HR News

Dear Members of the Syracuse University Community:

We are writing with an important update related to the COVID-19 vaccination effort in New York State immediately impacting members of the Syracuse University community.

Earlier today the New York State Department of Health announced an important change in guidance related to those populations eligible to receive the COVID vaccine, as part of Phase 1B of the NYS vaccine distribution effort. This change is to include college and university faculty and instructors—specifically and only those teaching in-person classes during the spring semester—as a population eligible to be vaccinated during Phase 1B of the vaccine distribution effort. Phase 1B eligibility begins today, Jan. 11, 2021.

In addition to faculty teaching in-person classes in the spring, several additional Syracuse University populations are now immediately eligible to register for the COVID-19 vaccination. They include:

• Instructors teaching in-person classes (including graduate assistants teaching an in-person course in the spring)
• Staff employed at the Child Care Center and Pre-School
• All staff of the Department of Public Safety
• Staff performing responsibilities specific to fire and life safety
• Medical transport staff and SU Ambulance
• Staff in Parking and Transit Services
• Syracuse University Testing & COVID Response staff
• Student teachers assigned to teach in a local school district during the spring semester
• Any individual 75 years of age or older

All vaccinations are being managed and administered by the Onondaga County Department of Health. If you are a Syracuse University employee that qualifies for vaccination given the above listed populations, and who desires to receive the COVID vaccine, we encourage you to take the following steps:

• Visit https://covid19.ongov.net/vaccine/ to confirm your eligibility and review frequently asked questions concerning the vaccine and vaccination process.
• Register for the vaccination and attest to your eligibility by visiting https://covid19.ongov.net/vaccine/1st-dose-screening-form/.
• Once you schedule your appointment, you will receive a “Submission ID.” Please bring this Submission ID and a government-issued identification card to your vaccination appointment.

Finally, be advised that New York State—not Syracuse University—makes all determinations related to vaccine eligibility. Eligibility determinations are assigned based a variety of factors including the risk associated with workplace exposure, and as a function of the availability of vaccine supplied to New York State by the federal government. Accordingly, the implementation of the New York State vaccination plan is inherently dynamic. For this reason, the Syracuse University Public Health team will continue to share new information, as we receive it, related to updates and changes impacting the vaccine eligibility and the availability of vaccination resources in our community.

Sincerely,

Andrew R. Gordon
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer

J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

John Liu
Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost

Dear Students, Families, Faculty and Staff:

A new year is upon us, and soon the spring semester will be underway. Over the holiday break, we have been closely monitoring developments with COVID-19. It has become increasingly clear that the next several weeks will likely be among the most difficult our country and Central New York will experience since the onset of the pandemic. As a result, Syracuse University will begin the Spring 2021 semester and residential instruction on Monday, Feb. 8, and conclude on Friday, May 21. Move in for campus residence halls will take place the week of Feb. 1. This decision was made in consultation with the Onondaga County Health Department.

Starting our semester two weeks later best positions us to resume residential instruction in a manner that safeguards the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and the Central New York community. First, it provides some distance between the expected post-holiday surge of cases and our return to campus. Second, it increases the possibility that some of our campus’ frontline workers will be vaccinated prior to the start of the semester. This includes our health care staff in the Barnes Center, who administer medical care to our students. The delayed start also gets us closer to the time when vaccines will be more widely available across the country. As we have from the start of the pandemic, Syracuse University continues to make decisions based on science, data and public health guidance.

You will hear more in the coming days and weeks about move-in logistics, testing and quarantine requirements, and additional information as our students prepare to return to campus. Mask wearing, social distancing, reduced capacity and other public health precautions will continue to be in place when you return next month. Like last semester, it is on all of us to keep ourselves and those around us safe, healthy and together.

I thank the dedicated team that worked through the holidays to develop plans for us to return to campus safely. It is that same determination and Orange spirit that will carry us forward to better days ahead in 2021. I look forward to welcoming you back to campus next month.

Sincerely,
Chancellor Kent Syverud

Dear Faculty and Staff:

As 2020 comes to a close and with Orange Appreciation Days almost complete, many of you are beginning to think about your return to work on Jan. 4. At the same time, the prevalence of COVID-19 continues to increase at a troubling rate around the country and in Onondaga County. Further, public health officials are concerned holiday travel and gatherings will result in additional spread over the next several weeks.

With this in mind, and with our continued focus on the health and well-being of our campus and the broader Central New York communities, the University will continue operating in a similar manner as prior to Orange Appreciation Days. Here is everything you need to know as we begin the first work week of 2021:

• Until directed otherwise, all functions that can be performed remotely should be done remotely. All deans, senior vice presidents and other leaders should continue encouraging their faculty and staff whose job functions do not require a physical presence on campus to continue their work from home. Staff working remotely should have a flexible work arrangement in place that has been approved by the dean or senior vice president of the division.
• Individuals whose job function requires a physical presence on campus should continue reporting per their regular schedule. Personal protective equipment must always be worn, and other precautions will remain in place as guided by public health directives. If you are uncertain whether you should physically report to campus, please contact your supervisor directly to discuss.
• Research and studio work that requires individuals to be physically on campus may continue with all appropriate public health precautions in place. We urge all researchers, studio personnel and graduate students to take the necessary steps to keep themselves and those around them safe. This includes mask wearing, monitoring for symptoms, hand-washing and regular testing.
• As a reminder, until further notice all faculty and staff must use their SU I.D. to access buildings and facilities. Please keep your identification card on you if you plan to be on campus.
• Finally, COVID-19 testing will resume at the University’s Stadium Testing Center on Monday, Jan. 4. Staff, faculty and students should keep the following in mind related to accessing the University’s Testing Center:
  • COVID testing on Jan. 4 and Jan. 5 will be reserved for those employees whose job function requires a physical presence on campus. The Testing Center will coordinate directly with supervisors, to schedule testing for those returning to campus beginning Jan. 4.
  • For those working remotely, the Testing Center will be accessible beginning Jan. 6.
  • Beginning Jan. 6, the hours of the Testing Center will be Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • IMPORTANT: If you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, or you have been directed to quarantine by a public health authority due to possible exposure, do not come to campus for testing. Instead, contact your primary care provider.

Next week, you can expect more details on the spring semester calendar and additional information on our return to campus. We appreciate your continued adherence to public health guidelines. And we wish you and your loved ones good health in the new year.

Sincerely,

Andrew R. Gordon
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer

J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

John Liu
Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff and Families:

Faculty and staff from across the University continue preparations to welcome students back to campus for the spring semester. As Chancellor Kent Syverud shared in a message yesterday, more details on our timeline and return to campus will be forthcoming in the first week of January. As part of this work, we are reflecting on our fall semester experience, and applying what we learned to improve and enhance our continued COVID response strategy.

We write to you today to share changes in process and policy the University is adopting for the spring semester to ensure we are best positioned to support a safe and meaningful residential campus experience. In this message, we address process and policy changes impacting:

1. COVID Surveillance Testing for Spring 2021
2. On-Campus Contact Tracing
3. Stay Safe Pledge

Our planning continues as millions of Americans are receiving their first doses of the recently approved COVID-19 vaccine, providing all of us much-needed optimism. However, widespread access to the vaccine will take several months, and many communities across the U.S.—here in Central New York—continue to report record-high levels of new infections and hospitalizations. This current reality must serve as a reminder to remain vigilant to ensure the safety and well-being of our families, friends and community. Changes to our approach for the spring semester reflect the current reality and our commitment to keeping our community safe.

COVID Surveillance Testing for Spring 2021

Robust COVID surveillance testing is key to our ability to safely resume residential campus operations in the new year. Throughout the fall, we benefited greatly from a tremendous testing partnership with SUNY Upstate Medical University that allowed us to process more than 100,000 COVID tests on campus between August and December. At the same time, given anticipated infection rates in New York and elsewhere throughout early 2021, our public health team is adjusting our surveillance testing program to ensure we can quickly and effectively identify and isolate instances of infection on our campus. Those adjustments are as follows:

1. Expand Testing Capacity: We will expand our testing capacity and reduce the time from “test to result.” As compared to the more than the 100,000 COVID surveillance tests conducted in the fall, we anticipate collecting and processing between 250,000 and 300,000 samples from students, faculty and staff between January and May 2021. For this reason, over the past two months, Syracuse University has been working to create a fully autonomous, on-campus testing laboratory. We have invested in creating a testing infrastructure capable of processing up to 4,000 tests per day, and routinely returning results within 24-36 hours.
2. New Testing Method: To support this expanded scale, we have also adopted a new scientific testing method. This spring, we will use a surveillance testing method developed by scientists at Yale University that has become widely adopted by many of our peer institutions. Like our prior testing method, the new approach utilizes a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process to detect the virus—making it highly accurate. At the same time, this new method reduces the time required to process samples significantly, supporting our objective of expediting the time from “test to result.” For those being tested, the only difference you will notice relates to how the sample is collected. Instead of using a mouth swab to collect saliva, the new method requires that those being tested deposit a saliva sample directly into a sterile test tube.
3. Standardized Testing Strategy: We will transition away from the random surveillance sampling model we used in the fall. Instead, we will use a standardized whole-of-campus population testing plan for the spring semester. All students, faculty and staff who routinely access campus can expect a more frequent and regular testing regimen. Residential students should expect that, beginning in January, they will be required to be tested every seven days as a condition of accessing the Syracuse University campus. We will share additional details in the coming weeks.
4. Stadium Testing Center: To accommodate the expanded scale of the University’s surveillance testing program, we are also in the process of significantly expanding and transforming the Stadium Testing Center. The new configuration will allow for enhanced physical distancing, privacy during sample collection and increased speed and efficiency throughout the process.

Expanded Contact Tracing Capacity

Syracuse University is expanding our contact tracing capacity and engagement process for the spring semester. We are increasing the student contact tracing team from 30 to 50 students and hiring a cohort of full-time contact tracing employees to support the Barnes Center’s ability to expedite initial contact tracing data collection. We are confident these enhancements will allow us to trace and isolate quickly and effectively, ultimately resulting in fewer members of our campus community impacted by mandatory quarantine requirements.

Stay Safe Pledge

Our collective and ongoing commitment to the practices outlined in the Stay Safe Pledge proved to be an important part of our ability to maintain a safe living, learning and working environment throughout the fall semester. We thank our campus community for doing their part. Now it’s time to recommit to following, and encouraging others to follow, an enhanced Stay Safe Pledge once again this spring.

Based on feedback received from students, families and campus community members, we have made updates to the pledge that further define the public health measures that will keep us and those around us safe. This includes additional guidance on essential travel outside of Central New York and following health and safety procedures. In addition, conduct sanctions have been updated to address repeated violations of the pledge. We ask that before you return in the spring, please review the Stay Safe Pledge and sign on to show your commitment to protecting the health and well-being of every member of the Orange community. We are grateful that the majority of our students conscientiously and responsibly followed all public health guidelines this fall.

As we say goodbye to 2020, all of us at Syracuse University extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to every member of our community for your patience, partnership and perseverance in the face of an extraordinarily challenging year. Please continue to visit Syracuse.edu/staysafe for the latest information and public health guidance.

We wish you and your loved ones good health, happiness and peace this holiday season.

Sincerely,
J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

Robert D. Hradsky
Vice President for the Student Experience

Dear Students, Families, Faculty and Staff:

Our preparations for the spring semester continue at a fast pace. At the same time, pandemic conditions are evolving around the country and across the globe. I write to you to share where we are in our decision making with our return to campus.

It remains our intention to begin classes on Jan. 25. As we have done throughout the pandemic, our decisions will prioritize the health and safety of our entire community. Over the holidays, we will be monitoring conditions closely, with guidance from the New York State Department of Health, Onondaga County Health Department, the Syracuse University Public Health Team and other public health officials.

You will hear from me during the first week of January with more details on how we will proceed with the spring semester. Until then, you will continue to receive updates from University leaders and the Public Health Team. Please continue to visit Syracuse.edu/staysafe for the most up-to-date information about our COVID-19 response and planning.

I recognize that for our students and their families, uncertainty is stressful. As a community, we rallied together through uncertainty for a successful fall semester. I know that same Orange spirit will lead us into the spring, no matter what obstacles we face. You will hear more from us soon. Until then, I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.

Sincerely,

Chancellor Kent Syverud

Two new measures will go into effect Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, including New York State’s new paid sick leave law and revisions to how the University handles the payout of unused vacation time.

New York State Paid Sick Leave Law Goes Into Effect

In accordance with new legislation passed earlier this year by the New York State Legislature, the University will expand its benefits to provide paid sick time to all employees, including faculty, staff, student workers, temporary employees and graduate assistants.

The new legislation, which is effective Jan. 1, 2021, increases the amount of sick time provided under the University’s prior policy for most non-exempt benefits-eligible staff. It also represents the first time paid sick time will be provided to student workers and temporary employees.

Sick time generally covers time away from work for personal injury, illness, health or safety reasons, or to care for an eligible family member due to their injury, illness or health condition.

Beginning in January and subject to collective bargaining agreements, non-exempt employees will be provided with up to 56 hours of accrued paid sick time for use in a calendar year. Non-exempt employees will be able to view their available sick time on their paycheck beginning in January. The balance of available time will be the greater of either the unused time under the University’s prior sick time policy, or time accrued under the new sick time policy since Sept. 30, 2020.

Sick time that remains unused at the end of the calendar year will be maintained as carryover to the next calendar year and will not be paid out. The carryover will provide the benefit of being able to use sick time as early as needed in the new year without having to wait for the accrual of new sick time.

Exempt employees will also be eligible to take sick time in accordance with the law, with no change to the sick time currently available to exempt benefits-eligible staff.

To learn more, review the Sick Time webpage, which includes FAQ and the updated sick time policies, on the Office of Human Resources website.

Unused Vacation Time Payout Change

The University continues to take steps to achieve cost savings in a manner that safeguards the benefits and resources currently in place for its employees. One of the new cost-savings measures will eliminate the practice of paying out unused vacation time upon separation from employment. This will apply to benefits-eligible staff who elect to leave employment, including those who retire or resign.

Questions about these changes should be directed to HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042.

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff and Families:

Three weeks from today we will ring in the new year. We remain hopeful that 2021 will bring continued scientific progress that helps us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Until then, we will continue to reflect on lessons learned over the past year, to inform collectively our approach to addressing the challenges of COVID-19 in the year ahead.

Today, I’d like to share some important updates on staying healthy during the holidays; some actions the University is taking to support students, faculty and staff, and our community; and findings from new research that offers helpful insight as you plan for a healthy new year.

Updates today include:

1. Virus Transmission Research
2. Staying Healthy
3. COVID-19 Testing Update
4. Flu Vaccination Reminder

New Research Explores Virus Transmission: We are nearly a year into this pandemic, and new research is giving us a better understanding of how and where the virus is transmitted. I’d like to highlight one of those recent studies, as I found the findings both insightful and personally actionable. Specifically, a new study published in the journal Nature identifies important considerations as we think about our own behaviors and that of our families in terms of health and safety practices. In this study, researchers were able to link 80 percent of all the COVID infections in the 10 largest U.S. municipalities to individuals visiting specific public venues and while at those venues either 1) being infected by another or 2) infecting another. In other words, the researchers found that 80 percent of all the COVID infections in the 10 largest U.S. municipalities could be accounted for based on exposures that occurred at the following locations/settings (in this order):

• Full-service restaurants (dine-in)
• Gyms
• Hotels
• Cafés/bars (dine-in)
• Churches/religious services
• Limited-service restaurants (take-out)

I call this study to your attention not to frighten you, nor should you interpret my sharing of this research as assuming a particular position or judgement (mine, or that of the University) related to the choices individuals make to visit the venues identified by the researchers. Instead, my only purpose related to sharing this research is to uphold our continued commitment to disseminate research and scientific findings positioned to inform our collective efforts to safeguard the health and well-being of our families and our community.

Staying Healthy: Of course, while the vast majority of us continue to follow public health guidelines, particularly as it relates to travel, gatherings and other day-to-day activities, the fact remains that there are some places and activities we can’t avoid. This includes grocery shopping, doctor visits, testing, etc. As such, as we enter what is expected to be peak COVID-19 transmission season, I am reminding everyone in our community of what actions we can take to protect ourselves and those around us, including:

• Get tested regularly: Many carriers of the virus are asymptomatic. Frequent testing is often the only way to detect the presence of the virus, absent any common symptoms.
• Monitor your health: Keep an eye on how you’re feeling. Do you have any cold-like symptoms? Are you running a fever? If so, call your primary care physician immediately.
• Take the simple steps: Wear your mask, always. Wash your hands regularly. Keep your distance. If you’re like me, you are probably experiencing some pandemic fatigue. I know it’s tough but taking these simple steps could be the difference between staying healthy and getting ill.
• Limit your travel: Whether you make quick visits to a local store or a longer journey to visit family, the fact remains that being out and about increases your chances of becoming ill. So limit your travel as best you can.
• Be responsive to contact tracers: If you receive a call from county, state or University COVID personnel, it’s likely they are reaching out to you to initiate contact tracing. Please, take the call and be forthcoming about with whom and where you’ve been. This process is critical to mitigating community spread.
• Get a flu shot: If you haven’t already, please, I implore you to get a flu shot. As we are seeing in local media outlets, our health care resources are stretched extremely thin. Getting a flu shot is an important way to stay healthy but also to allow medical professionals to diagnose you if you’re feeling ill.

COVID-19 Testing Update: Syracuse University’s Testing Center remains open and available to all members of our campus community. The Testing Center’s hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please be advised that the Testing Center will be closed from Dec. 19 through Jan. 3. Plan to be tested no later than Dec. 18 to ensure you receive a result before the holidays.

In addition, when you visit the Testing Center over the coming weeks, you may take note of a change to the Syracuse University surveillance testing program. Specifically, over the past month Syracuse University has been working to enhance the speed, scale and responsiveness of our testing protocol. These efforts include a transition from the mouth swab saliva collection method employed during the fall semester, to a sample collection method where saliva is deposited directly into a sterile plastic tube. This new saliva collection remains minimally invasive and will enhance the University’s ability to return timely results to those being tested. We will be sharing additional details on the University’s enhanced surveillance testing strategy in subsequent messages.

If you plan to get tested before the holidays, please keep in mind the following information:

• Location: Enter the stadium through Gate N and follow the signs to the testing center.
• Appointments: No appointments are necessary; simply bring your SU I.D. and show up at a time that is convenient for you.
• Preparation: Do not eat, drink or brush your teeth for 30 minutes prior to testing.
• Safety Reminder: You must wear a face mask or covering when you arrive at the testing site. If you are experiencing symptoms or suspect you have been exposed to the virus, do not go to the stadium; instead, contact the Barnes Center at 315.443.8000 (students) or your primary care doctor (faculty/staff).
• Type of Test: The test is saliva-based, and the entire process takes just a few minutes.
• Delivery of Results: You will receive confirmation via email if your surveillance test result indicates no requirement for a subsequent diagnostic test. Individuals whose result indicates the need for provider consultation and a subsequent diagnostic test will be notified by phone.

Flu Shot Update: We appreciate all students, faculty and staff who have received and submitted proof of their flu vaccination. At this time, nearly 80 percent of our students and 82 percent of our faculty and staff have been vaccinated. As a reminder, all members of the University community, including students, faculty and staff, are expected to get an influenza vaccine to retain campus privileges. Faculty and staff are asked to complete a Flu Vaccine Status Attestation Questionnaire to confirm they’ve received a vaccine or to document a medical or religious exemption. To learn more, faculty and staff can visit wellness.syr.edu and students/families can visit the Barnes Center website.

Thank you for reading this update. I hope that you will make time this holiday season to rest, reflect and find joy. And, above all, wishing you good health.

Sincerely,
J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

The University will operate under its holiday schedule and Orange Appreciation Days format for the Winter Break period from 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, through Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.

During the Holiday/Orange Appreciation Days Period:

• All academic and administrative buildings will be locked or closed.
• Building temperatures will be lowered to 60 degrees, unless prior arrangements have been made.

Request for Building Access:

If you require your building to be open over the Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days period, please submit a request to your building coordinator, noting the specific dates and times. Requests should be made by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16. (Note that faculty and staff will be able to access all buildings, as usual, by swiping their SU I.D. cards, even when the buildings are locked.)

Request for Adjustments to Temperature and Lighting:

Deans, directors and department heads may submit a detailed request for adjustments to temperature and lighting during the Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days period. Please review the University’s temperature guidelines. We ask that requests be made using the online form by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16. Requests will be reviewed and approved by either the vice president and chief facilities officer or the provost.

Important: Buildings Not Included in Winter Break Reduced Occupancy Schedule

The following buildings will be excluded from the temperature setback, and will remain on normal access, temperature and lighting settings:

• Heroy Geology Laboratory
• Bowne Hall – Fourth Floor
• Lyman Hall – Fourth Floor
• Sims Hall – Department of Public Safety
• Center for Science and Technology
• Bird Library
• Life Sciences Complex
• Link Hall
• Physics Building
• Ensley Athletic Center
• South Campus Library Facility
• Manley Field House
• Carmelo Anthony Center
• Tennity Ice Rink
• Crouse-Hinds Hall

Additional information regarding Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days services and resources may be found at the following links:

• University services available during Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days
• HR Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days info
• Orange Appreciation Days FAQ
• Sustainability website

Questions on building occupancy can be directed to the Department of Energy Systems and Sustainability Management at 315.443.1535 or energy@syr.edu.

Dear Faculty and Staff:

The resurgence of the COVID-19 virus around our country is intensifying on the heels of holiday travel and gatherings. Here in Onondaga County, we are experiencing rising infection rates and an uptick in hospitalizations. In response, Syracuse University is taking additional steps to further assist the broader community in combatting the virus while also maintaining healthy and safe academic and business operations.

Here is everything you need to know:

• At this time, all functions that can be performed remotely should be done remotely. This approach will remain in place through the conclusion of Orange Appreciation Days, which begin on Thursday, Dec. 24.
• All deans, senior vice presidents and other leaders have been advised to urge their faculty and staff, whose job functions do not require a physical presence on campus, to conduct their business from home. For staff, everyone who is working remotely should receive approval from their supervisor and have a flexible work agreement that is approved by the dean or senior vice president of the division.
• Individuals who must be on campus to perform their duties, including but not limited to food services, facilities management, public safety, libraries, etc., should continue reporting per their regular schedule. Some staff in the libraries system will continue to work remotely, while others will report in-person. Any questions regarding libraries should be directed to libref@syr.edu. Personal protective equipment must always be worn, and other precautions will remain in place as guided by public health directives. If you are uncertain if your position requires you to be on campus, please contact your supervisor directly to discuss.
• Research that requires faculty, staff and graduate students to be on campus, in the field or in a laboratory may continue. Similarly, studio space and work that cannot be replicated outside the studio may continue with all appropriate public health precautions in place. We urge all researchers, studio personnel and graduate students to take the necessary steps to keep themselves and those around them safe. This includes mask wearing, monitoring for symptoms, hand washing and regular testing.
• COVID-19 testing will continue at the University’s Stadium Testing Center, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To learn more about our testing program, please review this message, which was shared with our community on Thursday, Dec. 3. However, if you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, please do not come to campus for testing. Instead, call your primary care provider.
• At this time, and continuing through the beginning of the spring semester, all faculty and staff must use their SU I.D. to access buildings and facilities. Please keep your identification card on you if you plan to be on campus.

We will continue to communicate regularly with you regarding our operational status. We are grateful for the continued efforts of our faculty and staff colleagues to maintain a safe and healthy living, learning and working environment.

Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do. We wish you and your loved ones a safe and healthy holiday season.

Sincerely,

John Liu
Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost

Andrew R. Gordon
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff and Families:

I hope you had a healthy and peaceful holiday break and wish you the very best during the final days of this semester. And while the fall academic semester has not yet come to a close, planning is well underway to ensure a safe return to campus in January.

Over the next few weeks you will continue to receive updates from Syracuse University leaders and the Syracuse University Public Health Team related to planning for January and beyond. These updates are intended to provide important details related to planning for the spring semester, updated public health guidance, travel protocols, updates on student programs and other policy and programmatic changes impacting academic and student life in the spring. Please continue to review these messages and visit our website regularly, which can now be found at Syracuse.edu/staysafe.

The important updates provided in this message include:

1. New Information Hub
2. Campus Policy on Masks
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Change to Quarantine Requirement
4. Access to Testing in December
5. Flu Vaccination
6. COVID Community Engagement
7. Thanks for Successful Move-Out

Syracuse.edu/staysafe: As part of our ongoing effort to support clear and direct information sharing, we have transitioned all coronavirus-related content from Syracuse.edu/fall2020, to a new consolidated information site: Syracuse.edu/staysafe. This new site will serve as the hub for information related to campus operations, public health and safety, and COVID testing information, and host the Syracuse University COVID-19 Dashboard. In addition, we will continue to post all campus messages to this site. We hope that you will visit frequently for the latest information for students, faculty, staff and the broader community.

Campus Policy on Masks: Some members of our campus community have inquired about exceptions to Syracuse University’s policy requiring masks on campus, specifically for those individuals who were previously diagnosed and then recovered from COVID-19 illness. Be advised that there are no exceptions to the University requirement that all students, faculty and staff wear a mask at all times on campus, including for those individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. This policy will remain in place for the foreseeable future, and the University will reevaluate its policy only when directed to do so by public health authorities. There is still much to be learned about the transmission of COVID-19 before, during and after infection; the only certainty is the efficacy of masks in the prevention of transmission of the virus.

Updates to CDC Policy on Quarantine: Many of you have also inquired as to the implications for Syracuse University and campus life, in response to the CDC’s recent revision to the 14-day quarantine requirement for those who are suspected of exposure to the COVID-19 virus. This revised policy—announced yesterday by the CDC—would potentially reduce the quarantine requirement from 14 days to either 7 days (with no symptoms and a negative test) or 10 days (with no symptoms and without a test requirement).

Be advised that we are currently awaiting guidance from New York State as to how the CDC’s action will impact the New York State Department of Health’s policy regarding the COVID quarantine requirement. Syracuse University is obligated to adopt and enact the New York State Department of Health directives related to both quarantine and isolation requirements, which currently remain at 14 (quarantine) days and 10 (isolation) days. If New York State takes action to revise its policy to align with this new CDC guidance, Syracuse University will do the same. 

December Testing Hours: As a reminder, the Syracuse University Testing Center remains open and accessible to all members of our campus community throughout most of the winter break. The testing center’s hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you plan to get tested, please keep in mind the following information:

• Location: Enter the stadium through Gate N and follow the signs to the testing center.
• Appointments: No appointments are necessary; simply bring your SU I.D. and show up at a time that is convenient for you.
• Preparation: Do not eat, drink or brush your teeth for 30 minutes prior to testing.
• Safety Reminder: You must wear a face mask or covering when you arrive at the testing site. If you are experiencing symptoms or suspect you have been exposed to the virus, do not go to the stadium—instead contact the Barnes Center at 315.443.8000.
• Type of Test: The test itself is a saliva swab, and the entire process takes just a few minutes.
• Delivery of Results: You will receive confirmation via email if your surveillance test result indicates no requirement for a subsequent diagnostic test. Individuals whose result indicates the need for provider consultation and a subsequent diagnostic test will be notified by phone.

Flu Vaccination: Remember, all members of the University community, including students, faculty and staff, are expected to get an influenza vaccine to retain campus privileges. Students should provide proof of their flu vaccine to attend in-person classes, participate in on-campus activities and use any on-campus facilities for the spring semester. Faculty and staff are asked to complete a Flu Vaccine Status Attestation Questionnaire to confirm they’ve received a vaccine or to document a medical or religious exemption. To learn more, faculty and staff can visit wellness.syr.edu and students/families can visit the Barnes Center website.

Supporting Our City’s Schools and Families: I remain incredibly thankful for the truly selfless work performed by the Syracuse University Public Health Team over the course of the semester. Many of these professionals cannot count two consecutive days that they have had away from campus, going all the way back to July. That said, when our local schools faced the possibility of extended closure given the lack of capacity to conduct in-school testing, without hesitation our public health and testing team stepped up and offered to support the city’s efforts to reopen our schools and keep kids and teachers in the classroom. With support from University leadership, we were able to assemble an army of volunteers within 48 hours to support COVID-19 testing efforts in schools across Onondaga County. This work is ongoing today and will continue over the next few weeks. I am beyond proud and grateful for so many extraordinary volunteers from the Syracuse University community, who freely and enthusiastically offered their time and talents to our community, at a time when our community needs it most.

Sharing Thanks for a Successful Checkout: Finally, I want to conclude with additional gratitude. As our students and families departed campus, I wish I could have personally thanked each of you for your individual and collective efforts this past semester, in support of a safe and meaningful residential campus experience. While there were certainly bumps along the way, our students stepped up and took responsibility to keep themselves and our community safe and healthy. This accountability was also on display during the move-out process. Our students took exit testing seriously so as to protect their families and the communities they were returning to, and left their living spaces in great condition in preparation for our January return to campus. Thank you.

As to be expected, over the past few months we have learned a lot—and learned together. We will apply that learning to our planning and preparation for the spring semester. As always, please do not hesitate to share any ideas, suggestions or feedback by emailing the COVID-19 Project Management Office at sucovid@syr.edu.

Sincerely,
J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation