The FA has created a Covid vaccination clearinghouse on our website to help members find locations where they can try to secure appointments to get vaccinated.

On March 20, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued the "New York State on Pause" executive order which resulted in all New York State colleges transitioning to remote learning. 

While most SCCC faculty worked from home, essential workers were required to come to campus. This included information technology services (ITS) faculty who came to campus throughout the spring to configure laptops and wireless hotspots that were loaned to students who did not have adequate technology at home. Over the summer, most non-classroom faculty started to return to campus. During the month of August, ITS staff help set up arena advising centers and student services faculty spent much of the month of August registering students.   

Since September, counselors, librarians, coordinators, PAs, specialists and some classroom faculty have been working on campus. The FA is thankful for all you do to keep the college open. Below are some answers to the frequently asked questions that we receive from faculty reporting to campus. 

How many days a week am I supposed to work on campus?

There is no easy answer to this question. The number of days that you work on campus depends on the type of work you do and the ability to social distance in your workspace. 

Who is required to fill out the health screening questionnaire?

Every person coming on campus is required to fill out a health screening questionnaire.  We recommend filling out the questionnaire before coming to campus. You can either print the confirmation or have the confirmation ready to display on your phone when you arrive on campus. If you do not fill out the questionnaire online, a paper copy will be provided.

I often have some of the Covid-related symptoms that are listed on the health screening questionnaire. What should I do?

The list of Covid-related symptoms is extensive, and many of us have other health related issues that have similar symptoms. It is important when you fill out the form that you only click yes if you have new symptoms. If you have any questions or if you have Covid symptoms, contact the Office of Human Resources at 631-451-4239 or via email at avphr@sunysuffolk.edu.

What can I do if I or someone in my household has a medical condition that would put us at risk if we caught Covid? Will the college provide accommodations that would enable me to work at home?

Contact the Office of Human Resources at 631-451-4239 or via email at avphr@sunysuffolk.edu to request an accommodation. Human Resources staff will evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis.

How often am I required to take a Covid test?

You will be required to take a Covid test any week that you are required to be on campus; consult the testing schedule to find the best times for you. The college does pool saliva testing for which you use a cotton swab to take a saliva sample. The entire process usually takes less than ten minutes and can be done during your normal working hours. You do not need to take a test if you are not working on campus on a particular week. You will only be contacted if you test positive for Covid.

Can I opt out of the college Covid testing program?

If you prefer, you can be tested off campus. Before you do so, you need to contact HR at 631-451-4239 or via email at avphr@sunysuffolk.edu to make sure that the tests meet SUNY requirements.

What happens if I test positive for Covid or I have been told that I need to quarantine?

You should contact the Office of Human Resources at 631-451-4239 or via email at avphr@sunysuffolk.edu. Depending on the circumstances, you may not need to use your leave time while you are at home.

What happens if someone at the college tests positive for Covid?

When the college receives notification that a student or employee has Covid, they do contract tracing and report the results to the Suffolk Department of Health. There are several college employees that were trained and received certification to be contract tracers last summer. The contract tracers will notify the people who have to quarantine according to the CDC/Suffolk County DOH guidelines. Due to HIPAA privacy concerns, you will not be given information about people who have tested positive unless it is necessary for contact tracing.

How many people at the college have tested positive for Covid?

Data for the number of Covid cases on SUNY campuses can be found at the SUNY Covid-19 Case Tracker. The rate of infection on our campuses is far lower than the rest of Suffolk County.

If I work on campus am I eligible for the Covid vaccine?

Group 1B includes "in-person college faculty or instructor." This would seem to indicate that any faculty member working on campus is eligible for the vaccine. Faculty working entirely remotely are not included in Group 1B unless they are over 65.

How can I schedule an appointment for the Covid vaccine?

Unfortunately, there is far more demand than vaccine supply. The FA has created a Covid vaccination clearinghouse with links to the various vaccination sites. You need to be persistent and check these sites frequently to get an appointment. The vaccination sites at the Grant and Eastern are independent from the college and faculty cannot make appointments through the college.

What should I do if I feel that my area is unsafe?

You should contact your supervisor and/or the executive dean of your campus.  If you are uncomfortable with contacting administration, you can email me (kevinmc@fascc.org); even if you contact administration, you should contact the FA also so we are aware of any potential safety issues.