Looking Ahead to Winter and Spring 2022
December 6, 2021
Dear students, staff, and faculty,
I hope you are doing well as finals approach.
I want to congratulate the Brooklyn College community for raising nearly $150,000 from 400 donors on #GivingTuesday last week. It's an all-time record. If you are interested, you can still contribute to the Brooklyn College Cancer Center, Immigrant Student Success Office, Women's Center, student internships, or other valuable programs. Thank you for participating.
Omicron Variant
In late November, a new variant of the COVID-19 virus, Omicron, was identified. Scientists are engaged in epidemiological modeling to understand its infectivity, the severity of the illness it causes, as well as the protection that current vaccines provide. It will be a few weeks before they fully understand this variant. We remain vigilant.
As you know, students on campus are vaccinated, and the large majority of staff and faculty are vaccinated as well. Those staff and faculty who are unvaccinated, and those students who have an approved medical or religious exemption, are subject to weekly testing. We have also begun random testing of vaccinated students, staff, and faculty. We provide clear mechanisms to report COVID cases or safety concerns. We will continue to follow a universal masking mandate, as well as strict contact tracing protocols. Together, these measures have enhanced campus safety.
CUNY Central is working with State and City health officials to develop guidance on how campuses should respond to new variants. Meanwhile, we are scenario planning for a range of possibilities. Whatever we do, we will follow the science and meet or exceed CDC guidance to ensure campus safety.
Fall Semester Finals
For students taking hybrid classes this fall with in person finals, please remember: You must upload your completed vaccination cards into CUNYfirst by Dec. 10, or you will be withdrawn from those hybrid classes.
Winter Intersession
Winter classes will be almost entirely online. (Students can register for winter now: Select Brooklyn College and 2022 Spring Term, then under “Session,” scroll down to Winter.) The January intersession allows students to earn three credits in just three weeks, which is a great opportunity to get ahead.
Spring Semester
In the spring semester, 70% of classes will be on campus and 30% will be online or hybrid. (If they have not yet done so, students must be fully vaccinated and upload their completed vaccination cards into CUNYfirst by Jan. 18.)
CUNY has recently clarified expectations for staff schedules in the spring semester as well. Non-essential staff will work 70% of their time on campus and 30% from home. In a two-week cycle of ten workdays, most will work seven days onsite and three days remote. As always, supervisors will consider requests for flexible start and stop work times.
Support
This can be a tough time of the year. For students who need support, free and confidential personal counseling is available to help. For employees who need support, free and confidential assistance is available through the CUNY Work/Life Program.
Once again, I strongly encourage everyone who is not vaccinated to get fully vaccinated. I also encourage everyone who is fully vaccinated to get a booster shot. Vaccination against COVID-19 is the most important measure we can take to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our beloved college community.
I wish you all great success in the last weeks of the fall semester. I hope that you enjoy the holiday break and meet January healthy and ready for a bright new year.
Yours truly,
Michelle J. Anderson
President, Brooklyn College
