College of Arts and Sciences Telecommuting Process

• UB prides itself as a place-based organization that benefits from faculty and staff being on campus in support of students and colleagues.
• The College’s culture depends on strong collaboration among faculty, staff, and students.
• The needs and best interests of the university and unit are prioritized over individual preferences when reviewing and approving telecommuting requests.
• Per SUNY Policy, all employees are entitled to request a telecommuting option for up to 5 days per pay period.
• All terms/conditions of telecommuting are governed by applicable SUNY and University policy.
• All telecommuting agreements are, at all times, at management discretion.
• At the beginning of each semester, staff members may be asked to temporarily suspend flexible work arrangements during the initial weeks of the term when on-site support is essential to maintaining effective operations.

• Supervisors of staff in academic departments and unit support offices should review requests, in consultation with the appropriate department chair, associate dean, or supervisors. Requests may be approved within the following guidelines.
  
• Fall and Spring Terms: Up to one day per week (two days per pay period) of telecommuting may be approved by department chairs, associate deans, and supervisors.
• Winter and Summer Terms: Up to two days per week (four days per pay period) of telecommuting may be approved by department chairs, associate deans, and supervisors.
  
  • The winter term begins on the day following the final day of fall semester exams and ends on the day before the first day of the spring semester.
  • The summer term begins on the first business day following commencement and ends on the day before the first day of the fall semester.

• Requests for telecommuting that are outside these guidelines must be reviewed by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and should be referred to Nicole Hayden, human resources officer for staff affairs, to initiate the review process.
• All telecommuting requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• All telecommuting agreements require the dean's approval, per university policy. Supervisors must forward approved requests for final review and approval by September 21, 2026 to Nicole Hayden, human resources officer for staff affairs.  
• Staff members without an approved telecommuting agreement are expected to work fully in person.

Current approved telecommuting agreements may remain in place until updated applications are reviewed and approved. However, as we begin a new academic year, staff members may be asked to temporarily suspend agreements during the first two or three weeks of the academic year when on-site staff support is crucial to ensuring smooth operations at a particularly busy time of year.

Please direct any questions to Nicole Hayden, human resources officer for staff affairs at nhayden@buffalo.edu.

• Interested employees should discuss telecommuting possibilities with supervisors before completing a telecommuting request form.
• In consultation with Sector Associate Deans, Chairs must ensure that the department/program has appropriate on-campus staffing Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.  
• Submit all completed requests, whether approved or denied to Nicole Hayden, human resources officer for staff affairs.

• This is solely for the SUNY Telecommuting program and not for FMLA or other medical related accommodations.
• Approved arrangements can be modified, suspended or cancelled at any time.
• This policy applies to all full time and part time staff, bargaining units and funding sources, however a faculty member typically already has flexibility built into their work schedule so it is primarily intended for staff.
• This policy does not apply to any student employees (TA/GA/RAs, etc.).
  

If you have additional questions, please visit the UB HR webpage for more information, discuss your concerns with your supervisor, or contact Nicole Hayden at nhayden@buffalo.edu.