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Daily Digest: SUNY New Paltz News

Posted on: Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 10:00 AM

   
We created this daily newsletter to keep students, faculty and staff informed about campus news and resources for distance learning, while also reducing the volume of emails we're all receiving. Read more here.
 

IN THIS ISSUE:

  • REPLAY: Dismantling Racism: Alumni Perspectives town hall
  • Hawaii, South Dakota and Virgin Islands added to travel advisory
  • Q&A with the Office of Veteran & Military Services
  • Executive Director of Academic Advising completes first-ever NYS Student Success Coaching Academy
  • Register to participate in the 34th Annual Convocation Ceremony, today!
  • FAQ of the Day: Why is the College still charging a Student Activity Fee if many on-campus programs are suspended for fall 2020?
  • From Our Community: Meet NP Hawk Brandon Scott ’22 (Business)
  • Events and opportunities
  • Featured Photography: Why do we call them the 'Dog Days of Summer?' 
  • The latest from media
 

News from around campus

REPLAY: Dismantling Racism: Alumni Perspectives town hall 
Alumni share their thoughts, experiences and concerns with campus leaders

Hawaii, South Dakota and Virgin Islands added to travel advisory
Governor Cuomo announces individuals traveling to New York from two additional states, Virgin Islands will be required to quarantine for 14 days

Join us for a Q&A with the Office of Veteran & Military Services, today at 10 a.m.
“Get to Know You” session where OVMS staff can learn about student interests and share information on available services

Register to participate in the 34th Annual Convocation Ceremony
Submit information TODAY if you would like signage identifying your department

 

Reopening FAQ of the day

Why is the College still charging a Student Activity Fee if many on-campus programs are suspended for fall 2020?
While in-person gatherings, club events and other student activities will no doubt look different this semester than in years past, the College will continue to provide a range of services to support a robust student experience at New Paltz this fall.
The Student Activity Fee is set and approved by Student Governance, not the campus administration. In light of changes to campus operations this fall, Student Governance voted to reduce the Student Activity Fee from $105 per semester to $80 for fall 2020.
That fee supports many student life programs and infrastructure that will continue to be offered to students this fall, including:
  • Coordination and support for our 200+ clubs and organizations
  • Resources for Student Governance that will ensure students have a voice during a critical time for our campus community
  • Funding for Oasis/Haven, two student-staffed programs that provide peer-to-peer mental health support and crisis intervention services
  • Maintenance of the ENGAGE web platform that allows clubs to plan events, recruit new members and express their mission and goals
  • Support for the Children’s Center of New Paltz, Inc., a non-profit corporation that provides high-quality, on-campus care for children of SUNY New Paltz students.
We understand and acknowledge that the College may not be able to provide the full extent of student activities this fall, but our team is working tirelessly to ensure that students continue having opportunities to engage with one another and our campus community, while also remaining healthy and safe, until our return to more normal operations. Conducting activities in a modified or virtual way will require all of us to think differently and creatively, but it also gives us a chance to tap into new and potentially revolutionary ways of doing things that will stand the test of time.
The College's fall 2020 reopening plan is highly detailed and dense, and our corresponding list of FAQs runs to more than 10,000 words (and counting!). In an effort to make this very important information more digestible for campus community members, we're highlighting questions and answers in this newsletter, one per day, as the fall semester approaches.
Please note: We are working to update and add FAQs as planning continues and this situation evolves. We will prioritize sharing the most current information in this space.
 

From Our Community

 
Meet Brandon Scott ’22 (Business)
Scott has starred on New Paltz men's basketball team since 2018. He had a career season in his second year during the 2019-20 campaign, averaging more than 18 minutes per game with six starts. 
"The scenery here in New Paltz is just beautiful," said Scott. "I never really liked walking until I got here, but the trails in town are just beautiful, especially at sundown. The town gives me retro movie vibes, and the people here surprise me every day. They are so friendly and welcoming it's easy to become comfortable here."
 

Events and opportunities

SUNY Remote Teaching Learning Institute – Webinars this week!
Prepare for the fall 2020 semester's course design and delivery with this flexible instruction webinar series, Aug. 10-14

TIAA's August Live Webinars
Keep your financial goals on track, reserve your spot today!

All faculty and staff must complete this 12-minute video training before returning to campus
Required for New York State employees prior to return to working on-site
Training covers new safety protocols, instructions for daily health screening and more

The Institute for Disaster Mental Health lends expertise to “Safe, Prepared & Effective Learning Environments Virtual Summit” on Aug. 13
Amy Nitza, director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health, presents as part of SUNY Albany’s three-part virtual summit

Students and alumni can meet Google's Waze head of global marketing Emma Weisberg at a virtual fireside chat on Aug. 13
Sneak preview of new one-on-one professional networking opportunities provided through Career Resource Center partnership with Bonsai

Aug. 13: Preparing for a new semester with the Faculty Development Center
Fall-focused Communication & Community Building Teaching Circle

Save the Date: State of the College Address, Friday, Aug. 21, at 9:30 a.m.
President Christian's update to the campus community will be live-streamed

 

Coronavirus updates

Aug. 12 report on confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the campus community
No new cases to report as of 4 p.m. yesterday

 

The latest from media

New Paltz schools will reopen in September with remote-learning only
New Paltz Board of Education decides to postpone the start of in-person instruction for the 2020-21 school year
Hudson Valley One, 8/8/20

 

Featured Photo

 
Why do we call them the 'Dog Days of Summer?' 
According to the Farmer's Almanac, “The ‘Dog Days of Summer’ last from early July to mid-August. This period of sweltering weather coincides with the year’s heliacal (meaning ‘at sunrise’) rising of Sirius, the Dog Star. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Majoris—the ‘Greater Dog’—which is where Sirius gets its canine nickname, as well as its official name, Alpha Canis Majoris. Not including our own Sun, Sirius is the brightest star in the sky.”
This photo was taken by alumna Robin Weinstien ’14 (Photography) on the River to Ridge Trail in New Paltz. Follow @robsta_gram on Instagram for more inspiring photography of New Paltz and the Hudson Valley. 
 

Daily Digest readers: We want to hear from you! 

Our team is seeking input on how this newsletter can best serve students, faculty and staff as we all adjust to new ways of teaching, learning, working and living.
We're inviting submissions* and ideas of all kinds:
  • Have important news to share with the SUNY New Paltz community?
  • Developed an innovative solution to improve remote teaching and learning?
  • Figured out a lifehack to help yourself stay positive?
  • Want to share a photograph with friends and colleagues?
Please just reply to this email or write to communication@newpaltz.edu and let us know what you would like to see in this space. Thank you!
*Note: Opinions expressed by our contributors belong solely to their authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of SUNY New Paltz.
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Message originally distributed via: SUNY New Paltz News