From President Frank H. Wu:

Planning for the Fall 2021 semester continues in earnest. I want to thank the Ad Hoc Working Group on Reopening for all their critical work in this regard. Please allow me to share some pertinent information on three related topics in advance of our reopening.

COVID-19 vaccinations, which are required for all students taking classes on campus, make in-person operations possible. Please bear in mind that no vaccine can eliminate all risks. The most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that even fully vaccinated individuals may become infected with the Delta variant and can spread the virus to others. To protect all members of the Queens College community—including people who are immunocompromised and/or over the age of 65—everyone must wear face masks, for now, in indoor settings at the campus.

We are pleased that faculty and staff will be returning to campus on August 16, and we want to ensure that all employees are able to work safely and productively. In order to minimize density within offices as well as to facilitate tracking and tracing, employees are asked to continue using email, the telephone, or Zoom when communicating with other departments. If an in-person visit is necessary, please contact the department for an appointment. By working together, we can ensure everyone’s safety.

#VaxUpCUNY is the University’s campaign to encourage and assist everyone at CUNY in getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Being fully vaccinated remains the most important step you can take to protect yourself from severe illness and death from the virus and potentially infecting your loved ones and others close to you. The #VaxUpCUNY webpage at https://www.cuny.edu/coronavirus/#faq provides resources to help you learn more about the vaccines and your many options for receiving them.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping the Queens College campus safer for all. We will, of course, continue to monitor developments at the federal, state, city, and CUNY levels and make adjustments as appropriate. If you have any questions, please email ReturntoQC2020@qc.cuny.edu.

I look forward to seeing staff and faculty on August 16 or soon after, as we spend time on our campus in an environment that we will cooperatively make as safe as possible. Further guidance will be shared as it becomes available. Please continue to check your college email.