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Daily Digest: SUNY New Paltz News

Posted on: Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 10:00 AM

   
We created this daily newsletter to keep students, faculty and staff informed about campus news and resources for distance learning, while also reducing the volume of emails we're all receiving. Read more here.
 

IN THIS ISSUE:

  • Three takeaways from large universities' recent pivots to remote learning
  • Schedule now: On-campus COVID-19 testing for students opens today
  • NEW START TIME: State of the College Address, tomorrow, Aug. 21, at 9 a.m
  • Use MASK hotline for reports of noncompliance with public health rules
  • Starfish is more useful for students, advisors and instructors than ever
  • Faculty & staff: Connect with vendors now to plan deliveries to card-access-only buildings
  • New York’s COVID-19 positivity rate is below 1% for 12th straight day
  • FAQ of the Day: If someone in my class tests positive, will I need to quarantine?
  • Scenes from our first-ever Convocation parade
  • Events and opportunities
  • The latest from media
 

News from around campus

Priority COVID-19 testing for new students today and tomorrow (Aug. 20 & 21)
Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of convenient, on-campus testing
Returning students can set up tests for next week
Click above to enter insurance info and schedule an appointment

Three takeaways from large universities' recent pivots to remote learning
What can New Paltz learn from UNC, Notre Dame and other institutions in the news?

NEW START TIME: State of the College Address, tomorrow, Aug. 21, at 9 a.m.
President Christian's update to the campus community will be live-streamed

New MASK hotline for reports of noncompliance with public health rules
Call (845) 257-MASK with public health concerns

Starfish is more useful for students, advisors and instructors than ever
With many classes and student services moving online, Starfish is a convenient tool for keeping on track academically

Faculty & staff: Connect with vendors now to plan deliveries to card-access-only buildings
Contact Card Services for info about contractor/vendor access

Governor Cuomo: 12th straight day New York’s COVID-19 positivity rate is below 1%
"We must protect our progress ... It is up to all of us to slow the spread by continuing to wear our masks and socially distance"

 

Reopening FAQ of the day

If someone in my class tests positive for COVID-19, will I need to quarantine?
No, and this point represents an important difference between our spring 2020 and fall 2020 responses to positive cases.
In spring 2020, when classes were still meeting as normal, the College was recommending that students quarantine if a classmate had tested positive, because we could not be sure that there was sufficient distance between students in the same class section and, at the time, no one was wearing masks in class.
For fall 2020, all in-person classes will take place with students and faculty masked and maintaining a minimum of six feet of social distance. For that reason, if a student tests positive during the fall 2020 semester, students who are enrolled in the same in-person course(s) will not be required to quarantine.
This is in accordance with current SUNY, state and CDC guidance that quarantine is necessary only in cases when a person has been without a mask and has spent more than 10 minutes within six feet of an infected person.
As part of our contract tracing practices for fall 2020, faculty members will be notified if a student in one of their classes has tested positive, but again, there will be no expectation that students or faculty in that section quarantine if they have been compliant with in-class policies on masking and social distancing.
The College's fall 2020 reopening plan is highly detailed and dense, and our corresponding list of FAQs runs to more than 10,000 words (and counting!). In an effort to make this very important information more digestible for campus community members, we're highlighting questions and answers in this newsletter, one per day, as the fall semester approaches.
Please note: We are working to update and add FAQs as planning continues and this situation evolves. We will prioritize sharing the most current information in this space.
 
 
Hugo is a natural grand marshal!
Last night's Convocation parade was a blast. Thanks to everyone who joined the celebration! See more in our Instagram Highlights (volume up!).
 

Events and resources

Now live for faculty & staff: Daily Health Screenings at my.newpaltz.edu
Screening required for employees any day they plan to be on campus, and recommended as a daily habit even when off campus

Employees: Have you completed the 12-minute video training on reopening?
With the first day of classes right around the corner, a reminder that this short, informative training is required for New York State employees prior to return to working on-site

New content added: New Paltz Forward faculty toolkit on student behavior enforcement
Recommended best practices for syllabus statements, classroom management and more

If you write it, they will fund: 12-week SUNY course on grantwriting begins Aug. 25
Workshop outlines the components of a successful proposal and the steps to get there

Quality by Design: Four-week SUNY training on course design starts Sept. 28
Faculty can register now for professional development focusing on learner support, accessibility, collaboration and evaluation

 

Coronavirus updates

Aug. 20 report on confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the campus community
No new cases to report as of 4 p.m. yesterday

 

The latest from media

Local school districts opt to begin year with remote learning
New Paltz, Kingston, Saugerties and Onteora districts among those that will start year fully remote
New Paltz Times, 8/19/20

 

From Our Community 

 
One more from a great, reimagined Convocation. WELCOME NEW STUDENTS!!!!
 

Daily Digest readers: We want to hear from you! 

Our team is seeking input on how this newsletter can best serve students, faculty and staff as we all adjust to new ways of teaching, learning, working and living.
We're inviting submissions* and ideas of all kinds:
  • Have important news to share with the SUNY New Paltz community?
  • Developed an innovative solution to improve remote teaching and learning?
  • Figured out a lifehack to help yourself stay positive?
  • Want to share a photograph with friends and colleagues?
Please just reply to this email or write to communication@newpaltz.edu and let us know what you would like to see in this space. Thank you!
*Note: Opinions expressed by our contributors belong solely to their authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of SUNY New Paltz.
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Message originally distributed via: SUNY New Paltz News