Information on COVID-19 and Campus Response and Operations

New Academic Plan Due for SUNY Delhi

In response to the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation and the announcement that Delaware County has declared a state of emergency, SUNY Delhi has developed an updated comprehensive plan. These updates will minimize our population density and maximize social distancing on our campus and assist students with completing their coursework this semester.

Effective immediately, SUNY Delhi will implement the following schedule.

Today, Sunday, March 15 - Sunday, March 29: Two-week spring break 
During this time, there will be no instruction and students may leave campus to go home at any time. Once students leave, they cannot return until April 19.  However, no student will be required to leave campus. Any student staying must notify their Resident Director or the Office of Residence Life before 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16. Before leaving for Spring Break, all students are reminded to take their personal items, textbooks, and instructional materials, including a device that will allow them to connect to the internet. Please remember to take your medications, personal hygiene items, and other personal belongings you will need for the next five weeks.

Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 17: ONLINE instruction ONLY
Details for online instruction will be emailed to students by their instructors.

Sunday, April 19
Residence halls will open at noon. Students will return to SUNY Delhi for in-person instruction for the remainder of the semester.

Monday, April 20 - Friday, May 8: In-person instruction on the SUNY Delhi campus
Students will complete coursework and/or lab instruction on-campus to meet course and certification requirements. 

Monday, May 11- Friday, May 15: Finals week
Students will make up course requirements or to take finals to complete the semester.

Saturday, May 16: Commencement
The commencement is still being planned, but we will send an update if a cancelation or any changes are necessary in accordance with directives from SUNY or the Department of Health. 

The COVID-19 situation requires all of us to remain flexible. Information may change on a daily basis, requiring us to amend this schedule. Please continue to monitor your email and this page for the most up-to-date information.

At this time, the campus will remain open and fully staffed.

Thank you,

Dr. Michael R. Laliberte
President

Campus Updates and Q&A

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

SUNY Delhi has always been deeply committed to our campus community’s safety and well-being. The recent crisis surrounding COVID-19 has caused individuals to question that fact and has even prompted others to make unfounded claims about conditions and plans for our campus. We have been working diligently to develop a plan that works for all those involved. It has taken some time to formulate our plan and to get it approved. I apologize to you for this perceived lapse in communication, as it has always been our intent to get to you the most accurate and complete plans as quickly as possible. Due to the complicated nature of this crisis, this has taken more time than anticipated. Now that we have a more complete plan, I want to take this opportunity to let you know how, together, we will keep our campus safe and well, while continuing to promote student success and deliver high-quality academic programs throughout this trying time.

Many of you have either read about or watched the Governor's comments from yesterday. He made a number of declarative statements regarding SUNY that have since been clarified. The timeline that he shared regarding the movement of the SUNY curriculum delivery from in-person to online/alternative instruction was meant to target those institutions that are presently on spring break or are soon to be on spring break. That timeline does not coincide with SUNY Delhi's plans. Our spring break is not scheduled to start until April 3, which is three weeks away. Therefore, our timeline is different. Additionally, as you well know, a SUNY Delhi education is truly defined by a hands-on approach to learning, meaning that our students learn by doing. This is difficult to capture in an online environment. We needed to create other opportunities for students to gain the experience and skills necessary to successfully fulfill the requirements of their programs.

As a result, the Academic Leadership Team has been creative and innovative in developing a plan that works with our academic calendar and our unique course offerings. The plan, outlined in this letter, will be more fully explained and clarified at meetings scheduled with the Deans of each of the academic schools on Friday, March 13.  Every student is required to attend their school's scheduled meeting, as this is where they will learn the details that are specific to their individual academic program. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to speak with their Dean and other faculty members and get answers to specific questions. We hope that these sessions help to quell your fears and provide you with a clear understanding of responsibilities and expectations during this difficult time.

SUNY Delhi Plan Information Sessions:
On Friday, March 13, each academic school will host information sessions for students. Some schools, because of their size, will offer two sessions. You only need to attend one. Every student is required to attend their school's scheduled meeting. At these meetings, the Deans and faculty will inform students of the new schedule and manner in which classes will be delivered. Each schedule will vary, as they are based on academic programs. These sessions will provide the details and necessary information you will need to keep moving forward.

School of Applied Technologies and Architecture: 8 a.m. at Clark Field House Gym

School of Nursing: 9 a.m. at the Okun Theatre

School of Liberal Arts and Sciences: 10 a.m. at the Okun Theatre OR 11 a.m. at the Okun Theatre

School of Business and Hospitality Management: 11 a.m. at Alumni Hall upstairs OR 3 p.m. at Alumni Hall upstairs

School of Veterinary and Applied Sciences: 12 p.m. (noon) at 104 Evenden Tower (pit)

SUNY Delhi Plan:

• Beginning Monday, March 16, students will have lab-intense class sessions. All labs will be delivered in person. The new schedule is intended to ensure that all labs required for programmatic accreditations, licensures, certificates, and hands-on requirements can occur before spring break.
• Spring break will begin on Friday, April 3, and end on Monday, April 13. There will be no instruction during this time. However, students who would like to stay on campus during the break are welcome to stay in their residence hall rooms. Foodservice will be available.
• Beginning Monday, April 13, all classroom instruction will be available through alternative delivery systems until the end of spring semester. This system may include online instruction, project-based learning, Zoom meetings with faculty, etc. These methods are dependent on the classes that you are taking. This information will be shared with you at the academic school meeting on Friday, March 13.
• During this time, and throughout the remainder of the semester, the campus residence halls and some dining venues will be open. Students are welcome to remain on campus. However, if you go to any area where the infection rate is high (Westchester County, NYC, etc.), you will be required to be isolated for 14 days before you can rejoin the residence hall community.

At this time, the SUNY Delhi community remains at low risk for exposure to the COVID-19. We ask that students refrain from going home or to high-risk areas during these next three weeks, so we can maintain our low-risk status. In order to further reduce the campus density and risk of exposure, the following campus conditions have been put in place:

• Effective immediately, only SUNY Delhi students, faculty, and staff will be allowed in the residence halls.
• All events and activities are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Updates will be communicated via Delhi Today and BroncoConnect.
• CADI dining locations will be open only to SUNY Delhi students, faculty, and staff.
• Residence halls will remain open and dining services will remain available until the end of the semester, including during spring break, unless there is a major development in the situation.
• Effective immediately, the Trailways bus will only pick up and drop off at the downtown location. Bus tickets will still be available to students at the Barnes and Noble bookstore.
• Any student who is concerned about symptoms, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath, and who has been to an area with confirmed cases of COVID-19, is asked to call ahead for an appointment to the Health and Counseling Center in Foreman Hall at 607-746-4690.

As part of our comprehensive planning, we are reviewing the issuance of refunds and plans for commencement. More information will be forthcoming as the situation continues to develop. Please continue to read your email daily for additional messages and monitor our website for more detailed answers to specific questions. 

This evolving situation may be stressful and cause uncertainty. We are doing our best to address all concerns. I sincerely appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.  

- Dr. Michael R. Laliberte
President - SUNY Delhi

The campus leaders met today regarding SUNY Delhi’s response to COVID-19. We developed a comprehensive plan that is currently under review at SUNY. We are awaiting their feedback and will send a detailed announcement to the campus community by early evening.

This is a follow-up to the announcement sent earlier this afternoon.

As of today, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the SUNY Delhi campus or in Delaware County. Therefore, in accordance with SUNY guidelines, SUNY Delhi has made the following decisions:

• The college will remain open.
• Students will not be sent home.
• Classes will be held as scheduled.
• The campus will operate under our regular schedule.
• Athletic teams will continue to compete as scheduled.

In case of a major development in the virus outbreak, SUNY Delhi will adjust our response with advisement from SUNY, NYS Department of Health, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Any updates will be communicated through Delhi Today and the SUNY Delhi website.

For clarification on Governor Cuomo’s press conference today (3/11/20), please see the NYS Governor webpage.

Currently, there is no immediate cause for alarm for the SUNY Delhi community as there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within our students, faculty, and staff. Therefore, we will operate under our normal routine, while constantly monitoring the situation. We would like to remind our campus community about the advised precautions from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) regarding this emerging public health threat.

COVID-19 (coronavirus) can lead to symptoms of fever, cough, and difficulty breathing (lower respiratory illness). The college is partnering with SUNY, CDC, and the NYSDOH in monitoring the situation and encourage the campus community to take preventative measures outlined in the March 3rd update.

Prevention

There are currently no vaccines available to protect against COVID-19. We would like to remind the campus community that it is still flu and cold season and the CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine. Flu shots can be obtained at Walgreens in Delhi, at any pharmacy, or your personal healthcare provider.

You can take normal preventative actions to reduce your risk of not only COVID-19, but also colds and the flu.

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• If you feel sick, stay home or in your room and avoid contact with others.
• If your symptoms worsen, seek medical care from the Health Center (students) or your personal healthcare provider (faculty & staff).

Important Health Information For Those Who Have Recently Traveled Internationally
If you have recently traveled to countries the CDC has identified with a high risk for transmission (China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, Japan, or Hong Kong)  and feel sick with a fever, cough, or shortness of breath (or develop these symptoms) you should:

• Seek medical care right away.
• If you are a student, contact the Health Center for advice. Please call before presenting at the clinic.
• If you are a non-student, contact your personal healthcare provider. Please call before presenting at their office or clinic.
• Avoid contact with others. Stay home or in your room if you’re ill and isolate yourself from roommates, except for seeking medical care.
• Avoid further travel until the illness resolves.
• Follow the preventative measures outlined above.

• If you have questions about symptoms or information related to the virus, please call the NYSDOH COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-364-3065 or visit the New York State Department of Health website for more information.
• SUNY Health Alert Information
• Center for Disease Control COVID-19 Information & Resources
• World Health Organization COVID-19 Information & Updates
• Local NYS County Health Departments 

Advice on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus to SUNY Students, Faculty, & Staff

Recently, a new coronavirus - 2019 Novel (New) Coronavirus - was detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China that has not been previously found in humans. This coronavirus can lead to fever, cough and shortness of breath. There are hundreds of confirmed cases in China, including cases outside of Wuhan and additional cases being identified in a growing number of countries internationally, including the United States.

Important Health Information For Those Who Have Recently Traveled to China:

If you recently traveled to China and feel sick with fever, cough or trouble breathing, or you develop symptoms, you should:

• Seek medical care right away. Call ahead and tell them about your travel and symptoms.
• Avoid contact with others.
• Stay home if you’re ill and isolate yourself from roommates, except for seeking medical care.
• Avoid further travel until the illness resolves.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Symptoms:

Human coronaviruses commonly cause mild-to-moderate illness in people. Symptoms can include:

• Runny nose
• Headache
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Fever

How Does 2019 Novel (New) Coronavirus Spread?

Since this virus is very new, health authorities continue to carefully watch how this virus spreads. It is known to spread from animals to humans, and it also may be spread from person to person. It’s not clear yet how easily Novel (New) Coronavirus spreads from person-to-person. It’s important to know this in order to better understand the risk associated with this virus.

Prevention

There are currently no vaccines available to protect against human coronavirus infection. To reduce your risk of infection:

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment available for any coronavirus. People infected with coronavirus should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms.

What to do if you have recently traveled to Wuhan China and become sick?

• If you are a student, contact the campus health center for advice. Please call before presenting at the clinic.
• If you are a non-student, contact your personal healthcare provider. Please call before presenting at their office or clinic.

Additional Resources

• CDC: Coronavirus
• World Health Organization: Coronavirus