As we near the end of another academic year, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for your hard work, dedication and the energy you bring to UTC every day. I am grateful to be part of this incredible campus community.

Following the schedule flexibility we introduced last summer, I’m encouraging campus leadership to offer flexibility in work schedules again during the upcoming summer months. I also recognize that operations across campus are diverse, and flexibility might look a little different depending on the unit.

Each Vice Chancellor has been asked to work with their leadership teams to find opportunities for temporary summer schedule options through July 31. Business needs differ across campus, so the flexibility options will too.

Some ideas to consider include:

• A compressed work week (four 10-hour days)
• Adjusted arrival and/or departure times (for example, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
• Designating a telecommuting day or two each week
• Prioritizing the use of annual leave to recharge
• Other creative options that fit the needs of the department and its people

Of course, we must make sure we’re supporting students, faculty, staff, prospective families and guests at the highest level. That means every University office needs to remain open during traditional business hours.

We realize that some areas can’t offer schedule flexibility because of summer workload demands—and that’s OK. In those cases, I’m encouraging leadership to think about other ways to show appreciation. Maybe it’s a celebratory lunch, a team retreat, some professional development opportunities, or a chance to pursue a creative project. A change of pace can make a big difference.

I’ve asked every Vice Chancellor to look for ways to provide options for every employee to feel a shift this summer—a small but important way to show our appreciation for all you do.

Thank you again for everything you do to make UTC the incredible place that it is.