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Remote Work Policy

Most ITAC work can be done from anywhere with a laptop and a reliable internet connection. The policy below sets the expectations for what can be done remotely, what cannot, and how to stay connected with the team while working off-site.

What Can Be Done Remotely

The majority of assessment work is remote-eligible: utility bill analysis, savings calculations, report writing, methodology development, literature review, and most coding or data analysis tasks. If your day's work consists of opening a laptop and writing or computing, you can usually do it from home.

What Must Be Done In-Person

Anything involving physical hardware belongs in the lab. This includes:

  • Setting up, calibrating, or troubleshooting measurement equipment.

  • Charging, configuring, or returning instruments before and after a site visit.

  • Working with shared physical assets.

  • Site visits themselves, and any pre-visit prep that requires touching the gear.

As a general rule, do not take ITAC equipment home to work on. If you think a task genuinely requires it, clear it with your lead first.

Availability and Responsiveness

While working remotely, you are expected to be reachable during core hours of 9:00 to 3:00. You do not need to be at your desk every minute of that window, but messages should be answered within a reasonable amount of time and you should be available for impromptu calls.

You are expected to attend every scheduled meeting, remote or otherwise. Joining late, joining without video, or going silent during a meeting you are supposed to be participating in are all noticed.

Remote Work as a Privilege

Remote work is a privilege, not a guarantee. It is extended to students who have demonstrated that they can do the work reliably without in-person supervision. If responsiveness drops, deadlines slip, or the quality of work suffers, the privilege can be revoked and you will be expected to work in the office until trust is rebuilt.

The expectation is simple: the team should not be able to tell, from the work itself, whether you were in the office or at home that day.