Coronavirus Update

Message from the Dean

Dear CUNY SPS community,

The last few months have been an unimaginable time for us all. The COVID-19 crisis has changed our world in a way that none of us could possibly have anticipated. As we navigate this ongoing crisis, I am thinking of you all—our students, faculty, staff, alumni, board, and friends—and I recognize the extraordinary amount of stress you are all going through.

Many of you are nurses or healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic, making huge sacrifices to help save lives.

Most of you have the overwhelming task of juggling working from home, completing your coursework, and taking care of your family.  Some of you are learning to transition to a fully online format or to adapt to new technologies, particularly those of you in our three on-campus programs.  Many others of you have lost your jobs, or are experiencing financial instability and preparing for an uncertain economic future.

And all of you—like all of us—are facing the threat of your own personal illness, or that of a loved one.

As dean of CUNY SPS, my top concern right now is to make sure you are able to continue your education safely and with as little disruption as possible. With that in mind, and after consultation with the University, CUNY SPS will be maintaining fully remote operations throughout Fall 2020. 

For nearly all our students, this decision will not affect your classes in any way. As the leader in online education at CUNY, most of our academic programs were already fully online before the COVID-19 crisis. (Our three on-campus programs—Human Relations, Youth Studies, and Applied Theatre—will also remain online for Fall 2020.)  I am so thankful to all of our faculty for their commitment and hard work in ensuring high-quality instruction for all of our students.

Even with this continuity, I understand that other life circumstances may make it harder to focus. To help with this, I am working with faculty and administrators to think of new ways to support you. I encourage you to visit our website to learn about the policies we’ve implemented and the resources we’ve compiled to help you.

Each day, I am inspired by the tremendous acts of devotion, kindness, and sacrifice that I see everyone making to support each other during this crisis. I have never been prouder of our community, and I know that we will get through this together. 

Be safe and be well!

John Mogulescu, Dean

CUNY SPS UPdates

Stay informed of the latest news from the CUNY SPS community.

CUNY SPS Counseling Services

During this extraordinarily challenging time, students who feel that they may need some assistance can contact CUNY SPS Counseling Services at counseling@sps.cuny.edu. Likewise, resources for tax-levy faculty and staff are available through the Employee Assistance Program, Deer Oaks, at the Deer Oaks website using “cuny” (all lowercase) as your username and password. Research Foundation staff can contact a similar program, Health Advocate, at 866-799-2728.

Many people are struggling with the emotional demands of coping with COVID-19. If you would like support for this, there are several resources available to you.

• Coping with COVID-19

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Please forward inquiries to Daniella Donald, HR Benefits Specialist at daniella.donald@cuny.edu. 

• Emergency Paid Sick Leave Attestation and Request Form
• Emergency Family Medical Leave Expansion Attestation and Request Form
• Families First Coronavirus Act – Employee Rights Poster (English)
• Families First Coronavirus Act – Employee Rights Poster (Spanish)

Reporting Illness

Members of the faculty, tax-levy staff, or Research Foundation staff who may need to report contact with the Coronavirus should contact K. Maynard, director of human resources, at kristin.maynard@cuny.edu or (646) 664-8680 directly.

Students who report contact with the Coronavirus should be referred to Washington Hernandez at washington.hernandez@cuny.edu.

CUNY Updates

CUNY offers a variety of resources, tools, and tips to ensure that students, faculty, and staff have a rewarding semester.

CUNY Resources

• Chancellor's Emergency Relief Fund
• CUNY Coronavirus Updates
• CUNY Continuity For Students
• CUNY’s Health and Wellness Services
• Coronavirus Wellness Resources

Additional Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH)
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
• Governor Andrew Cuomo

Statement of Non-Discrimination

Statement of non-discrimination in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) threat:
CUNY SPS reaffirms our commitment to diversity and reminds our campus community that we promote and support a culture of civility, respect, and inclusion.  As we respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) threat, it is essential that we remain supportive of all members of our campus community during these challenging times.
 
Discriminatory behavior based on misinformation, assumptions, and prejudice against persons of a specific race or ethnicity will not be tolerated, and any member of the campus community who believes that they are being treated in a discriminatory manner is encouraged to contact the Chief Diversity Officer at (646) 618-0129 or sahana.gupta@cuny.edu​.