COVID-19 Updates
Non-Essential International and Domestic Travel, through June 30, 2021
July 1, 2020
Colleagues,
On March 11, I communicated that all international and non-essential domestic travel for all employees (including auxiliary organizations) was suspended through May 31, 2020.
In light of the California State University’s decision to move to a primarily virtual fall semester, the realities of the fiscal challenges that will incur budget reductions to the CSU, and in accordance with a directive from the Chancellor’s Office, Fresno State is eliminating all non-essential international and domestic travel through June 30, 2021.
President Castro has delegated authority to each Vice President to approve exceptions for travel and in-person meetings when there are compelling reasons that support the academic and co-curricular mission of the campus. Those exceptions will be granted on a very limited basis.
The following guidelines will be used to evaluate any exemptions:
- Conference attendance shall be restricted to those where the traveler is:
- A keynote speaker;
- An officer or active organizing committee member; or
- Other essential role
- Specialized training that is essential for critical functions of the job
- All requests for a travel exemption should be reviewed first by the appropriate Associate Vice President or School/College Dean and then forwarded to the applicable Division Vice President for final approval.
Please note travel that circumvents the above-listed pre-approval guidelines may be denied reimbursement.
Also, the Chancellor’s Office has transitioned all system-wide meetings and conferences to a virtual mode through June 30, 2021. Similarly, we are encouraging all offices to consider moving all meetings to a virtual mode whenever possible during the 2020-21 academic year.
Thank you for your cooperation with this guidance.
Sincerely,
Debbie Adishian-Astone
Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer