IMPORTANT: Contingency Planning and Academic Continuity

Greetings Faculty and Staff,

 

As you are aware from the latest news accounts, the situation around novel coronavirus (aka COVID-19) continues to evolve and every level of government is working to monitor, plan, and respond to the impact of the virus.

 

While it is unclear whether this illness will cause disruption to NYU’s New York City campus, we want to  plan for that possibility now.

 

I am reaching out to share with you what Wagner is doing to prepare and where we need your participation should NYU pivot to operating remotely. Until that happens, we will be operating and holding classes as usual. Classes should continue to meet in-person as usual. Moving to remote instruction should only occur upon the direction of the University; faculty may not independently decide when to convert in-person classes to remote delivery.

 

  1. Website - We created a dedicated page on the faculty/staff portal here where you can find a link to all the guidance from Central, information on our own Wagner trainings, and other important resources. 

  2. Technology Planning - Because the campus might at some point be closed, we will need to prepare to work remotely. To ensure that technology requirements and applications are in place and in working order ahead of time, please complete this form by Monday, March 9 at 5:00 pm. 

    1. If you aren’t very familiar with Zoom, please sign-up for one of Henrie’s March Zoom trainings and practice sessions. Info can be found here.

  3. Other Remote Work Considerations - Now is the time to ensure that paper-based processes, key hardcopy files and documents, and important notebooks are accessible from a remote work location. For example, you may want to start taking hardcopy materials home.  Also, make sure you can access your office phone voicemail remotely, 

 

The University has been thoughtful and diligent in monitoring and addressing this situation, and has learned a lot from the experience of closing the campuses in Shanghai and Florence. Everyone on the Wagner admin side is working hard to ensure that we will respond to this situation - if need be - in the best way possible. If you have any questions or concerns about anything I’ve mentioned in this message or anything you’ve seen in other NYU communications, please contact Christina. While we may not need to implement any steps for which we are planning, it is best to be prepared. I know that this is extra work for some of you, during an especially busy time of the year, but I deeply appreciate your dedication and attentiveness.

 

Sincerely,

 

Sherry