Important Update: In-Person Classes Cancelled

March 10, 2020 BK LI

Last night, the College learned that a child who attends the Dillon Child Study Center at SJC Brooklyn may have been exposed to the COVID-19 Virus. As a result and out of an abundance of caution, the Dillon Center was closed this morning and will remain closed until after Spring Break. The Center will reopen on March 23, 2020. Since we do have staff and students working at the Dillon Center that frequent our Brooklyn Campus, and because the course of the virus is such that it seems prudent to do so, we are canceling all in-person classes effective 12:30 p.m. today for the remainder of the week at our campuses in Brooklyn and Patchogue. It is important to note that there are no known incidents of exposure at SJC outside of this isolated case. 

The College will also be extending its Spring Break past March 20 through March 27. On or near March 27, the College will decide if in-person classes will resume or whether further course work will be extended to online modalities. Students involved in off-campus activities, including clinical rotations, internships and student teaching should contact their department chairs and site managers for further guidance. The College will support any decisions in accordance with state guidelines and that which have the approval of the department chair and/or executive dean. 

We are also asking faculty to begin to plan for the possibility of moving their classes online as soon as possible, but no later than during our designated Spring Break period. Our Office of Information Technology Services staff stands ready to assist in these efforts, and there will be further information sent out to faculty shortly on training possibilities. It is important to note that, while we are temporarily canceling in-person classes, our already existing Online courses will continue as currently scheduled, including during the extra Spring Break period for both SJC Brooklyn and SJC Long Island. During the extended break, some faculty may wish to continue instruction electronically, and where possible, this is highly encouraged. Students should also be checking their email regularly to see the status of their classes during this extended period and beyond.

Staff members are asked to check with their Unit Managers about their work schedules. I have given Vice Presidents the authority to make decisions about work schedules and other issues related to staff presence over the coming several weeks. We must ensure that our campus activities continue, but we will do so wisely and with special consideration to the needs and concerns of our entire College community. In consideration of the current situation, the special CWMD event previously scheduled for staff members at SJC Brooklyn for tomorrow is now canceled.

There will undoubtedly be media calling and questioning of our community members on these steps. Please refer any media inquiries to our Vice President for Marketing and Communications Jessica McAleer Decatur at [email protected] or 631.687.2667. I thank all of you in advance for your understanding and cooperation in the coming days.