Previous Announcements and Distribution of Student Emergency Grants
January 25, 2022
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
We look forward to welcoming the classes that are scheduled to be in person or hybrid back on campus starting on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.
This is a reminder that masks that cover your nose and mouth must be worn at all times in classrooms, common areas and shared work areas. We encourage you to use the KN95 masks that will be available at the security desks of each campus. Social distancing should be maintained to the extent possible while on campus.
We care about your health and the health of our community. As most of you know, a number of practices were put in place to maintain healthy teaching and learning environments on our campuses. These include:
- All faculty, staff, students and visitors must show proof of completed vaccination to enter MCNY campuses
- We continue to offer a $100 vaccination incentive to new students and continuing students who have not previously received the incentive. Students, to upload your proof of vaccination if you haven’t done so already, go to: https://forms.mcny.edu/student/proofcovidvaccine
- Medical-grade air purifiers are in place in all classrooms and large common areas.
- Classrooms continue to be operated at reduced capacity to allow more space between desks.
Please remember that you must carry your college ID with you at all times and scan it at the security desk prior to being authorized to enter the campus. Security staff will ask you three health screening questions each time you come to campus prior to admitting you to campus.
Thank you for your help in protecting each other while the pandemic continues.
With best wishes,
Joanne Passaro
January 6, 2022
Dear Students,
This follows President Passaro’s announcement that all classes will be held virtually in January.
First, let me reassure you that we care about your academic experience at MCNY and will be available to assist you with any support you need. I will share some essential information here and continue to follow up as we receive additional information.
Office Hours
The Offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, Student Services and Bursar, will be open in Manhattan and the Bronx, onsite and virtually:
- Monday – Thursday, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Access to Moodle
Moodle is the learning platform that MCNY uses to teach online courses. If you are a new student, Moodle may be new to you (unless you used it elsewhere).
MCNY has several resources available to all students to help with your use of Moodle:
- There is a Moodle tutorial that can be accessed on YouTube or Moodle.
- New students have been invited to the virtual New Student Orientation on Saturday, January 8 and Moodle will be on the agenda.
- Students who have technical difficulties accessing Moodle can contact: helpdesk@mcny.edu
- The college is organizing a series of Moodle tutorials (conducted via Zoom) for the next two weeks. Please check your email for that schedule.
- Students who need one-on-one training on Moodle can call (212) 343-1234 ext. 5009 and leave a message with their name, phone number and email. A Student Services staff member will reach out to you to schedule time to provide assistance.
- The Learning Enhancement Center staff provides tutoring in all subjects and assistance with Moodle. They can be reached at lec@mcny.edu.
Please stay tuned for more information. Thank you for your patience, resilience, and determination in accomplishing your goals!
Best,
Clotilde Ibarra, MSW
Dean of Students/Title IX Coordinator
Dear Students, Staff, Faculty and Alumni,
We are pleased to announce that, thanks to a partnership with our colleagues at NYC Health & Hospitals, mobile COVID-19 vaccination units will be stationed at both campuses in August and September—from August 16-19 and again on September 7-10. This schedule will enable those of you who have not yet received the vaccine to get one dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer vaccine three weeks apart—right outside our doors! This is a walk-in vaccine clinic—no appointments are needed. Please see the flyer below and attached for details.
We encourage you to get the COVID 19 vaccine if you haven’t already done so. The pandemic is not over yet, and hospitalization and infection rates have begun to rise again in New York City. The safety and effectiveness of the COVID vaccines have been demonstrated, and the vaccines have played a significant role in reducing serious illness.
Thank you for your efforts to keep our communities safe!
Best,
Joanne Passaro
President
Details:
Mobile Vaccination Clinic at MCNY Manhattan
(1st Dose Clinic)
Dates: Mon – Thurs 8/16 – 8/19
Times: 7AM- 7PM (Appointments 8AM – 6PM)
Location: 60 West St, New York, NY 10006
Mobile Vaccination Clinic at MCNY Bronx
(1st Dose Clinic)
Dates: Mon – Thurs 8/16 – 8/19
Times: 7AM- 7PM (Appointments 8AM – 6PM)
Location: 463 E 149th St, Bronx, NY 10455
Mobile Vaccination Clinic at MCNY FIDI (2nd Dose Clinic)
Dates: Tues- Fri 9/7 -9/10
Times: 9AM- 7PM (Appointments 10AM – 6PM)
Location: 60 West St, New York, NY 10006
Notes for Community: Vaccinations are FREE. NO insurance required/asked. NO appointment required. Live interpretation services are available.
Mobile Vaccination Clinic at MCNY Bronx (2nd Dose Clinic)
Dates: Tues- Fri 9/7 -9/10
Times: 9AM- 7PM (Appointments 10AM – 6PM)
Location: 463 E 149th St, Bronx, NY 10455
Who is eligible?
NYC residents age 18 or older; children over 12 with parent or guardian (subject to change, visit https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/faq for the most up-to-date list)
What do I bring?
Any form of ID (including national passport) and documentation of vaccine eligibility (document showing age, employee ID, physician note, etc.)
August 2, 2021
Dear Students,
We look forward to welcoming you back on campus in the fall semester! Because of increasing COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates, we will require that all members of the MCNY community be vaccinated in order to enter our campuses in Manhattan and the Bronx, effective September 7. This requirement does not apply to students in the online MPA program in Emergency and Disaster Management, though it would apply if you plan to come to campus for any reason. Masking requirements will remain in effect for all public spaces, classrooms, and group work areas.
MCNY cares about your health, and we believe that this step is necessary to provide a safe teaching and learning environment for everyone. The safety and effectiveness of the COVID vaccines have been demonstrated, and they are reducing serious illness and keeping hospitalization rates down.
- Proof of vaccination must be uploaded here prior to September 7 to access MCNY campuses. Students uploading their proof of vaccination continue to be eligible for the $100 cash incentive and will be entered into a drawing for one of two $3,000 prizes to be awarded in September.
We urge you to not delay in getting vaccinated, as the variants of the virus are causing increased rates of illness and hospitalization. Vaccinations are now readily available across the region.
- Vaccinations will be available outside each of our campuses through NYC Health & Hospitals mobile vaccination units on August 16-19 and again on September 7-10. More information on the mobile vaccine clinics can be found at: https://www.mcny.edu/event/mobile-vaccination-clinic-at-mcny/.
For anyone who may be unable to receive the vaccine for a religious or medical reason, please VaccineQuestion@mcny.edu to find out about required documentation for requesting religious or medical exemptions. If you are granted an exemption, you will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID on a weekly basis. Additional information will be forthcoming.
Members of the MCNY community have supported each other and persevered through the fears and challenges of the pandemic since March 2020. We will continue to stand together, and we will look forward to welcoming you back in September to safe and vibrant campuses.
With best wishes,
Joanne Passaro
President
Letter From MCNY President, Dr. Joanne Passaro
Dear Students,
Welcome to the fall 2020 semester! MCNY faculty and staff are excited to begin the new academic year with you, and we applaud you for your resilience and persistence in pursuing your educational goals through this pandemic.
We have been planning for the re-opening of our campuses for the past five months, following the guidance of the CDC, New York State, and the Department of Health. Many on-campus procedures have changed to reflect current best practices, and courses are being offered on a hybrid basis—with some on-campus class sessions—and online to help maintain safe campus environments. Academic and student support services will be offered on-campus by appointment, and they will continue to be offered virtually as well. But despite these and other changes, the power of Purpose-Centered Education remains undiminished, and every member of the faculty and staff remains dedicated to supporting your success.
Our Health and Safety Committee will continue to work with College leadership as the semester unfolds, monitoring local and national trends as well as data from each campus. We will adjust policies and practices as needed in order to continue to safeguard our community. We appreciate your patience and understanding, and we ask that you do your part to adhere to safety, hygiene, and physical distancing guidelines to protect the health of each member of our community—and, by extension, the health of our loved ones and home communities.
Our Dean of Students, Clotilde Ibarra, has already written to share our new on-campus protocols and the most current information available. We want to emphasize the following points:
- Everyone coming to campus— students, employees, and visitors—are required to complete a daily health assessment to be admitted to campus.
- Masks or other appropriate face coverings are required to be worn at all times while in public or shared spaces on campus. Masks will be available at the campus security desks and in various offices across campus.
- Campus support services—library, learning enhancement, disability resources, counseling, career services, and clubs and organizations—will be available by appointment at each campus, as well as by phone and online. These alternatives provide you with increased options for accessing the services you need in a safe and convenient manner.
- The campus hours of operation have changed, as have the hours of each campus department. This information was sent to you by Dean Ibarra; please be sure to refer to it as you make appointments.
We will continue to communicate with you throughout the fall semester, and we will alert you as soon as possible if any changes are made based on local conditions or new guidance. Please visit our Return to Campus web page for more detailed information about health and safety policies and protocols; we will update that page throughout the year as new information becomes available.
MCNY students have demonstrated their strength, resilience and commitment to social justice throughout the COVID pandemic; we have been inspired by your work in the classroom and on the front lines in our communities. Faculty and staff will stand with you this semester, even as circumstances continue to evolve, to provide the support you need to reach your academic goals.
Thank you for choosing to enroll at Metropolitan College of New York. Your MCNY education will lead to positive change in your career, in your community, and in our world.
Sincerely,
Joanne Passaro
President
Campus services will be open to students by appointment beginning September 8. Fall classes will be offered online or in a hybrid format. Hybrid courses include both on-campus and online instruction. Online courses may be conducted synchronously (set meeting days/times) and/or asynchronously (no set meeting days/times). The course schedule will indicate these designations.
U.S. and International students are encouraged to apply as New York City progressively flattens the curve to control the spread. For international students, we anticipate that you should still have time to obtain the F-1 visa appointment once embassies reopen and flights to New York City resume.
Please find a testing site near you at www.nyc.gov/covidtest or text COVID TEST to 855-48. If you test positive, you will be contacted by a Contact Tracer who will help you develop a care plan. Please answer the call! Learn more at http://testandtrace.nyc.
- Read the Mayor’s office for Protection of Tenant’s explainer: http://nyc.gov/tenantprotection
- Call 311 to access the Tenant Helpline to understand eligibility rules
- Apply: http://hcr.ny.gov/RRP
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 the 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.
COVID-19: MCNY’s Distribution of Student Emergency Grants through the U.S. Department of Education
Metropolitan College of New York is participating in the federal government’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, and the College has signed and submitted its Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education. MCNY has received $845,481 in emergency funds to distribute to students. We plan to distribute the funds, in as equal proportions as possible, to eligible students over three semesters—in spring 2020, summer 2020, and fall 2020– as we expect that the disruptions of the COVID crisis will continue. MCNY received access to the Student Emergency Funds on April 20, 2020.
Spring 2020
In Spring 2020, we estimated that 841 students were potentially eligible to receive an Emergency Grant under the terms of the CARES Act.
- On April 24, a message from the President was sent to all potentially eligible students asking them to apply for an emergency grant of $350 using a brief form that would indicate their emergency needs related to COVID-19. Subsequent reminder emails were sent.
- On May 8, the College decided to increase the spring award amount to a total of $450, as fewer students applied than anticipated. Students who already received grants received notice that they had been awarded the additional $100.
- As of May 19, a total of 524 students received the grants, totaling $235,800.
Fall 2020
- On September 3, MCNY provided a Re-entry Information Sheet with details on how courses will be offered and how access to campus locations will be managed.
- On September 29, an email was sent to 816 potentially eligible students announcing fall student emergency grants of $750 each through the federal CARES Act.
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As of October 14, 2020, a total of $308,250 was distributed to 411 students.
Spring 2021
- On March 25, an email was sent to 720 potentially eligible students, encouraging them to apply for emergency grants of at least $750. Undergraduate students who received PELL grants were awarded an additional $100.
- As of July 9, 2021, a total of $438,850 was distributed to 553 students.
Summer 2021
- On June 19, an email was sent to 627 potentially eligible students encouraging them to apply for emergency grants of at least $750. Students with low EFC were awarded an additional $1,500 each.
- As of July 9, 2021, a total of $762,750 was distributed to 417 students.
- As of August, a total of $123,000 was distributed to an additional 80 students.
On October 29, an email was sent to 631 potentially eligible students encouraging them to apply for emergency grants of at least $750. Students with low EFC were awarded an additional $1,500 each.
On November 9, a total of $854,250 in emergency grants were distributed to 453 eligible students.
On November 23, a total of $73,500 in emergency grants were distributed to 48 eligible students.
On March 22, a total of $921,000 in emergency grants were distributed to 490 eligible students.
In the month of May, a total of $195,678 in Student Emergency Grants were distributed to 369 Eligible Students.
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund – Institutional Portion – Reporting
- As of August 21, 2020, Metropolitan College of New York has drawn $58,236 of the available $845,481 to cover Covid-related expenditures.
- As of September 30, 2020, Metropolitan College of New York has drawn $156,040 of the available $845,481 to cover Covid-related expenditures.
- As of December 31, 2020, Metropolitan College of New York has drawn $209,132 of the available $845,481 to cover Covid-related expenditures.