With the change of COVID-19's status by the US Government, CUNY has changed its policies to reflect the CDC's current guidance.

For more information, visit the CDC's website "What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19" or "If You Are Sick or Caring for Someone" for the details of this guidance.

So what does this mean for us?

Students

• If you contract COVID-19, do not come to campus. Follow the CDC guidelines regarding "If You Are Sick or Caring for Someone."
• Notify your instructors and see if they can work with you on any missed assignments.
• Once you test negative, you may return to class.
• For various types of tests, visit the "COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know" section and scroll down to "Types of Tests."
• If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19, follow the CDC guidelines on "What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19."
• In general, if you know you were exposed through close contact and are not experiencing symptoms, you may come to class, but please wear a well-fitted mask. Wear a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed (CONTINUE PRECAUTIONS 10 Full Days). Start counting from Day 1 (Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure [Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19]).
• If you live with a person who has COVID-19 and are unable to avoid frequent close contact, wear a mask and stay home until the sick person is well and you are showing no symptoms.
• Notify your instructor.

Faculty

• If you contract COVID-19, do not come to campus. Follow the CDC guidelines regarding "If You Are Sick or Caring for Someone."
• Notify your chairperson or dean.
• Stay home until you test negative or receive medical clearance from your doctor.
• For various types of tests, visit the "COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know" section and scroll down to "Types of Tests."
• If you are well enough to teach and your class can be moved online while sick, consider doing that. If you are too sick to teach, inform your chairperson and record your leave in accordance with HR policies. Additionally, you may qualify for the NYS COVID Leave Benefit.
• Let your students know of the changes to the class (or, if needed, ask your chairperson to do so).
• If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19, follow the CDC guidelines on "What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19."
• In general, if you know you were exposed through close contact and are not experiencing symptoms, you may come to class, but please wear a well-fitted mask. Wear a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed (CONTINUE PRECAUTIONS 10 Full Days). Start counting from Day 1 (Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure [Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19]).
• If you live with a person who has COVID-19 and are unable to avoid frequent close contact, wear a mask. It is recommended that you stay home until the sick person is well and you are showing no symptoms.
• There is no requirement to inform your class if someone in the class contacts you and informs you they attended class and are now testing positive. If you want to inform the class, please make sure you do not mention the student's name.

Staff

• If you contract COVID-19, do not come to campus. Follow the CDC guidelines regarding "If You Are Sick or Caring for Someone."
• Contact your supervisor; stay home until you test negative or receive medical clearance from your doctor.
• For various types of tests, visit the "COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know" section and scroll down to "Types of Tests."
• If you are well enough to work from home and your job allows working remotely, work with your supervisor. If you are too sick or cannot do your job from home, report your leave in accordance with HR policies. Additionally, you may qualify for NY COVID Leave Benefit.
• If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19, follow the CDC guidelines on "What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19."
• In general, if you know you were exposed through close contact and are not experiencing symptoms, you may come to class, but please wear a well-fitted mask. Wear a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed (CONTINUE PRECAUTIONS 10 Full Days). Start counting from Day 1 (Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure [Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19]).
• If you live with a person who has COVID-19 and are unable to avoid frequent close contact, wear a mask. It is recommended that you stay home until the sick person is well and showing no symptoms.
• Notify your supervisor.

Dear Campus Community,

Starting on May 24^th, 2023, we will no longer use the Cleared4 pass to gain entrance to our buildings. On that date and going forward, you will only need your College ID to enter. Please note that your Cleared4 will no longer work starting on the 24^th. There is no reason to contact us as this is what you should expect.  If you have the link saved to your phone, it will be safe to remove it on the morning of May 24^th.

Sincerely,
Ken Ihrer

Ken Ihrer
Vice President of Information Technology
Chief Information Officer
The City College of New York
160 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031

 

** You will find a corresponding/additional memo from CUNY regarding "Turning the Corner of COVID-19" (April 17, 2023), HERE.

Dear CUNY community,

I hope you had a restful spring recess. I'm happy to welcome you back with news of a major milestone in CUNY's three-year battle against COVID-19. In the wake of significant improvements in New York City and State and across the nation, we are ending the emergency vaccination mandate for students, faculty and staff. The change will be effective on the last day of the Spring semester and will allow students to enroll in classes, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status, starting with Summer sessions.

Our decision to lift the vaccine mandate is consistent with the federal government's plan to end the national Public Health Emergency next month. It comes after close consultation with State and City health officials, and amid increased rates of vaccination and sustained low COVID-19 levels on CUNY campuses and throughout the city. Our testing program reports a positivity rate of 0.8% for the week ending April 9, mirroring the city and state's declining rates of infection. 

To be sure, it's important to recognize that the pandemic is not over; we continue to encourage and urge all students, faculty and staff to stay up to date with vaccinations. We will also continue to consult with public health experts, closely monitor data and adhere to pertinent federal, state and city guidance should policies need to be modified moving forward.

The mandate will end on May 23 for the 22 CUNY colleges whose spring semesters end that day, and for all Central Office employees. For Kingsborough, LaGuardia and Guttman community colleges, whose semesters operate on a different calendar, the mandate will end on June 16, the last day of their current term.

By the end of June, we will also be ending our COVID-19 testing program, closing our campus and Central Office test sites and eliminating the use of the Cleared4 health verification platform, allowing colleges to go back to their standard processes for granting campus access. 

Gratitude 

I want to thank all members of the CUNY community for their cooperation and compliance with the vaccination mandate since it went into effect in Fall 2021. We can all take pride that we are able to reach this milestone in great part because of our high levels of vaccination.  

I also thank the many members of our community who have made important contributions to our University's response to the pandemic throughout these challenging years. I want to especially recognize the leadership of our School of Public Health and Health Policy; the Campus Coronavirus Liaisons and Campus Location Vaccine Authority (LVAs) who ensured that state and local health guidance as well as CUNY policy were followed throughout the university; the Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management, which oversaw operations for our testing sites, and our essential staff – public safety officers, custodians, facilities staff and others – who worked in person through it all to manage access to our facilities and keep us safe. 

From the initial onset of COVID-19, in March 2020, our University community has risen to overcome unprecedented challenges to every aspect of life during the pandemic in work, school and our homes. When the vaccines became available in December 2020, it was a two-time CUNY alumnus who made history as the first in the country to get the shot. In March 2021, we launched the #VaxUpCUNY campaign and worked with our government partners to host vaccination sites that put over half a million shots in New Yorkers' arms. Faculty, meanwhile, conducted COVID-focused research and developed COVID-related courses. Nursing and med students joined the frontlines, and students rallied to help despite personal losses. Our community suffered devastating losses of life during the pandemic and we were the first university to launch an In Memoriam webpage to honor them. 

These indelible images and memories remain fresh enough for us to take stock of the great distance we've covered, working together to keep CUNY moving forward. We are hopeful that the positive trends will continue and that we are moving steadily toward a time when COVID-19 is no longer a serious health concern for anyone. We continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our community.  

Thank you again for doing your part to help CUNY persevere through the pandemic. Please stay healthy and have a successful last month of the academic year.

Sincerely,

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Ph.D.
Chancellor

Dear CCNY Community,

Each semester we receive guidance from CUNY on changes to the COVID-19 Safety Plan.  For Spring '23, there is only one area of change to our plan. 

Starting February 1st, 2023, visitors to CUNY campuses, including CCNY, are no longer required to show proof of vaccination, register with Cleared4 or show a negative COVID-19 test result.  Visitors may enter our campus by showing an official Identification Card and signing in with the security guard at the entrances to our buildings.  Our plan on the website has been updated to reflect this change and can be found at The City College of New York COVID-19 Safety Plan for Spring '23 | The City College of New York (cuny.edu) and at the specific link regarding visitors, located at Guest Access Rules and FAQ's | The City College of New York (cuny.edu)

Faculty, Staff and Students are still required to use Cleared4 and follow vaccination and testing procedures as described in our safety plan.

Ken Ihrer
Vice President of Operations
Chief Information Officer
The City College of New York
160 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031

Dear CUNY Community,

In light of the current resurgence of COVID-19 in New York City, I’m writing to remind you of steps we can all take to safeguard our health and that of our community, families and friends. 

The New York City Health Department has reported that COVID-19 rates have risen significantly in New York City since Thanksgiving, in conjunction with the increased spread of the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). As a result, the agency’s strong recommendation is to wear masks at all times indoors and in crowded outdoor settings, even if you are fully vaccinated. I share this information with the CUNY community so you have the latest guidance to make an informed choice about wearing masks in our buildings.

All five boroughs of the city are at high community transmission levels for COVID under CDC guidelines, and hospitalizations in the city have doubled since September according to state data. As we have known since the first year of the pandemic, masks are a highly effective weapon in stopping the spread of COVID and can be critical to preventing serious, debilitating and potentially life-threatening illness. 

Although the city’s advisory is not a mandate, I urge all members of our community to follow the guidelines and mask up as much as possible. And I remind you to make sure you are up to date on your vaccines and boosters and encourage you to get the annual flu vaccine. The state Department of Health released data last week that showed a 64% week-over-week jump in flu cases across the state. 

As we approach the end of the fall semester, I wish our students the best on their final exams and a healthy, happy holiday season to all.

Sincerely,

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Ph.D.
Chancellor

As specified by the Chancellor in his August 11, 2022 memo, “70% In-person Work”, CUNY will continue to require employees to work a minimum of 70% of their work schedule in-person.  The 70% in-person work requirement is only extended until December 31, 2022.

Similar to the guidance provided for the Spring 2022 semester, employees will be expected to work on campus 7 out of 10 days during a two-week work cycle.  For example, employees can be required to work in-person 4 days and 1 day remote in one week and in the following week 3 days in-person and 2 days remote.

As a reminder managers/department heads have the discretion, based on business needs, to require their employees to report to work in person at a higher rate than the minimum of 70% set
by the University

Supervisors and employees should continue to document hybrid work arrangements utilizing CUNY’s remote work form.  CUNY extended the use of the current remote work form until December 31, 2022.  More information about hybrid work can be found at CUNY Flexible Work Guidelines.

Employees can still request reasonable accommodations and, as feasible, general accommodation requests will be considered.

Also, with the advent of the Fall 2022 semester, please be reminded about the protocols related to the following:

• Quarantine
• Campus Access
• COVID PCR Testing at CUNY Sites
• Random COVID Testing
• Weekly COVID Testing
• COVID Vaccinations

Quarantine

An employee, visitor, etc., who had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID but is up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and booster (if eligible) or an employee, etc. who tested positive for COVID-19 within an applicable 90-day period does not need to quarantine provided that they are not exhibiting COVID/Flu like symptoms.  However, these employees, etc. will be required to wear a mask for 10 days after the date of their last close contact and get COVID tested at least 5 days after the date of their last close contact.

An employee, visitor, etc. who tests positive for COVID must quarantine from the campus and all CUNY sites for at least five (5) days.  On day six (6), the employee, etc. should take a COVID Antigen test.  If the COVID Antigen test is negative and the employee is not experiencing fever and/or other serious symptoms, then they may be cleared for campus access.  Seriously ill employees may be required to quarantine for at least 10 days and obtain medical clearance before campus access is granted.

Campus Access

Employees and visitors to the campus are required to utilize the Cleared4 CUNY Access Pass to gain entry to College Facilities.

All employees must be registered with CUNY’s Cleared4 system.  Once registered, employees can access or print their CUNY Access Pass by entering their personalized link into any web browser and selecting “Show Access Pass”.  Employees can also display their CUNY Access Pass on their mobile phone or other smart device.

Employees who require assistance with registering for the Cleared4 CUNY Access Pass are asked to email their inquiries to  covidtesting@ccny.cuny.edu .

COVID PCR Testing at CUNY Sites

Free COVID PCR testing is still available to employees at any of CUNY’s testing centers.  For your convenience, the location and hours of the City College test site are provided below:

City College’s COVID-19 testing site is in the Faculty Dining Room located in the North Academic Center (NAC) Building.  The entrance is on 138th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.

The current hours of operation for CCNY’s testing site are as follows:

• Monday                 2pm-5pm
• Tuesday                2pm-5pm
• Wednesday           9am-12pm
• Thursday               9am-12pm
• Friday                    Closed
• Saturday                Closed

Random COVID Testing

The random COVID testing program (see here)  will continue and all employees are required to participate.  If you are selected for a random COVID testing, you will receive an email from no-reply@cleared4work.com with instructions on how to proceed.  Random testing applies to all employees – vaccinated or unvaccinated.

Weekly COVID Testing

Employees who have not submitted proof of vaccination in CUNYfirst are required to participate in CUNY’s Weekly COVID Testing Program at one of CUNY’s designated testing sites.

Employees subject to weekly testing are required to register with CUNY’s testing vendor, ADCL (Applied DNA Clinical Labs);

Employees who have questions or need help registering for weekly testing are advised to contact ADCL’s support desk- https://adclops.freshdesk.com/support/home or send an email to  covidtesting@ccny.cuny.edu .

Test results from CUNY’s testing sites are sent directly to the employee’s email address within 24 hours to 48 hours.

Test results will not be accepted from a non-CUNY testing site.

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 will be subject to the College’s contact tracing protocol.

COVID Vaccinations

Effective April 1, 2022, all full and part-time faculty, non-teaching instructional staff (which includes, among others, Non-Teaching Adjuncts, College Lab Technicians and those in the HEO series) and ECPs are required to be fully vaccinated.  Employees in these titles are required to have their proof of vaccination uploaded into CUNYfirst.

Exceptions to the vaccination mandate have only been made for employees who have a vaccination exemption or are employed in a title in which there is no current vaccination mandate.  In any of these cases, the non-vaccinated employee is required to participate in CUNY’s Weekly Testing Program.

Should you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at  humanresources@ccny.cuny.edu .

Dear CUNY Community:

In light of Governor Hochul’s declaration last week of a State of Disaster Emergency in response to the current outbreak of monkeypox, I want you to know that CUNY is closely monitoring the status of the virus in New York and working with state and city health officials to keep our community informed and protected. 

Monkeypox is a viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms and rashes. It can vary in severity but, thankfully, it is only rarely life-threatening. The virus spreads mainly through close, physical contact with someone who is infected. Data from the current outbreak thus far indicate that certain populations are being affected more than others, including men who have sex with men. But anyone can get it. The United States now has the largest number of monkeypox cases among countries where the virus is not endemic. Governor Hochul noted that New York State accounts for more than one in four cases in the U.S. Mayor Adams said that New York City is the epicenter and on Monday he declared a local state of emergency. As of Wednesday, there have been 1,558 confirmed cases in the city, accounting for 93 percent of the cases in the state. 

How to Protect Yourself

The NYS Department of Health advises that New Yorkers can protect themselves by taking simple steps, which are especially important for those who may be at higher risk for severe disease, including people with weakened immune systems. These include asking sexual partners whether they have a rash or other symptoms consistent with monkeypox and avoiding skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a rash or other monkeypox-related symptoms.

Health officials advise that anyone who believes they have been exposed or experiences the rashes or lesions characteristic of monkeypox should contact their health care provider for an assessment and possible treatment with an antiviral medication. There are also vaccines that can help reduce the chance and severity of infection for people who have recently been exposed to the virus or those in high-risk groups. You can find information about who is currently eligible for vaccines and how to schedule one by visiting here. CUNY Campus Health Services can also assess for symptoms of monkeypox, answer questions and make referrals to outside medical services.

The spread of monkeypox, like that of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, has been accompanied by misinformation, some of which stigmatizes members of particular demographic groups. As has been the case through the more than two years of the coronavirus pandemic, CUNY is committed to providing its students, faculty and staff with the reliable information and sound, up-to-date guidance they need to protect themselves and their families and prevent monkeypox from spreading on our campuses. In addition, Governor Hochul’s executive order outlines the state’s response to the outbreak. I urge you to learn about monkeypox, how to avoid infection and what to do if you get it by visiting the links below.

• NYS Department of Health
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• World Health Organization

We are living in a time of continuing and unpredictable threats to public health that require prudent and informed responses. CUNY will always make the health and safety of its students, faculty and staff our top priority. As with the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to work with government health agencies and our own public health experts to provide our community with the soundest guidance possible.

Sincerely,

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Ph.D.
Chancellor

Dear CUNY Community, 

As you are probably aware, New York City’s Covid-19 level is currently high according to the NYC Department of Health’s Alert Level system and the CDC’s Community Level tracking.

Health officials recommend we wear a mask in indoor public settings and people over 65 and those at high risk of severe illness should also wear a mask in crowded outdoor spaces.

As the semester comes to a close and many of you prepare to attend commencements with your loved ones and friends, we urge you to wear a mask in public indoor spaces – for your safety and that of those around you.

A reminder that the best way to avoid serious illness from COVID-19 is to stay up to date with the vaccines and boosters. If you have symptoms or were exposed, get tested to ensure you're not spreading the virus. And if you test positive, talk to your doctor about treatment. You can find additional CUNY guidance here.

Wishing you a strong finish to the semester, good luck with final exams, and spirited congratulations to the tens of thousands of students who are graduating in the coming weeks. 

Best,  

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Ph.D. 
Chancellor

All CCNY/CUNY campus visitors, whether accessing indoor or outdoor spaces, must provide proof of vaccination or proof of negative COVID-19 PCR test performed by an accredited lab no more than 7 days prior to the visit.  Vaccination proof may be shown through a CDC or an international equivalent vaccination card, the New York Excelsior Pass, NYC COVID Safe or CUNY Cleared-4.  Access through a negative test result requires the test result email or printout from the licensed test provider or through NYC COVID Safe.

Outdoor Commencement Ceremonies

Unvaccinated individuals are required to wear a mask and vaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear masks.

Indoor Commencement Ceremonies

All attendees are required to wear a mask.

All graduating students participating in any commencement ceremonies must present a valid cleared4 pass and must be fully vaccinated or provide proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AT THIS IMPORTANT TIME – PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE FFOR THE LATEST INFORMATION IN THE EVENT THAT CONDITIONS OR POLICIES CHANGE

Ken Ihrer
Vice President of Operations
Chief Information Officer
The City College of New York
160 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031

Dear CCNY Community,

I wanted to let you know about the updated schedule during Spring Break, as it relates to the safeCircle Covid-19 Testing Center at City College. The Testing Center will be closed from Friday, April 15 - 18 and will open back up on Tuesday, April 19 for the duration of Spring Break. If you are working during Spring Break and require testing to be on campus, please make sure you take into account the shortened testing schedule. 

Sincerely,

Ken Ihrer
Vice President of Operations
Chief Information Officer
The City College of New York
160 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031

Dear Colleagues,

I write to inform you that the Notification of Intent/Petition to Travel form for domestic travel is no longer required by CUNY.  International travel petitions remain in place; a streamlined Petition to Travel form for international travel has recently been updated (v. 3/14/22).

For international travel, a completed and signed Petition to Travel form, a screenshot of vaccination in CUNYfirst (or RF portal), and a Release form are required and should be sent to Teresa Scala at  tscala@ccny.cuny.edu  for processing. (Unvaccinated travelers’ petitions will be forwarded to CUNY.)

Updated travel information can be found on the CUNY website for Travel During the Pandemic.

A detailed memo from the Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost Daniel Lemons outlines the essentials of the changes and current policy and I attach it below.

From IEVC Daniel Lemons dated March 24, 2022:

1. Petition to Travel (individual)
   1. The Petition to Travel (formerly Notification of Intent/Petition to Travel) has been streamlined (with Parts A and B consolidated), and all petitioners complete the full form.
   2. All domestic travel is now permitted without a Petition to Travel.  This does not impact other requirements for domestic travel, especially those in the Domestic Travel Guidelines.
   3. Undergraduate students are no longer confined to a limited list of reasons they may petition to travel and are now eligible to petition to any country with a Department of State travel advisory and a CDC COVID-19 traveler’s health notice (THN) of 3 or below.  Graduate students and employees remain eligible to petition to travel to all destinations, regardless of these levels.
   4. Campuses remain responsible for the full process of most petitions; however, employee petitions that are not accompanied by a screenshot documenting at least the full primary series of COVID-19 vaccinations, and student petition that do not include a screenshot documenting that they are or will be up-to-date with the COVID-19 vaccination series must be forwarded to the University Travel Policy Committee (UTPC) for review. (When in doubt regarding the timing of vaccinations and travel, the campus LVA or UTPC can advise).
   5. Petitions with a Department of State travel advisory of 3 or above should receive enhanced review, with particular attention when the advisory features one or more risk indicators other than H (health).  This is in keeping with CUNY’s International Travel Guidelines’ emphasis on a broad range of risk factors.
   6. These updates to individual travel policy are being introduced at the same time as updates to CUNY’s standards for relaunch of colleges’ study abroad programs.  Applicants to CUNY-sponsored study abroad programs (that have been duly relaunched) will be screened for eligibility by the program’s campus sponsor (no Petition to Travel required). As before, students interested in non-CUNY study abroad programs should continue to go through the (individual) Petition to Travel process. The campus study abroad office should be cc’d on all petition decisions (positive and negative) concerning undergraduates, to ensure that these students receive advising on next steps.
2. Updates to the CUNY study abroad program relaunch process
   In order to support a responsible restoration of study abroad programming at CUNY that accounts for this mature phase of the pandemic as well as other risks that have been overshadowed by an emphasis on COVID-19, the following principles will guide the restoration of CUNY study abroad programming:
   1. Study abroad programs in a host country with a Department of State travel advisory of level 1, 2 or 3, and that meet all other criteria outlined in CUNY’s International Travel Guidelines including CDC Traveler Health Notices (THNs), are eligible to petition to relaunch.  All petitions must be reviewed by the University Study Abroad Restoration Committee (USARAC); petitions in host countries with level 3 Department of State and/or CDC travel warnings will receive enhanced review, with comprehensive attention to various types of risk.  Final decisions will be made by the campus REO after USARAC has issued a recommendation.  
   2.  Students and any accompanying faculty and staff must be documented in CUNYFirst as up to date with the COVID-19 vaccination series, including a booster once eligible, to participate in a CUNY-sponsored program. Vaccination waivers for participation in campus activities do not apply to participation in CUNY study abroad programs.
   3. In light of these rigorous vaccination requirements and that all participants must have a negative test before returning to the U.S., dormitory support for returning students who test positive will no longer be a requirement for relaunch planning.
   4.  Study abroad program sponsors may share financial risk with students, provided that they clearly explain in writing which risks students incur, and which are assumed by the sponsor, before students make financial or other commitments to the program.  Institutional responsibility is held by the college program sponsor, not by the University or the home college.
   5.  Conditions in countries where study abroad programs have been approved to relaunch must be closely monitored prior to departure and throughout the program; however, shifts in the Department of State and/or CDC risk assessments are not an automatic reason to cancel or interrupt a program. These decisions must be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with USARAC. 

   Once a program is successfully relaunched, it does not need to go through further review at Central unless it meets the International Travel Guidelines’ criteria for a travel warning petition during the planning phase of a subsequent program cycle. This may be the case if a program approved at level 3 remains at that level, but a successful track record of running the program under such conditions will be an important consideration. Programs in host countries where either risk assessment goes to level 4 may not resume until conditions improve. 

   The petition form (attached) has been updated to reflect these changes; please see section V in particular, which reflects (d) above.  Any program approved under the previous standards will be granddaughtered into the new standards (no penalty for early submission). 

Dear CUNY employee,

I am writing with an update on the deadline for the faculty vaccination mandate, which I announced last month. 

CUNY and the Professional Staff Congress/CUNY (PSC) have agreed to revise the date by which all full- and part-time faculty and non-teaching instructional staff (which includes among others NTAs, CLTs  and those in the HEO-title series) will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to upload proof of vaccination into CUNYFirst. 

The deadline has been changed from April 1 to May 27, 2022. The May 27 date applies to ECPs, as well.

We are defining the required number of dosages for full vaccination as both doses in a two-shot series (such as Moderna or Pfizer), or the one dose in a single-shot vaccine (such as Johnson & Johnson), without boosters.

We continue to engage the PSC regarding the implementation details, and expect to provide information regarding guidelines for religious and medical exemptions in the near future.

If you haven’t gotten the vaccine, I encourage you to do so. It is the single most effective action we can take, individually and collectively, to ensure the safety of our community.

Sincerely,

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Ph.D.
Chancellor

This memo briefly reviews some of the important University protocols related to:

1. Mask Mandate Lifted
2. Campus Access
3. CUNY Expanding Availability of COVID Testing at CUNY Sites
4. COVID Testing – Random
5. COVID Testing – Weekly
6. COVID Vaccinations

Mask Mandate Lifted

As specified by Chancellor Matos in his March 4, 2022 communication to the University community, effective March 7, 2022, CUNY has lifted the mask mandate that required all University employees, contractors and visitors to wear masks when inside office buildings, including non-enclosed spaces (i.e., cubicle or other open seating) regardless of physical distance from others.

However, the College's quarantine guidance related to wearing masks will remain unchanged in the following situation:

Employees, visitors, etc., who had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID and are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and booster (if eligible) or if the employee, etc. had confirmed COVID-19 (tested positive) within the last 90 days, then they do not need to quarantine and can return to work provided that they are not exhibiting COVID/Flu like symptoms.  However, these employees, etc. will be required to wear a mask for 10 days after the date of their last close contact and then get tested at least 5 days after the date of close contact.

Campus Access

As of December 6, 2021, the College has discontinued the use of the V-22 identification sticker and the Excelsior Pass for campus access.  At this time, employees and visitors to the campus are required to utilize the Cleared4 CUNY Access Pass to gain entry to College Facilities.

Employees who have not yet completed their registration with the Cleared4 system should do so now.  Once registered for the Cleared4 system, employees can access or print their CUNY Access Pass by entering their personalized link into any web browser and selecting "Show Access Pass".  Employees can also display their CUNY Access Pass on their mobile phone or other smart device.

Employees who require assistance with registering for the Cleared4 CUNY Access Pass are asked to email their inquiries to  covidtesting@ccny.cuny.edu .  Please also see the December 2, 2021, communications from the College's Vice President of Operations on campus access with Cleared4.

CUNY Expanding Availability of Testing at CUNY Sites

Effective December 28, 2021, any CUNY employee who needs to be tested for any reason can  walk into a CUNY approved testing site, show their CUNY ID, register in the Cleared4 system and get tested. Results will be available as usual within 24 to 48 hours. For additional information, please read the Chancellor's communication dated December 21, 2021.

Random COVID-19 Testing for Vaccinated Employees

Effective November 17, 2021, CUNY implemented a random testing program for vaccinated employees. Fully vaccinated employees with approved vaccination information in CUNYfirst will be randomly selected to participate in the COVID-19 testing program. The following is a brief overview of the program:

1.  Random testing is not optional and is necessary in order to obtain campus-wide results each week and thus help keep everyone safe.
2. Each week, selected individuals will receive an email from  no-reply@cleared4.org  with subject line "Message from City University of New York (CUNY)".
3. The email from  no-reply@cleared4.org  includes instructions for employees to complete their registration via a personalized link.
4. The selected employees will have to test at a CUNY test site within 7 days of receipt of the email
5. If the COVID-19 test result comes back positive, the employee's Access Pass will be disabled and the employee will be contacted by a Coronavirus Task Force Liaison for guidance.
6. Test results will not be accepted from a Non-CUNY testing site.
7. No appointment is necessary, however, if an employee plans to get tested during their work week, then they are expected to inform their supervisor and arrange to get time off for testing.
8. Test results will be available within 48 hours and employees will maintain their Access Pass to CUNY facilities while the results are pending.
9. If an employee does not show up to be tested within the required 7-day period, they will be contacted by a campus or program representative on next steps. 
10. Employees who schedule a testing appointment at a CUNY testing site during their scheduled work week will be given 30 minutes of paid time if the testing site is on their campus or office location, and 45 minutes if they need to travel to another CUNY location.
11. Employees should record the time taken to test on their timesheet as "Leave Type" COVID-19 Priority Testing (CPT).
12. If you do not receive your test results within 24 hours (if taken on a weekday) or within 48 hours (if taken on a weekend), please contact the vendor's helpdesk: https://adclops.freshdesk.com/support/home
    
    Please note: When taking the COVID-19 test at a CUNY site, it is recommended that you make note or take a picture of the number on your sample kit; this makes it easier when following up with the help desk.
13. A list of CUNY approved testing sites is available here.  For your convenience, the location and hours of the City College test site is provided below:

City College's COVID-19 testing site is in the Faculty Dining Room located in North Academic Center (NAC) Building.  The entrance is on 138th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.

The hours of operation for CCNY's testing site are as follows:

• Monday 2pm-5pm
• Tuesday 2pm-5pm
• Wednesday 9am-12pm
• Thursday 9am-12pm
• Closed on Fridays during the summer

For additional information and/or questions about COVID-19 random testing program, visit this FAQ or www.adnas.com/CUNYhelp or  humanresources@ccny.cuny.edu .

COVID-19 – Weekly Testing Pool

Employees who have not submitted proof of vaccination in CUNYfirst are required to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing at one of CUNY's designated testing sites.

The following is a brief review of some of the main points related to weekly testing:

1. To participate in weekly testing, employees are required to register with CUNY's testing vendor, ADCL (Applied DNA Clinical Labs);
2. Employees who are required to participate in weekly testing were sent an email (to their College Email address) with a personalized link from  no-reply@cleared4work.com .  Employees subject to weekly testing and who have not accessed their personalized link should do so now and follow the instructions provided to complete their registration.
3. Employees who have questions or need help registering for weekly testing are advised to contact ADCL's support desk- https://adclops.freshdesk.com/support/home.  You may also send an email to  covidtesting@ccny.cuny.edu .
4. Test results from CUNY's testing sites are sent directly to the employee's email address within 24 hours to 48 hours. If you do not receive your test results within 24 hours (if taken on a weekday) or within 48 hours (if taken on a weekend), please contact the vendor's helpdesk: https://adclops.freshdesk.com/support/home
5. Test results will not be accepted from a non-CUNY testing site.  For your convenience, the list of CUNY approved testing sites is again provided here.
6. Employees who test positive for COVID-19 will be subject to the College's contact tracing protocol.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

All employees entering the City College campus (or any other CUNY site) are required to do one of the following in order to enter the campus:

(1) show proof of full vaccination (defined as 14 days after receiving the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine) or  (2) show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than seven days prior to the date the employee wishes to enter the campus.  Employees without approved COVID vaccination information in CUNYfirst are placed in CUNY's weekly testing pool  (See above  section on COVID-19 – WEEKLY TESTING POOL for information about COVID-19 testing.)

Employees are expected to upload their vaccination documentation into CUNYfirst.  The specific steps required to complete this process are provided in the link below: https://cunyithelp.cuny.edu/sp?id=kb_article_view&sys_kb_id=9b2f65cb1b75b85014a8c99f1d4bcb9c

Employees receive paid time-off to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine or the COVID booster vaccine, if the appointment is scheduled during their work week.  Employees will be granted up to four (4) hours of excused leave per vaccine dose for a total of eight (8) hours for a two (2) dose vaccination.

Employees are expected to notify and obtain prior approval from their supervisor for paid time-off to obtain COVID-19 vaccine, if their appointment is scheduled during the employee's work week.

Employees should record time taken to get vaccinated on their timesheet as "Leave Type" CVL-COVID-19 Vaccination Leave.

Individuals can find a vaccination location near them by following the link below:

https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/

At this time, employees who are approved to work fully remote are not required to submit to the weekly testing (or show proof of vaccination).

Effective April 1, 2022, all full- and part-time faculty, non-teaching instructional staff (which includes, among others, Non-Teaching Adjuncts, College Lab Technicians and those in the HEO series) and ECPs are required to be fully vaccinated and these titles are required to have their proof of vaccination uploaded into CUNYfirst by April 1, 2022.  Requests for medical exemptions or religious exceptions will be considered and the employee process for submitting such requests will be communicated in the near future.

Should you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at  humanresources@ccny.cuny.edu .

Thank you.

Dear CUNY Community, 

In response to revised guidance issued by the CDC last week, we are lifting the temporary mask mandate that has been in place since August 2021 and required all CUNY students, faculty, staff, and visitors to wear masks inside University campuses, office buildings, classrooms, and other non-enclosed spaces. This policy change, which takes effect on Monday, March 7, follows recent announcements by Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams that ended mask mandates for pre-K through 12th-grade schools across New York State and City. 

Anyone who would like to continue wearing masks in any setting is welcome to do so at any time. Masks will continue to be available on campus and in offices for people who want them. The CDC is not requiring people to wear a mask in communities that have low or medium COVID-19 levels like New York City's boroughs, but I urge the small number of faculty, staff, and students who are still not vaccinated, or those who have been or will be granted a medical exemption or religious exception, to wear a mask.

We are very hopeful for the coming weeks and months, but as we all know by now, the pandemic has taught us that public health conditions can change rapidly. CUNY will continue to monitor CDC guidelines and consult with our State and City health officials and should the evolving circumstances require a reconsideration of this or any policy, we will make the necessary changes to keep the CUNY community safe. I ask you to remain vigilant to ensure the safety of our campus communities. You can check our campus-by-campus positivity rates on our COVID-19 Safety Tracker, which has been posted on our website since September 2021. 

Masks After an Exposure

The University's quarantine guidance will remain unchanged. A reminder that if you are fully vaccinated and have received a booster shot, or if you tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, and you come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 you do not need to quarantine and can return to work or class. But you need to wear a mask for 10 days from the date of your last close contact and get tested at least 5 days after the close contact. 

Vaccines and Boosters

The suspension of mandatory masking does not affect the student booster requirement for those enrolled in hybrid or fully in-person courses. Students must upload proof of their booster within 30 days of the date they first become eligible to receive the booster. A reminder that all full- and part-time faculty, non-teaching instructional staff, and ECPs are required to be fully vaccinated and their proof of vaccination uploaded into CUNYfirst by April 1. Requests for medical exemptions or religious exceptions will be considered and the employee process for submitting such requests will be communicated in the near future.

Testing and Random Testing

To monitor COVID-19 moving forward, CUNY's mandatory testing for anyone with medical exemptions or religious exceptions and the random testing program for vaccinated individuals will continue to operate without change. Free PCR testing continues to be available for students, faculty, and staff at CUNY testing sites and I encourage you to take advantage of this service for any reason you might need it.

Ventilation

The upgrade and maintenance of our campus ventilation systems have been a priority since the early stages of the pandemic. In the last two years, we have injected $150 million in capital funds into our HVAC systems, and we requested additional capital dollars in our current budget request to continue these upgrades.

Since the peak of the omicron surge, the rate of positivity detected on our campuses has drastically and steadily declined. I want to thank each of you for the diligence, cooperation, and care that have been so very critical to CUNY's safe progression through the stages of the pandemic. We've arrived at this point because of the effort that we all have put forth to protect one another as we looked out for ourselves and our loved ones.

Sincerely,

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Ph.D.
Chancellor

CUNY Quarantine guidelines following exposure to COVID-19. When to stay home. If you were exposed, quarantine and stay away from others when you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
Calculating Quarantine: The date of your exposure is considered day 0. Day 1 is the first full day after your last contact with a person who has had COVID-19. Stay home and away from other people for at least 5 days.
For those who have: Completed the primary series of Pfizer vaccine over 5 months ago or Moderna vaccine over 5months ago and are not boosted, O Completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted, OR Are unvaccinated	Stay home and quarantine for at least 5 days. Wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others in your home. Get tested. Even if you don’t develop symptoms, get tested on day 6 after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19 If you have symptoms, you cannot get tested until symptoms are resolved. You must share test with CUNY campus to gain access to campus	After quarantine Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. If you develop symptoms isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results Wear a well-fitted mask around others.	Take precautions until day 10 Watch for symptoms for 10 days Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask. Avoid travel Avoid being around people who are at high risk.
For those who have: Have received a booster, OR Completed the primary series of Pfizer vaccine within the last 5 months or Moderna vaccine within the last 5 months, OR Completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months, OR	No quarantine You do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms. Get tested (even if you don’t develop symptoms) get tested on day 6 after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.	Watch for symptoms Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19 If you develop symptoms isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results Wear a well-fitted mask around others.
For those who have: Been exposed to COVID-19 and had confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days (you tested positive using a viral test)	No quarantine You do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms.	Watch for symptoms Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19 If you develop symptoms isolate immediately and get tested. Stay home until you know the results and wear a well-fitted mask around others. Consult your doctor.

 

CUNY Isolation guidelines if you are sick or test positive. When to stay home. Isolate when you are sick or when you have COVID-19, even if you don’t have symptoms
Calculating Isolation: Day 0 is your first day of symptoms or a positive viral test. Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms developed or your test specimen was collected. If you have COVID-19 or have symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days.
If you tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status	Stay home for at least 5 days Stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. On day 6, get a PCR or Antigen test (we strongly recommend an Antigen test, if available). Wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others in your home.	Ending isolation and returning to CUNY if you had symptoms End isolation after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving. On day 6, get a PCR or Antigen test (we strongly recommend an Antigen test, if available). You must share test with CUNY to gain access to campus Ending isolation if you did NOT have symptoms End isolation after at least 5 full days after your positive test On day 6, get a PCR or Antigen test ((we strongly recommend an Antigen test, if available) You must share test with CUNY to gain access to campus If you were severely ill with COVID-19 Isolate for at least 10 days. Consult with a doctor before ending isolation.	Take precautions until day 10 Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask. Avoid travel Avoid being around people who are at high risk.

 

Dear CUNY employee,

The below clarifies an email you received yesterday that had incorrect information. We thank Professional Staff Congress President James Davis for bringing the matter to our attention.

As I recently shared, the CUNY Board of Trustees voted on January 31 to authorize a vaccine mandate for faculty, non-teaching instructional staff and employees in the Executive Compensation Plan in compliance with a public policy directive issued by Governor Hochul. 

To comply with the Board’s mandate, all full- and part-time faculty, non-teaching instructional staff (which includes, among others, NTAs, CLTs and those in the HEO series) and ECPs are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to upload proof of vaccination into CUNYFirst by no later than April 1, 2022. At this time, we are defining the required number of dosages for full vaccination as the two shots of Moderna or Pfizer, or the single shot of Johnson & Johnson, without boosters.

In addition, as part of its resolution, the Board authorized the Chancellor to engage with the PSC on the implementation of the vaccine mandate for faculty and non-teaching instructional staff. We have begun those negotiations and will provide additional information, including with regards to requesting medical and religious exemptions, as we move forward.

The COVID-19 vaccines are the most reliable weapon we have to overcome this pandemic. If you’ve already taken the life-saving step of becoming fully vaccinated, please upload your proof via CUNYfirst.

Sincerely,

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Ph.D.
Chancellor

Dear CUNY employee,

As I recently shared, the CUNY Board of Trustees voted on January 31 to authorize a vaccine mandate for faculty, non-teaching instructional staff and employees in the Executive Compensation Plan in compliance with a public policy directive issued by Governor Hochul.

To comply with the Board’s mandate, all non-teaching instructional staff (which includes, among others, NTAs, CLTs and those in the HEO series) and ECPs are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to upload proof of vaccination into CUNYFirst by no later than April 1, 2022. At this time, we are defining the required number of dosages for full vaccination as the two shots of Moderna or Pfizer, or the single shot of Johnson & Johnson, without boosters.

In addition, as part of its resolution, the Board authorized the Chancellor to engage with the Professional Staff Congress in order to implement the vaccine mandate for full- and part-time faculty. We have begun those negotiations and will provide additional information, including details on requesting medical and religious exemptions, as we move forward.

The COVID-19 vaccines are the most reliable weapon we have to overcome this pandemic. If you’ve already taken the life-saving step of becoming fully vaccinated, please upload your proof via CUNYfirst.

Sincerely,

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Ph.D. Chancellor

Dear CUNY student,

As we look forward to the Spring 2022 semester, which begins this Friday for most CUNY colleges, I wanted to take a moment to remind you that students enrolled in any in-person or hybrid class will be required to get the COVID-19 booster shot when they become eligible. Governor Hochul announced this policy recently knowing that the booster provides additional protection against the virus and its variants and that vaccines are the best weapon we have to contain the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard our health and that of our community.

Here’s how the booster mandate will work:

If you are eligible for the booster on January 28: You must upload proof of receiving the additional shot to CUNYfirst no later than March 1. This deadline applies even if your college’s spring semester begins in March.

If you become eligible after January 28, but before the end of the semester: You will have 30 days after you become eligible to get the booster and upload proof to CUNYfirst.

You will become eligible for the booster:

• five months after the second shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine
• two months after the single Johnson & Johnson vaccine

The CDC recommends you choose the Pfizer or Moderna booster in most situations, regardless of which shot you received. Learn more about the booster shot and find a site near you here: ny.gov/booster.

Instructions on uploading your booster proof are available here. If you attended in-person or hybrid courses this past fall and already uploaded proof of your first vaccines, you will have to add the booster shot — unless you have an approved exception or exemption.

Students who miss the deadline will not be able to register for Summer 2022 or Fall 2022 classes.

Continue to stay updated on our COVID-19 guidelines by visiting our website: cuny.edu/coronavirus.

Knowing that I will be able to see so many of you in-person brings me great joy. Best of luck to you this semester!

Sincerely,

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Ph.D.
Chancellor

*Note: The mandate below is pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) full and granted approvals for any COVID-19 vaccines.  We ask that all CCNY Students continue to monitor their emails and communication platforms, like CCNY official social media channels and the CCNY website, for further updates and any adjustments to this guidance.

 

COVID Vaccine Required for In-Person Fall Classes

Dear CUNY students,

Earlier today, Governor Cuomo announced that COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for all students attending in-person classes beginning this fall. With this in mind, I continue to strongly encourage every member of our CUNY familia to get vaccinated as soon as they are able.

Seeing many of your post-vax photos under the #VaxUpCUNY hashtag has already provided an uplifting reminder of the many ways that CUNY can come together to keep ourselves, our families and our city safe.

Getting vaccinated could not be easier: All vaccination sites in New York City allow walk-ins, meaning you do not need an appointment in advance, though you can still make one if you’d prefer. You can even visit one of our campuses to get your life-saving shot. Sites are located at Medgar Evers College, York College, City College, Lehman College and Queensborough Community College. For more information about the vaccine and where to get it, visit our #VaxUpCUNY webpage.

In the days ahead, we will be issuing guidance regarding exemptions to the vaccination requirement and other related matters; meanwhile, if I were a student who has not yet been vaccinated, I would not delay getting the vaccine. I cannot say it strongly enough: This is the most important thing each of us can do to keep the coronavirus under control moving forward.

I cannot wait to see many of your faces safely and in-person this fall. Let’s #VaxUpCUNY and end this pandemic for good.

Sincerely,

Felo

For your information:

• Are you curious about what the process at a vaccine site is like? CUNY student Naomi walks us through it.
• I visited a CUNY vaccine site that has vaccinated more than 200K people.
• Watch a special message from nurse and two-time CUNY alum Sandra Lindsay, the first American to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Meet members of the CUNY familia who have taken the pledge to #VaxUpCUNY.