Dear UWM Faculty and Staff,

I am pleased to announce that we have found a way to provide some assistance to student workers who have lost their positions as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

UWM will provide a one-time COVID-19 leave payment to all active student hourly workers who have logged hours in HRS on or since Feb. 1, 2020. The payments will be made as follows:

• The payment will be $100 per week for two weeks — a total of $200.
• The payment will be effective for the April A payroll, which begins Sunday, March 29, ends Saturday, April 11, and pays Thursday, April 23.
• Student workers who have logged hours during the April A pay period will receive this payment in addition to their logged hours during the same pay period.

This will be a one-time action designed to help UWM student employees who have not been able to continue in their jobs.

The pandemic has caused unprecedented and unexpected changes to our operating budgets. UWM is not unique in this regard. The majority of colleges and universities – both in Wisconsin and nationwide – are facing the same circumstances. For those reasons, we also will be ending all student hourly appointments in the coming weeks, with exceptions provided for units in which student employees are helping to provide ongoing services. Supervisors are or soon will be speaking with students whose appointments are ending. We view this as a relatively short-term circumstance while the virus is forcing most people to stay home. It is our sincere hope that when isolation requirements are lifted, and the UWM campus is again a lively place for instruction, research and community engagement, student employees will return to campus jobs.

In addition, we continue to advocate to our federal elected officials for student assistance. We are grateful to the faculty, staff, alumni and others who have donated to the Student Emergency Fund and UWM Food Center and Pantry.

I realize this is a stressful time due to the rapid pace of change and significant amount of uncertainty. It is my sincere hope that the news of additional compensation will provide our student workers with some comfort and assistance. Additional coronavirus-related updates on planning and operations are in the full version of this message.

Best regards,