Faculty Update: September 10

Dear New York Tech Faculty,

Welcome to the new fall semester! While severe weather threw some damaging curve balls, we continue to work on ensuring that we meet classroom needs. I thank you in advance for your cooperation and flexibility in all regards, but specifically should a room change become necessary to serve our students. I want to highlight information in my previous email and give you some additional information as well.

Health and safety are of the utmost concern for us. As such, please be aware of the following:

Masks are mandatory for anyone on campus in any indoor space, and vaccinations are mandated. Please see the August 23 email and yesterday’s email from President Foley and read periodic updates from Dr. Brian Harper, our chief medical officer.
Updated information can be found on the COVID vaccine information page and the campus reopening web page, which also contains information on in-person teaching (e.g., concerns) and other relevant and helpful items.
Reopening plans for both campuses will also provide updated information, while many previously instituted COVID-related procedures (e.g., cleaning) are still in place. Classroom capacities, for instance, have been adjusted to have less seats than pre-pandemic times.
Since changes in the pandemic occur daily, students may also have new concerns and challenges. We have developed policies to address student attendance requirements who may have health challenges (like faculty) who have originally signed-up for an in-person class.
Please review Faculty FAQs and Student FAQs pages, which have clear answers to common questions and are reviewed and updated regularly.
Students and faculty wishing to pursue special accommodations should do so by September 16. In addition, current policies will be continuously re-examined this semester, especially as changes in our environment may occur with seasonal changes.

Please congratulate the following winners of the 2021 Presidential Engagement Awards. This year, we received a record total number of nominations! I send a special thanks to all of them for dedication and commitment to New York Tech students.

Excellence in Teaching by Part-time Faculty: Larry Jaffee, Adjunct Professor of Communication Arts, College of Arts & Sciences.
Excellence in Teaching by Full-time Faculty: Sophia Domokos, Assistant Professor of Physics, College of Arts & Sciences.
Student Engagement in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activities: Bryan Gibb, Assistant Professor of Biological & Chemical Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
Diversity and Inclusive Excellence: Brent Owens, Director of Regional Recruitment and Pipeline Programs, NYITCOM-Jonesboro
Innovator Award: Ehsan Kamel, Assistant Professor of Energy Management, College of Engineering & Computing Sciences
Team Award: Center for Teaching & Learning (Associate Provost Francine Glazer, Online Program & Design Manager Beatrice Figueroa, Executive Assistant Jaqueline Jacobi, Senior Media Support Specialist Linda Matthews, and Instructional Designer Noreen O’Brien)

Lastly, there are many new student study and social spaces. I hope the following list of locations/amenities and flyers for the Long Island and New York City campuses are helpful to you:

NEW YORK CITY CAMPUS

26 W. 61st St.
Basement Computer Lounge: seating, power, desktop computers, AND wifi
Lower Level Lounge: vending, seating, power, and wifi

16 W. 61st St.
Ground Floor Lounge: seating, power, and wifi

1855 Broadway
Ground Floor Lounge: seating, power, wifi, and copiers/printers
Second Floor Library Lounge: desktops, seating, power, wifi, and copiers/printers
Third Floor: Computer Lounge: seating, desktop computers, power, and wifi
Third Floor Study Area: study carrels (will have a study room pod when it arrives)

1849 Broadway
Lounge: seating, power, and wifi (will have a study room pod when it arrives)

LONG ISLAND CAMPUS

Salten Hall
Upper Lounge: seating, power, and wifi
Study lounge: seating, power, wifi, and copiers
Innovation Hall (opening on Sept. 20): seating, power, wifi, and printers

Anna Rubin Hall
Lounge: seating, power, and wifi
Study Rooms (bookable): Seating, power, and wifi

Harry Schure Hall
First Floor Lounge: seating, power, and wifi (more furniture to be delivered next week)
Distance Learning Lounge: Seating, power, and wifi

SAC
Café Orso: seating, power, wifi, and café

Education Hall
Cafeteria: seating, power, wifi, and vending TBD
Architecture Library: seating, power, and wifi

Outdoor Spaces (seating and wifi)
Academic Quad
Medical School Quad
Riland Parklet

Thanks again for all you do for our students. Best wishes for a successful fall semester!

Sincerely,

Junius J. Gonzales, M.D., M.B.A.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs