Work Arrangements and Resources for Success

Greater on-campus presence creates more opportunities for employees to collaborate, mentor colleagues, solve problems and provide responsive service

Our campus is at its best when students, faculty and staff can connect, collaborate, and engage with one another in person. It also helps strengthen connections among the people who support the University’s teaching, research and service missions.

Students benefit from greater access to faculty, staff, services, mentorship, and campus resources. A more active campus environment also helps strengthen students' academic experience, sense of belonging, and community.

Face-to-face interactions support spontaneous collaboration, mentoring, relationship-building, problem-solving, and service delivery. Being present on campus also allows employees to engage more fully in the life of the University and contribute to a connected and supportive environment for students and colleagues.

The expectation applies to University staff positions. Staff members whose positions already require four or five days on campus should continue following their current schedules unless their supervisor communicates a change.  If you are unsure if the expectation applies to you, please contact your supervisor and/or HR Director. The four-day minimum expectation does not apply to faculty work arrangements.

All covered staff positions are expected to meet the four-day expectation no later than June 30, 2027.

For other covered staff, units will use the period leading up to June 30, 2027 to move toward full implementation based on their operational, staffing and workspace needs. During this period, supervisors may require increased on-campus attendance for meetings, events, coverage and other specific operational needs, and should continue to review existing flexible work arrangements annually in accordance with University policy.

Some units, colleges, and positions had established on-campus work requirements of four or more days per week during the 2025-26 academic year or earlier. Those preexisting requirements remain in effect. For other covered staff, June 30, 2027 is the University-wide implementation date for the four-day expectation. During the transition period, supervisors may require employees to be on campus for meetings, events, coverage and other specific operational needs. These requirements do not change the June 30, 2027 University-wide implementation date for the four-day expectation.

Yes. Additional information about the process, including applicable criteria, documentation and timing, will be provided as those details are finalized. Individual units should not establish separate criteria or approval processes.

Requests for reasonable accommodation related to a medical condition or disability are separate from this process and will continue to be handled by Employee and Labor Relations in accordance with applicable law and University policy.

Employees who have questions about their individual circumstances should speak with their supervisor or Human Resources.

The University recognizes that this transition may affect commuting, caregiving responsibilities, existing work arrangements and workspace needs.

Employees should speak with their supervisor about their unit’s timeline and operational expectations. Questions about existing remote or hybrid arrangements or requests for a different arrangement should be directed to the employee’s HR Director.

Employees seeking a medical or disability accommodation should contact Employee and Labor Relations at employee-relations@udel.edu. Workspace and equipment needs should be raised with the employee’s supervisor.

Additional information about the exception process, workplace planning and available employee resources will be added to this page as it becomes available.

You may already meet the four-day expectation. 

 In those cases, little or no change may be required. Supervisors will communicate any department-specific expectations.

Current remote or telework agreements remain subject to annual review in accordance with the University’s Flexible Work Arrangements policy. An existing arrangement does not automatically qualify an employee for an exception to the four-day on-campus expectation.

Supervisors and HR will communicate directly with affected employees about any required changes and the applicable transition period.

Until an employee receives new instructions, the employee should continue following their current approved work schedule.

Employees who are ready to increase their on-site presence before June 30, 2027 are encouraged to do so after consultation with their supervisor and assured that the unit is able to support the employee’s operational needs (space, equipment, etc.). Earlier participation helps strengthen collaboration and campus engagement.

For covered employees, if your position or unit was already subject to an established on-campus work requirement of four or more days per week before July 1, 2026, that requirement remains in effect. Otherwise, June 30, 2027 is the University-wide implementation date for the four-day expectation, including where an earlier date was communicated as part of this summer’s transition to increased on-campus presence.

During the transition period, supervisors may continue to require on-campus attendance for meetings, events, coverage and other specific operational needs. Employees should continue to follow those requirements and their current approved work schedules.

Facilities Services and Campus Planning will work with units to assess office space, equipment and other workplace needs. Employees should raise individual workspace concerns with their supervisor. A University-wide workplace-planning framework, process and timeline will be communicated no later than September 24, 2026.

• Unit-specific operational expectations: Contact your supervisor.

• Flexible Work Arrangements or the general exception process: Contact your HR Director.

• Medical or disability accommodations: Contact Employee and Labor Relations at employee-relations@udel.edu.

• Workspace or equipment needs: Contact your supervisor or unit leadership, who can coordinate with Facilities Services and Campus Planning.

Work arrangements for newly hired staff will be established based on the responsibilities and operational needs of the position and unit. The University-wide expectation is a minimum of four days per week on campus for covered staff positions. Some positions may require five days per week on campus based on the nature of the work.