March 11, 2020

To SUNY Poly Students, Faculty, and Staff,

In an effort to provide you with updates regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we want you to know that we prioritize the health and wellness of our students, faculty, and staff, and will continue to work together to navigate this challenging and evolving situation. The latest guidance from the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and SUNY is below. Please continue to monitor your SUNY Poly e-mail for further updates, and please also visit: https://sunypoly.edu/covid19.html, our dedicated information resource on this topic.

COVID-19 Update

• There are currently no known cases of COVID-19 on either SUNY Poly campus. We are not aware of any cases in the immediate vicinity of either site.
• The SUNY Poly COVID-19 Task Force meets regularly to be as proactive as possible in working toward protecting the health of students, faculty, and staff.

Distance Learning

• Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that as a preventative measure SUNY and CUNY schools are moving toward a distance education model.
• Also, SUNY Poly’s Spring Break begins next week for both our Albany and Utica campuses. Classes will continue this week as planned, with a number of faculty and students already testing the distance education capability.
• SUNY Poly’s distance learning begins on Monday, March 23. Information about how to access your classes will be provided shortly.
• Additional details regarding laboratory or other experiential courses will also be provided soon.
• For distance learning, students will need access to a computer or smart phone with a high-speed, broadband, or DSL internet connection (dial-up connections are not recommended.) Additional guidance for required resources is forthcoming.

Residential Students

• Please note that SUNY Poly’s Spring Break dates remain the same and both campuses remain open.
• All services, including the Utica and Albany residence halls, remain open. Students are not required to vacate their residential spaces.
• If you choose to travel over Spring Break, you should potentially be prepared to complete your academic work for the remainder of the semester from a remote location. For those students who want or need to continue to reside on campus, residential halls, dining options, and other facilities are anticipated to be fully available.

Events

• SUNY Poly leadership is evaluating all events and will provide guidance to each host. Online formats for events are strongly encouraged.
• We will communicate a decision regarding commencement ceremonies in Albany and Utica in the coming weeks.

We know that changes can be unsettling, and we hope you understand why it is important to implement these plans. Know that SUNY Poly continues to consult with local and state health agencies, as well as SUNY, to ensure we take appropriate steps with respect to your health and education. While we adopt this approach to enable continuity of education, please know your well-being is always our number one priority.

Sincerely,

Dr. Grace Wang
Interim President
SUNY Polytechnic Institute