4-11: SFCC Remote Work Policy

Policy Overview

The purpose of this policy is to outline administration of the remote-work process for Santa Fe Community College (SFCC or College) employees.

Scope and Applicability

This policy sets the parameters by which the College may approve or revoke remote-work status and the employee’s responsibilities when working remotely. This policy applies to all employees of SFCC, excluding student employees and adjunct faculty. Any exemption to this policy requires review and approval by the Office of Human Resources and the President.

Policy Statement

SFCC embraces strategic, flexible work arrangements as a purposeful approach to enhancing positive work/life balance, individual health, and community well-being while maintaining the highest priority of servicing students and the community. With appropriate approvals, SFCC considers remote work to be a viable, flexible work option when both the employee and the job are suited to such an arrangement.

Definitions

1. Alternative Work Location refers to locations other than SFCC Campuses where an employee is expected to perform some or all of their duties.
2. Employee is any member of the college workforce: all staff (regular full-time, regular part-time, term, temporary, probationary, sensitive position); all student employees; all faculty (full-time, part-time, adjunct, probationary); all administrators, including interim; all contract employees.
3. Remote Work The practice of employees performing some or all of their duties from an Alternate Work Location either in-state or out of state. Emphasis is placed on information or communication exchanged through smart phones/telephones and remote devices such as computers to allow an employee to work at an Alternative Work Location. Remote-work does not include the use of a learning management system or enterprise resources planning tool, instruction done by adjunct instructors, or casual, intermittent work performed by employees to supplement the work they regularly do at an SFCC property. A. Fully Remote working option: An employee’s primary work location is off campus and has a formal fully remote working agreement in place. B. Hybrid working option: An employee’s primary work locations are both on and off campus and they have a formal hybrid working agreement in place. C. Ad-hoc working option: An employee’s primary work location is on campus but on occasion the employee may work off campus with approval of their supervisor.
4. SFCC Campus or Location refers to Main Campus, the Santa Fe Higher Education Center campus, and any other location the College owns or leases.
5. SFCC Property includes all property that SFCC has provided to the employee to facilitate their performance, and may include but is not limited to computer hardware, mobile telephones, and office supplies.

Policy Process

1. A flexible work arrangement must not unduly burden office and department operations.
2. SFCC allows remote work on a discretionary basis.
   1. Remote work is a privilege made available by the College in its sole discretion, and can be changed or discontinued based on the College’s needs.
   2. An employee’s eligibility to work remotely will be based on the needs of the unit/office/department/College as well as job roles and responsibilities.
   3. The Office of Human Resources, the employee’s supervisor, and the appropriate direct report to the President, must approve all remote-work status prior to an employee starting to work remotely.
3. Employees engaged in remote work must comply with College rules, policies, and procedures and understand that violation of such may result in the revocation of the Remote Work Agreement and/or disciplinary action, up to and including termination (SFCC Policy 4-2 Employee Corrective Action and Disciplinary Action).
4. The Office of Human Resources will be responsible for creating and administrating the Procedures for the remote work policy.
   1. Remote work Procedures will contain processes for a Fully remote working option, Hybrid working option, and Ad-hoc working option.
5. The College is not responsible for operating or installation costs associated with the employee’s alternative work location, including but not limited to home maintenance, digital subscriber line (DSL), cable, cell phone bills, Internet, utilities, any associated incidental costs (such as property or liability insurance), or other incidental expenses (utilities, cleaning services, etc.) unless otherwise covered in the Remote Work Agreement.
6. SFCC may terminate any of the remote-work options for any reason and without prior notice.
   1. When the remote-work options are terminated, the employee must within 30 days or an agreed-upon timeframe return to SFCC all notes, data, reference materials, sketches, drawings, memoranda, reports, records, equipment, software, supplies, and any other College-owned property in the employee’s possession or control.
   2. SFCC will not be held responsible for costs, damages, or losses associated with the termination of the remote-work options.
   3. If a remote-work option is terminated, the employee is expected to report to work in person within 30 days of the date the remote work is terminated.

Statement of Accountability and Responsibility

The President, through the Vice President for Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness and the Office of Human Resources, shall be responsible for enforcing human resources policies and procedures. The Office of Human Resources shall work with different departments and offices to comply with this policy and to develop procedures that will enforce this policy regarding awareness, prevention, and remediation.

Authority

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
SFCC Policy 4-2 Employee Corrective Action and Disciplinary Action
SFCC Policy 4-5: Overtime Authorization, Compensatory Time, and Flex Work Scheduling
SFCC Policy 7-1 Information Technology Resources, Usage and Security
SFCC Policy 7-3 Information Security

APPROVAL

SFCC Governing Board approved: 2/26/2025

Associated Procedures

• SFCC Remote Work Policy – Procedures