Thank you for the dedication and resiliency you have exhibited this semester, as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic together.

When we rolled out Back to Brooklyn – our plan for fall 2020 – we said we'd change course quickly as needed, based on New York City and State guidance and our own ongoing assessment of the evolving COVID-19 situation.

With rising COVID rates in NYC and more stringent state and city rules now in place, the Back to Brooklyn taskforce and College leadership has decided that it is in the best interest of our students, faculty and staff to suspend in-person course instruction on SFC's campus after Thanksgiving weekend.

The last day of in-person instruction will be November 24th for the remainder of 2020. Fall final exams will be administered remotely. Our current plans call for spring 2021 courses to be instructed under a flexible hybrid model.

Students taking fall 2020 courses that include in-person instruction – including our freshmen who are in Terrier Communities – can expect to take part in live online instruction at the same time they would normally be on campus.

Nursing students requiring clinical hours will complete those hours on campus. In all cases, course instructors will share details and communicate their plans with students. Students should check Canvas and their SFC email regularly for updates. They can also reach out to the Dean's Office with course-related questions by emailing [email protected].

The Student Hub in room 2000 will close as of November 24th. Students requiring support from any SFC administrative office should email those departments or schedule online appointments via the Navigate app.

Campus computer labs will be available from 8 am to 6 pm on weekdays to students who need them for course-related work, and the library will continue to host open hours on Tuesdays from 10 am to 4 pm, to drop off and pick-up materials only. We strongly advise that students, faculty and staff work remotely wherever possible, and only use these on-campus services if truly necessary.

For those who must come to campus after Thanksgiving, SFC continues to require you complete a health screening form on the day of your visit and adhere to all other campus safety protocols in place, including always wearing face masks.

Please be aware that New York State rules may affect your Thanksgiving travel and when you can visit campus after you return. New York State now mandates that travelers coming into New York from out-of-state get a COVID-19 test in the other location within 72 hours of their departure for New York, self-quarantine for 3 days, and COVID test on the fourth day within the State. This guidance does not apply to travel between New York and its contiguous states, which are Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Vermont and Pennsylvania, although it does apply to international travelers coming from any U.S. territory or CDC Level 2 or Level 3 Health Notice country.

New York residents who travel out-of-state for less than 24 hours only need a COVID test on the fourth day after their return to New York, not in the destination they visited, and only if they visited a non-contiguous state.

Travelers arriving in New York, no matter where from or how long they were away, must complete a Traveler Health Form.

All members of our Terrier family must adhere to these New York State rules for their personal travel, including for Thanksgiving break.

Student-athletes and those living in the SFC residence hall will receive additional information about new rules that apply to their situations.

We urge everyone in our SFC community get tested for COVID. Testing will be available on campus on Friday November 20th from noon to 2pm and we are looking for additional testing days the week of November 30th. If you test positive at any time – even if you have not been on campus – you should contact Student Health Services so that team can help ensure you receive appropriate services and support and begin contact tracing as needed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can email the Back to Brooklyn taskforce at [email protected] or use our online form.

It is a privilege to be a member of the Terrier family, especially during these challenging times. Your health and safety remain a top priority as we conclude our fall 2020 semester.

We wish you every happiness this Thanksgiving.

Back to Brooklyn Taskforce:

Richard Grasso, Executive Director of Human Resources
Matt Hogan, Executive Director of IT Operations and Client Services
Jennifer Lancaster, Ph.D., VP of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean
Chase Licata, Deputy Athletic Director
Monica Michalski, Associate Dean of Student Success
Kevin O'Rourke, VP of Facilities Management and Capital Projects,
Tearanny Street, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications
Linda Werbel, VP of Government and Community Relations