[Important Information for Employees] Spring 2021 Academic Schedule Changes

[Office of the Provost/VPAA]

Colleagues,

I’m writing with some important information about our Spring 2021 Academic
schedule.  President Enyedi’s Cabinet and I have been focused on this topic
for some time, wanting to make sure we are doing everything possible to
maintain the health and safety of our campus as we also ensure that we meet
our educational obligations to all students.

While we understand the value of a spring break in an ordinary academic
semester, we will not be scheduling a spring break during the upcoming
semester.  There is too much health risk in having students leave and then
return to our campus from other 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 returning students that must be managed by
campus staff.  In addition, the college may require greatly expanded pool
testing, possibly of all students,  as we resume classes in January.
Consequently, we need to ensure our planning can accommodate any increased
robust testing activity.

The following details of the Spring 2021 academic calendar have now been
finalized:


   -

   Classes will begin, as originally scheduled, on Monday, January 25, 2021.



   -

   The first *two* weeks of the semester will be delivered remotely --
   fully online -- to ALL students.  This will permit for a phased return of
   our students to campus with a better managed transition to full density on
   campus.



   -

   It is desirable to reduce on-campus density of faculty and staff, during
   the beginning of the semester, as well.  Thus, non-essential staff will
   also be permitted to work remotely during the first two weeks of the
   semester.



   -

   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.



   -

   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.



   -

   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 on May 7th.



   -

   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, as well as guidance from the
   Clinton County Department of Health, SUNY system and New York State will be
   considered.


Stepping back from thoughts of the spring semester, I do want to share a
few words relative to  how very important it is that our community continue
to support all of our campus safety practices in response to the pandemic:
social distancing, wearing face masks, and meeting our own responsibilities
for cleaning our teaching/work spaces for the benefit of all.  It may be
tempting as the days and weeks go by to relax around these crucial health
practices, but I hope that there is deep understanding that we really can
not relax in this manner.

All of our planning related to this academic year, both fall and spring
semesters, is rooted in the daily commitment our faculty and staff are
making towards the full realization of the Plattsburgh Experience:
providing a rich and challenging learning experience with as much
course-based and co-curricular interaction as  possible for all of our
students as they pursue their personal and educational goals.  I thank each
of you for being part of this ongoing effort.

Sincerely,

Anne Herzog, Ph.D.

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://ls.plattsburgh.edu/private/critical-employees/attachments/20200917/5f7ed481/attachment.htm>