COVID-19 Community Guide

The health and wellbeing of our community and the neighbors with whom we interact are our top priority. This website serves as the central information hub to keep all members of our community informed of updates, policies, and protocols on the evolving circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Booster Requirement

All eligible students, faculty, and staff must receive a booster shot. Read more here. 

Winter Term (Monday, December 20 through Sunday, January 23)

Campus is open. Classes will continue remotely for the duration of the Winter Term. 

• Residence halls remain open.

• The Making Center, rehearsal rooms, and practice spaces remain open. Standard reservation protocols are in place.

• While indoors on campus, we strongly recommend that everyone wear two masks (e.g., a cloth and surgical mask).  

• When eating indoors, sit at least 6 feet apart from others and for no longer than 15 minutes.

Managers should talk to their teams as soon as possible about the specific tasks that cannot be performed remotely. Staff performing essential end-of-year work on campus are encouraged to reserve a seat at the Admin Hubs, which will operate at reduced capacity to limit crowding in offices. 

Remote Start to Spring 2022

We are making several adjustments for the start of the semester to allow for a careful return to campus, including two weeks of remote instruction, increased entry testing, and the previously announced booster requirement. With safety protocols remaining in place and our commitment to caring for our community, in-person teaching and learning will resume February 7, and, as conditions allow, we will continue to explore expanding access to select pedagogical activities. The university's Campus Operation Group leads the university’s campus planning.

Spring 2022 Checklist for Returning to Campus: 

• Now: Campus is open.
  • The Making Center, studio and rehearsal rooms, practice spaces, libraries, the Faculty Resource Room, and residence halls remain open.
  • Binx testing is available.
  • Upgrade and ensure your mask is in line with CDC guidance.
• January 16 - January 22: Take Entry Test 1.
• January 17: University is closed (and on-campus tests unavailable) for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
• January 21: Upload your documentation of a booster dose.
• January 23 - January 29: Take Entry Test 2.
• January 24: Official start of the Spring semester: all classes begin with remote instruction.
• January 30 - February 5: Take Entry Test 3.
• February 2: Campus updates, including ongoing testing protocols, will be announced.
• February 7: Classes begin meeting in-person.

Please keep in mind:  

• All community members must participate in The New School’s ongoing testing program.
• Check your clearance status BEFORE coming to campus. Log into shsportal.newschool.edu and click the red "Show Badge" button on the home screen to display your clearance badge. If you see a green screen that reads, "Campus Access Granted" you are cleared for access. If your badge is red, check the Medical Clearances section on the SHS Portal to see what is causing the red badge.
• The university has created a data dashboard that will provide direct and valuable updates about the vaccination, testing, and positivity rates on our campus.
• Wear a mask at all times while inside campus buildings. There are designated areas across campus for eating and drinking.

Guiding Principles

Our plan for a healthy and safe on-campus experience is guided by three core principles:

• Protecting the health and safety of the entire New School community — students, faculty, and staff — and the neighbors with whom we interact.
• Maintaining the highest-quality teaching, learning, research, and cultural expression in every college, department, and specialty.
• Ensuring equitable access to classes and other learning activities for all students.

Our Shared Responsibility 

Taking steps to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection is a shared responsibility and every member of our community must do their part to help keep each other safe. It is our goal to address non-compliance without escalation. Repeated or egregious disregard for university policies and procedures will be escalated to Human Resources for employees or the Office of Student Conduct for students. 

Departmental COVID-19 Coordinators

Faculty and staff can reach out to the following COVID Coordination Group members with questions about our spring 2022 health and safety protocols:

• Academic Affairs (including individual colleges): Provost@newschool.edu
• Business & Operations (including Finance, Facilities, and IT): Thomas Whalen, whalent@newschool.edu 
• Enrollment Management and Strategic Partnerships: Craig Tiede, tiedec@newschool.edu
• Human Resources, General Counsel, and Development & Alumni Engagement: Andrea Yenco Cabatotan, yencoa@newschool.edu
• Marketing & Communications, Continuing and Professional Education: Amy Malsin, malsina@newschool.edu
• Student Success: Susan Austin, AustinS@newschool.edu
  

Future Updates

This site will be updated on a regular basis. The university will continue to monitor the trajectory of the pandemic, especially virus prevalence in New York City, and we will share an update about our health and safety protocols by February 15.

In addition, the message feed on this page features community announcements from the president and/or provost of The New School.