UI Foundation/UI Advancement Weekly Update 04.16.21

Dear Team:

As the number of individuals receiving the coronavirus vaccine increases, so too do the questions about when and how those who worked in an office pre-COVID might return there. What will our offices look like, and how will they be different?  Is what we did before the pandemic the best way to do things now?

While these, and many other questions are not easily answered, it has become abundantly clear that any plans we make must also include contingency plans and planning scenarios. Unfortunately, despite the positive trajectory we are on at the moment, we are challenged to know for certain what is around the corner. If we have learned anything over the past year, it’s that change is constant and the assumptions and facts we use to make plans today may change tomorrow. Then what?  What is the best-case scenario, and what is the worst-case scenario? Fortunately, in most cases, our reality is not at the extremes of “perfect” or “catastrophe,” but somewhere in between, meaning we need to prepare for any number of “what ifs.” For those who follow sports, you may recall the famous words of World-champion boxer Mike Tyson when describing his opponents’ plans to defeat him, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” In some respects, this pandemic has indeed felt like a punch in the mouth.

While I certainly hope we are finished boxing with COVID, returning to the office will not be as easy as simply opening the doors again.  In addition to our current RTO plans, we are evaluating many other scenarios and the lessons learned over the past months to determine how to bring staff back to a physical building, and in some cases, if certain staff will even return to a campus office. As UIUC Vice Chancellor for Advancement Barry Benson alluded to in his message last week, we ought to consider where staff members can do their most effective and efficient work. Please know we are doing our very best to remain agile and fluid as we evaluate RTO plans, and the safety, health, and wellness of our staff and their families remain our top priority.

In closing, it’s been a little more than a year since I started writing these weekly messages, prompting me to recently look back over the thoughts I’ve shared. The subjects have ranged from relevant current events, to my perspectives on leadership, and a host of other random thoughts and topics. If you have thoughts or suggestions about specific topics you would like me to address or revisit in the coming weeks, please feel free to share them with me.

On the topic of weekends, enjoy your time off, whether your activities go as planned, or you have to resort to Plan B.  Spring weather is unpredictable that way.

All the best,

Jim