Dear New York Tech Students, Faculty, and Staff, As we eagerly await the official opening of the spring semester on our New York campuses, I wanted to share some information and updates to help you prepare for a healthy and successful semester. Following analysis and discussion by our administration and based on the assessment of our chief medical officer, we currently anticipate no changes to our academic calendar, class schedules, and in-person teaching and learning. While some graduate programs and intersession are already underway, we will welcome the majority of students and faculty back to New York Tech’s campuses on Monday, January 24. We do this to help ensure that our students are receiving the best possible educational opportunities while continuing to prioritize the health and wellness of our entire community. And while the vast majority of our courses, labs, and activities will be conducted in person, we will work with faculty and students to address any specific circumstances or concerns. We will also remain as flexible as possible in response to ongoing COVID trends and continue to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health guidelines regarding vaccination, testing, quarantine, masks, enhanced cleaning protocols, physical distancing, and more. Here are some things to keep in mind as you return to campus: Vaccination: New York Tech has instituted a vaccine mandate for all students, faculty, and staff, and we strongly encourage all community members to be fully vaccinated (including a booster shot when you are eligible). Vaccine exemptions approved in the fall will carry over to the spring, as will requirements for testing (see below). Boosters should be uploaded to the vaccine upload portal on my.nyit.edu. Testing: Anyone who is not vaccinated and wishes to access campus must show proof of negative results of a COVID test within the last seven days. Acceptable tests include at-home rapid tests or tests taken at a pharmacy, physician’s office, or other health care setting. Health Screen: If you wish to access campus, you must complete the online daily health screen accessed via my.nyit.edu. Please be prepared to show your health screen results, as well as any necessary supporting documentation, at campus entry. The health screen has been updated to reflect the most updated CDC guidance. If You Test Positive: If you test positive for COVID or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive, please notify New York Tech so that we can provide you with the latest guidance based on state and CDC guidelines: Students: email contacttracing@nyit.edu. Faculty and staff members: email hrbenefits@nyit.edu. Masks/Face Coverings: Everyone on campus (vaccinated and unvaccinated) must wear a mask when inside classrooms and public areas. Please be considerate of one another and make sure your mask covers both nose and mouth, and don’t hesitate to let those around you know that they should be wearing masks indoors. It’s such a simple thing but it is extremely important—unfortunately, many people continue to be resistant to this mandate. In addition, we strongly recommend KN95 or N95 masks or, at a minimum, surgical masks, since cloth masks have been shown to be less effective at preventing the spread of the Omicron variant. Residential Students: All residential students must take a COVID-19 test up to 72 hours prior to their arrival at the residential hall for move-in (January 22-23). Please see the acceptable tests above. You will receive more information directly from our chief medical officer and the Office of Residence Life. Remote Work: In order to help reduce density while providing a robust student experience on campus, some employees will continue to work remotely. Guidance will be provided by supervisors. At New York Tech, we have been successful in preventing any major outbreaks of COVID-19 as a result of following expert advice and faculty/staff/student compliance. However, we must remain vigilant as the characteristics of this virus continue to change. Accordingly, we must be prepared to adjust our strategy based on the latest data and information. There is no reason to believe that the COVID-19 virus will be completely eliminated; therefore, our immediate goal should be to reduce the spread of infection and the risk of severe illness and hospitalizations. The most effective way of accomplishing these goals is to be proactive via vaccination, testing and isolation/quarantine requirements, and the effective use of masks, in addition to other risk reduction activities. Given our overall high vaccination rate and ongoing mitigation policies on campus, we are well-positioned for the spring semester. We will continue to follow expert advice from the CDC and other sources, and, if necessary, we will pivot our strategies to meet changing conditions. We thank the New York Tech community in advance for being flexible as we continue to address this pandemic and for keeping yourself and our community healthy and safe. Through our collective efforts and diligence, we can look forward to another successful semester. Sincerely, Hank Foley, Ph.D. President, New York Institute of Technology Copyright © 2022 New York Institute of Technology