We appreciate your patience and understanding as the entire community works to get plans and information in place regarding the reopening of the building and the beginning of the Fall 2020 Semester. Our plan, which we developed in consultation with the Building Re-Opening Task Force comprised of administration, faculty, staff, and students, was approved late last night by the University.
As you know, we will continue all our operations primarily remotely with all instruction on-line through the fall semester. The building will be accessible by appointment only to students and graduates preparing for the bar exam for physically-distanced study, faculty with permission from the dean, clinic clients, and essential staff beginning August 26, 2020.
In the first few weeks, as we monitor our processes, the building will be open to up to 85 students and grads for study in the library only. Once we are sure our processes work to create a safe workspace, we hope to open more spaces and to accommodate more students and grads.
Information on making appointments, as well as detailed health and safety protocol, operations updates, department info, resources, and FAQs are now live.
law.cuny.edu/virtual
Please review and refer to this space throughout the semester; announcement emails such as this one will be posted there.
The measures below are to help maintain the safety of students, faculty, staff, contractors, and community members during the COVID-19 pandemic and are subject to change and will remain flexible to adjust to an uncertain and rapidly changing landscape. We are grateful to all members of our community for their diligence in following the guidelines:
- All members of the Law School community will have to comply with policies and procedures designed to keep members of the CUNY Law and broader community safe. The Law School is not open to people outside the community at this time.
- Other than Essential Personnel, no one is being required to return to the building this Fall Semester. All those who wish to visit the building must request an access appointment, submit a COVID-19 self-assessment form within one hour before the approved appointment time, and take their temperature with a scan thermometer upon entry.
- No person who has not complied with NYS government out-of-state travel quarantine requirements will be permitted in the building.
- Each person entering the building will have their temperature checked by a wall-mounted thermometer and will be refused entry if a temperature above 100° is registered.
- Everyone must wear a mask at all times inside the building. The only exception is if you are the only occupant of a room with a closed door. Masks are available by request at the front desk. If you believe you have a condition that requires an exception, please contact HR or Pat Kennedy.
- Signage and instruction regarding 6-foot physical distancing, occupancy, cleaning, and hygiene are posted throughout the building. By entering the building, everyone is agreeing to follow these signs and instructions.
- Entering the building is an agreement to follow our Community Pledge to take every precaution possible for ourselves and others to ensure public health and safety to the best of our ability. Concerns or reports of violations of the pledge can be sent to coronavirus.coordinator@law.cuny.edu.
We look forward to the time when we can be in the building again. We trust that between now and then our cooperation in following this plan will keep our community strong.
We remind students that if they do not have the hardware, software, or internet access they need to actively and consistently participate in the program, or if they have other emergency needs, they should visit the CUNY Law Emergency Grant Page and apply so that we can provide support.
Please address questions or concerns about this plan to coronavirus.coordinator@law.cuny.edu.
Updates and FAQs are summarized here and expanded upon at
law.cuny.edu/virtual
More info at law.cuny.edu/virtual/health-safety
COVID-19 Cases Protocol: Any person with a positive case diagnosis who has been in the building must self-report the date of positive diagnosis and all on-campus contacts to: CUNY Law Coronavirus Liaison, Jonathan Rizzo, Student Services:
Coronavirus.liasion@law.cuny.edu
More info at law.cuny.edu/virtual/travel
Foreign and Domestic: ALL foreign travel related to the Law School – business, curricular, co-curricular, extra-curricular — requires approval from the CUNY Central Office. CUNY Central also requires that all domestic travel be approved by the Dean. Please contact Student Affairs or the Clinic Director (donna.lee@law.cuny.edu) for more information.
ACADEMIC & STUDENT AFFAIRS
More info at FAQs and Keep Learning
Platforms: After additional enhanced technical training the faculty will continue to use Zoom technology to conduct synchronous classes, but will employ both synchronous and asynchronous teaching methodologies for fall courses. They will use a variety of widely adopted course management systems, including TWEN, Blackboard, and Canvas.
Attendance: Like with in-person classes, attendance at CUNY School of Law is mandatory, and students will be required to sign in to engage in both synchronous and asynchronous coursework. Details related to attendance can be found in the syllabus for each course.
Exams: Professors will detail the format for course examinations in their syllabi. Please refer questions about grading to individual instructors.
Grading: We will use the standard Law School grading policy detailed in the Student Handbook.
Calendar: The Fall 2020 Academic Calendar can be found on the CUNY Law website at https://www.law.cuny.edu/wp-content/uploads/page-assets/academics/calendar/Fall-2020-Academic-Calendar.pdf. Note that it is possible that there will be periodic updates and/or changes to the schedule, but any changes will be reflected on the website.
Clinics, Practice Clinics, and Internships/Externships
Detailed info in FAQs: “What is happening with Clinics & Externships”
Clinic and Practice Clinic seminar classes will be scheduled and held remotely. Clinic project and casework will be done remotely whenever possible to prioritize and safeguard the health and safety of clinic clients, community partners, students, staff, and faculty. When in-person, face-to-face meetings are necessary, such as to work with a client for whom an in-person meeting is necessary to do adequate preparation, then the law school building will be available for confidential client meetings. No clinic students, staff, or professors will be required to attend meetings or court appearances in person if, for whatever reason, they choose not to participate in person. To the extent possible, clinic faculty will seek to provide those who are not able to participate in person, an opportunity to participate remotely.
The Pantry: The student community pantry with foodstuffs, sundries, and supplies is open by appointment and located on the first floor.
Spaces Open to Students: We are in Phase II of our Building Re-Opening Plan. The spaces open to students are the Library, the kitchenette on the 6th floor for use of the refrigerator and the microwave (but not gathering), the second floor for use of the microwave and designated seats for solo eating, and the first floor for passage. No food or drink is allowed in the Library other than a beverage (remove your mask only to drink). The restrooms on 1, 2, and 6 are open for student use.
Small group meetings: If the need for in-person group meetings by students or for students occurs, that will be managed through the appointments process and will require permission from the Coronavirus Coordinator or the Dean.
More info at law.cuny.edu/virtual/operations
Student and Administrative Services: All student services will be available remotely. Please contact them using departmental inboxes during business hours.
The Student Affairs Office will help you connect with the appropriate professional if you email studentaffairsoffice@law.cuny.edu. Watch for the weekly newsletter to learn more about our counseling services, our health and wellness offerings, and our programming. To seek accommodations, email kennedy@law.cuny.edu.
The Student Affairs Office will continue to support Student Government, our student organizations, and other student activities. All activities will be held online. No school-sponsored extracurricular events or meetings will take place on or off-campus through the fall semester. Contact Amanda.beltran@law.cuny.edu for more information.
The Career Planning Office has planned a robust online program to help you develop a career path and to support your summer and post-graduation job searches. Watch the newsletter and for individual emails to learn about events, interviews, workshops, drop-ins, and individual career planning meetings. Contact the office at careerplanningoffice@law.cuny.edu.
The Registrar, the Bursar, Reprographics, the Business Office, Communications, Purchasing, and the Bookstore will all be operating online during business hours and by appointment during other hours.
Student Hardware, Software, and Internet Access: Students with hardware, software, or internet needs should apply for a CUNY Law Emergency Grant. In addition CUNY Central will be providing unlimited Zoom licenses to students, stay tuned on how to register through the procurement process
Library Services: The library’s in-person services are closed. We will reassess on a weekly basis whether or not we can resume services on-site. However, most services are available online. Go to the Library Guide to see the virtual services that are available to the community. Email legal.research@law.cuny.edu for further information.
Printing Services: The Konica Printer on the first floor near Reprographics is available for student copying and printing needs by appointment. Make a building appointment online to use this printer. In addition, Reprographics is currently open Thursdays from 11am-3pm (with hours increasing as the needs increase) for larger or more complicated print jobs. More info on making requests here.
Public Health Monitoring Communication Plan
Updates on Operations
- An email from Dean Bilek or Dean Geisel will be sent to students, faculty, staff, and building personnel.
- The contents of the email will be posted to CUNY Law’s website.
- A summary alert directing audiences to the full update will be posted to Twitter and Instagram @CUNYLaw.
Updates on Academic Affairs & Policies
- An email from Dean Bilek or Dean Cammett will be sent to students, faculty, staff, and building personnel
- The contents of the email will be posted to CUNY Law’s website.
- A summary alert directing audiences to the full update will be posted to Twitter and Instagram @CUNYLaw.
Updates on Public Health Information
- An email from Dean Bilek or Dean Wilson-Barnes will be sent to students, faculty, staff, and building personnel.
- The contents of the email will be posted to CUNY Law’s website.
- A summary alert directing audiences to the full update will be posted to Twitter and Instagram @CUNYLaw.