The FA has been receiving numerous questions about what the fall semester will be like. We wish we had answers for you at this time, but college administration is awaiting feedback, as some of the answers will have to come from SUNY, the state ed department and the CDC. Stay tuned for updates from us and/or a general membership meeting over the summer.

You've got questions.

We've got questions too.

College administration has received some guidance but still awaits feedback from SUNY on a variety of issues that our members would like to know sooner rather than later.

We know this process is frustrating. We've all heard administrators say that fall 2021 won't be like fall 2019, that we'll be moving into some kind of "new normal." Most of our members understand this, but still need to have some sense of what to expect in fall 2021 so we can plan our work and personal lives.

We get it. And we'll let you know as soon as we know, so please keep an eye out for emails from us over the summer and/or for general membership meetings. For now, we can only tell you what we currently understand at this moment in time.

• In an April 12, 2021, memo from Chancellor Malatras, SUNY indicates that colleges are able to return to their traditional calendars for fall 2021.
  
  
• Because SUNY is still subject to federal and state guidance, they are currently working with a team of SUNY health experts to determine what rules to incorporate with regard to things like masking in classrooms, social distancing guidelines, gathering sizes on campus, filtration systems and the like. SUNY expects these guidelines to continue to be in flux as we watch the progress of Covid rates and new variants throughout the state.
  
  
• Administration is inquiring about the mandatory distance (six feet or three feet) as well as how this applies to our nonclassroom employees, including librarians, counselors, academic services such as tutoring and student activities. Other questions awaiting SUNY feedback have to do with dining on campus, shutdown protocols and how to address issues when students, faculty and staff request not to return to campus for health reasons.
  
  
• SUNY is also currently working on a surveillance testing protocol for fall 2021, since it will be impossible to do weekly testing when we increase the number of students on campus.
  
  
  • Administration awaits feedback on whether vaccinated individuals will need to be tested, the frequency of testing, the return time for test results and the daily health questionnaire.
    
    
• SUNY is working to vaccinate as many students, faculty and staff as possible as well as running public awareness campaigns such as #ItsYourTurn and #KnowYourVax. If SUNY does not see enough students, faculty and staff getting vaccinated, they will consider a mandatory vaccine, subject to state law and authority.
  
  
  • Administration has sought guidance on when a potential mandatory vaccination plan will be known, who will be impacted and how to respond to those who cannot or will not get the vaccine.
    
    

Again, we understand that not knowing can feel very frustrating, but given how many variables are involved, there is not much we are able to confirm at this point. We will notify our membership once we get answers to some of the above questions.

Stay tuned!