IN THIS ISSUE:

• Message to students from President Christian as we head into finals week
• Telecommuting Pilot Program extended through July 17, 2020
• Act now to change flexible spending allocations for dependent care costs
• Weekly update from the Career Resource Center
• Deadline today for employees to apply for summer 2020 tuition assistance
• State seeks SUNY faculty, staff to assist as interviewers for contact tracer program
• Hugo and friends: "We Miss You!"
• Insights from the disciplines: "Fair grading" during a disrupted school year
• Let's talk about online teaching: OIT hosting daily Brown Bag Lunches this week
• Professional development opportunities
• From our community: A guide to May's skies
• Coronavirus updates
• The latest from media

News from around campus

President Christian's message for students as we head into finals week
"I want to tell you how proud and impressed I am with your diligence, your resilience and your hard work"

Telecommuting Pilot Program extended through July 17, 2020
The College will continue to observe telecommuting and low-density staffing practices

Employees: Act now to change flexible spending allocations for child care or health costs
If you elected to participate in payroll deductions for dependent care costs like day care or summer camp but will not be able to use them, you have a limited window to change your elections by submitting a change in status request

Weekly update from the Career Resource Center
A message to the Class of 2020, and information about new job and internship opportunities for students

Deadline today: Apply for employee tuition assistance for summer 2020
Submit SUNY Tuition Assistance Program applications by May 11 to ensure processing before payment due date

State seeks SUNY faculty, staff to assist as interviewers for contact tracer program
Volunteer opportunity for employees interested in supporting New York's response to COVID-19

A message from Hugo and friends!

Insights from the Disciplines

Grading on a Pandemic Curve
What does "fair grading" mean in the wake of sudden, dramatic changes in how we teach and learn?
Robin Jacobowitz, director of education projects, The Benjamin Center

Resources for remote teaching, learning and living

Faculty: Share remote teaching challenges and best practices at Brown Bag Lunches
Join the Office of Instructional Technology every day this week at noon for conversation about successes, lessons learned and opportunities to improve in our online instruction

Professional development and training opportunities

Upcoming Office of Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion Trainings:

• Honing Your Listening Skills: Focusing on what's said, rather than on what you'll say next
  Monday, May 11, 2 - 4 p.m.
  
• Cultivating Self-Awareness: Enhancing your reflective toolkit
  Tuesday, May 12, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  
• Time Management: Getting more out of your day
  Wednesday, May 13, 3 - 4 p.m.
  
• Process Mapping: Documenting information that lives in your head
  Thursday, May 14, 2 - 4 p.m.
  

Coronavirus updates

May 11 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

Remote student teaching at SUNY New Paltz
Creative, online learning exercises serve local families
New Paltz Times, 5/9/20

An Act Of Kindness In A Difficult Time: Cake From Park Slope For Doctor In NJ
New Paltz student Farrell Seger '22 delivers a birthday treat for a frontline worker
Bklyner, 5/8/20

From our community

While the in-person Astronomy Nights at the Planetarium are on hold, Director Raj Pandya is still working to guide stargazers in our community. "For me, it is humbling to know that the night sky will continue marching on in its predictable patterns even though there is so much uncertainty in our daily lives right now," Pandya said. "It is something we can all enjoy in our own ways and it will always be there to bring us some comfort and wonder!"
Click here to view Pandya's tour of what we can see from the Hudson Valley this month.

Daily Digest readers: We want to hear from you! 

• 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?