Dear Members of the MCNY Community,
Metropolitan College of New York continues to monitor the status of the COVID-19 virus. While there is much that is still unknown, we remain in close contact with our peer institutions, as well as New York City, State and federal officials, as we continue regular operations. We know that this situation has many people concerned, and we will do our best to stay in touch with you as we navigate through this challenging time.
Cleaning and sanitizing practices at both campuses have been expanded, and hand sanitizers have been placed at the entrances to each campus. The Health and Safety Committee urges everyone to please use hand sanitizers before entering the campus. We also urge you to wash your hands frequently, while on campus and throughout the day; this remains the best way to prevent the spread of the virus. As a reminder, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) also recommends that you avoid close contact with people who are sick; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash; and stay home when you are sick.
Students: if you feel ill, please contact your professors, who will facilitate your ability to complete your classwork in an online environment. Please contact the Office of E-Learning vkioulaphides@mcny.edu if you have questions about using Moodle.
Faculty: VPAA Crookendale has been working with the Office of Technology to schedule four synchronous webinars for faculty to help you hone your ability to teach classes online should the need arise. These sessions will supplement the Moodle resources sent by the Office of E-Learning ten days ago, and because the webinars are synchronous, you will be able to have questions answered during the session you attend. The webinars will be offered four times next week, and we urge all faculty to participate. Stay tuned for an email from VPAA Crookendale in the next day or so with the details.
As we continue our efforts to help assure the health and safety of our community, we are also developing contingency plans to provide academic and business continuity should the public health situation require significant changes in our day-to-day operations. Please sign up for the MCNY alert system if you haven’t done so already, so that you will get important College updates immediately: http://www.mcny.edu/alert. You can also check the MCNY COVID-19 webpage—which appears at the bottom of the MCNY home page and can also be found at https://www.mcny.edu/coronavirus/ —for resources and updates.
Dear Members of the MCNY Community,
As you know, the situation regarding the novel (new) coronavirus, COVID-19, is rapidly evolving. At this time, there are approximately 60 confirmed cases in the US, and no confirmed cases in New York City. These numbers are expected to change, and the College will continue to carefully monitor the situation.
The MCNY Safety and Security Committee has begun its work focusing on the steps we need to take to keep the MCNY community safe as the COVID-19 situation unfolds, and it will send periodic updates to the College community. The Committee recommends that you sign up for the MCNY alert system if you haven’t done so already, to assure that will get important College updates immediately: http://www.mcny.edu/alert.
If you have traveled to areas impacted by COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, you might face some limitations on your movement and activity. Please follow instructions of your physician and/or your local Department of Health if that applies to you.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends these everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of this and other respiratory diseases:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask: CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.
Students, if you feel sick, we ask that you stay at home and contact your professors; they will work with you to assure you can keep up with your work. If you do not know how to access and use the Moodle shell for your courses, please contact our E-Learning Coordinator, Victor Kioulaphides (vkioulaphides@mcny.edu); he will provide you with the resources you need to familiarize yourself with Moodle so that you can continue with your coursework in an online environment if necessary.
Faculty, please work with students who are ill and unable to come to class to support them in completing their coursework through Moodle. Victor Kioulaphides (vkioulaphides@mcny.edu) is preparing resources for faculty who may need to brush up on Moodle to be sure that both faculty and students who may fall ill can safely and successfully complete their courses online if needed.
Resources
- 2019-nCoV Website
- What You Need to Know About 2019-nCoV
- What to Do If You Are Sick With 2019-nCoV
- Interim US Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Persons with Potential 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Exposure in Travel-associated or Community Settings
- Health Alert Network
- Travelers’ Health Website
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Small Business International Travel Resource Travel Planner
- Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick
- Mental health support while at home
- CDC mental health resources
News and updates
COVID19 – External Resources for MCNY Students
We hope that everyone is well and staying safe. Our faculty, staff, alumni, students and friends have been reaching out with opportunities and resources that may be helpful to the MCNY Student Community. Be sure [...]