Dear colleagues,
I write today with enormous, ongoing gratitude for everything you’ve done—and continue to do—to get us through the health and safety challenges of late 2021 and 2022, and to position us to welcome our students to campus for the Spring 2023 semester. With enrollment strong, over 90% of classes back in person, and protocols in place to safeguard the campus, we are well positioned to commence a new academic year and ensure that students, faculty, and staff will be able to thrive.
We are enormously proud and deeply grateful to the faculty, staff and students whose perseverance made this possible. Now we are ready to move forward, stronger than ever.
As we start a new semester, I want to provide some important updates regarding CUNY policies, as well as Hunter’s plans to have all programs, administrative offices and departments open and staffed five days a week. The Cooperman Library, Athletic Facilities and Student Union will also be open five days.
Spring Work Schedules and Remote Work Agreements
As many of you know, the Chancellor has set a minimum goal of 70% for staff members to work in person this fall. However, to meet Hunter’s expanded operational goals, including over 90% of classes back in person and facilities being open five days per week, most staff will be required to return to campus four days per week to support our students and some staff will be required to work fully in person. Please work with your manager to determine your schedule for the Spring.
Vaccinations
CUNY will continue to implement its policy that all students taking in-person or hybrid classes, with the exception of the small number of students with medical exceptions or religious exemptions, must be vaccinated to access campus. We are fortunate that the majority of our students will be returning students who have already uploaded their proof of vaccination. All students must have their vaccination documentation uploaded and approved in CUNYfirst or they will be de-registered from classes by CUNY.
Additionally, we continue to encourage faculty and staff members who have been vaccinated to upload their proof of vaccination, including booster shots. CUNYfirst has recently been updated to allow for uploading proof of booster doses. We also remind all staff that if you are not vaccinated, you must continue to test weekly.
Random Testing
CUNY will continue its random testing program by testing 5% of the campus community. Please monitor your email, including your spam folder, for notifications from Cleared4. Please note: if you are selected for random testing, you will need to be tested within the week you receive the email. We want to remind you that you can go to any CUNY testing site to be tested. More information on CUNY testing locations and hours can found here. Please note that failure to comply may result in CUNY revoking your access to campus.
If you test positive at a CUNY testing site, our Coronavirus Liaison will be notified and will be in touch with instructions. If you test positive at a non-CUNY site, please write an email to COVIDhub@hunter.cuny.edu, and you will be contacted with guidance about isolation protocols.
It is important to note that if you have tested positive within the past 30 days, you will be exempt from the random testing requirement. Similarly, if you do not plan to be on campus this semester for any reason, you may be exempt. Please contact COVIDhub@hunter.cuny.edu for more information.
I look forward to seeing many of you back on campus in the coming days and weeks. Together, we will ensure a safe and successful semester for our students and the entire Hunter community.
As always, thank you for everything you do for Hunter.
With appreciation,
Jennifer J. Raab
