To the Pace Community:
This weekend we learned of the first reported case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York City. Today we learned of a case in Westchester. The risk in New York State remains very low, but these developments are reminders that the situation is rapidly evolving and that, even though there are no reported cases at Pace, we all must be vigilant.
Our University leadership is continuing to monitor the situation, and
we strongly encourage everyone to observe the
CDC’s recommended
precautions
, including
washing your hands
thoroughly and frequently and avoiding touching your face
. If you’re not feeling well, don’t come to school or work.
Following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO),
we are advising all students, faculty, and staff to exercise prudence in your upcoming travel plans
, including over spring break.
This CDC webpage
lists the countries for which there are current travel warnings.
Effective immediately, we are instituting the following policies regarding all international travel, whether academic or for business purposes:
- If any travel brings you to a Level 3 country, or one that reaches Level 3 while you’re visiting, you must notify University Health Care before you can return to Pace, and you may be required to observe the 14-day quarantine recommended by the New York State Department of Health or provide documentation from a healthcare provider that you are authorized to return to school or work. We’ll do everything possible to ensure you stay up-to-date with your studies or responsibilities via remote access.
- If you are planning any Pace-sponsored international travel, whether or not it is a formal Study Abroad program, or international travel for Pace business, you must receive approval for your trip via this form. Faculty should submit on behalf of Pace-sponsored programs. Faculty, staff, and students traveling independently should complete the form. The Provost will review requests for academic travel, and the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer will review requests for non-academic travel.
- We are canceling any immediate University-sponsored travel to countries the CDC has designated as Level 3. We will continue to evaluate future trips and make determinations as conditions change.
- Proposed trips to countries currently designated as risk Levels 1 and 2 will be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis once submitted via the form above. No student, faculty, or staff will be required to participate in international travel.
- If the CDC changes a country’s risk status to a higher level while you’re there on a Pace-run, faculty-led program, we will coordinate your return. If you’re studying abroad with a partner institution, you may choose whether to return to the United States.
If you have questions on any of these policies, please contact Barry Stinson, assistant vice president for international programs, at
bstinson@pace.edu
.
Our top priority is the safety and security of everyone at Pace. We believe these steps will help to keep us all healthy. If you develop symptoms or think you may have been exposed to coronavirus, please contact
University Health Care
or your healthcare provider immediately. We also understand that this uncertainty can be stressful, so please remember that students have access to the
Counseling Centers
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We will update you as we have more information. All guidance and updates on Pace policies regarding coronavirus are available
here
.
Sincerely,
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Vanya Quiñones, PhD
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
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