COVID-19 Community Guide

The health and safety 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.

Safe Campus Reopening: Fall 2021

The New School is planning for a robust in‑person student experience both inside and outside the classroom starting in fall 2021 and beyond. With safety protocols remaining in place, we anticipate returning to on-campus teaching and learning, reopening all residence halls, resuming dining services, and expanding access to other campus spaces and facilities.

The university has established a COVID Coordination Group to lead the university’s return to campus planning.

June 1 update: As part of our teaching and learning plans, the university will offer alternatives in most programs for international students who cannot secure a visa in order to  arrive on campus by the start of the semester, and for students who have a disability, documented with Student Disability Services, that may prevent them from attending classes in person.

Guiding Principles

Our plan for a phased reopening of on-campus activities 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. We recommend that all members of our community review the university’s Spring 2021 Campus Plan for guidelines that will help ensure safety when an on-campus presence is necessary.

Students who violate or disregard the university’s health and safety guidelines will be referred for disciplinary action through the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. 

Related Remote Resources

Please visit your college’s remote website for specific resources and information related to your studies during the spring and summer semesters of 2021.

• CoPA Remote
• Parsons Remote
• SPE Remote