[Important Information for Students] Spring Return Message from President Enyedi

[Office of the President]

Dear Cardinal Students,

Today marks the start of the Spring 2021 semester.

For most of you, it is a return to classes. For some, you are joining the
Cardinal Family for the first time. Either way, please know the college's
faculty and staff are here to support you in reaching your educational
goals.

Work for your return has been ongoing since mid-November and reflects the
dedication of the employees of this college and their commitment to you. I
am so inspired by their collective effort -- this is Cardinal care and
spirit in action.

This is not a full return back to campus yet, of course. Remote learning
for all spring classes is in place until Monday, Feb. 15. The two-week
start remote plan was set last year and remains a good path for our
beginning.

Many of you will be returning over the next weekend to the residence halls
and have your move-in dates set. We look forward to seeing you then. As
with the fall semester, updated details and information is always online at
the college's COVID-19 page, *plattsburgh.edu/COVID-19*
<http://plattsburgh.edu/COVID-19>. Please visit this page often to obtain
up-to-date details.


*Health and Safety*The health and safety of each of you, the full campus
community, remains paramount. While COVID-19 case numbers in the North
Country are declining from the post-holiday spikes, and we are encouraged
by vaccine sites ramping up, the pandemic still requires our diligence.
Precautions -- for yourself and all of those around you -- are critical.

Our *Social Distancing and Face Covering policy*
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/about/offices-divisions/administration-finance/management-services/campus-handbook/section-viii-health-safety/social-distancing-face-covering.html>
is
still in place, as are gathering and event restrictions. You must continue
to *complete daily health screenings*
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/about/offices-divisions/administration-finance/human-resources/health-screening-covid-19.html>.
Just as in your home communities, the use of personal protective equipment,
cleaning supplies, and other steps are helping. Classrooms also remain
altered to lower density. We are advancing this with the Cardinal Pledge,
which you see all across campus and in communications.


*Testing and Requirements*We will continue to use pooled surveillance
testing for COVID-19 to isolate and control spread, but it will be every
week for each of us all spring. The full campus community will be tested
weekly. This is being done across the SUNY system to ensure campus and
wider communities of our focus on health and safety. *Details on our
process are here*
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/covid-19/covid-19-testing.html>.

This testing is mandatory and failure to participate can result in
disciplinary action, including dismissal. This is also being applied across
the SUNY system to protect your fellow students and the campus. More
details are outlined through the *campus Code of Conduct*
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/_documents/student-conduct/covid-sanctioning-guidelines-in-scm-gcm-reflecting-chancellor-memo.pdf>
.

On the vaccine front, some of you are playing active roles in this, *as you
can read here*
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/news/news-archive/nursing-students-step-up-administer-covid-vaccinations-at-local-hospital.html>.
I thank you for your leadership.


*Support and Equity*We are here to support you, and you can help support
others, too. As you reach out, connect, lend a hand, be a friend. *This was
on display across Canada last week during Bell Let's Talk Day*
<https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/ways-to-help>. We can draw on such examples,
too.

This semester is in a time like no other, words that keep being written but
continue to be true. The events that shook our nation only a few weeks ago
still resonate, still disturb us. The college has an on-campus counseling
center staffed with four full-time counselors. Counseling services,
including individual, couples, group, and outreach are offered via phone
and Zoom. *More is online here*
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/health-safety/health-counseling-center/counseling-services.html>
.

I have written about our focus on being All S.E.T. This will continue to be
shared as we keep building this into our ethos. The acronym S.E.T stands
for student-centered, equity-minded, and trauma-informed. Our 28 Days of
Equity begins today, the first day of Black History Month. The goal is
two-fold: Build our collective sensitivity of racial equity while moving us
from talk to intentional action, and to challenge us to do our own work to
address inequity in our daily lives.

Look out for posts of daily activities on social media and the daily
digest. Use #CardinalEquityChallenge to show that we are in this together.

Whether you are beginning or continuing your life as a Cardinal, you are
welcome here. My best to each of you for a fulfilling, special semester.

Dr. Alexander Enyedi
President
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