GAU WORKING CONDITIONS SURVEY

+ Workplace Guidance

URI’s Administration emailed grads and faculty on April 2, 2020 to articulate expectations for our research and teaching responsibilities during the pandemic. You can read the full notice here.

Critical Highlights:

Research activities that require a physical presence in a laboratory should be drawn down to a minimum necessary to maintain important, expensive and/or time-sensitive research;

Every effort should be made to adapt the work requirements of research and teaching assistants so they can work remotely – as much as possible – and to provide students and research staff with the tools needed to work from home;

No graduate assistant can be compelled to work in a laboratory, studio, or office that does not allow for social distancing or is otherwise unsafe;

Any graduate assistant who is sick, who has a family member or loved one who is sick where they live, feel that they have medical conditions that place them at higher risk, or are caring for dependents without access to childcare at this time, should be required to stay home for as long as necessary, without fear of repercussion or retaliation from their supervisor;

Expectations for the amount and nature of scholarly productivity should be adjusted in light of the current social distancing guidelines. In particular, reasonable accommodations must be made to allow students to deal with pressing family obligations and to promote their overall well-being in this stressful time.

Students and faculty who need further assistance or guidance in promoting graduate student safety while continuing scholarly activity are encouraged to contact the URI Graduate School and the Office of the URI Vice President for Research.

+ Grad Assistant-Specific Resources

URI INFORMATION

GRAD SCHOOL FORMS AND EXTENSIONS

UNION AFFILIATE UPDATES

PEER SUPPORT AND TIPS

+ CARES Act Information

GENERAL OVERVIEW of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act from National Public Radio

STIMULUS CHECK INFORMATION Do you qualify to receive a stimulus check? Find out on Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s FAQ.

EMERGENCY SICK LEAVE & EXPANDED FAMILY/MEDICAL LEAVE (in addition to your contractual benefits). You may be entitled to coronavirus-related emergency sick leave for you and to take care of your family members in the event they become ill.

STUDENT LOAN RELIEF How to apply for administrative forbearance for your federal student loan repayments.

+ Social Services

IMPORTANT UPDATE

Grad Assistant Workplace Guidance

 
 

URI’s Administration emailed grads and faculty on April 2, 2020 to articulate expectations for our research and teaching responsibilities during the pandemic. You can read the full notice here.

Critical Highlights:

Research activities that require a physical presence in a laboratory should be drawn down to a minimum necessary to maintain important, expensive and/or time-sensitive research;

Every effort should be made to adapt the work requirements of research and teaching assistants so they can work remotely – as much as possible – and to provide students and research staff with the tools needed to work from home;

No graduate assistant can be compelled to work in a laboratory, studio, or office that does not allow for social distancing or is otherwise unsafe;

Any graduate assistant who is sick, who has a family member or loved one who is sick where they live, feel that they have medical conditions that place them at higher risk, or are caring for dependents without access to childcare at this time, should be required to stay home for as long as necessary, without fear of repercussion or retaliation from their supervisor;

Expectations for the amount and nature of scholarly productivity should be adjusted in light of the current social distancing guidelines. In particular, reasonable accommodations must be made to allow students to deal with pressing family obligations and to promote their overall well-being in this stressful time.

Students and faculty who need further assistance or guidance in promoting graduate student safety while continuing scholarly activity are encouraged to contact the URI Graduate School and the Office of the URI Vice President for Research.

Grad Assistant-Specific Resources

 

CARES Act Information

 

GENERAL OVERVIEW of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act from National Public Radio

STIMULUS CHECK INFORMATION Do you qualify to receive a stimulus check? Find out on Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s FAQ.

EMERGENCY SICK LEAVE & EXPANDED FAMILY/MEDICAL LEAVE (in addition to your contractual benefits). You may be entitled to coronavirus-related emergency sick leave for you and to take care of your family members in the event they become ill.

STUDENT LOAN RELIEF How to apply for administrative forbearance for your federal student loan repayments.

Social Services

 
 

FREE WIFI HOT SPOT SERVICES “To ensure that all Rhode Island students have access to WiFi necessary for distance learning at home, the Governor today announced that all households that have a smart phone with a WiFi hot spot feature and have cell phone service from the four most common providers in our state - Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint - will be able to activate the hot spot feature for free. There will be no activation fee, no usage fee, and no overage fee. This policy will last until at least May 13.”

HOUSING, FOOD, AND CHILDCARE SERVICES Click here or dial 2-1-1 for assistance with housing, food, childcare, and other services in Rhode Island through the United Way.

FREE TAX FILING SERVICES Find assistance in filing your taxes and learn about community volunteer opportunities through the RI United Way.

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) Application for food vouchers for those who qualify.

FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT Has a member of your family lost their job due to the pandemic? RI Unemployment benefits have been expanded. Learn more and find a link to apply here.

Local Information and Resources

 

CORONAVIRUS TESTING SITES

RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Advisories and updates, as well as an abundance of guidance and resources from the RI Department of Health.

GOVERNOR RAIMONDO’S DAILY PRESS CONFERENCES Summaries updated daily by fellow Rhode Islanders.

TOWN-SPECIFIC UPDATES AND INFORMATION

FOOD SECURITY AND SERVICES

Farm Fresh RI Farm Fresh RI is offering online grocery shopping and delivery services through their Market Mobile wholesale ordering system.

URI Dining Services Food ordering form if you live on campus.

FOOD PANTRIES

Travel Information

 

GENERAL INFORMATION https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE TRAVEL ADVISORIES https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html

SUSPENSION OF ROUTINE VISA SERVICES https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/suspension-of-routine-visa-services.html

PASSPORT OPERATIONS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/passport-covid-19.html

VIRUS-RELATED EMERGENCIES OVERSEAS

From Senator Whitehouse’s website:

“Constituents with a COVID-19 virus related emergency overseas can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate or call the Department of State’s 24/7 assistance call center at 1-888-407-4747 (within the U.S. or Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from overseas).”

Community Support and Outreach

DONATIONS OF LAB AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT The State of Rhode Island has asked for donations of laboratory supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE). To donate, click the link above.

AMOR RI The good folks at AMOR RI along with other social justice non-profits and grassroots organizers are working together to offer support to our most vulnerable community members.

BLOOD DONATION If you are healthy and able, please consider making an appointment to donate to the Rhode Island Blood Center.

IMMIGRANT JUSTICE SKILL-SHARE Resources for immigrants and immigrant networks.

 

Local Mutual Aid and Support

FACEBOOK CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) INFORMATION CENTER https://www.facebook.com/coronavirus_info/ (offer or ask for help here)

FACEBOOK COVID-19 SOUTH COUNTY MUTUAL AID AND SUPPORT https://www.facebook.com/groups/210087673679116 (offer or ask for help here)

RI MUTUAL AID

Academic Collaboration

CORONAVIRUS TECH HANDBOOK The Coronavirus Tech Handbook provides a library for technologists, civic organizations, public and private institutions, researchers, educators and specialists of all kinds to collaborate on an agile and sophisticated response to the coronavirus outbreak and sequential impacts. It is a rapidly evolving resource with thousands of active expert contributors. https://coronavirustechhandbook.com/home

ON HELPING WITH COVID-19 RESPONSE AS A SCIENTIST https://crowdfightcovid19.org/

COVID-19 PROJECTIONS (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation) http://covid19.healthdata.org/

At-Home Wellness

An injury to one is an injury to ALL. Solidarity Forever!