Coronavirus Information

Bringing Brockport Back

President Macpherson has created a committee that has been charged to develop potential plans for the fall 2020 semester as SUNY Brockport awaits further guidance from SUNY and New York State.

The committee is preparing plans for three scenarios:

1. Both in-person classes and the on-campus residential experience has been authorized by New York State and SUNY for the entire fall semester.
2. Both in-person classes and the on-campus residential experience has been authorized by New York State and SUNY for a portion of the fall semester.
3. Both in-person classes and the on-campus residential experience is not authorized by New York State and SUNY for the entire fall semester. 

Each of the three scenarios would incorporate the following four pillars that have been established by New York State:

1. Wearing of face coverings/masks
2. Frequent hand washing
3. Increased disinfectant cleaning
4. Social distancing

Executive Committee

Please direct questions to your supervisor and/or divisional leadership. 

FAQs

• *NEW* How do I receive CARES Act Funding?

  The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorizes colleges to award emergency grants to students for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. Related expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, transportation, and child-care expenses are considered.

  For more information on student eligibility, how to apply, and more, read our latest announcement.

• *NEW* Will there be in-person classes in the fall? 
  The College does not yet have a definitive answer as to what the Fall 2020 semester will look like. We have set up a committee to review all possible scenarios for how and when we resume face-to-face instruction. As part of this scenario planning, we are in contact with local and state health officials as well as with SUNY System Administration. They will be issuing guidelines and parameters for higher education institutions, which we will follow. We recognize how frustrating this can be, but until we better understand how COVID-19 will continue to impact our communities, we cannot make definitive statements. The College will communicate more information as it becomes available. 
• Will we receive a refund?

  Credits/Refunds

  The College has been working with SUNY to determine a credit/refunding schedule specific to certain Spring 2020 student charges most impacted by COVID-19; those charges include room, meal plan, and some fees (Athletic, Transportation, SERC and BSG). Eligible charges and related credit percentages were determined after careful consideration of the student’s ability to utilize the services provided by each fee.

  Credit percentages will be assessed to the SPRING 2020 student account as follows: 

  *Room:                                                     50%

  *Meal Plan:                                              Up to 50% (depending on actual Dining Dollar usage)

  Athletic Fee:                                           50%

  Transportation:                                                            50%

  Student Event Recreation Center (SERC):             50%

  Brockport Student Government (BSG):                  40%

  *Certain scholarships and waivers, particularly those specific to room/meal charges, may impact the dollar amount credited to a student’s account.

  Student accounts will automatically be credited for Spring 2020. Students do not need to take any action for this to occur. Any credit resulting from the COVID-19-related charge adjustments will first be applied to any outstanding Spring 2020 or prior term account balance. If there is credit remaining after all outstanding balances are paid, a refund will be generated. COVID-19-related credits applied to Spring 2020 accounts will not impact 2019/2020 financial aid packages.

  Students have the option of having their credits put towards their Fall term. A more in-depth letter outlining these options has been sent electronically to all students, and will also be sent to their home or permanent addresses.

  
  Tuition
  As you will still be receiving credit for coursework via distance learning and remote instruction, tuition will not be eligible for reimbursement. We are taking every measure to make sure you continue to receive a high-quality education.

  Parking

  Credits will be issued for active parking permits as follows. 

• Can all spring 2020 classes move to a pass/fail standard?

  SUNY Brockport will allow students to opt for Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading for the duration of the pandemic. This temporary policy change applies to all students, regardless of their class status or level. Students can choose to this option for any or all courses they are registered for, except for courses that ended at midterm of the Spring 2020 semester.

  Also as part of this policy, we’ve approved an extension to students’ ability to withdraw from a course. Students will be able to withdraw from a course until April 24, 2020, without permission of department chair, and until May 6, 2020, with permission of department chair.

  The credit received in courses graded on the S/U option counts toward graduation requirements, but has no effect on the grade point average. This is because the credit is non-indexable (that is, it carries no quality points). S/U grades may be used for any course including those that apply towards the General Education program, a major, a minor, certification or professional areas with some limitations. Students who wish to request this option should do so via this link: Request S/U Grading Option

• Is Commencement cancelled?
  Sadly, May Commencement ceremonies have been postponed. President Macpherson has tasked a small group with the task of re-imagining our 2020 Commencement ceremonies so that our graduates can be recognized properly at some point in the future. More details will be forthcoming as we make these plans.
• Is the SERC open?
  No. Following Governor Cuomo's recommendation, both the fitness center and the field house are closed until further notice.
• What about Brockport Downtown?

  Brockport Downtown classes will also transition to alternative formats and will operate under new hours beginning March 23:

  Monday - Friday: 7 am - 3 pm

  • All faculty and staff must be working from home at this point.

  • Students will not be able to access the facility.

  • Security will be on-site from 7am-3pm in the event faculty and staff need to access the facility (only to come in, retrieve something, and then return home).You will not be permitted to work in the building. If anyone needs to access the building, they must first contact the security guard on site by phone at 585.327.4064

• Are all campus events cancelled?
  All in-person, non-essential events and programs are postponed until further notice. All events hosted by an outside organization on the SUNY Brockport campus between now and July 31 are cancelled or postponed. 
• Are meetings still taking place on-campus?

  In-person meetings should be moved to a virtual/remote format. Microsoft Teams is the primary tool that is recommended for use. If you need help developing a Microsoft Team for a department and/or committee, please contact the Help Desk at ext. 5151 or seek online support. 

Coronavirus FAQs

• As a Brockport employee, how can I prevent the spread of COVID-19?

  According to the New York State Department of Health, employees should engage in proper hand and respiratory hygiene, avoid close contact with people who are sick, and stay home when they are sick.

  Regular hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds should be done:

  • before and after eating
  • after sneezing, coughing, or nose blowing
  • after using the restroom
  • before handling food
  • after touching or cleaning surfaces that may be contaminated
  • after using shared equipment and supplies like electronic equipment such as keyboards, mice, and phones

  If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

  Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or the corner of your elbow, and dispose of soiled tissues immediately after use.

• As a Brockport employee, if I were to have concerns for COVID-19 exposures, what should I know?

  For purposes of coronavirus, there are both a mandatory quarantine protocol and a precautionary quarantine protocol, according to the New York State Department of Health. By definition, mandatory quarantine is the classification which can be directed by legal order if not complied with. LHDs must utilize the following definitions in determining whether or not to institute a mandatory or precautionary quarantine:

  • Status for Required Mandatory Quarantine: Person has been in close contact (6 ft.) with someone who is positive, but is not displaying symptoms for COVID-19; or person has traveled to China, Iran, Japan, South Korea or Italy and is displaying symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Status for Required Mandatory Isolation: Person has tested positive for COVID-19, whether or not displaying symptoms for COVID-19. LHDs must immediately issue an order for Mandatory Quarantine or Isolation once notified, which shall be served on the person impacted. Given the virulence of COVID-19, we also have precautionary protocols.
  • Status Required for Precautionary Quarantine: Person meets one or more of the following criteria: (i) has traveled to China, Iran, Japan, South Korea or Italy while COVID-19 was prevalent, but is not displaying symptoms; or (ii) is known to have had a proximate exposure to a positive person but has not had direct contact with a positive person and is not displaying symptoms.

  Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever or new or worsening respiratory symptoms including cough or shortness of breath. Anyone who feels they may meet the above criteria for quarantine should immediately contact their local health department in the county in which they reside. If the employee also has symptoms associated with COVID-19, they should be instructed to also immediately call their healthcare provider for further guidance.

  Employers may discuss opportunities for employees to work at home if possible if they require quarantine or isolation as determined by the local health department but are asymptomatic.

• As a Brockport employee, how can I help guard against the stigma of COVID-19?
  The New York State Department of Health asks that, as new information emerges, we remind our employees that the risk of novel coronavirus is not connected with race, ethnicity, or nationality. Stigma will not help to fight the illness. Do not make determinations of risk based on race or country of origin and be sure to maintain confidentiality of people with confirmed coronavirus infection. Sharing accurate information during a time of heightened concern is one of the best things we can do to keep rumors and misinformation from spreading.

Last Updated 6/2/20