Responses | EA Staff Feedback Forum #9: Services on Campus
As the campus begins to reactivate, and given the continued financial challenges, how should the university prioritize the availability of fitness, parking, dining, TCAT, child care, etc.?
Childcare should absolutely be the number one priority for employees. I don't even have children but I see how its directly affecting every single person within the campus community.
What are some alternatives solutions you might have for some of these services? Be creative! For example, “If ample free parking was available, I could walk to and from my office to get in some steps and save some money”, or “I’ve never really explored car-pooling or the Ride-Share options, but I certainly could.”, etc.
Flexible work hours, Cornell coordinated child care pods, offers to part time employees to add to their Cornell hours by supervising child care pods.
What will be important for you as we look forward to the future?
I need my colleagues to be able to work, so they need childcare. I would love it if Cornell could help out with that.
As the campus begins to reactivate, and given the continued financial challenges, how should the university prioritize the availability of fitness, parking, dining, TCAT, child care, etc.?
If Cornell is requiring some staff to return to Campus, then Cornell should prioritize staff support as follows: TCAT, child care, dining, parking, and fitness.
What are some alternatives solutions you might have for some of these services? Be creative! For example, “If ample free parking was available, I could walk to and from my office to get in some steps and save some money”, or “I’ve never really explored car-pooling or the Ride-Share options, but I certainly could.”, etc.
Yes, if lots of free parking were available it would mean that I would park on Campus and walk to the office. It would allow me to save money which I would spend on food. I don't want to car-pool or ride-share during a pandemic. I wish Cornell would designate more space for break rooms. Cost-saving measures: less ornamental landscaping, reduce the athletics programs, reduce or eliminate non-academic administrative departments and staff.
What will be important for you as we look forward to the future?
Cornell has reduced my salary for 1% for 11 months, so it is important to me to see my salary restored and other cost-saving measures introduced instead. It is also important to me to continue working from home.
As the campus begins to reactivate, and given the continued financial challenges, how should the university prioritize the availability of fitness, parking, dining, TCAT, child care, etc.?
TCAT, yes. High priority. Fitness benefits in my opinion should not be prioritized at all. That should become a personal obligation. Parking? I think it can stay as it is with present cost structure. It is a luxury to park on campus and we should pay for that privilege. Child care? I am a strong believer in the continuation of the Cornell Child Care Grant. However, I do not think Cornell has to prioritize having day care facilities for its employees.
What will be important for you as we look forward to the future?
The retention of the CCTS benefit is the most important to me. Both the Cornell Childcare grant and CCTS are exceptionally generous benefits that I am so very thankful to have the opportunity to access. They have been instrumental in many positive developments in my daughter's life.
As the campus begins to reactivate, and given the continued financial challenges, how should the university prioritize the availability of fitness, parking, dining, TCAT, child care, etc.?
Dining, TCAT I think are highest priorities.
What are some alternatives solutions you might have for some of these services? Be creative! For example, “If ample free parking was available, I could walk to and from my office to get in some steps and save some money”, or “I’ve never really explored car-pooling or the Ride-Share options, but I certainly could.”, etc.
I've tried it all. I prefer to pay for a parking spot close to work. I think I've found someone to carpool with, but am hoping to not be back to campus full time.
What will be important for you as we look forward to the future?
I trust Cornell's leadership. They have proven themselves to be resourceful, thoughtful, and nimble, and willing to make difficult decisions. I think this trust is important going forward, as we try to get back to normal in as smart and cautious a way as possible.
As the campus begins to reactivate, and given the continued financial challenges, how should the university prioritize the availability of fitness, parking, dining, TCAT, child care, etc.?
I think virtual wellness and fitness classes are really important. It's hard to stay active with the gyms closed. For those that need to access campus, I think TCAT is also vital especially if parking is enforced again.
What are some alternatives solutions you might have for some of these services? Be creative! For example, “If ample free parking was available, I could walk to and from my office to get in some steps and save some money”, or “I’ve never really explored car-pooling or the Ride-Share options, but I certainly could.”, etc.
If the stadium parking garage was less expensive, then I would certainly explore parking there, even if I only end up needing to come in to work physically a few times a month. That would give me opportunities to walk to my building but it just is not financially feasible at the current pricing, even if I were coming in daily.
I don't need this service, but I do wonder if some Cornell employees would group together to rotate child care, especially if some of the employees have flexible hours. Maybe a facilitated way for Cornell employees looking for this type of option by geographic region?
What will be important for you as we look forward to the future?
Finding ways to connect with colleagues or other Cornell employees; options for fitness if gyms /group exercise classes cannot safely re-start.
As the campus begins to reactivate, and given the continued financial challenges, how should the university prioritize the availability of fitness, parking, dining, TCAT, child care, etc.?
A top priority for me as a Cornell staff member is finding ways to continue to network, connect, and meet new colleagues while working remotely from home.
What are some alternatives solutions you might have for some of these services? Be creative! For example, “If ample free parking was available, I could walk to and from my office to get in some steps and save some money”, or “I’ve never really explored car-pooling or the Ride-Share options, but I certainly could.”, etc.
Cornell could host more big and small online events on Zoom for staff to connect, both events that will count as time worked and more social events that wouldn't. For example, online forums with breakout rooms that people can migrate between as they want to on topics such as parenting, gardening, gourmet cooking, pets, volunteering, etc. (this can be done on Zoom if the host makes all participants co-hosts at the meeting... then they are able to move themselves between breakout rooms, or there may be a more efficient/secure way to do this).
What will be important for you as we look forward to the future?
Continuing to be allowed to work remotely when I want to given that I can do my job equally well either on campus or from home. Remaining connected with others on campus despite working virtually.
As the campus begins to reactivate, and given the continued financial challenges, how should the university prioritize the availability of fitness, parking, dining, TCAT, child care, etc.?
My two biggest priorities would be child care and fitness. I have a seven-year-old child, so child care is my biggest concern right now. Also, I find I move around a lot less staying home all the time. I have really valued the fitness offerings from Cornell Wellness.
What are some alternatives solutions you might have for some of these services? Be creative! For example, “If ample free parking was available, I could walk to and from my office to get in some steps and save some money”, or “I’ve never really explored car-pooling or the Ride-Share options, but I certainly could.”, etc.
I think in-person meet-ups would be great for everyone. Zoom fatigue is real, and I'm really dying to see people off a screen. It would be great if there were "remote" fitness offerings occasionally in various locations - not just on campus (like local parks). Everyone could bring a mat or blanket and stay distant for a workout class.
What will be important for you as we look forward to the future?
I think moving forward the university should be focusing on programs to protect the mental and physical health of students and employees. This past few months has been intense with the pandemic and important social justice causes. I think finding ways to make people feel safe coming to campus should be a priority.
As the campus begins to reactivate, and given the continued financial challenges, how should the university prioritize the availability of fitness, parking, dining, TCAT, child care, etc.?
1. Parking: The new low-cost daily decision lots are a big relief and cost savings for employees who have reduced access to campus, however there is a lot of trepidation regarding them because it is unknown if the lots will fill to capacity therefore being unavailable, or for how long these reduced rates will be available. Additionally, should schedules increase, previous parking permit options may no longer be available to employees after the Sept 7th renewal period.
2. Dining: Central campus dining options MUST be made available to staff. This has already been a struggle for employees on campus full or limited time. Most buildings have limited access to kitchens/lounges (if they have them available) to control potential virus spread, so staff is unable to store food on site. There needs to be a convenient (and preferably) contactless solution for employees. Are Cornell food trucks available? Or other take-out options from locations such as Trillium?
3. Fitness: Please DO NOT reinstate fitness options on campus. While we do miss these services, fitness centers are extremely high risk. More virtual options such as the virtual Walk-to-Run group hosted by Cornell Wellness this past Spring should be made available, as well as outdoor walking and running groups on campus.
What are some alternatives solutions you might have for some of these services? Be creative! For example, “If ample free parking was available, I could walk to and from my office to get in some steps and save some money”, or “I’ve never really explored car-pooling or the Ride-Share options, but I certainly could.”, etc.
1. Parking: Expand availability of Free or Low-Cost Daily Decision Parking (lower pricing for the $10 daily lots to $3 daily), guarantee pricing through specified end-date so there are no unknowns, allow employees to repurchase previous permits should time on campus need to increase.
2. Dining: Food trucks and contactless take-out options available to ALL AREAS of campus, employee only options to avoid possibly crowded student dining
3. Fitness: More virtual options such as the virtual Walk-to-Run group hosted by Cornell Wellness this past Spring should be made available, as well as outdoor walking and running groups on campus.
4. TCAT: campus only circulation shuttle bus to help staff/employees quickly and efficiently more between commuter parking lots and work locations
What will be important for you as we look forward to the future?
SAFETY
I do not want to be included in one of the "thousands" of cases predicted on campus.
As the campus begins to reactivate, and given the continued financial challenges, how should the university prioritize the availability of fitness, parking, dining, TCAT, child care, etc.?
Since every staff member is different with different needs then I think it's worth a survey to staff or pulling the data to find out who is or was using these options so that there is less waste with items that aren't a priority anymore.
What are some alternatives solutions you might have for some of these services? Be creative! For example, “If ample free parking was available, I could walk to and from my office to get in some steps and save some money”, or “I’ve never really explored car-pooling or the Ride-Share options, but I certainly could.”, etc.
For example, if staff are allowed to work remotely more often, do they need parking passes or is there a parking pass share.
How many staff actually participate in the on campus fitness vs. who use other gyms?
What will be important for you as we look forward to the future?
There are a significant amount of remote staff (prior to covid) that felt left out of local and campus-based options for all of the above mentioned items. When COVID hit the world became more remote-friendly so the fear is that when staff return to campus that they will be forgotten again. Let's enhance the remote staff work/life balance and create inclusive environments while promoting the flexibility of working remote to cover child care, lower commuting charges, etc.
As the campus begins to reactivate, and given the continued financial challenges, how should the university prioritize the availability of fitness, parking, dining, TCAT, child care, etc.?
It would be wonderful to continue all of the amazing virtual resources Wellness has been offering during the pandemic. Dining and parking and TCAT has been less needed than usual with so much of campus working remotely.
What are some alternatives solutions you might have for some of these services? Be creative! For example, “If ample free parking was available, I could walk to and from my office to get in some steps and save some money”, or “I’ve never really explored car-pooling or the Ride-Share options, but I certainly could.”, etc.
If I were able to work remotely in a permanent full-time arrangement, I wouldn't be as dependent on the TCAT and I would continue all of the amazing virtual resources Wellness has been offering during the pandemic.
What will be important for you as we look forward to the future?
True effort in getting folks who want to and can work remotely to work remotely