<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dear students,</span></p><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I’m writing with some important information about our Spring 2021 semester schedule.  College leadership has been carefully discussing how best to structure the academic calendar.  Throughout our conversations, we have focused on doing everything possible to continue to support the health and safety of our campus while also ensuring that we meet our educational obligations to each of you.</span></p><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">While we understand the value of a spring break in an ordinary academic semester, we regret to inform you that we will not be scheduling a spring break for our spring 2021 semester.  Ultimately, there is too much health risk in having students leave and then return to campus from so many different locations.  We have also considered recommendations from Dr. Kathleen Camelo, Director of our Student Health and Counseling Center, as to how the spring semester  will potentially interface with the winter flu season along with the quarantining and isolation complexities for our returning students that must be managed by campus staff.</span></p><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The following details of the Spring 2021 academic calendar have now been finalized:</span></p><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><ul style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Classes will begin, as originally scheduled, on Monday, January 25, 2021.</span></p></li></ul><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><ul style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The first *two* weeks of the semester will be delivered remotely -- fully online --- to ALL students.  This means that even if you are enrolled in a fully face-to-face class, the first two weeks will be fully online.  Starting classes in this way will permit for a phased return of all students with a better managed transition to the total number of students who will be residing in campus housing.</span></p></li></ul><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><ul style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline">International students and other students requiring a period of quarantine will return to campus and complete their two weeks of quarantining during these first two remote weeks of instruction.</span></p></li></ul><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><ul style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Students with internet access issues and/or housing/food scarcity challenges will be permitted to communicate these details to Campus Housing & Community Living and request support during the first two weeks of the semester.  </span></p></li></ul><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><ul style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The majority of returning residential students will be given scheduled times for their return to campus, beginning on Friday, February 5th and continuing through that weekend. Because spring break will be eliminated, final exam week will begin on May 1st and end of May 7th.  Please note: if the college needs to change the return-to-campus plans in response to requirements for increased COVID testing of all students, upon your return to campus, these dates may change.</span></p></li></ul><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><ul style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Commencement is tentatively scheduled for May 8, 2021.  The decision to celebrate an in-person commencement ceremony will be contingent on ensuring the health and safety of the campus and surrounding community.  The number of active COVID-19 cases, at that time, and guidance from the Clinton County Department of Health, SUNY system and New York State will be considered.</span></p></li></ul><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">More information will follow from Student Success and Community Living sharing dates and times of move-in, testing requirements, and other important return-to-campus details.</span></p><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Stepping back from thoughts of the spring semester, I do want to share a few words relative to </span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:12pt;white-space:pre-wrap">how very important it is that our community continue to support all of our campus safety </span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:12pt;white-space:pre-wrap">practices in response to the pandemic: social distancing, wearing face masks, and meeting our </span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:12pt;white-space:pre-wrap">own responsibilities for cleaning our study/classroom/lab spaces for the benefit of all.  It may be </span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:12pt;white-space:pre-wrap">tempting as the days and weeks go by to relax around these crucial health practices, but I hope </span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:12pt;white-space:pre-wrap">that there </span>is deep<span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:12pt;white-space:pre-wrap"> understanding that we really cannot relax in this manner.</span></p><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I truly wish that we did not need to eliminate spring break and know that this decision will be disappointing to many of you.  At the same time, I also know that our first priority and responsibility as a campus community must be maintaining a healthy and safe living and learning environment.  Happily, it is crystal clear how equally invested our student body is in this priority because your commitment is realized in the healthy campus community we are enjoying today!  Keep up the good work and remain vigilant.  Follow the Cardinal Pledge, adhere to our social distancing and face covering policy and know that your decisions, today, influence the health of our entire community. Thank you and best wishes with your studies!</span></p><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sincerely,</span></p><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Anne Herzog, Ph.D.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs  </span></p><br style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Cardinal Pledge</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I will wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash my hands, avoid large social gatherings/parties, stay home when sick and inform the Health Center.</span></p></div></div>