- sadivision@lists.qc.cuny.edu - Queens College Mailman 3 Archives

[SADivision 0370] $2, 400 Stipend for Unpaid Internship during Summer or Fall 2020
by Irving R Uribe 21 Apr '20

21 Apr '20

[QC Banner] >From Zavi Gunn, Director, Center for Career Engagement and Internships: Did you know that your students can still apply for a $2,400 stipend towards an unpaid internship of their choice, including remote work? The application deadline for the Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez Internship Fund is Sunday, April 26. Please share this information with students and encourage them to apply today at http://www.qc.cuny.edu/qcstipend. A letter of recommendation can be submitted separately from the student application and may be submitted after the deadline. Here is a quick video tutorial on how to apply: https://bit.ly/2KnQDaQ. For additional inquiries, please contact Lisa Louis-Marijanksi, Associate Director of Career Education and Internships, at stipend(a)qc.cuny.edu<mailto:stipend@qc.cuny.edu>. Career Engagement and Internships Links: Visit our website: https://www.qc.cuny.edu/StudentLife/services/career Employer and student HireQC login: www.qc.cuny.edu/StudentLife/services/career/Pages/Symplicity-Login.aspx<http://www.qc.cuny.edu/StudentLife/services/career/Pages/Symplicity-Login.a…> Students can schedule a virtual appointment: www.qc.cuny.edu/StudentLife/services/career/Pages/ContactUs.aspx<http://www.qc.cuny.edu/StudentLife/services/career/Pages/ContactUs.aspx> Apply for summer or fall $2400 internship stipend: www.qc.cuny.edu/StudentLife/services/career/students/internships/Pages/Inte…<http://www.qc.cuny.edu/StudentLife/services/career/students/internships/Pag…> ? <http://www.linkedin.com/in/irvingruribe>

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[SADivision 0369] SA Divisional Training - Thurs., 4.23.2020 (Fixed Date Typo)
by Irving R Uribe 20 Apr '20

20 Apr '20

Hello Queens College Student Affairs Team! I'm so looking forward to our workshop together on Thursday morning! I wanted to share a few notes and materials in advance of our workshop, since we'll be coming together virtually. First and foremost, I hope that you are all staying well and navigating this new climate with as much ease and good health as possible. We are all juggling so much while faced with incredible uncertainty, I hope that this selfcare focused time will prove to be useful and valuable. Next, please come as you are. Part of self-care is giving ourselves permission to just be where we are. There is no need to dress up for this - come in your PJs or hoodie, whatever feels comfortable! I know that I'll also have my coffee in hand and a snack nearby -- please feel free to do the same! I also trust that I'm not the only one who will have my kids nearby working on their academics. We'll all do our best to be present and focused, stepping away when necessary to refocus our little learners! My goal is for this to feel like a useful, light part of your day and not a cause of added stress. The workshop will start at 9:30 and we will wrap up by 11:30. Attached is a handout that we'll be using on Thursday. If you can print it easily and prefer to have it printed, please feel free to do so, but it's not necessary. Please just have it accessible during our workshop, as we'll be working closely with it. Below is the Zoom information for our session. I ask that you please not share this information with anyone, so that we can ensure that this is a secure space. I'm really looking forward to sharing space with you on Thursday morning. Thank you in advance for your time, attention, and engagement! See you soon, Victoria Topic: Queens College Self-Care Workshop Time: Apr 23, 2020 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97179836890?pwd=N2RnalIzT3RaR2JHOEMyVUQ4VFc1Zz09 Meeting ID: 971 7983 6890 Password: 127879 One tap mobile +16468769923,,97179836890#,,#,127879# US (New York) +13126266799,,97179836890#,,#,127879# US (Chicago) Meeting ID: 971 7983 6890 Password: 127879 -- Victoria Farris, Ed.D. Consultant | Speaker | Coach www.victoriafarris.com<http://www.victoriafarris.com>

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[SADivision 0368] SA Divisional Training - 5.23.2020
by Irving R Uribe 20 Apr '20

20 Apr '20

Hello Queens College Student Affairs Team! I'm so looking forward to our workshop together on Thursday morning! I wanted to share a few notes and materials in advance of our workshop, since we'll be coming together virtually. First and foremost, I hope that you are all staying well and navigating this new climate with as much ease and good health as possible. We are all juggling so much while faced with incredible uncertainty, I hope that this selfcare focused time will prove to be useful and valuable. Next, please come as you are. Part of self-care is giving ourselves permission to just be where we are. There is no need to dress up for this - come in your PJs or hoodie, whatever feels comfortable! I know that I'll also have my coffee in hand and a snack nearby -- please feel free to do the same! I also trust that I'm not the only one who will have my kids nearby working on their academics. We'll all do our best to be present and focused, stepping away when necessary to refocus our little learners! My goal is for this to feel like a useful, light part of your day and not a cause of added stress. The workshop will start at 9:30 and we will wrap up by 11:30. Attached is a handout that we'll be using on Thursday. If you can print it easily and prefer to have it printed, please feel free to do so, but it's not necessary. Please just have it accessible during our workshop, as we'll be working closely with it. Below is the Zoom information for our session. I ask that you please not share this information with anyone, so that we can ensure that this is a secure space. I'm really looking forward to sharing space with you on Thursday morning. Thank you in advance for your time, attention, and engagement! See you soon, Victoria Topic: Queens College Self-Care Workshop Time: Apr 23, 2020 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97179836890?pwd=N2RnalIzT3RaR2JHOEMyVUQ4VFc1Zz09 Meeting ID: 971 7983 6890 Password: 127879 One tap mobile +16468769923,,97179836890#,,#,127879# US (New York) +13126266799,,97179836890#,,#,127879# US (Chicago) Meeting ID: 971 7983 6890 Password: 127879 -- Victoria Farris, Ed.D. Consultant | Speaker | Coach www.victoriafarris.com<http://www.victoriafarris.com>

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[SADivision 0367] Tuesday, April 7 at 4:15 pm live on NY1: President-Designate Frank Wu to be Interviewed by Cheryl Wills
by Irving R Uribe 07 Apr '20

07 Apr '20

Dear Colleagues: We have arranged for President-Designate Frank Wu to appear on NY1 tomorrow, April 7, at 4:15 pm our time for a six to eight minute interview by Cheryl Wills. In arranging this interview in the midst of NY1's extensive, round-the-clock Coronavirus coverage, we expect that they will discuss by Skype his new role, as well as touching on his expertise as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and bias towards Asian Americans. You are encouraged, of course, to watch it if you wish, which is the purpose of this heads up. We will also seek to obtain the video of the segment and include in the clips. Best, Jay.

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[SADivision 0366] Important Action Required
by Adam Rockman 06 Apr '20

06 Apr '20

Team: Please see below and complete the form located at the given link. It is required that all employees (QC, RF, QCA, QCSSC, etc.) complete the form. Thank you! Sincerely, Adam (he, him, his; what does this mean?)<https://www.mypronouns.org/he-him> [cid:image001.png@01D60C09.B0A4AEF0]<https://www.qc.cuny.edu/about/administration/affairs/Pages/default.aspx> Adam L. Rockman, Ed.D. | Vice President for Student Affairs Queens College, CUNY<http://www.qc.cuny.edu/> | 6530 Kissena Blvd, Queens NY 11367-1597 718-997-5501 | Fax: 718-997-5640 | adam.rockman(a)qc.cuny.edu<mailto:adam.rockman@qc.cuny.edu> @VPRockman From: Office of Human Resources/Queens College <qcmailer(a)qc.cuny.edu<mailto:qcmailer@qc.cuny.edu>> Date: April 2, 2020 at 9:31:19 PM EDT Subject: Update: Remote Work Notice Reply-To: qc.comm.donotreply(a)qc.cuny.edu<mailto:qc.comm.donotreply@qc.cuny.edu> Having trouble viewing this email? Click here <http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1103033957415&ca=0dc9dd8f-…> [QC Banner] From the Office of Human Resources: Please be advised that all employees who are working remotely at this time must complete the Remote Work Notice found at https://www.qc.cuny.edu/HR/forms/Pages/Remote-Work-Notice.aspx<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001llatMmSmntWAjlQe831RdU03_0_PwCvHWmaobkU2xhej…>. Included on this online form is guidance from CUNY regarding the conditions that apply to employees who are working remotely. Please familiarize yourself with this information. Please be advised that faculty members are not required to submit this form. Thank you for your cooperation. [https://files.constantcontact.com/72c72f1d001/4cf4a60b-f6b0-441c-ac17-21b19…] This mail was sent by an automated process. Do not reply to this mail, which cannot accept replies. At the bottom of this email, you will see Constant Contact language that offers the option of using "SafeUnsubscribe" to remove yourself from the email list. We strongly advise you not to unsubscribe because QCmailers may contain critical, timely information you need, such as WebAttendance and WebGrade information for faculty; Human Resources announcements for faculty and staff; and announcements from the Registrar or Bursar for students. This information may not be communicated in any other way but through the QCmailer. Queens College, CUNY, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367 SafeUnsubscribe™ mmoorewilk(a)qc.cuny.edu<https://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=0017wQOe3ygv3Ag6mWSt6yjlQ%3D%…> Forward email<http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?llr=hb4e4idab&m=1103033957415&ea=…> | Update Profile<https://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&m=0017wQOe3ygv3Ag6mWSt6yjlQ%3D%…> | About our service provider<http://www.constantcontact.com/legal/service-provider?cc=about-service-prov…> Sent by qcmailer(a)qc.cuny.edu<mailto:qcmailer@qc.cuny.edu> in collaboration with [Constant Contact]<http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=TEM_BusLet_003&rmc=VF19_V8> Try email marketing for free today!<http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=TEM_BusLet_003&rmc=VF19_V8>

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[SADivision 0365] Congresswoman Grace Meng - Resource Guide, SBA Loans, Rebate and UI Information Flyers
by Irving R Uribe 02 Apr '20

02 Apr '20

Good morning Student Affairs, Please see attached Resource Guide, SBA Loans, Rebate and UI Information Flyers from Congresswoman Grace Meng. Best, Thank you Jennifer

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[SADivision 0364] Staying Sane While Telecommuting
by Adam Rockman 30 Mar '20

30 Mar '20

Student Affairs Family: As we continue in this new normal of working from home and being forced to stay home except for essential things like medical appointment and food shopping, I thought it would be prudent to share some helpful tips for maintaining your mental health during this time (I did not write these tips, they were penned by a K-12 Social Worker colleague of my sister). Thank you all for the hard work and ongoing support you provide for our students. I appreciate every one of you, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart! Sincerely, Adam (he, him, his; what does this mean?)<https://www.mypronouns.org/he-him> [cid:image001.png@01D606AB.EDF41920]<https://www.qc.cuny.edu/about/administration/affairs/Pages/default.aspx> Adam L. Rockman, Ed.D. | Vice President for Student Affairs Queens College, CUNY<http://www.qc.cuny.edu/> | 6530 Kissena Blvd, Queens NY 11367-1597 718-997-5501 | Fax: 718-997-5640 | adam.rockman(a)qc.cuny.edu<mailto:adam.rockman@qc.cuny.edu> @VPRockman MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS TIPS FOR QUARANTINE 1. Stick to a routine. Go to sleep and wake up at a reasonable time, write a schedule that is varied and includes time for work as well as self-care. 2. Dress for the social life you want, not the social life you have. Get showered and dressed in comfortable clothes, wash your face, brush your teeth. Take the time to do a bath or a facial. Put on some bright colors. It is amazing how our dress can impact our mood. 3. Get out of the house at least once a day, for at least thirty minutes. If you are concerned of contact, try first thing in the morning, or later in the evening, and try less traveled streets and avenues. If you are high risk or living with those who are high risk, open the windows and blast the fan. It is amazing how much fresh air can do for spirits. 4. Find some time to move each day, again daily for at least thirty minutes. If you don't feel comfortable going outside, there are many YouTube videos that offer free movement classes, and if all else fails, turn on the music and have a dance party! 5. Reach out to others, you guessed it, at least once daily for thirty minutes. Try to do FaceTime, Skype, phone calls, texting-connect with other people to seek and provide support. Don't forget to do this for your children as well. Set up virtual playdates with friends daily via FaceTime, Facebook Messenger Kids, Zoom, etc.-your kids miss their friends, too! 6. Stay hydrated and eat well. This one may seem obvious, but stress and eating often don't mix well, and we find ourselves over-indulging, forgetting to eat, and avoiding food. Drink plenty of water, eat some good and nutritious foods, and challenge yourself to learn how to cook something new! 7. Develop a self-care toolkit. This can look different for everyone. A lot of successful self-care strategies involve a sensory component (seven senses: touch, taste, sight, hearing, smell, vestibular (movement) and proprioceptive (comforting pressure). An idea for each: a soft blanket or stuffed animal, a hot chocolate, photos of vacations, comforting music, lavender or eucalyptus oil, a small swing or rocking chair, a weighted blanket. A journal, an inspirational book, or a mandala coloring book is wonderful, bubbles to blow or blowing watercolor on paper through a straw are visually appealing as well as work on controlled breath. Mint gum, Listerine strips, ginger ale, frozen Starburst, ice packs, and cold are also good for anxiety regulation. For children, it is great to help them create a self-regulation comfort box (often a shoe-box or bin they can decorate) that they can use on the ready for first-aid when overwhelmed. 8. Spend extra time playing with children. Children will rarely communicate how they are feeling, but will often make a bid for attention and communication through play. Don't be surprised to see therapeutic themes of illness, doctor visits, and isolation play through. Understand that play is cathartic and helpful for children-it is how they process their world and problem solve, and there's a lot they are seeing and experiencing in the now. 9. Give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and a wide berth. A lot of cooped up time can bring out the worst in everyone. Each person will have moments when they will not be at their best. It is important to move with grace through blowups, to not show up to every argument you are invited to, and to not hold grudges and continue disagreements. Everyone is doing the best they can to make it through this. 10. Everyone find their own retreat space. Space is at a premium, particularly with city living. It is important that people think through their own separate space for work and for relaxation. For children, help them identify a place where they can go to retreat when stressed. You can make this place cozy by using blankets, pillows, cushions, scarves, beanbags, tents, and "forts". It is good to know that even when we are on top of each other, we have our own special place to go to be alone. 11. Expect behavioral issues in children, and respond gently. We are all struggling with disruption in routine, none more than children, who rely on routines constructed by others to make them feel safe and to know what comes next. Expect increased anxiety, worries and fears, nightmares, difficulty separating or sleeping, testing limits, and meltdowns. Do not introduce major behavioral plans or consequences at this time-hold stable and focus on emotional connection. 12. Focus on safety and attachment. We are going to be living for a bit with the unprecedented demand of meeting all work deadlines, homeschooling children, running a sterile household, and making a whole lot of entertainment in confinement. We can get wrapped up in meeting expectations in all domains, but we must remember that these are scary and unpredictable times for children. Focus on strengthening the connection through time spent following their lead, through physical touch, through play, through therapeutic books, and via verbal reassurances that you will be there for them in this time. 13. Lower expectations and practice radical self-acceptance. This idea is connected with #12. We are doing too many things in this moment, under fear and stress. This does not make a formula for excellence. Instead, give yourself what psychologists call "radical self-acceptance": accepting everything about yourself, your current situation, and your life without question, blame, or pushback. You cannot fail at this-there is no roadmap, no precedent for this, and we are all truly doing the best we can in an impossible situation. 14. Limit social media and COVID conversation, especially around children. One can find tons of information on COVID-19 to consume, and it changes minute to minute. The information is often sensationalized, negatively skewed, and alarmist. Find a few trusted sources that you can check in with consistently, limit it to a few times a day, and set a time limit for yourself on how much you consume (again 30 minutes tops, 2-3 times daily). Keep news and alarming conversations out of earshot from children-they see and hear everything, and can become very frightened by what they hear. 15. Notice the good in the world, the helpers. There is a lot of scary, negative, and overwhelming information to take in regarding this pandemic. There are also a ton of stories of people sacrificing, donating, and supporting one another in miraculous ways. It is important to counter-balance the heavy information with the hopeful information. 16. Help others. Find ways, big and small, to give back to others. Support restaurants, check in with elderly neighbors, write psychological wellness tips for others-helping others gives us a sense of agency when things seem out of control. 17. Find something you can control, and control the heck out of it. In moments of big uncertainty and overwhelm, control your little corner of the world. Organize your bookshelf, purge your closet, put together that furniture, group your toys. It helps to anchor and ground us when the bigger things are chaotic. 18. Find a long-term project to dive into. Now is the time to learn how to play the keyboard, put together a huge jigsaw puzzle, start a 15 hour game of Risk, paint a picture, read the Harry Potter series, binge watch an 8-season show, crochet a blanket, solve a Rubik's cube, or develop a new town in Animal Crossing. Find something that will keep you busy, distracted, and engaged to take breaks from what is going on in the outside world. 19. Engage in repetitive movements and left-right movements. Research has shown that repetitive movement (knitting, coloring, painting, clay sculpting, jump roping etc.) especially left-right movement (running, drumming, skating, hopping) can be effective at self-soothing and maintaining self-regulation in moments of distress. 20. Find an expressive art and go for it. Our emotional brain is very receptive to the creative arts, and it is a direct portal for release of feeling. Find something that is creative (sculpting, drawing, dancing, music, singing, playing) and give it your all. See how relieved you can feel. It is a very effective way of helping kids to emote and communicate as well! 21. Find lightness and humor in each day. There is a lot to be worried about, and with good reason. Counterbalance this heaviness with something funny each day: cat videos on YouTube, a stand-up show on Netflix, a funny movie-we all need a little comedic relief in our day, every day. 22. Reach out for help-your team is there for you. If you have a therapist or psychiatrist, they are available to you, even at a distance. Keep up your medications and your therapy sessions the best you can. If you are having difficulty coping, seek out help for the first time. There are mental health people on the ready to help you through this crisis. Your children's teachers and related service providers will do anything within their power to help, especially for those parents tasked with the difficult task of being a whole treatment team to their child with special challenges. Seek support groups of fellow home-schoolers, parents, and neighbors to feel connected. There is help and support out there, any time of the day-although we are physically distant, we can always connect virtually. 23. "Chunk" your quarantine, take it moment by moment. We have no road map for this. We don't know what this will look like in 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month from now. Often, when I work with patients who have anxiety around overwhelming issues, I suggest that they engage in a strategy called "chunking"-focusing on whatever bite-sized piece of a challenge that feels manageable. Whether that be 5 minutes, a day, or a week at a time-find what feels doable for you, and set a time stamp for how far ahead in the future you will let yourself worry. Take each chunk one at a time, and move through stress in pieces. 24. Remind yourself daily that this is temporary. It seems in the midst of this quarantine that it will never end. It is terrifying to think of the road stretching ahead of us. Please take time to remind yourself that although this is very scary and difficult, and will go on for an undetermined amount of time, it is a season of life and it will pass. We will return to feeling free, safe, busy, and connected in the days ahead. 25. Find the lesson. This whole crisis can seem sad, senseless, and at times, avoidable. When psychologists work with trauma, a key feature to helping someone work through said trauma is to help them find their agency, the potential positive outcomes they can effect, the meaning and construction that can come out of destruction. What can each of us learn here, in big and small ways, from this crisis? What needs to change in ourselves, our homes, our communities, our nation, and our world?

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[SADivision 0363] Another Update...
by Adam Rockman 30 Mar '20

30 Mar '20

Team: Please note that QC's plan for distribution of the laptops and tablets purchased by CUNY is now LIVE! Students should call, email or visit the website below for more information and to reserve a device: 718-997-5990 KeepLearning(a)qc.cuny.edu<mailto:KeepLearning@qc.cuny.edu> Device Distribution Plan<https://provost.qc.cuny.edu/students/devices> Thank you for your help in getting this information out to students. Be well! Sincerely, Adam (he, him, his; what does this mean?)<https://www.mypronouns.org/he-him> [cid:image001.png@01D6068B.F1B6FB10]<https://www.qc.cuny.edu/about/administration/affairs/Pages/default.aspx> Adam L. Rockman, Ed.D. | Vice President for Student Affairs Queens College, CUNY<http://www.qc.cuny.edu/> | 6530 Kissena Blvd, Queens NY 11367-1597 718-997-5501 | Fax: 718-997-5640 | adam.rockman(a)qc.cuny.edu<mailto:adam.rockman@qc.cuny.edu> @VPRockman

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[SADivision 0362] Important Information
by Adam Rockman 30 Mar '20

30 Mar '20

Student Affairs Team: Attached please find an important CUNY-issued update on everything COVID-19 related. I have highlighted several sections that will be of interested to Student Affairs, so please pay close attention to those areas as you review the entire document. Special shout-out to Sean Pierce, Craig Blodgett, and all of the incredible staff in The Summit. Over the last several days, this team coordinated the successful move-out of hundreds of our own residents so that hundreds more students from other CUNY residence halls could move in. This team has been working nonstop (very literally so) to make this all possible, and I am so very thankful. I hope everyone is well and adjusting to the new normal of telecommuting. As always, please don't hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions or concerns about this information, or if you would simply like to talk or check-in. Thank you all! Sincerely, Adam (he, him, his; what does this mean?)<https://www.mypronouns.org/he-him> [cid:image001.png@01D60684.1967EFA0]<https://www.qc.cuny.edu/about/administration/affairs/Pages/default.aspx> Adam L. Rockman, Ed.D. | Vice President for Student Affairs Queens College, CUNY<http://www.qc.cuny.edu/> | 6530 Kissena Blvd, Queens NY 11367-1597 718-997-5501 | Fax: 718-997-5640 | adam.rockman(a)qc.cuny.edu<mailto:adam.rockman@qc.cuny.edu> @VPRockman

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[SADivision 0361] Recalibration Period for Educational Equity
by Irving R Uribe 24 Mar '20

24 Mar '20

Good afternoon Student Affairs, Please pay very close attention to the information in the e-mail below. Thank you From: Chancellor Matos Rodríguez <ChancellorCommunications(a)cuny.edu> Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 3:20 PM To: Adam Rockman <Adam.Rockman(a)qc.cuny.edu> Subject: Recalibration Period for Educational Equity [The City University of New York] OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR March 24, 2020 Dear CUNY Community, The nationwide move to distance education necessitated by the coronavirus crisis has served to spotlight disparities that stratify the higher education landscape. In the days since CUNY re-opened classes under distance learning instruction, these matters of equity and access have already begun to surface on our campuses. Motivated by these concerns, and in consultation with CUNY college presidents and deans, we have decided to institute a recalibration period beginning this Friday, March 27, through Wednesday April 1. Distance learning will resume on Thursday, April 2. This period, which we are calling CUNY’s Recalibration Period for Educational Equity, will allow our colleges to continue their efforts to provide their students with access to the equipment they need to complete their semester requirements under these uncommon and unforeseen circumstances. The Recalibration Period will also afford faculty time to consider ways to better support learning through, for example, the asynchronous delivery of classes and other best practices emerging across our University’s virtual classrooms. We are making this move before we get deeper into the semester, to ensure that we are upholding the University’s mission and giving each and every CUNY student an opportunity to thrive. When we moved to distance learning, we sought to create safe conditions based on the best social distancing guidelines available at the time for students who needed computer equipment and broadband internet access to do their coursework in their campus computer labs. The fast-evolving nature of this pandemic, however, compelled Governor Cuomo to issue the New York State on PAUSE<http://maestro.cuny.edu/trk/click?ref=zqtbwp23f_2-1uc942a-0-1d8ax3744dx0389…> executive order, necessitating drastic density reduction measures that have effectively brought campus life to a halt. To make sure that all students are equipped for distance learning, campuses have been purchasing and distributing additional hardware to students who need it in order to continue to fully participate in distance learning. Now that we have had some time to identify aspects of distance learning that could stand to be improved, faculty will be able to use the Recalibration Period to fine-tune their practices, which should serve to improve educational outcomes. We’re also asking teachers to grant extra flexibility to students who might have had limited access to laptops and tablets since the rollout of distance learning on March 19. My most sincere thanks to all the faculty and staff who keep the University going while facing disruption, fatigue and anxiety in their personal lives. The University’s previously scheduled Spring Recess will now run from Wednesday April 8 through Friday April 10, encompassing the beginning of Passover and Good Friday. For faculty, staff and students whose religious observation extends into the week of April 13, as always you have the right to request a religious exemption to observe the holiday and we will offer maximum flexibility in addressing the requests. CUNY’s guidance for religious exemptions can be found here<http://maestro.cuny.edu/trk/click?ref=zqtbwp23f_2-1uc942a-0-1d8ax37451x0389…> and we will remind faculty and staff about our guidance as we get closer to that date. The Recalibration Period for Educational Equity will be in place throughout CUNY with some important exceptions: Schools that offer programs and courses that were being taught online before the broader move to distance learning can proceed with the authorization of campus presidents and deans. Guttman, LaGuardia and Kingsborough Community Colleges, which operate under a two-part, 18-week semester, rather than the more-common 15-week semester, will not be impacted, nor will our graduate and professional schools, which are smaller and reported less concerns with their students’ access to computers. These include the School of Professional Studies, the Graduate Center, the School of Law, the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, the Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy and the School of Labor and Urban Studies. These schools will observe the spring recess as scheduled. These extraordinary circumstances have prompted us to enact a flexible credit/no credit policy, under which students will have 20 days after they receive their grades to decide if they want to convert any or all of the letter grades they earn in their classes to Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) grading. The University will support students with pertinent information about the impact of CR/NC on their financial aid and academic progress. Pending approval by the CUNY Board of Trustees, the policy will go into effect April 1, 2020 and applies to all CUNY institutions except the School of Law and the School of Medicine, which will implement their own policies. For additional details, visit the University’s comprehensive Coronavirus Updates page<http://maestro.cuny.edu/trk/click?ref=zqtbwp23f_2-1uc942a-0-1d8ax372efx0389…>. I want to close by thanking all of you for your continued perseverance in these uncertain and often troubling times. I’ve said before that CUNY is showing its resilience, and I know that will continue to be the case. As we walk together, it is equally important that we demonstrate our unfailing commitment to the imperative precepts of equity, access and opportunity for all. Sincerely, Felo

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