Getting Vaccinated and Survey on Returning to Campus
March 23, 2021
Dear Brooklyn College Community,
I hope you are well as we begin to see evidence of a beautiful spring around us.
Some important news, as of this morning: All New York residents age 50 and older are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. CUNY employees will receive four hours of paid time off per vaccination appointment. As soon as you are eligible, please get vaccinated!
My leadership team and I are hard at work preparing for our gradual return to campus next fall. We are engaged in space planning, testing air quality and ventilation across the campus, and assessing maximum capacity in each room, assuming some form of social distancing mandate remains in place in late August when classes begin.
We will likely offer a mixture of in-person, hybrid, and online classes next fall. The modality of classes listed in CUNYfirst may change as conditions, guidance, and mandates from the State, City, and CUNY evolve over the spring and summer. Please make a note of it.
We understand that the University is finalizing a remote work policy, and that it will help to clarify the circumstances in which our staff members will work on campus or work from home next fall. We will keep our staff posted as we hear more about this important issue.
We are revising our campus reentry plan in preparation for the fall, and will consult with students, staff, and faculty representatives in doing so. We continue to monitor local and regional infection and vaccination rates and enforce rigorous COVID safety protocols on campus, including enhanced cleaning, limiting occupancy, and regulating entry. Our campus remains open only for essential work, research, and hybrid classes that are specifically authorized by the Reentry Review Board.
As we plan for the fall, we want to hear from you. We have prepared a short, anonymous survey to understand your thoughts and concerns about coming back. The survey asks open-ended questions so that you can tell us anything you think we need to hear. Please fill out this linked survey so that we can develop plans for our return to campus with you in mind.
Our college priority will always be to protect the health and safety of our community. Getting vaccinated will help you keep your family and loved ones safe, and it will help us keep the entire campus safe as we approach the fall. Thank you for getting a vaccine when you are eligible.
Yours,
Michelle J. Anderson
President, Brooklyn College
