Cornell reopening plan

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2020/06/cornell-plans-reactivate-ithaca-campus-fall-semester

https://people.orie.cornell.edu/pfrazier/COVID_19_Modeling_Jun15.pdf

A data scientist says its better if everyone comes back to campus, because on campus everyone can be tested every five days, social distancing regulations can be enforced, and contacts can be traced.

That way everyone will have 8.3 contacts a day and will be quarantined soon after becoming symptomatic and the R0 will be around 2.5.

 

Restarting Binghamton website

check back often!

https://www.binghamton.edu/restarting-binghamton/index.html

Annual parking notice

Parking Services operations to restart Monday, June 29

With faculty and staff beginning to return to campus, Parking Services will resume operations beginning Monday, June 29. Parking rules and regulations are still in effect.

When parking from 7 a.m. Monday through 4 p.m. Friday, a valid parking permit is needed. To give enough time to those who need a permit, Parking Services is allowing a two-week window to purchase. Beginning Monday, July 13, having a parking permit will be required. The Parking Garage and Visitor’s Paid Lot will remain open until Monday, July 6, these lots will return to requiring a proximity card or payment upon exit. The UDC parking lot will also return to a gated lot at this time.

Permits are available for purchase online at the link below. To limit in-office visits, office staff will be available to answer questions by email at parking@binghamton.edu or by phone at 607-777-2279. All transactions should be completed online when possible. If a parking transaction cannot be done online, email or call to set up an in-office appointment.

Article on the death toll at CUNY

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/06/23/cuny-system-suffers-more-coronavirus-deaths-any-other-higher-ed-system-us

Welcome Casey Doyle

Casey Doyle will be joining us as Visiting Assistant Professor this Fall

https://www.caseybdoyle.com/

yay!

J-1 Visa update

The J-1 suspension is actually pretty limited (as far as universities are concerned). Still sucks, though.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-aliens-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-following-coronavirus-outbreak/

Sec. 2.  Suspension and Limitation on Entry.  The entry into the United States of any alien seeking entry pursuant to any of the following nonimmigrant visas is hereby suspended and limited, subject to section 3 of this proclamation:

(a)  an H-1B or H-2B visa, and any alien accompanying or following to join such alien;

(b)  a J visa, to the extent the alien is participating in an intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel program, and any alien accompanying or following to join such alien; and

(c)  an L visa, and any alien accompanying or following to join such alien.

The Bowdoin reopening plan

it's impressive, I guess. looks like only about 500 students on campus, (almost) all classes online, testing everyone 2x/week and contact tracing, everyone in single rooms. Plus they're all isolated in Brunswick.

https://www.bowdoin.edu/president/writings-and-addresses/messages-to-the-community/2020/june-22.html

excerpts from the summary:

Summary of Our Plan:

• We will have some students back in the fall, but not all students. The group on campus will be:
  • our new first-year and transfer students;
  • students who have home situations that make online learning nearly impossible;
  • a very small number of senior honors students who cannot pursue their pre-approved projects online and require access to physical spaces on campus, and can do so under health and safety protocols; and
  • our student residential life staff.

• In order to provide the best learning experience possible, nearly all classes, including those on campus, will be taught online. 

• Athletics is an important part of the Bowdoin experience for so many of our students. Unfortunately, given that we will not have all students on campus in the fall, we will not be participating in fall and winter varsity sports during the fall semester. 

• Those on campus will be required to follow critical safety practices—face coverings, physical distancing, good and regular hygiene, and self-monitoring for symptoms. In addition, everyone on campus will be tested for the virus at least two times a week and will be required to participate in a contact-tracing program.

• All students on campus will have a single bedroom, and there will be dining service.

• For aided students, we have replaced any summer work expectation and any fall semester on-campus work expectation with grant aid for the fall semester.