Spring 2021 Semester Plan
As it complies with guidance from the State University of New York and Chancellor Jim Malatras regarding mitigating the spread of COVID-19 among its students and employees, Orange County Community College (SUNY Orange) will begin its Spring 2021 semester on Monday, Jan. 25, with a week of fully remote academic instruction in all disciplines except for a small number of nursing and radiologic technology classes.
All remaining courses and lab sessions identified by the College as requiring in-person, on-campus academic instruction will commence on Monday, Feb. 1 (except for the SUNY approved nursing and radiologic technology courses noted above that will begin in-person on Jan. 25).
Only essential employees will be working on either campus prior to and shortly after the holiday break. Additional non-essential employees will gradually return to both campuses, as needed for department managers to maintain sufficient support staffing levels, in accordance with the start of the semester.
This plan and its implementation remain subject to change due to new information, guidance and/or direction from the State of New York and the Governor’s Office.
updated as of Jan. 29, 2021
COVID-19 Testing and Monitoring
COVID 19 Testing and Monitoring for In-Person, On-Campus Students and Employees Prior to the Start of the Semester
Prior to the start of the Spring 2021 semester, all students, faculty, and staff must be pre-screened daily for travel history, COVID-19 history and COVID-19 symptoms for two (2) weeks prior to return.
- Students, faculty and staff who will start on-campus instruction or work on Feb. 1 must begin daily use of the Campus Clear app as of Monday, Jan. 18.
- Students, faculty and staff who will start on-campus instruction or work on Jan. 25 must begin daily use of the Campus Clear app as of Monday, Jan. 11
Before arriving for in-person, on-campus academic instruction on Feb. 1, all participating students must:
- Submit an attestation of completion of a precautionary quarantine from the period beginning on Jan. 25 (for those nursing and radiologic technology students resuming in person on Jan. 25, the attestation period begins Jan. 18)
OR
- For Health Professions students, provide documentation of “essential worker” status” to be exempt from precautionary quarantine
OR
- If employed outside of the College, request exemption from a campus designee (once that person is identified, his/her name will be added to this plan and communicated to students) to enable work during the quarantine period. To qualify for the exemption, students will need to document the COVID-19 safety protocols of their employers. When not working, the students will be expected to quarantine from others
AND
- Submit a negative COVID test taken Jan. 29 or later for students returning on Feb. 1 (those nursing or radiologic technology students must submit a negative test result taken Jan. 22 or later)
OR
- Participate in on-campus testing within five days of return to campus
OR
- Submit a positive diagnostic COVID test result from November 2020 or later
Once the semester begins, all students and employees must complete the Campus Clear app on the days they come to a campus.
COVID 19 Testing and Monitoring for In-Person, On-Campus Students and Employees During the Semester
At SUNY Orange, all winter courses will be held remotely. COVID-19 testing will resume effective Monday, Feb. 1 for all students participating in in-person, on-campus instructional activities. Testing of all employees working on College campuses will be conducted as stipulated by SUNY guidance and in accordance with a signed joint memorandum of agreement with the College bargaining units.
For the Spring 2021 semester, those students and employees regularly accessing our Middletown and Newburgh campuses for in-person, on-campus instructional activities, teaching, working, work study or other reasons MUST participate in pooled saliva testing ONLY during those weeks that they will be coming to campus. If students or employees will not be accessing a campus for any reason during a particular week, you are exempt from testing for that week only. Therefore any week where your class is to meet on campus or you will be working on a campus, you are expected to be tested.
Pooled testing will be scheduled as follows:
- Monday, 4 to 8 p.m., Newburgh campus (Kaplan Hall Great Room)
- Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Middletown campus (Shepard Center lower level)
- Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Middletown campus (Shepard Center lower level)
- Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Newburgh campus (Kaplan Hall Great Room)
You may opt for the most convenient location but you must test every week in which you will be accessing a campus. Those who have had a positive PCR test should not participate in surveillance testing for 90 days from the date of their positive test. Upon conclusion of the 90 days, you should begin participating in regular surveillance testing. Vaccine recipients shall also be included in surveillance testing.
Students and employees must submit a copy of the NY Traveler Health Form if they have travelled to/from restricted states/regions or to/from international locations as defined by NYS and will follow the guidance set forth on testing, quarantine/isolation and return to campus. Students submit their form to Wellness Center (wellnesscenter@sunyorange.edu) while employees submit form to the Human Resources Office (occchr@sunyorange.edu).
Any student, faculty, or staff testing positive for COVID-19 must isolate in accordance with Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH) guidelines. All individuals who test positive for COVID-19 are required to submit a health clearance before they can return to either campus. Students submit their form to the Wellness Center (wellnesscenter@sunyorange.edu) while employees submit their form to the Human Resources Office (occchr@sunyorange.edu).
Protocols in the Event an Employee Reports Illness
- Employees presenting COVID-19 symptoms will be instructed not to report to the workplace. Employees will be directed to report illness to their supervisor and Human Resources department. Employees will be advised to immediately seek medical guidance. Returning to the worksite will only be possible once the symptoms have significantly improved and the employee has been fever-free for 72 consecutive hours without any anti-fever medications.
- SUNY Orange will implement a non-punitive leave policy for those impacted by COVD-19.
- Employees presenting COVID-19 symptoms and having been tested for COVID-19, will be advised not to report to work. Return to on-site work will be possible once symptoms have significantly improved and there is no fever for 72 consecutive hours without any anti-fever medications. Human Resources will advise employees who have been in close proximity with an individual that exhibits symptoms to work remotely until test results are confirmed.
- Employees who test positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate in accordance with Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH) guidelines or until their physician clears them to return to the workplace). Human Resources will immediately inform the supervisor that the employee will not be reporting to work. However, supervisors should not share this information with others.
- Employees that are quarantined by the Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH) will not be permitted to report to work but will be allowed to work remotely if their work allows it. If quarantine is extended beyond the initial guidelines set forth by the Orange County Department of Health, the employee should contact Human Resources.
- Human Resources will communicate with local health departments regarding positive COVID-19 test results or suspected cases
- Human Resources will gather preliminary case investigation data, including possible contacts and provide this information to public health department
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) assistance information will be provided to all employees, and information will also be available via a link on the College’s COVID-19 webpages.
- Human Resources will partner with public health officials to ensure that students and employees adhere to recommended quarantine timelines
- Human Resources will ensure compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, record-keeping and reporting obligations.
Student Protocols in Event of a Reported Illness
The Wellness Center team will adhere to protocols for the referral, tracing and isolation of students and staff who are exhibiting COVID-19-related symptoms or with confirmed diagnoses. Any plan should, at minimum, include:
- Direct and immediate communication with the OCDOH and community regarding cases and how the College responded
- The Wellness Center staff will collaborate with local health departments to resolve any issues related to students who test positive for COVID-19 and currently attend classes
- The College will follow Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH) protocols for communicating with students and staff who have come into close/sustained contact with confirmed case
- Creating and utilizing campus public health teams to evaluate and recommend action on potential problem areas on campus, and to assess and improve the college’s capacity for testing and tracing
- Faculty and support staff will work with students who become ill and/or quarantined to support the student’s resumption or continued participation in instructional activities; students may request a medical withdrawal from one or more courses if they are unable to continue participating in instructional activities
- College services and offices will be accessible to ill and/r quarantined students by phone, email, and via live Zoom calls. All student services, academic support, library services, tutoring, technology support, accessibility services, wellness support, business office functions, and financial aid services will be accessible to students remotely.
Online and remote learning support and resources will be communicated to students via video, live Zoom sessions, and through a Student Success Toolkit in the Blackboard Learning Management System, in which all students are enrolled.
In the event that a student must be quarantined, student supports will be accessible and delivered remotely. College services and offices will be accessible to quarantined students by phone, email, and via live Zoom calls. All student services, academic support, library services, tutoring, technology support, accessibility services, wellness support, business office functions, and financial aid services will be accessible remotely to students under quarantine.
Contact Tracing and Reporting
Reports from employees and students, that have been on a campus, that they have been exposed, infected or presumed positive to COVID19 shall be reported immediately to the Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH) and necessary information from College records shared with OCDOH upon request.
The College will assist the local and state Health Departments with tracing, tracking and reporting of cases, and those notified through the contact tracing process will be asked to:
- Self-quarantine at home, in accordance with timelines established by the Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH), is required for any employee/student who has a confirmed exposure to a positive COVID-19 individual per OCDOH protocols. They will be notified by the OCDOH. For instances where a student or employee resides outside of Orange County, the College will work with the health department in the home jurisdiction of that individual
The SUNY Orange Wellness Center will be notified by the Orange County DOH of all confirmed student cases that have been on campus during their infectious period per contact tracing investigation.
SUNY Orange liaison’s designated to maintain communication with the OCDOH as follows:
- Employee Contact: Iris Martinez-Davis, AVP of Human Resources
Title IX Coordinator (845) 341- 4662 - Student Contact: Susan Corbett, RN
Wellness Center (845) 341-4870
Employees that are quarantined by the Orange County Health Department will not be permitted to report to work but will be allowed to work remotely if their work allows it. If quarantine is extended beyond the initial guidelines set forth by the Orange County Department of Health, the employee should contact Human Resources.
Human Resources will partner with public health to ensure that students and employees adhere to recommended quarantine timelines. Human Resources will communicate with local health departments regarding positive COVID-19 test results or suspected cases.
Modes of Instruction
Modes of Instruction
Separate from this plan, SUNY Orange has provided to SUNY a detailed outline of courses and modes of instruction for the Spring 2021 semester, as per requests from the Chancellor and Provost. The College will offer instruction in the following course formats:
- Remote Synchronous (RS): Remote learning with synchronous (real time) instruction at the designated days/times indicated on the schedule. Please note, to participate in the class, students will need to use a device with a microphone and camera.
- Virtual Campus (V): Distance learning within a flexible time frame (0% real time instruction required; asynchronous). Please note, to participate in the class, students may need to use a device with a microphone and camera.
- Blended (BL): Remote learning that integrates some synchronous instruction at the designated days/times indicated on the schedule and some asynchronous instruction. Please note, to participate in the class, students will need to use a device with a microphone and camera.
- Middletown Campus (M): Some in-person, on-campus instruction is required on the Middletown campus.
- Newburgh Campus (N): Some in-person, on-campus instruction is required on the Newburgh campus.].
Barring unforeseen circumstances, SUNY Orange plans to offer 15 percent of courses in a face-to-face format during the Spring 2021 semester. The remaining 85% of courses will be offered in remote formats (RS, V, and BL). The College will post this breakdown on it’s website for the benefit of current students, prospective students and community members, and will also share the breakdown in email communications to current and prospective students.
A robust plan of professional development opportunities will be made available to faculty as part of pre-semester workshops in January 2021, and throughout the Spring 2021 semester, in support of the College’s largely remote instructional stance. Workshops will include a focus on supporting remote students’ learning and engagement, leveraging technological resources, and improving accessibility and universal design for learning for learners with disabilities.
The College’s Teaching and Learning (TL) Workgroup (a subcommittee of the College’s COVID-19 response team) has thoroughly reviewed the Chancellor’s guidance regarding remote instruction. The TL Workgroup has recommended that both communication of these expectations and training be provided to faculty in advance of the Spring 2021 semester. The VPAA’s office will include these expectations in a Spring 2021 Welcome letter to all faculty, and training will be provided during the month of January, and throughout the Spring 2021 semester, to provide clear guidance and support to faculty. The letter and training workshops will include the expectations that:
- Remote instruction must meet or exceed expectations of regular and substantive interaction with synchronous and asynchronous examples of how these expectations may be achieved.
- Faculty must accommodate and ensure regular interaction with students working remotely.
- Faculty must make all reasonable efforts to accommodate the needs of international students completing coursework in a different time zone.
- Faculty must engage students in teaching, learning, and assessment, consistent with the content under discussion, while also including at least two of the following: a) Provision of direct instruction; b) Assessment and / or the provision of feedback on a student’s coursework; c) Provision of information and / or responding to questions about the content of a course or competency; d) Facilitation of group discussion regarding the content of a course or competency; or e) Other instructional activities approved by the institution’s/program’s accrediting agency. Discipline-specific examples will be provided throughout the training workshops.
- Faculty must support remote learning of students with disabilities, in coordination with the Office of Accessibility Services.
- Students and faculty will have access to orientation/training opportunities via their landing page in Blackboard, to familiarize them with instructional technologies and remote pedagogies.
- The College will provide proactive and regularized advising interventions for all academic programs in such manner that prioritizes student success.
- Faculty are encouraged to utilize instructional support provided by SUNY.
Academic Calendar
As noted above, SUNY Orange will begin its Spring 2021 semester on Monday, Jan. 25, with a week of fully remote academic instruction in all disciplines except for a small number of nursing and radiologic technology classes.
For those courses and lab sessions identified by the College, in-person, on-campus academic instruction will commence on Monday, Feb. 1 (except for the SUNY approved nursing and radiologic technology courses noted above that will begin in-person on Jan. 25).
The revised academic calendar also notes the removal of Spring Break, as mandated by SUNY, and outlines the new start and end dates to the semester.
SUNY Orange’s 71st Commencement will remain on its regularly scheduled date of Thursday, May 20, 2021, but the ceremony will be held virtually. Information will be forwarded to the College community and to external groups once details are finalized.
On-Campus Activities
Shared Community Commitment
The well-being of every member of the SUNY Orange community--faculty, staff, students and visitors--takes on new meaning during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important that we all take responsibility for our actions and rely on each other to do the same.
All members of the SUNY Orange community, working together in a shared commitment, will keep our campuses safe and ensure a productive Spring 2021 semester.
Join the effort by adhering to the health and safety protocols outlined below:
- Complete the daily health screening (by using the #CampusClear app) prior to arriving on a SUNY Orange campus.
- Monitor for these symptoms every day:
- Fever or chills – temperature greater than 100.4 degrees F.
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- All students, employees and visitors are required to wear a mask or face covering over nose and mouth at all times when indoors on either campus, including in classrooms, conference rooms and other spaces, even when six-feet social distancing exists. Exceptions to mask wearing include when students are eating meals on campus while seated and social distancing is appropriately enforced, or by themselves. Faculty and staff are likewise exempt when alone in their office or other space.
- Masks must be worn on outdoor campus grounds if social distancing cannot be maintained, but it is recommended to wear masks at all times, even when social distancing can be maintained.
- Maintain a social distance of 6 feet or more from others as much as possible
- Wash or sanitize hands:
- After blowing nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- After touching an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles and tables, computers, handrails, elevator buttons, and lab equipment.
- Before touching eyes, nose, or mouth
- Stay home if COVID symptoms are present or you have tested COVID-positive, or have been exposed to someone who is ill or has tested COVID-positive.
- Seek medical attention for symptoms, a positive COVID test, or exposure to someone who is ill or has tested COVID positive.
- Employees notify Human Resourcesif you have symptoms or a positive COVID test, or have been exposed to someone who is ill or has tested COVID positive.
- Students notify the Wellness Centerif you have symptoms or a positive COVID test, or have been exposed to someone who is ill or has tested COVID positive.
- Meet virtually as much as possible.
- Avoid crowded activities or social gatherings where social distancing is not possible
- Observe and follow all directives and guidance issued by the College, including instructional signs that are posted throughout both campuses.
- Follow public health guidelines in place to help protect our community.
- Regularly disinfect workspace and personal items.
- Stay in front of Plexiglass partitions when present.
- Cooperate fully with contact tracing.
- Get a flu vaccine.
- Be a good example to others.
- Recognize that this is a new virus and that recommendations may change as more is learned about this illness
- Treat all members of the College community respectfully and equally, regardless of differences, such as race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identification,, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, veteran status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction or any other category protected by law.
Dining Services
SUNY Orange operates dining services through Micro Markets managed by a third-party vendor. The College will reopen these markets in stages based on the number of staff, faculty, and students on each campus in alignment with a Phase 1, 2 and 3 reopening as outlined in the Fall Restart Plan. It should be noted that most likely, the Micro Markets will remain closed throughout the Spring 2021 semester and consideration of reopening will only be given in the event the College brings large quantities of students and employees back to campus).
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
SUNY Orange will follow CDC, State DOH, and local health department recommendations regarding the use of personal protective equipment. Updated regulations will be reviewed regularly to ensure that the College is compliant with the most recent guidance. Masks will be required (and additional PPE as needed) when on SUNY Orange campuses (except when alone in an office, or when outdoors and when social distancing can be maintained) and PPE will be provided by the College to students and employees who arrive without masks.
Distribution of PPE will be through a new work order process under developed specifically for this purpose. The new system will be operational prior to the start of the Spring semester, and PPE will also be available via the Safety and Security Offices (for ad-hoc pickup by students and employees as needed). The College delivery van will also maintain a stockpile of PPE for response to emergent needs as it makes its rounds on campus).
Signage outlining protective measures, including the requirement that masks must be worn in all buildings will be posted in high visibility locations (e.g. building entrances, restrooms, and hallways). The College maintains an inventory of soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, disinfecting wipes, masks, gloves, aprons, face shields, and other commonly used PPE.
Capacity to Maintain Social Distancing
All rooms in each of the buildings associated with the critical on-campus instruction and support services were evaluated prior to the Fall semester and the same processes will be employed to assure proper social distancing in all classrooms and laboratories scheduled for use this Spring.
In order to accomplish the six-foot rule, it became necessary to reduce the number of people in nearly every active classroom/lab by an average of 50%. Extra seating or furniture that was not be needed was removed and stored elsewhere.
To assist students and staff in following the six-foot distance rule, markers were placed on the table or desk designating that they are to only sit where the marker is located. This requires instruction and oversight by the instructor at the start and, throughout the semester.
Techniques employed to ensure safety are:
- All students, employees and visitors are required to wear a mask or face covering over nose and mouth at all times when indoors on either campus, including in classrooms, conference rooms and other spaces, even when six-feet social distancing exists. Exceptions to mask wearing include when students are eating meals on campus while seated and social distancing is appropriately enforced, or by themselves. Faculty and staff are likewise exempt when alone in their office or other space.
- Masks must be worn on outdoor campus grounds if social distancing cannot be maintained, but it is recommended to wear masks at all times, even when social distancing can be maintained.
- Rearrange instructional space, furniture, and lab stations to ensure distancing requirements.
- Move lab activities to alternate larger space in which adequate distancing can be maintained.
- Reduce capacity in each existing lab / learning space.
- Schedule time spent in labs to ensure an equitable rotation of student lab time with instructors; e.g. Group A, Group B.
- If resources are available, outfit additional spaces with critical lab furniture and equipment to provide more space in which to operate.
- In disciplines that require work in pairs, full PPE will be utilized and provided to employees and students.
- Where possible, content moved to online formats and / or create video recordings to communicate with students remotely (Lecture Capture).
- When classes need to be addressed as a large group, use largest classroom spaces available (Reference: Seating Capacities Analysis).
Operational Activity
In support of the phased restart plan being developed for Spring 2021, SUNY Orange will implement the following practices to re-start campus operations:
- Return to work will be phased in. Increases in workforce levels will coincide with the College’s ability to monitor employee and student health.
- Hours will be staggered in all departments.
- Faculty, staff, and students will be educated on best practices for hygiene, physical distancing, and proper cough/sneeze etiquette. Human Resources will monitor compliance with best practices throughout the institution.
- A daily health screening platform (#CampusClear app) has been implemented. Students and employees are required to self-disclose any symptoms of COVID-19. Anyone self-disclosing symptoms will be instructed not to come to campus.
- SUNY Orange will provide personal protective items and training on their use.
- Operations continuity plans will be developed by all departments. Those who can work effectively from home will be the last to return to campus.
Custodial Servivces
Custodial services are a critical component of the College’s mitigation strategy. All of the CDC’s cleaning and disinfecting guidelines will be followed. The custodial staff will assist in making the College’s facilities compliant with social distancing guidelines. Staff will be required to wear PPE, which will be provided by the College as needed.
Areas scheduled for use during the Spring semester will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected (instructional spaces, labs, restrooms, hallways, handrails, doorknobs, light switches, stairwells, etc.) prior to the beginning of the Spring semester.
Once the College reopens, a schedule of disinfecting high-touch areas a minimum of once daily or once per shift will be implemented in addition to normal cleaning protocols. The details of the cleaning and disinfecting schedule will follow CDC guidelines. Custodial staff will be available to respond to unscheduled clean-ups and/or disinfecting tasks.
Transportation, Mail, and General Delivery Services
The College provides a shuttle bus several times per day for students traveling between Newburgh and Middletown Campuses. The College will work with the contracted bus company to determine seating capacity and size of the bus to ensure social distancing. The College will direct the contractor to follow CDC guidelines for proper personal protective equipment (PPE) of driver and passengers. The College will also ensure sanitizing procedures are in place by the bus company. When two people are in a College vehicle, masks must be worn. Masks will be provided by the College as needed for employees who utilize College vehicles. Vehicles will be equipped with disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer.
Mail will be distributed to the Central Mail Room for pickup and drop-off. A pickup schedule will be developed to reduce interaction. Signage for the entrance to the mail room will indicate that a mask is required for entry. Occupancy to the mail room will be limited to two people at a time. Disinfectant wipes will be provided as well.
The Central Store Room is for all general delivery services (drop-offs and shipping). Employees will wear proper PPE while receiving and shipping and, shall practice social distancing while in the store room. The delivery van will be equipped with masks, vinyl gloves and wipes. PPE will be used while deliveries are made.
Extracurricular Activities Including Intramurals and Student Performances
Whereas many community organizations seek to use on-campus spaces for meetings and other gatherings, SUNY Orange will attempt to welcome the community back to its campuses in accordance with social distancing and population density guidelines set forth by New York State. It is clear to SUNY Orange that our ability to provide “open campuses” as we have in the past will be limited in the short term as we will prioritize resuming academic and student support operations. As we are able to expand access for students and staff, we will determine appropriate levels of “openness” for the general community.
The College’s robust Cultural Affairs programming, traditionally its largest driver of visitors to the campuses, will likewise adhere to density guidance in scheduling and offering lectures, workshops, master classes, concerts, exhibits and presentations. All social distancing and large-group gathering protocols established by New York State will be enforced for those very limited student activities and events that will be necessary as the College moves through its planned phased repopulating of its campuses.
SUNY Orange, in a joint announcement with its sister SUNY community colleges that are members of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has canceled high-risk, indoor sports competitions for the Winter season (men’s and women’s basketball, and volleyball). A decision on Spring sports will be made at a later date, as more information becomes available.
Vulnerable Populations
By developing a phased repopulation plan for SUNY Orange’s two campuses, the College will be in position to accommodate, to the best extent practicable, those employees who are members of vulnerable populations or those who may feel unsafe returning to their on-campus roles/offices. Most of those folks continue to work remotely, with various levels of efficiency, as of this submission. With limited student access to our campuses, we will be able to more adeptly work with those students who may feel vulnerable or unsafe while enrolled in those limited labs and hands-on learning courses that will be held in-person. Withholding access to campus from the general public should also minimize contact opportunities between students, employees and community members of all constituent groups.
Wellness Center Services and Mental Health Supports
The Wellness Center is open to all students, free of charge. Its programs are designed to promote health education and wellness for our campus community. The College’s mental health and nursing services are also available to all students.
The Wellness Center will follow and monitor the guidance of the American College Health Association, CDC, the New York State Department of Health, SUNY, and the local health department. The Wellness Center will provide multiple means of educating the College community on how to stay safe and on infection control procedures. Mental health efforts will be aligned with ACHA COVID-19 reopening guidelines. Mental health resources will be shifted to tele-mental health and wellness programming.
Students and employees are also encouraged to utilize community-based mental health resources, including: ReachOut SUNY. Thriving Campus and Middle Earth (from the University at Albany). The New York State Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting GOT5 to 741741. Free online QPR suicide prevention training for students, faculty, and staff (contact visit the Wellness Center website for more information).
Returning to Remote Operations
Operational continuity plans will be developed by all support departments. Those who can work effectively from home will be the last to return to campus. In the event of a mandatory “pause” of in-person, on-campus academic instruction, faculty will be expected to explain to students their plan for instructional continuity should the need arise to pivot to remote instruction.
SUNY Orange’s re-opening plan is designed to slowly and methodically return people to our campuses. In the event that ramp-down or shutdown procedures must be enacted, the College will be easily able to revert to a more stringent operational mindset. Departments and buildings will be closed as needed, in reaction to the situations at that time. In the event that a sudden halt to all in-person operations is needed, the College will follow the processes it implemented for the initial shutdown in March 2020.
Reporting
Reporting
SUNY Orange will report daily COVID-related information to the SUNY COVID-19 Tracker in accordance with guidelines set forth by SUNY. The College community, along with external partners and community members, will be directed to the SUNY COVID-19 Tracker for data related to SUNY Orange.
Communication and Outreach
The College has established a COVID-19 webpage, accessible from an alert message on all pages of the www.sunyorange.edu website, which houses timely information and resources for employees, students and community members. Additional links connect visitors to student FAQs; student resources; employee telecommuting guidance; protocols for reporting virus symptoms; and content from local, state and national health organizations. In addition, this section serves as a “news feed” by collecting COVID-related internal and external communications from the College in one centralized location.
Essential messages from the College will also be distributed internally with employees and students via @sunyorange.edu email accounts, as well as in two internal email newsletters (Campus Grapevine for employees and Student Grapevine for students) that are shared via email each Tuesday and Thursday morning. Content from the two Grapevine newsletters is also available on the College website.
As appropriate, updated content will also be posted on the College’s social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), for widest dissemination, and also circulated to local and regional media outlets in the form of press releases and announcements (as needed). COVID-specific videos (from sources such as the CDC and other health organizations) will be placed within the MySUNYOrange portal for additional outreach to students and employees regarding healthy practices and proper social distancing techniques.
Online and remote learning support and resources are available and will be communicated to students via video, live Zoom sessions, and through a new Student Success Toolkit in the Blackboard Learning Management System, in which all students are enrolled.
The College’s Communications team will partner with SUNY’s Communications Office, as needed, regarding broader system-wide messaging, and will collaborate with colleagues within Orange County Government to share College plans.
SUNY Orange administration will keep SUNY leadership, Orange County’s Executive and Legislature, and our state and federal elected officials apprised of plans, adjustments and messaging so that all parties are in lockstep as we move to re-open our communities.
What Students Should Know
What Students Should Know
To assist students in starting and completing a successful Spring 2021 semester, SUNY Orange, in support of a request by SUNY, has developed a “What Students Should Know" document so that students may make informed choices about their participation in on-campus instruction in the semester.