Messages

To The Faculty & Staff:

As we prepare for a potential return to the campus, there remains much uncertainty. This uncertainty adds greatly to the complexity of our deliberations and discussions. While we continue to develop scenarios specific to the College, any timeline on the resumption of safe operations will be shaped by guidance received from the Governor’s Office and SUNY.

First and foremost, we will return to the campus in a manner that best ensures the safety and well-being of everyone. This will likely require plans for continued social distancing, revising the use of common spaces, providing masks to those who interact directly with students and the public, and much more. The delivery of nearly every ordinary campus function will need to be carefully reviewed.

Out of an abundance of caution, we plan to return employees to campus in phases. Administrative staff will return in tiers designated by the appropriate Cabinet member with the most essential/ lowest risk functions reporting first. Additional employees may return later, as needed. Consistent with our focus on safety, many employees will continue to work remotely even if the PAUSE ends on May 15.

Some students and families are asking about our plans. At this time, we wish to convey that:

FSC is well-positioned to offer a flexible and robust array of instructional options in the fall 2020 semester. Students should be confident that the College will continue to deliver high quality instruction regardless of the circumstances we may confront. FSC is committed to ensuring the academic continuity and progress of all students enrolled next fall and is poised to offer as many courses in a face-to-face context as is safe and appropriate.

As we come to the end of a semester unlike any other, Chancellor Johnson has provided this message to be shared with the entire SUNY community.

We will continue to keep you updated. In the meantime, I thank all of you for your diligence, understanding, and patience in these unpredictable and challenging circumstances.

John Nader
President

Dear Students,

In late March the College provided information regarding planned credits to students’ accounts for the spring 2020 semester. I am writing today to provide an update and more detail about the process, the calculations, and how these credits will be applied. I know these funds are even more vital now and hope that we can alleviate some of the financial burdens on you and your families.

All students will receive a prorated credit to their account, where applicable, for room, board, other meal plans, many broad-based fees, and certain course fees.  The calculation of the amount of the credit is based on a SUNY established departure date of March 19 through the conclusion of the semester on May 15.  The broad-based fees, which will be credited to students on a prorated basis, were outlined in a letter sent to students on March 27.

For most students this credit will result in a refund to their student account. These students will therefore receive a refund payment from the College. Students who would prefer to transfer the credit to a subsequent semester rather than receive a direct refund from the College should contact student accounts by Wednesday, May 6.

Students who still have a balance due to the College following the credit will have a reduced payment obligation.

In cases where students have outstanding loans for their education these payments will not reduce their outstanding loan obligation.

Where possible, refunds will be processed through Bank Mobile. To update your refund delivery option with BankMobile, go to www.bankmobiledisbursements.com.  If a Bank Mobile account is unavailable, the College will issue a paper check.

We have created an FAQ to help address your questions and to provide additional information about the process, how we calculated these credits, and the timing of expected payments. Please click the link to confirm receipt of this information and please review it in detail so that we can ensure a complete understanding of the impact of these credits.

We know the last several weeks have been difficult for students. As we are working diligently to assist students through the challenges posed by COVID-19, we will process these refunds in the easiest and most efficient way possible. The College very much looks forward to seeing you on campus in the fall 2020 semester.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
John S. Nader

To Faculty and Staff:

A reminder that on Friday May 1, the campus will be open between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm for retrieving essential items necessary to perform work functions from home.

Please note:

• Anyone choosing to return will be required to wear a mask or face covering for the entire time they are on campus.
• Please be advised that you must use the Route 110 entrance where a university police officer will ask you for your name, destination, and estimated time it will take to complete your retrieval. Please wear your face covering when interacting with the UP officer. The officer will ask to see your mask if you are not wearing it.
• We expect anyone who returns to retrieve their possessions to do so in an expedient manner.  Please ensure that college records, documents, and other materials needed to work remotely are secured.
• We also are requesting that anyone who plans to return on May 1 to coordinate their return time with other staff members who work in the same office to minimize face-to-face interactions with other members of staff/faculty.
• Due to the expected number of people on campus and the limited staff in central receiving, campus mail will not be available while staff are on campus on May 1.

Anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 should return only if they have been cleared by the local Department of Health. Those who have had contact with a known positive COVID case within the last 14 days should refrain from returning. Please do not come to campus if you feel ill, or if anyone you have had close contact has been ill in the last 14 days.

Anyone who chooses to return should retrieve items needed not only for the remainder of the spring semester but also summer sessions and the fall semester.

Thank you for your cooperation.

John Nader
President

Dear Faculty and Staff members,

On Friday, May 1st, the campus will once again offer the opportunity for faculty and staff members to return to their offices in order to retrieve items that are essential for them to perform their work functions. The campus will be open for this purpose only, and only between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.

Anyone choosing to return will be required to wear a mask or face covering for the entire time they are on campus. Please be advised that you must use the Route 110 entrance where a university police officer will ask you for your name, destination, and the estimated time it will take to complete your retrieval. Please wear your face covering when interacting with the UP officer. The officer will also ask to see your mask if you are not wearing it.

We expect anyone who returns to retrieve their possessions to do so in an expedient manner. It is important during this opportunity to ensure that college records, documents, and other materials are secured. We also are requesting that anyone who plans on returning on May 1st to coordinate their return time with other staff members who work in the same office in order to minimize the potential for face to face interactions with other members of staff/faculty.

Anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 should return on May 1 only if they have been cleared by the local Department of Health. Those who, within the past 14 days, have had contact with a known positive COVID case should refrain from returning. Please do not come to campus if you feel ill, or if anyone you have had close contact has been ill in the last 14 days.

Due to the uncertain circumstance in regard to returning to normal business operations, anyone who chooses to return should anticipate retrieving any items that may be needed not only for the remainder of the spring semester, but also summer sessions and the fall semester. While we hope to phase our return to campus as soon as possible, all staff should plan for the potential of working remotely for the foreseeable future and retrieving all items that could potentially be needed.

To Faculty and Staff:

In accordance with the Governor's directive, non-essential employees should continue to work remotely through April 29, 2020 and will not be required to charge their accruals. We will continue to provide you updates on the status of non-essential employees.

Only essential personnel as identified and instructed by supervisors are to report to work at this time. College operations remain open to the extent possible, but access to the campus is restricted and many buildings are closed. Non-essential employees should not report to campus for any reason unless specifically instructed

While classes have resumed in a distance learning environment, all events and activities have been cancelled through April 30, 2020. Keeping your personal safety as our top priority, we continue to sanitize common areas of the campus and bathrooms.  

Please continue to check the web site for up-to-date information.

John Nader
President

To Our Faculty and Staff:

Thank you. That’s all I can really say.

The past few weeks have been difficult for all of us. As a campus community we have made incredibly challenging adjustments. Our faculty made a truly amazing transition to distance instruction and did so in the space of only two weeks. At the same time, nearly every member of our staff was required to work remotely with only a few days’ notice. With all of these changes, the College continues to fulfill its core academic mission at what is perhaps the most difficult period in FSC’s history.

Although few staff members remain on campus, we are moving ahead with all of the tasks needed to serve students. Each day our Information Technology team—and they are truly a team—addresses multiple inquiries and issues from students, faculty, and staff. They have worked through weekends to insure that technology was distributed to those students who needed it. They returned to campus as essential employees to help meet faculty and staff needs.

Our custodial staff has worked tirelessly to decontaminate spaces. They continue to do so. These are the people who were our first and most important line of prevention when the virus broke. They quickly created a prevention plan, which has been updated and aggressively implemented. 

University Police officers have assisted in the difficult task of assuring an orderly departure from campus of students with their belongings, and have been vital to promoting social distancing and other preventive measures. Each officer is now assigned a discrete single vehicle to limit exposure.

Our Foundation and Alumni offices established an emergency fund for students whose ability to continue their course work is threatened by the economic shutdown caused by the virus. Our librarians acted quickly to provide resources and assistance to students and faculty alike.

Our faculty and academic staff moved 96% of our courses to a distance format, including labs in the sciences. Our admissions staff has created a virtual Open House and Accepted Students Days, and we continue to communicate directly with prospective students in new and different ways.

The campus community has been actively engaged with helping others during the Covid-19 crisis. Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Med Lab Science, Custodial, Health and Wellness and Athletics have all made personal protective equipment available to Northwell Health. Our custodial and facilities staff assisted another SUNY college in using decontamination equipment. The LIEOC will work with Island Harvest to distribute ready to heat meals in two communities, and we are providing ponchos to Long Island Community Hospital to be used as PPE by health care workers.

Our emergency management group meets remotely each day to solve problems, address public health and safety concerns, and insure the continuity of all of our operations. Much of our attention has been focused protecting public health. We worked very hard to encourage students to safely leave the residence halls while allowing those to stay who had no real housing alternatives. The group is also implementing many new policies and procedures regarding remote learning and work, dealing with credits and refunds to students, meeting the demand for technology, answering questions, dealing with legal matters, issuing daily communication, maintaining our enrollment efforts, helping students to register, and much more.

It is truly extraordinary to see how a college of 10,000 students and 2,000 faculty and staff members can operate with practically no one being physically present on campus. Although the sense of community is greatly diminished without our daily interactions, everyone should be proud of what we have accomplished. However, this virus will pass and I can’t wait to see each of you soon. Thank you!

John Nader
President

To the Campus Community:

The spread of the Coronavirus has been disruptive to us all— especially for our senior students who, with much anticipation, are concluding their undergraduate and graduate studies and preparing for employment or graduate school. It is with great regret that the College has made the difficult decision to postpone the Commencement ceremony scheduled for May 18th, 2020.

We did not make this decision lightly. College graduation is a milestone to be celebrated by our seniors and their families. It is a time of personal triumph and achievement—and hope for the future. Our principle responsibility, however, is to keep the campus community safe during this public health emergency. That requires taking steps that assure the well-being of all of us.

We are currently discussing options for rescheduling the ceremony. We will communicate further in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please know that we are proud of our students and their achievements, and we look forward to the day when we can again celebrate together.

John Nader
President

To Faculty and Staff:

In accordance with the Governor's directive, non-essential employees should continue to work remotely through April 15, 2020 and will not be required to charge their accruals. We will continue to provide you updates on the status of non-essential employees.

Only essential personnel as identified and instructed by supervisors are to report to work at this time. College operations remain open to the extent possible, but access to the campus is restricted and many buildings are closed.

While classes have resumed in a distance learning environment, all events and activities have been canceled through April 30. Keeping your personal safety as our top priority, we continue to sanitize common areas of the campus and bathrooms.  

Please continue to check the web site for up-to-date information.

To the Campus Community

Welcome back for the resumption of the spring semester. The interruption in our ability to educate our students and the disruption in all of our lives has presented difficulties. The College is here to help you—and especially our students—through this trying time. This will not be easy, but we will work with you to ensure a safe environment in which we can fulfill our core educational mission.

As we grow accustomed to a distance learning environment, we will make every effort to keep you informed about the resources available: students, faculty members, and staff. If you are a student, your professors can assist you in this time of transition. We have also placed many resources on the campus website. The faculty has been amazingly adept and flexible in moving to distance learning. Resuming classes through distance education is only one part of a new reality. The College will continue to update everyone with messages on the coronavirus hub whenever necessary.

First and foremost I want all of you to be safe—and to keep others safe. For those reasons, I want to remind you to take steps to help contain the spread of the coronavirus so that we all can get back to normal as soon as possible. Please practice social distancing and, by all means, stay home if you feel sick. The College took proactive steps to protect public health during the early days of the virus. We will sustain these efforts.

The faculty and staff at Farmingdale continue to work diligently to fulfill our academic mission so that students will continue to progress toward their degrees.

I look forward to the time when students and faculty can safely return to their classrooms, staff are able to return their offices, and we are able to see our friends. The next few weeks will continue to be challenging. I want you to know, however, that we have made great strides in protecting public health and sustaining our academic programs.

In the meantime, be safe, and thank you for your extraordinary understanding and cooperation during this unprecedented public health emergency.

John Nader
President

To the Campus Community,

Thanks for your support, hard work, and patience as we cope with the threat of COVID-19 and the transition to distance education. We are working constantly to keep you informed. We try to do so on a timely basis while addressing the multiple challenges we face day-to-day. Our central focus remains on public health and on carrying out our academic mission under very difficult circumstances.

All campus events scheduled through April 30, 2020, are canceled or postponed.

Non-essential personnel should continue to work remotely until further notice. As you may know, New York State and SUNY have implemented a telecommuting pilot policy. Essential employees who are designated to work on-site should report to campus. Last Tuesday we allowed faculty and staff to return to campus to gain office access and remove those things that will allow remote work. There will be a final opportunity to do this on Wednesday, March 25.

On Wednesday, faculty and staff should retrieve essential items between noon and 4:00 pm only and leave the campus immediately afterward. Please use the Route 110 entrance and sign in at the University Police stop point. No one who is infected with COVID-19 or has been informed they may have potentially been exposed to the virus should be on campus at any time.

After 4:00 pm on Wednesday, all campus buildings will be locked. This will limit exposure and reduce demands on our Facilities/Custodial staff.

FSC is prepared to deliver 96 percent of its courses in a Distance Learning format. This is amazing. Thanks very much to the hundreds of faculty and staff who have worked with Academic Affairs to make this possible. There will undoubtedly be technological gaps and challenges for students and faculty alike. We are working to find ways to help those students—perhaps 600 or so—who lack the computer capacity to fully engage in distance education or have inadequate internet connectivity. We have considered creating on-campus computer labs with social distancing for these students, but the growing spread of the virus may make this inadvisable. We have invested tens of thousands of dollars in obtaining technology for students to complete the semester.

We have chosen to significantly restrict access to the residence halls. We will limit the halls to international and out-of-state students and those with special circumstances such as food or housing insecurity. We had hoped that residential students who left for the break would be able to remove their possessions in an organized, safe way. We found even that posed a significant risk of exposure. At this point, we will have only a few students remaining in the dorms. We hope to assign these students to rooms that will promote distancing.

SUNY and the State have put out a call for personal protective equipment for those who work in the health care setting. FSC has answered that call. A comprehensive inventory of supplies from Nursing, Dental Hygiene and our Health and Wellness Center has been submitted.

Students will be receiving credits/rebates for some of their spring semester costs. Administration and Finance has been working with SUNY on the details. A standardized SUNY-wide communication to students will go out soon. We expect this will cost the College about $3.2 million.

Please keep yourself and your families safe and use social distancing and sound public health practices. I look forward to seeing everyone back on campus after the virus subsides.

John Nader
President

To the Campus Community:

In an effort to provide more time for students and faculty to adapt to a distance-learning format and to adjust to the Governor's requirement that only essential employees work on campus, the College has decided to extend Spring Breakthrough Sunday, March 29. Classes will resume in a distance learning environment, wherever possible, on Monday, March 30.

Currently, the College remains closed and staff is reduced to essential employees only. These employees will be designated by their supervisors, as needed, and should report to work as instructed. Non-essential staff should remain home and arrange to fulfill their responsibilities remotely until we return to normal campus operations and the resumption of classes on Monday, March 30. I want to remind those essential staff who must come to work to use the Route 110 entrance to campus. All other entrances are closed.

The emergency management team is meeting daily and addressing a wide range of issues as expeditiously as possible. I appreciate your patience as we make our best efforts to deal with this ever-changing and challenging situation. We are making every effort to protect the health and wellness of our campus community while assuring continuity of service. Thanks for your understanding and flexibility.

INFORMATION FOR ALL STUDENTS:

Students should use this time to prepare to receive instruction via a distance learning format. Course instructors will reach out directly to their students to inform them of how best to access course content. Further information about laboratory and clinical courses will be provided. Presently, internships, practicums, and other off-site activities will continue according to site operations. Updates to students will be posted on the coronavirus information page under "For Students."

INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS:

Those residential students who have already left the resident halls may wish to remain home for the rest of the semester. Arrangements will soon be made for those students who must return to campus to collect any possessions that are left in their dorm rooms.

Students who intend to return to the resident halls for the duration of the semester will have access to their rooms beginning Sunday, March 29 at noon. These students should be aware that campus activities and services may be significantly curtailed. Those who can make other arrangements are advised to do so.

We will provide additional information for residential students in upcoming communications. Specific updates will be posted on the coronavirus information page under "For Resident Students." 

INFORMATION FOR FACULTY:

Wherever possible, classroom instruction and academic advisement should be delivered remotely with the specific modality determined by the individual faculty member in consultation with their department chair and/or school dean. Instructors should notify their students by March 26 regarding how to access course content. Updates specific to faculty will be posted on the coronavirus information page under "For Faculty." 

INFORMATION FOR STAFF:

Staff members should be prepared to work on projects from home to continue the operations of the College. Staff should be in touch with their direct supervisors for direction on these projects. The College remains closed to non-essential staff. Essential staff will be designated by their supervisors, as needed, and should report to work as instructed. Updates specific to staff will be posted on the coronavirus information page under "For Staff."

We will continue to regularly update the campus community.

John Nader
President

To the Campus Community:

Farmingdale State College is working directly with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to address the current case of coronavirus and to take steps to prevent its spread. We can report that the NYSDOH has contacted those it believes to have been potentially exposed to a commuter student who tested positive. It is important to note that the NYSDOH says that the risk of transmission is low in the classroom setting.

If you were contacted by the NYSDOH staff, please follow their guidance and recommendations to self-isolate and check your temperature twice daily. If you begin to feel ill, call your health care provider prior to going to their office, a hospital, or clinic.

In the event of additional cases, the protocol outlined above will be followed. That is, contact tracing will be undertaken by the NYSDOH, and anyone who had contact with an infected individual would be notified.

We urge all campus members to continue practicing common-sense precautionary measures and contact their physicians or other health providers with any concerns.

The situation remains fluid and ever-changing and we know that there is concern about the possibility that there may be more cases. We are vigilantly monitoring the situation and will notify the campus promptly should this occur.

As we announced on Friday, the campus is closed through Sunday, March 22. Administrative offices will re-open and classes will resume in a distance learning format, wherever possible, on Monday, March 23. We have also taken these additional campus actions:

Arrangements for technology distribution will be coordinated directly by the helpdesk with each faculty/staff/end-user. Personnel should not assume that distribution will take place on Tuesday, March 17. Faculty and staff should not come to campus for technology pick-up unless contacted by the helpdesk for a scheduled pick-up appointment. Faculty and staff may come to campus on Tuesday between 8 am and 4 pm only to collect essential personal items and materials needed to work remotely. This is not a workday and those picking up materials should leave the campus as quickly as possible. Only the Route 110 entrance to campus will be open.

Academic Affairs is creating a robust continuity plan for distance education. Our faculty and staff have been remarkably diligent and prompt in responding to this challenge. An enormous transition is taking place in a brief period. I appreciate the flexibility and dedication so many are showing.

The College has made a substantial investment in technology to permit the transition to distance learning to be as seamless as possible. We have surveyed the technology needs of both faculty and students and will inform the community as to how such technology is to be made available.

We understand the transition to distance learning will be unfamiliar to students who have not previously studied online. Students should be reassured that the faculty will help guide you through the process. In addition, there are resources available for you under the For Students tab on the coronavirus information web page.

Although we do not normally offer food service during the spring break, we continue to have about 60 students in residence halls and are making arrangements to provide food directly to these students. This will permit students to minimize travel and practice social distancing.

Our custodial and facilities personnel have been working continuously. All major buildings have been sanitized and disinfected and we have purchased additional equipment to allow more efficient cleaning. Custodial staff are using personal protective equipment during this process.

We will continue to provide regular communication to the campus. Please be mindful that there may be information that we are unable to share due to HIPPA, FERPA, and/or other federal laws that rightly require us to protect the rights and privacy of individuals.

As I previously noted, separate communications that are focused on specific campus constituencies are posted on the web site.

We are working continuously to balance multiple and sometimes conflicting goals: to first and foremost act to protect the health of the FSC community; to continue our efforts to fulfill the core academic mission of the College and to communicate as frequently and openly as possible.

Thanks to all of you during this very challenging time.

John Nader
President

To the Campus:

I want to update you on the confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) and our plans for the week ahead.

I can inform you that the person who has been diagnosed with the coronavirus is quarantined and has not been on campus since Saturday, March 7. Should there be a need for others to isolate, notice will be provided directly by health authorities.

We are working closely with the Suffolk County and New York State Department of Health. A regular and aggressive plan of sanitization and disinfecting is already underway and will recur. In an effort to plan effectively for the return of students from Spring Break and the resumption of classes in a distance learning format, as well as the time needed to continue our efforts in ensuring a safe environment, Farmingdale State College will be closed through Sunday, March 22.

We anticipate that we will return to normal operations and classes will resume, as scheduled, on Monday, March 23.

I want to assure you that all appropriate precautions are being taken by the College's emergency response group to ensure the health and safety of our campus community. We will continue to regularly communicate developments to the campus. Please continue to monitor the College's web site and your campus email for updates.

In addition, I am sharing the following message from SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson regarding the Coronavirus.

This situation is challenging for all of us and I appreciate the hard work that has been done by the faculty and staff to prepare us to manage the many functions needed to serve students and complete the semester.

At this point the College can offer the following guidance:

• Only essential personnel as identified and instructed by supervisors are to report to work Monday, March 16 through Sunday, March 22, as appropriate.
• Non-essential personnel should work remotely and will not be required to charge their accruals.
• Faculty or staff who wish to collect important personal possessions or materials needed to work remotely will have access to the campus on Tuesday, March 17 between the hours of 8 am-4 pm only.
• Resident students are strongly encouraged to return home until classes resume. Students who leave should take with them personal items such as laptops, study materials, medications, and other important possessions.
• Students who have questions about the status of their classes, labs, clinical placements, or internships, should contact their professors or academic departments.
• Work-study students should contact their departments to determine future arrangements.
• The Child Care Center and Bookstore are also closed until further notice.
• Specific communication for various campus constituencies will be sent from to time.

The personal well-being of our students, faculty, and staff is our utmost priority and we will take any steps necessary to ensure a safe and secure environment.

Thank you,

John Nader
President

To the Campus:

I am writing to inform you that the College was notified late today by the Suffolk County Department of Health (DOH) of a confirmed case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) among a member of the campus community. In accordance with DOH protocols, the campus will be closed tomorrow, Friday, March 13, 2020, in order for DOH officials to conduct a review as part of the effort to minimize public health risk. Staff should not report to work Friday unless otherwise instructed and should continue to monitor the web site for updates.

I want to assure you that we have taken steps to prepare for this eventuality and that we will work closely with the DOH to ensure the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff. Unless otherwise notified, we expect a return to administrative and office operations on Monday, March 16.

Full-time employees will not be required to charge their accruals for tomorrow. Part-time employees will be paid for the day if work was regularly scheduled.

Residential students are encouraged to vacate the residence halls for the duration of the spring break.

Thank you,

John Nader
President

To the Campus:

I am writing to update all members of the Farmingdale State College community about our plans and preparation surrounding the novel coronavirus – COVID-19.

Out of an abundance of caution, face-to-face classes at Farmingdale State College, which begin at 4:30 pm or later today, Wednesday, March 11th, are canceled through Saturday, March, 14th. The campus remains open and all other campus operations will continue. Faculty and staff should fulfill their normal responsibilities. Classes for the remainder of the semester will be taught through distance learning wherever possible, in accordance with SUNY guidelines. Faculty are working to develop these continuity- of-education plans, and additional communication with more detail for students, faculty, and staff is forthcoming.

Faculty and students should be prepared to deliver and receive instruction via distance learning upon resumption of the semester on Monday, March 23.

It is important to emphasize that at this time, there are no confirmed cases of the virus on campus. We continue to monitor the situation and are revising plans accordingly in consultation with NYS and local health department officials. We have taken steps to reduce external populations visiting campus, limit the size of internal campus events, and maintain an aggressive cleaning schedule, thanks to the work of our facilities and custodial staff. To date, we have exceeded CDC and DOH guidance and recommendations.

Faculty members and our Academic Affairs leadership have made remarkably significant strides in preparing to offer their courses in a distance-learning format. I sincerely appreciate the remarkable effort to prepare for distance-learning instruction.

Residential students are urged to vacate the residence halls during the upcoming break. Upon leaving, please be sure to take medicines, digital devices, computers, books, and key personal possessions with you. Should the campus be affected by the virus, your access to the residence halls will be severely limited, and we want you to have everything you need to succeed in distance-learning courses. This will also allow for cleaning, and will better permit us to serve those relatively few students who are unable to return to distant homes.

When classes move to an online format, we realize that some students may lack an internet connection or a computer needed to continue their studies. The College will designate computer lab space on campus for students lacking the required technology. The College will make every effort to work with students to address their technology needs.

At some point, it may be necessary to curtail many of the College's operations, to prevent or contain the virus. Our emergency management team is now meeting on a daily basis to identify the steps needed to assure the operation of the College, in the event the virus forces us to cease or minimize some functions. Each cabinet member is identifying essential operations and personnel. It may become necessary to direct many members of our staff to work remotely so that we can maximize our efforts to limit exposure to the virus. Should the public-health threat reach such a level, we will dramatically restrict the number of campus buildings that remain open, and access to campus would be on an as-needed basis.

The dramatic steps that I've outlined will present one of the biggest challenges in the recent history of the College. Implementing such a profound change will not be easy, and we may make some errors. I am asking for the help of every member of the campus community to see FSC through this difficult time. Words alone are not sufficient to express my gratitude for the work that our faculty, staff, and emergency management team are doing to prepare for the challenge that may be ahead of us. I have never been more proud to be part of Farmingdale State College.

I wish all of you the best for this much-needed and well-deserved break.

John Nader
President

To the Campus:

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing understandable concern among students, parents, faculty, and staff. The Farmingdale State College administration, including our campus Health and Wellness Center, has been closely monitoring the situation, and we will continue to provide important updates, education, and guidance.

Thankfully, no members of the campus community are currently suspected of contracting COVID-19 and the risk of infection on campus remains low. Since the outbreak began in China, Farmingdale's Health and Wellness staff have collaborated with the State University of New York and the NYS Department of Health to establish proper protocols and preventive measures.

Among the developments campus community members should be aware of:

Out of an abundance of caution, please be advised that the College is canceling or postponing all external and our own internal non-athletic events with an anticipated attendance of 50 or more people through March 31, 2020. This will allow us to focus our cleaning and preventive measures on mission-critical functions. We very much regret the inconvenience and will work to reschedule events, if possible.

• Farmingdale's emergency management team, composed of representatives from across campus, is working diligently to ensure our processes adhere to the best practices advised by public health authorities and prepare for an array of possible challenges. These include how courses may be delivered and contingencies for dining, housing, and business operations.
• Our custodial staff is working diligently to sanitize all spaces on campus including wiping down surfaces and continuing to deploy hand sanitizers. We continue to prioritize public spaces and are meeting or exceeding recommended procedures.
• Both Aramark and the Child Care Center have developed contingency plans and have been communicating with campus stakeholders.
• Aramark is temporarily pausing the use of personal reusable cups as a precautionary measure in the care of our students, guests, and staff.
• Farmingdale students studying in France have chosen to return home and will complete their program through distance learning.
• Campus-sponsored international trips are postponed or canceled for the balance of this semester. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to avoid any unnecessary international travel during the upcoming break. We are reviewing any existing plans for travel within the US.
• Practice proactive hygiene and make the following habits part of your daily routine:
  • Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after using the bathroom, before preparing or eating food, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, and visiting or caring for a sick person
  • Cover coughs and sneezes by using a tissue over your mouth and nose and then disposing of it. If a tissue is unavailable, use your sleeve, not your hand, which is more likely to transmit fluid droplets to others
  • Don't share food, drinks, dishes, glasses, or eating utensils
  • Avoid direct contact with napkins, tissues, or similar items used by others
  • Avoid close contact with others, especially if you are ill. A distance of 6 feet is recommended

We know the rapid spread of COVID-19 has caused heightened concern. Please know that the well-being and safety of our campus community is Farmingdale's top priority, and we will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.

You can continue to follow updates via the web pages of the NYSDOH, and CDC here:

https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/

To the Campus:

Out of an abundance of caution, SUNY has canceled campus-sponsored travel outside of the U.S. to countries impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) for the Spring semester. Study Abroad programs have been suspended effective immediately in China, Italy, Iran, Japan, and South Korea—the five nations issued a Level 2 or Level 3 travel notice by the Centers for Disease Control. Farmingdale has one student in this group and the student is being returned to the U.S. by SUNY along with those from other SUNY campuses. SUNY will continue to review CDC guidance and work closely with the Department of Health to make additional determinations on continuing or canceling upcoming travel at all other campus-sponsored international locations. Here at Farmingdale, we are taking the additional precautionary step of urging all of our Study Abroad students to return home regardless of their location and we are canceling all international travel for faculty and staff through the end of the Spring semester.

Students, faculty, and staff returning from Level 2 and Level 3 affected countries are strongly encouraged to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return home. All employees and students are advised to reconsider personal recreational travel plans to these nations. SUNY has also convened a SUNY COVID-19 Task Force charged with relaying the latest guidance and information from the DOH to its 64 campuses. That task force will be in contact with the campuses every day.

The NYS Department of Health states that the risk of contracting the virus is still low in New York State. People most at risk are those who have traveled internationally to Level 2 or 3 countries in the past 14 days or have been in close contact with an affected individual in the same timeframe.

We will continue to keep the campus community informed on further developments as appropriate.

You can continue to follow updates via the web pages of the NYSDOH, and CDC here:

https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html

To the Campus:

As part of our continuing communication on the coronavirus outbreak, we are taking a number of steps to keep you informed of the College's response. First and foremost, we are closely monitoring the situation with the CDC, the NYS Department of Health, and SUNY. We are taking actions based on their recommendations. We will update the campus as appropriate through messages on the Health & Wellness web page which you can access regularly by signing into your myFSC dashboard. An FAQ has been developed and is posted on the Health & Wellness web page. Parents of students can access this information by clicking on the Parents tab on the home page of the web site.

The campus continues to take all recommended precautions, including regularly disinfecting public areas. We are installing an additional 100 bacterial soap dispensers and 100 more are being ordered. This will bring the total number of dispensers throughout campus to 335. Finally, we have scheduled a meeting of the Administrative Council to discuss the College's preparedness. The meeting will be held this Thursday, March 5 at 9:00 am in the Roosevelt Hall Little Theatre.

In accordance with SUNY and DOH guidance, we are assessing the status of students currently engaged in Study Abroad programs. We are reviewing all plans for upcoming international travel by faculty, staff, and students. The global spread of the virus may require the postponement or cancellation of such travel.

While the incidence of coronavirus remains low, we continue to take all necessary precautions to keep the campus safe. A reminder: there are steps that everyone can take to help prevent the spread of this and other viruses.

• It is currently flu and respiratory disease season, and it is recommended to get a flu vaccine if not medically contraindicated and you have not already done so
• Washing your hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer where soap and water are not available
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth prior to washing your hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze
• Clean or disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

You can continue to follow updates via the web pages of the NYSDOH, and CDC here:

https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html

We will continue to update the campus community as new information or public health notices are provided.

To the Campus:

Farmingdale State College continues to closely monitor recommendations from the CDC and the DOH relating to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and adapt our procedures in order to comply with these updates. The Director of Health & Wellness is in regular discussion with all cabinet members, other pertinent campus constituents, and various public health officials to track developments, review our emergency procedures, and encourage preventive measures and community-level non-pharmaceutical actions.

The College and the State University of New York will continue all usual business operations. Currently, there are no confirmed cases in New York State and only 60 cases nationally. Students, faculty, and staff should carry on with their daily schedules. The College's actions and recommendations are consistent with those taken by SUNY, linked here.

In the last two weeks, the New York State Department of Health has repeatedly advised that "Colleges and universities should not implement any restrictions without consultation with their local Health Department" as communicated via this letter. The CDC has stated that though COVID-19 is not currently spreading at a community level in the U.S., cases of the virus are being reported in an increasing number of countries.

The latest CDC travel recommendations have been updated. With spring break approaching, we encourage the campus community to check this website prior to travel and to abide by any updated recommendations.

There are steps that everyone can take to help prevent the spread of this and other viruses.

It is currently flu and respiratory disease season, and it is recommended to get a flu vaccine if not medically contraindicated and you have not already done so
Washing your hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer where soap and water are not available
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth prior to washing your hands
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Stay home when you are sick
Cover your cough or sneeze
Clean or disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
You can continue to follow updates via the web pages of the NYSDOH, and CDC here:

https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html

We will continue to update the campus community as new information or public health notices are provided.

To the Campus:

As you know, an outbreak of coronavirus that began in Wuhan City, China has begun to spread internationally. Please be assured that FSC's Health and Wellness Center continues to closely monitor this situation in conjunction with SUNY, the New York State Department of Health (DOH), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The Health and Wellness Center has been screening patients for coronavirus infection consistent with CDC recommendations. None of those screened exhibited any signs of the virus. In the unlikely event, a case of coronavirus is identified on-campus students, faculty, and staff will be promptly notified and protocols consistent with the guidance of the CDC will be implemented. There are no Farmingdale State students who are currently being monitored for exposure to coronavirus. Should any member of the campus community come under DOH investigation for infection, or be diagnosed with coronavirus, the campus would be notified.

Eleven cases of possible coronavirus have been investigated in New York State. Eight of these cases have already been closed and three cases are awaiting results. To date, there has not been a confirmed case. It is important to note that the current level of risk is low and the level of preparation by the campus and local, state, and CDC officials are high. At this time healthy students and staff members should continue their normal academic and work routines per the recommendations of the CDC.
There are steps that everyone can take to help prevent the spread of the virus.

     • It is currently flu and respiratory disease season, and it is recommended to get a flu vaccine if not medically contraindicated and you have not already done so
     • Washing your hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer where soap and water are not available
     • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth prior to washing your hands
     • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
     • Stay home when you are sick
     • Cover your cough or sneeze
     • Clean or disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

If you, or close contact, have recently traveled to China and begin to experience a fever of greater than 100.4 and/or cough and cold symptoms it is imperative to seek medical care. Prior to visiting a medical facility, you should call ahead so that they can prepare for your arrival. Students who seek care can call the Health and Wellness Center at (934) 420-2009. Faculty and staff should contact their primary physician or a local emergency room. As noted above, this is a rapidly developing situation and the Health and Wellness Center will continue to monitor the situation and update the campus community should any new precautions be recommended by the CDC or DOH. Please continue to check here for updates.