Human Resources August 14, 2026
U to boost in-office presence on campus
The U will require selected staff to return to the office three days a week by Jan. 1. Supervisors will have flexibility to set schedules based on job type and space.
University of Utah Communications -
Policy Details
By Jan. 1, 2027, the University of Utah will transition to, at a minimum, three days a week in the office.
The shift is part of a university initiative to revise policies and processes at the university.
“The effort to enhance our in-person presence on campus is about strengthening our university and enhancing important relationships,” said Jeff Herring, chief human resources officer. “It’s about making us more effective, more efficient in many cases and appropriately staffed in comparison to our national peers.”
Current Remote Work Status
In 2025, the university followed state and USHE guidance for staff to be in the office two days a week. And the vast majority of U employees are: 75% on the Academic Affairs campus and 85% in Health Sciences. On main campus, the 25% of employees who remain on remote work plans primarily work in finance and IT.
Supervisor Discretion
The three-day policy still gives unit supervisors some discretion to determine which employees can continue to work remotely, hybrid or in person. Some schedules will need to be staggered over the course of a week. Space considerations will be key.
Faculty Exemption
The policy will not apply to faculty scheduling, which is set by administrators in each of the colleges and the Office of Faculty Affairs.
Historical Context
The fluctuations in office scheduling date back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when shutdowns in 2019 and 2020 forced most staff to work remotely for approximately a year. Technological tools including Zoom and Teams allowed work meetings, one-on-one discussions and even town halls and seminars to be held digitally. U.S. workplaces adjusted space plans accordingly, with many offices downsizing.
Rationale for Change
Now, with the university’s student population, research funding and health care clinical spaces growing, the institution is reimagining the education and patient care needs of the future. And in most cases, Herring said, in-person interactions provide a much-needed missing dynamic. Face-to-face work can strengthen mentoring relationships, speed problem-solving, support innovation and build more positive office cultures.
“We recognize that every part of the university is unique,” Herring said. “We intend to work with everybody to implement these necessary changes.”
Plans for the three-day week will be finalized by the end of the calendar year, with the shift timed to be completed by January 2027.
