, 2021) will receive an additional week of paid leave (5 days for staff who work a full week).  For most staff, this additional paid leave will be used on Nov. 25, 2020 and between Jan. 4, 2021 and Jan. 8, 2021. Staff who are required to work on any of these days will have alternative paid days off prior to June 30, 2021, and these alternative days will be defined and tracked by their department head.  Staff should record this time off as an "Award Day Off" on their timesheets in the ETR system. The administrative office schedule on CamelWeb will be updated next week to reflect this additional paid leave. Please note these days off will not accrue or carry over to the next fiscal year.

Spring Break President's Discretionary Leave:
Due to the pandemic, the 2020-21 academic year calendar is very different from prior years.  The winter break is much longer, the spring semester starts in February instead of mid-January, and the March spring break has been eliminated.  Benefits eligible staff who are eligible for a week of President's Discretionary leave during spring break should plan to use that paid time off prior to the start of classes on Feb. 8, 2021.  This time off should be entered as “President’s Discr. Break” in the ETR system.  Please note, President's Discretionary leave must be used by June 30. 

Vacation Banks:
Given the unusual demands that COVID-19 has placed on many departments, some full-year staff have not been able to take vacation. As a result their vacation banks have reached the maximum 25 day cap and they are no longer accruing vacation leave.  In recognition of staffs' dedication, the College will increase the vacation bank cap to 30 days.  This one-time change will begin on Nov. 16, 2020 and end on Dec. 31, 2021.  Staff with large vacation banks should work with their department heads to schedule vacation leave and reduce their vacation banks by Dec. 31, 2021 to ensure they accrue vacation in 2022 and beyond.  Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the vacation bank cap will revert to 25 days.  

If you have other questions about this additional leave time, please contact Human Resources at HumanResources@conncoll.edu or 860-439-2085.

Best,
Cheryl Miller
Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational Development