New Paltz Forward

Yes. SUNY New Paltz has prepared for a traditional, safe, in-person experience for students in fall 2021, consistent with continued progress against COVID-19 in New York State.

We are offering about 82% of fall 2021 courses fully or partially in person.

These plans are subject to change pending pandemic conditions and/or new guidance from SUNY or the State of New York.

Yes. As we look forward to easing pandemic-era restrictions, the safety of our students, faculty and staff will remain our top priority.

We will be guided by the same “We Not Me” philosophy that made it possible to sustain activities in and out of the classroom, with low rates of COVID-19 infection and no interruptions during the 2020-21 academic year.

Some of the ways we’re planning to keep our community safe and healthy in fall 2021 include:

• Free, on-campus COVID-19 testing will be available to all students, faculty and staff.
• Free, on-campus vaccination will be available to registered students.
• Campus-based contact tracing will continue, but people who have been vaccinated will not be required to quarantine if they have been exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

These plans are subject to change pending pandemic conditions and/or new guidance from SUNY or the State of New York.

Read more here about our plans for the fall 2021 semester.

New York State and SUNY announced in May 2021 that all students at public universities will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to attend in-person classes this fall, as soon as at least one vaccine receives full FDA approval.

On Aug. 23, 2021, the FDA gave full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, and SUNY’s policy requiring all SUNY students to be vaccinated went into effect. Students have a 35-day grace period (until Sept. 27) to get fully vaccinated, with limited exceptions.

More details about SUNY’s student vaccine requirement policy here.

Yes. New York State public health law already requires post-secondary students attending colleges and universities to demonstrate proof of immunity against certain diseases, including measles, mumps and rubella.

In order for these requirements to be permitted under the law, available vaccines must have full FDA approval.

On Aug. 23, 2021, the FDA gave full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, and SUNY’s policy requiring all SUNY students to be vaccinated went into effect.

Yes. New York State public health law allows college students to be exempted from existing immunization requirements if a doctor verifies that a vaccine would be detrimental to the patient’s health (medical exemption) or if they hold “genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to immunization” (religious exemption).

Use this link for the Medical Exemption request form.

Use this link for the Religious Exemption request form.

More information about medical and religious exemptions is available at the Student Health Service website.

On July 28, 2021, New York State announced that all state workers - including SUNY employees - are required to be vaccined for COVID-19 by Labor Day (Sept. 6, 2021).

Anyone who does not get vaccinated will be required to be tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis.

This policy aligns with existing SUNY policy, which already requires unvaccinated employees (and students) to be tested for COVID-19 every week they are on campus.

Students, faculty and staff who have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine can upload their information by logging into my.newpaltz.edu and clicking "View your COVID-19 profile."

From there, look for the option to Submit Vaccination Information. You'll need to let us know which vaccine you received, and on what date(s). You'll also be asked to upload a photograph of your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (That image will be deleted from campus drives after approval of your vaccination status).

Community members who upload their vaccination information will be exempted from requirements including weekly testing and daily screening mandates in the fall 2021 semester.

The College collects this information as part of our institutional COVID-19 management.

More information and detailed instructions for the vaccination sharing option can be found here.

Student vaccination information disclosed to the College may be shared with College officials on a need-to-know basis as a necessary element of our campus COVID-19 management and within what is allowed by federal and state law (FERPA).

This may include employees who are involved in campus contact tracing, quarantine and isolation protocols, and general health and safety personnel, among others.

Vaccination figures for our community will also be reported to SUNY and New York State and will be used to help inform planning for on-campus programs and activities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), there is no need to wait for the flu shot or another vaccination if you’ve recently gotten the COVID-19 vaccine (and vice-versa: There's no reason to wait on the COVID-19 vaccine if you’ve recently received a flu shot or other vaccination). 

You can even get multiple vaccines during the same visit (though it’s recommended to get the two shots in different arms!).

From the CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccines resource page:

“You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines at the same visit. You no longer need to wait 14 days between vaccinations. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, after getting vaccinated and possible side effects of vaccines are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.”

SUNY New Paltz offers regular on-campus flu clinics for students – click for more information and to schedule an appointment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are the leading national sources of good information about research and development of vaccines.

The CDC maintains a comprehensive vaccine information hub online that is updated on a regular basis with new information. The CDC also updates these pages to explain what scientists and doctors do not yet know about the vaccination process, as research is ongoing.

We found this list of the Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines especially helpful.

Another useful CDC resource is this list of Frequently Asked Questions about the Vaccines.

New York State’s COVID-19 vaccine resource hub includes a great deal of information about how and when residents can get vaccinated.

The state is also reporting on its progress to date on their COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker, which is updated daily with new numbers on doses administered, broken down by region.

Many counties are also publishing vaccine information online. Ulster County offers tools for finding vaccination sites (most counties are running their own sites in addition to the state-operated locations). Dutchess County and Orange County provide similar online services to their residents, as do most other counties in New York.

Yes, as of Aug. 6, 2021, our fall guidance has been updated to require indoor masking for everyone on campus, including the fully vaccinated.

The decision to revise our guidance follows the announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that they were recommending universal indoor mask use in areas with “substantial” or “high” COVID-19 transmission rates.

On Aug. 3, Ulster County’s transmission rate rose into the CDC’s “substantial” category, meaning the CDC’s indoor masking recommendation now applies in New Paltz.

Following these developments, the College will again require indoor mask use on campus effectively immediately and into the beginning of the fall 2021 semester. As conditions evolve, we may make further changes this fall.

Yes. Per SUNY and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals must always wear a mask while indoors on the SUNY New Paltz campus.

Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated people should also continue to observe social distancing in indoor settings, including instructional spaces, where practicable.

Masks or other acceptable face coverings must cover your nose and mouth at all times while indoors on campus.

They should ideally be made with tightly woven fabric to provide a good seal along the edges.

Masks should cover from the bridge of your nose to under your chin. They should not leave your chin exposed and should not be worn below the nose.

Avoid touching the front of your mask when putting it on or taking it off. Instead, use the ties or loops. Wash your hands before and after wearing your mask.

No. Effective Sept. 3, the New York Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) has issued updated guidance requiring universal masking in state offices and facilities.

Pursuant to this new state-wide guidance, instructors at New Paltz are not permitted to lower or remove their face coverings in classrooms while teaching or at any time when others are present.

Yes. Masks are required indoors for everyone on campus, but employees are free to remove their masks in private, closed offices and other similar spaces, as long as they maintain at least six feet of distance from others.

In shared indoor spaces – especially where employees are physically near each other or regularly interacting closely – face coverings must be used.

Students who live on campus do not need to wear masks in their rooms or suites.

They do need to wear masks in hallways, common areas and other shared spaces inside residence halls.

No. CDC does not recommend using face shields or goggles as a substitute for masks. From the CDC:

“Face shields and goggles are primarily used to protect the eyes of the person wearing them. Goggles do not cover the nose and mouth. Face shields are not as effective at protecting you or the people around you from respiratory droplets. Face shields have large gaps below and alongside the face, where your respiratory droplets may escape and reach others around you and will not protect you from respiratory droplets from others.”

Face shields may be worn in addition to masks for added protection, but should not be used in place of a mask.

According to the CDC:

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms.

Unvaccinated people who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should contact their health provider to explain their situation and, if directed, schedule a COVID-19 test.

Students can contact the Student Health Service at 845 257 3400. Employees should contact their physician.

All unvaccinated people with symptoms should mask and isolate themselves from others until they have a negative test result, and follow any other directions given by their physician.

We encourage those who are experiencing symptoms to be tested for COVID-19. Students who are experiencing cold-like symptoms can get tested at our on-campus testing facility, unless they have been otherwise directed by a physician. We ask that employees who are experiencing symptoms be tested off campus, if possible.

Vaccinated people who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should contact their health provider to explain their situation and, if directed, schedule a COVID-19 test.

They should mask and isolate themselves from others until they have a negative test result, and/or follow any other directions given by their physician.

We encourage those who are experiencing symptoms to be tested for COVID-19. Students who are experiencing cold-like symptoms can get tested at our on-campus testing facility, unless they have been otherwise directed by a physician. We ask that employees who are experiencing symptoms be tested off campus, if possible.

Unvaccinated people who have been exposed to a COVID-positive person should isolate themselves from others and contact their health provider to explain their situation and, if directed, schedule a COVID-19 test.

SUNY New Paltz contact tracers will direct unvaccinated students who have been exposed to quarantine. See more about campus contact tracing here.

Vaccinated people who have been exposed to a COVID-positive person should monitor symptoms for 14 days and get tested between 3-5 days after the exposure.

They should mask and try to social distance until you have a negative result from your test. They should avoid being around immunocompromised people during those 14 days.

Vaccinated people who have been exposed but are not experiencing symptoms do not need to quarantine, consistent with CDC guidance. If symptoms develop, isolate yourself from others and get tested.

If you test positive, you will need to isolate for 10 days from the date of your test.

SUNY New Paltz contact tracers will not direct vaccinated students who have been exposed to quarantine unless they are experiencing symptoms. See more about campus contact tracing here.

Yes. SUNY’s mandatory weekly testing policy remains in effect for anyone who has a physical presence on campus and has not been fully vaccinated or who has not shown proof of vaccination.

Those who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or who have not submitted proof of vaccination through my.newpaltz.edu, must get tested for COVID-19 every week they are on campus during the fall 2021 semester.

Per recent bargaining unit agreements with SUNY, this policy applies to unvaccinated employees as well as students. New agreements have been signed by UUP, CSEA, PEF, NYSCOPBA and PBANYS to extend mandatory weekly testing for unvaccinated people through December 2021.

SUNY New Paltz will require all vaccinated students, faculty and staff with a campus presence to be tested for COVID-19 every five weeks, beginning Sept. 7, 2021.

This periodic testing of vaccinated students, faculty and staff will take place in addition to the ongoing weekly testing of those who have not shown proof of vaccination, which has taken place since the fall 2021 semester began.

This surveillance testing helps protect our community by allowing us to identify positive cases – including “breakthrough” cases in vaccinated people who may be less likely to experience symptoms – and implement the contact tracing and isolation protocols that are proven to reduce community spread of the virus.

Read more here about the testing policy and schedules for vaccinated people.

Yes. The College will continue to provide COVID-19 testing at Awosting Hall during the fall 2021 semester.

Effective Aug. 30, testing will be offered Monday-Friday for students, faculty and staff. Testing will be provied by our partners at Enzo Labs. 

Enzo Labs testing is by appointment only. You can use this link to sign up. Note that you will need your health insurance information to make an appointment. 

Results from Enzo Labs testing are generally available within 2-3 business days after testing.

The Student Health Service also has limited capacity to provide additional individual PCR testing for students with COVID-19 symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms, please contact them at 845-257-3400, or contact your physician.

Yes, students and employees who are required to be tested may elect to be tested off campus by their health care provider rather than participating in on-campus testing.

Those who choose to be tested off campus must submit their test results to the College in order to fulfill SUNY and campus testing mandates.

Test results can be uploaded to you COVID-19 profile at my.newpaltz.edu.

If an on-campus student is diagnosed with COVID-19, they will be directed to isolate for 10 days. They will have the option of isolating on campus in Awosting Hall or off campus at their home or other residence.

Off-campus students will be directed to isolate off campus.

Students must remain in isolation until cleared by the Student Health Service.

In all cases of confirmed diagnosis, the College will deploy our contact tracing protocol to notify confirmed close contacts of their potential exposure.

The communication protocol for suspected or confirmed student cases of COVID-19 is as follows:

• Whether the student lives on or off campus:
  • Contact tracers will be deployed to interview them about where they have been and with whom they have been in contact.
  • The Student Health Service will notify the student’s in-person course instructors about their positive result, so that the student will not be penalized for missed classes during their isolation.
    • Faculty teaching fully online classes will not be notified when a student tests positive.
    • If the student works on campus, the students’ supervisor(s) will also be notified in the event of a positive test.
  • Contact Tracers will notify close contacts (defined as contacts within six feet for 10 minutes or more in the last 48 hours prior to the positive test) about their possible exposure, and give directions based on each contact’s vaccination status.
  • Student Health Service will also notify Ulster County health officials of the positive diagnosis, unless the student does not reside in Ulster County or has returned home to another county. In these cases the student will be instructed to inform their County health officials.
• If the student lives on campus and chooses to isolate on campus:
• The Quarantine/Isolation Coordinator for the Department of Residence Life will be notified and will arrange for on-campus isolation in coordination with Dining Services, Facilities Management, the Office of Emergency Management and the student’s home Residence Director.
• When Student Health Service clears a student to exit quarantine/isolation, they will notify the student’s in-person instructors and the Quarantine Coordinator (if the student lives on campus).

The College will continue sharing updates about positive cases in our campus community on our COVID-19 Dashboard.

The Student Health Service will notify faculty members when a student in their in-person class tests positive. This is done primarily to support the student by confirming with faculty that the student will be in isolation and unable to attend in-person classes for a period of 10 days.

In most cases like this, the faculty member will not be identified as a close contact (defined as contacts within six feet for 10 minutes or more in the last 48 hours prior to the positive test), and will not be directed to quarantine or test for COVID-19.

All members of our community should monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and arrange to be tested if symptoms develop.

The screening questionnaire can be quickly completed by logging into my.newpaltz.edu on either a desktop or mobile device. The screening will pop up immediately the first time you log in each day, and can also be found by clicking on your COVID-19 Profile in my.newpaltz.edu.

The screening will ask if the student or employee is planning to be on campus that day. If that response is no, the screening is complete and the response is recorded for compliance record.

Those who are planning to come to campus will be required to take and report their temperature, indicate the presence of any COVID-19 symptoms and report any exposure to confirmed cases.

No. Effective July 29, the Daily Screening at my.newpaltz.edu has been turned off for fully vaccinated students, faculty and staff who have reported their vaccination status to the College.

Yes. Any member of our campus community who has not gotten vaccinated AND uploaded their vaccination info at my.newpaltz.edu must complete the Daily Health Screening every day they are on campus, by logging into my.newpaltz.edu and answering all questions.

The College will continue to hold Awosting Hall unoccupied and available for students who live on campus and must be quarantined or isolated.

Any student who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate for 10 days. This includes both unvaccinated and vaccinated students.

Per Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidance, fully vaccinated individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 do not need to quarantine unless they are symptomatic. Fully vaccinated students who do not display symptoms will not be asked to quarantine following an exposure.

Unvaccinated students will need to quarantine if they are in close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual for longer than 10 minutes. They will also be required to follow CDC recommendations for travel quarantine and any other quarantine guidelines issued by the state or county health departments.

While quarantining or isolating on campus, students will be provided with a refrigerator/microwave, food, support, wellness checks, and laundry and trash services. Once students move out of quarantine, the space they occupied will be thoroughly cleaned.

The College will follow the latest Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), state and local health department guidance about how long quarantine should last for people who test positive for COVID-19, and when people can come out of isolation.

Governor Cuomo issued new guidance for the State of New York, which will be in effect for our campus. Under the new guidelines, individuals exposed to COVID-19 can end their quarantine after 10 days without a testing requirement as long as no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine period.

Students who are uncomfortable attending in-person classes are encouraged to consult with their faculty and/or academic advisors about altering their course schedule and their plan of study.

The Division of Academic Affairs and Information Technology Services have been working continuously to develop faculty proficiency in teaching both online and seated modalities with content-specific webinars and other training opportunities.

We are also working to provide additional free training and resources for students to help ensure they can succeed in online learning settings.

Yes, our protocol for cases when an instructor is unable to complete a course is unchanged from the pre-COVID-19 era.

If a faculty member becomes unable to teach due to illness or for other reasons, their faculty colleagues will work with the department chair and other academic leaders to make arrangements for course instruction to continue in the original instructor’s absence.

Yes. SUNY and the State of New York have lifted restrictions for all but the largest (5,000+ people) indoor events. Accordingly, in-person events at SUNY New Paltz (including public lectures, student events, Commencement, Convocation, etc.) will resume as normal during the 2021-22 academic year.

All health and safety policies for unvaccinated people, including visitors, (masking, distancing, regular surveillance testing) will be in effect for these events, as for all other campus activities this fall.

Event policies are subject to change as COVID-19 conditions evolve.

Please note that the College has upgraded air filtration systems and modified HVAC policies to support a return to regular indoor capacity this fall. Use this link to read more about those upgrades.

The College will resume allowing visitors in indoor spaces and at campus events this fall, and COVID-19-related policies for visitors will largely follow those for campus community members.

All campus visitors must wear masks in indoor spaces while on campus.

All study abroad is suspended for fall 2021, per SUNY administration. New Paltz will follow SUNY guidance on international mobility and study abroad experiences.

Many virtual opportunities are available for students interested in global learning this fall. ​The SUNY Global Commons involves students in projects with non-governmental organizations through study of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

You can learn about more opportunities at the SUNY database of virtual programs, which includes options open to all SUNY students, suitable for every major, through partner organizations and institutions in nations all around the world.

Applications for spring 2022 programs are now open and the application fee has been waived for all students.

For further information specific to study abroad, please visit the Study Abroad COVID-19 FAQ page.

Student Health Service (SHS) will work with the campus community to raise awareness of and encourage activities that should decrease the effect of COVID-19 on this campus, including social distancing, use of face coverings, frequent hand washing and staying home if sick.

Student Health Service will be open Monday – Friday, but in order to reduce exposure walk-ins will not be allowed. Students must make an appointment before visiting.  

Triage nurses will be available for phone assessment and will advise students on self-care measures, schedule in-person consultations as needed, and direct students to emergency services, if warranted.

SHS will also make greater use of telemedicine to continue providing health services to students in the safest manner possible.

Masks will be required for in-person appointments. No one will be allowed to accompany a student to their appointment. Students will be taken directly to an examination room where hand cleaning protocols will be required of the student at the beginning and end of their office visit. 

Student Health Service will help ensure that students have access to COVID-19 testing when needed and will work with local health departments to coordinate quarantine, monitoring and treatment efforts.

Yes, flu shots will be given out at the on-campus Health Center and at local pharmacies.

In addition to the Health Center, the following medical facilities are located in the New Paltz area:

• New Paltz Family Health Center: 279 Main Street, New Paltz, NY, (845) 255-2930
• CareMount Medical: 264 Main Street, New Paltz, NY, (845) 255-7900
• Health Quest Medical Practice: 514 Route 299, Highland, NY, (845) 691-9200
• FirstCare Medical Center (functions as an Urgent Care Facility): 222 Route 299, Highland, NY, (845) 691-3627

If a student has an urgent medical problem and they are not sure how to proceed, they may reach the Student Health Center’s on-call physician outside of regular office hours by calling (845) 257-3400.

The on-call physician is available to discuss urgent medical questions with students by telephone and to help the student caller identify their options for care.

Students who require in-person medical attention can go to FirstCare Medical Center, which functions as an Urgent Care Facility and is located at 222 Route 299, Highland, NY, (845) 691-3627.

For students experiencing severe medical problems, there are Emergency Departments at the following area hospitals:

• HealthAlliance Hospital: 105 Mary’s Avenue, Kingston, NY, (845) 338- 2500
• MidHudson Regional Hospital: 241 North Road, Poughkeepsie, NY, (845) 483-5000
• Vassar Brothers Medical Center: 45 Reade Place, Poughkeepsie, NY, (845) 454-8500

We recognize that student mental health needs have increased during the pandemic, and that more students than ever before are attempting to succeed academically while living through traumatic circumstances. 

The Division of Student Affairs has reorganized services and staffing to supplement the Psychological Counseling Center’s (PCC) intervention services to allow for more outreach, prevention implementation and coordination.

The PCC, the Institute for Disaster Mental Health (IDMH) and SUNY have made training available to faculty, staff and students on both Psychological First Aid and suicide prevention. SUNY’s Mental Health Matters website, https://www.suny.edu/mental-health/, offers additional online suicide prevention training.

An enhanced, online Crisis Response Protocol/Reporting Form will be provided for faculty, staff and students to report students of concern and incidents of bias. 

SUNY and the PCC continue to offer 24/7 crisis triage.  

The PCC will continue to offer clinical services both remotely and in-person, though the majority of clinical services (including individual, group therapy and crisis-related assessment and intervention) will be offered remotely.

To deliver in-person services, the PCC staff will be staggered on a rotational basis to keep the office physically staffed five days a week during normal business. The waiting room, one of the largest spaces in the Center, will be temporarily converted to a triage room for students in acute emotional distress, to best facilitate recommended social distancing. The conference room will be modified as a second triage room.

Students who come directly to the PCC experiencing significant emotional distress but not of life-threatening nature, may be directed to wait in place or return to their room and wait. While waiting to be contacted for triage, they will be directed to self-help phone apps to aid in self-deescalating or regulating their anxiety.

The Division of Student Affairs has compiled a list of local agencies and support networks that are open and providing valuable services to members of the public, including students.

Use this link to view the Local Resources List on the Student Affairs website.

The list is being updated regularly with contact information for organizations offering information about COVID-19; crisis intervention and assistance; help with food insecurity; substance abuse disorder treatment, including Narcan kits and training; resources for LGBTQ+-identifying individuals; and more.

The Student Crisis Fund provides quick-response, one-time grants in the event of a qualifying emergency. Funds can be used toward essential academic needs (books and supplies); replacement of lost or damaged items; or basic needs such as utilities, childcare, short-term housing or transportation. Average awards are $100-$1,000.

Click here for the Student Crisis Fund application.

Students with special circumstances are encouraged to contact Student Financial Services to learn more about what additional resources are available. Please note that the office is practicing social distancing strategies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). To help us maintain the best customer service possible, please submit any financial aid questions or concerns via e-mail to fao@newpaltz.edu.

Yes. The Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) and SUNY have approved a SUNY-wide telecommuting program.

New Paltz will adopt the parameters of this program, which will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2021.

This program grants the College authority to support telecommuting arrangements from all employee classifications, including UUP, CSEA, M/C, PEF, PBA, GSEU and NYSCOPBA.

While we welcome the added flexibility this provides our campus, we remind employees that telecommuting is not an entitlement and may not be possible for all areas or all positions. Decisions on telecommuting remain at the discretion of the College.

More details about the SUNY telecommuting program are available at this link.

Yes. Under guidance issued in March 2020 by the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER), employees are provided with up to 14 days of paid sick leave, without charge to accruals, when subjected to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation.

A mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation may come from a Public Health Officer (for example, a County or City Department of Health or a written statement from the individual’s attending physician or local health officer attesting to the quarantine and the necessity of the absence).

Should an employee need to remain quarantined or isolated, the second and third periods of paid sick leave will require a positive COVID-19 test in addition to an order of quarantine or isolation. Employees who choose not to obtain a test will be required to charge their sick accruals for absences.

More information about COVID-19 leave is available at this link.

Yes, the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance remains open, whether in person or remotely, to assist with identifying, securing and managing external funding for research and creative activities as well as assisting with research integrity and compliance.

Work-related travel will continue to be very limited during the 2021-22 academic year and will continue to require pre-approval by the Provost or the divisional Vice President. International travel is banned until further notice.

All pre-approved travel requisitions must be submitted to the Travel Office before employees’ travel occurs. If travel is not pre-approved, it will not be reimbursed.

More information about employee travel in 2021-22 is available at this link.

We recognize that some faculty, staff and students may have health issues that raise particular concerns related to COVID-19.

We encourage these campus community members to file appropriate documentation for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For issues related to their own medical conditions, including immunocompromised status, faculty members requesting a change in teaching modality should pursue the process for ADA-based accommodations, if they have not already done so.

Further, faculty who have an immunocompromised dependent who lives in their household may also request a change in teaching modality by presenting the request to the chair and dean. Faculty can support these requests by providing medical documentation confirming the immunocompromised status of a dependent in the household to the Benefits office (benefits@newpaltz.edu, subject: Dependent Supporting Information). This information will be held confidentially except, as warranted, to inform the chair and dean of the legitimacy of the request

Students should work with their physicians and the Disability Resource Center to complete appropriate paperwork and make an appropriate accommodation plan.

The SUNY New Paltz COVID-19 Response Team includes representatives from across the academic and administrative units, including all five academic deans and specialists in emergency management, health services, information technology, online learning, human resources, diversity and inclusion, student affairs, communication and government relations.

Members of the COVID-19 Planning Team include:

• Donald P. Christian, President
• Barbara G. Lyman, Interim Provost
• Shelly Wright, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Communication & Marketing
• Stephanie Blaisdell, Vice President for Student Affairs
• Michele Halstead, Vice President for Administration and Finance
• Jeffrey Gant, Vice President for Enrollment Management
• Tanhena Pacheco Dunn, Vice President for Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer
• Erica Marks, Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations and Executive Director, SUNY New Paltz Foundation
• John Reina, Chief Information Officer
• Scott Schulte, Director of Emergency Management
• Laurel M. Garrick Duhaney, Associate Provost for Strategic Planning & Assessment
• Laura Barrett, Dean, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
• Kristin Backhaus, Dean, School of Business
• Dan Freedman, Dean, School of Science & Engineering
• Jeni Mokren, Dean, School of Fine & Performing Arts
• Rene Antrop-Gonzalez, Dean, School of Education
• Shala Mills, Assistant Vice President for Graduate & Extended Learning
• Rich Winters, Director of Community & Government Relations
• Matt Skillman, Director of Digital Media

Many other faculty, staff, students and village/town officials have contributed to our decision-making and planning, including as members of subgroups focused on Academic Planning, Classroom Density and Space Allocation, Faculty Teaching Preferences, Residence Life Logistics, Testing and Tracing, Personal Protective Equipment, Self-Reporting Symptom Process, International Students, Student Behavior Enforcement, Promoting Positive Student Behavior, Communication and Signage.

The full list of contributors can be found in our full Fall 2020/Spring 2021 COVID-19 Plan, beginning on page 2.

Additional consultation is ongoing with members of our community including student leadership, faculty governance and union leadership. 

The COVID-19 Response Team is focused on continuing to fulfill the College’s educational mission in a fiscally responsible way, while maintaining the health and safety of all students, faculty, staff and the New Paltz community.

The planning adheres to core guiding principles outlined by SUNY System administration for the planning process:

• Put safety first: When making financial decisions, safety comes first
• Protect the core academic areas of excellence
• Maintain our fundamental mission: The broadest possible access to world-class teaching, research and scholarship
• Sustain academic programs and achieve operational efficiencies
• Demonstrate agility in responding rapidly to workforce needs
• Be mindful of and support vulnerable populations

The NYS requirements for a mandatory pause are no longer in effect, meaning that there is no longer a defined threshold of COVID-19 cases or positive test rate that will trigger an automatic pivot to fully remote instruction.

However, SUNY administration retains the authority to pause campus activities in the event of increased COVID-19 transmission.