Brooklyn College Campus Reopening Plan
Approved: July 7, 2021
Revised: March 21, 2022
Introduction and Guiding Principles
Brooklyn College is preparing for a crucial transition to significantly increased in-person instruction and support services in the spring 2022 semester. The spring 2022 schedule offers 70% hybrid or in-person (see course catalog). In addition to in-person and hybrid classes, students have access to campus resources such as the library and research materials, study space, and computer or internet access. Beginning Feb. 28, college staff members are expected to spend 70% of their work time in person on campus, which is equivalent to seven out of 10 days of in-person work in a two-week cycle.
Campus Reopening Committee
The Coronavirus Campus Reentry Review Board (RRB), which was convened a year ago to plan for fall 2020, now serves as the Spring 2022 Campus Reopening Committee. The RRB convenes weekly with the following membership:
- Michelle J. Anderson, President and Chair
- Larry Bosket, Assistant Director of Admissions and PSC Representative
- Carolyn Canales, student childhood education teacher (1–6) major, School of Education
- Wadelande Dutelien, student accounting major, Koppelman School of Business
- Alan Gilbert, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration, COVID Coordinator
- Yehudis Keller, student, Psychology Master’s Program, School of Education (fall 2021)
- Anne Lopes, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice Chair
- Ryan Murelli, former Chair of Faculty Council Campus Planning Committee, Chemistry Professor
- Kendra Murrell, student School Psychology Master's Program, School of Education (summer 2021)
- Dorothy Neave-DiToro, Faculty Council Campus Planning Committee, Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders Professor
- Stephen Preston, Faculty Council Master Planning Committee, Mathematics Professor (fall 2021)
- Carrie Sadovnik, Director of Environmental Health and Safety, COVID Associate Coordinator
- Gunja SenGupta, Faculty Council Master Planning Committee, History Professor (summer 2021)
- Kelly Spivey, Technology Manager of the Film Department and PSC Representative
- Tony Thomas, Chief Legal Counsel
- Peter Tolias, Dean of the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences
The RRB works with the Chancellery/COO's Office to ensure our reopening meets all CUNY guidance. The college’s original Campus Reentry Plan was implemented following approval by CUNY and is revised as CUNY guidance evolves. As additional guidance is issued or a request for expanded onsite activity is received, the RRB reviews, approves, and implements improvements to the plan. Similarly, the Spring 2022 Campus Reopening Plan follows CUNY approval only. Subsequent modifications and changes in operations are reflective of local, state, and federal higher education requirements.
Key Re-Opening Requirements
CUNY follows CDC guidance that identifies four factors that inform reopening for spring 2022:
Monitoring
Key Metrics
The RRB stays current by monitoring campus, local, and regional metrics that serve as early warning signs that positive cases may be increasing beyond acceptable levels. The CDC tracker tool for county level of community transmission, combining total new cases and percent positivity, is a primary source of this data.
Symptom Self-Reports
The college uses the COVID-19 Case Collection Form for all self-reports by campus community members who suspect that they have been exposed to a positive case or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Reports do not have to be associated with time spent on campus and provide an additional early warning sign of increasing transmission.
Positive Tests
All positive tests received through the CUNY testing program and positive tests reported through the COVID-19 Case Collection Form are tracked and reported to the campus coordinator.
Level of Vaccination Coverage
Effective October 7, 2021, students without proof of vaccination are not allowed access to campus, unless they have been granted an exemption. Students taking in-person or hybrid courses who are eligible for a booster must get a booster and upload proof to CUNY by March 1, 2022. If students become eligible after Jan. 28, but before the end of the semester, they have 30 days from the eligibility date to get the booster and upload proof to CUNYfirst. Student participation in on-campus activities also requires proof in CUNYfirst. Only medical or religious exemptions are accepted.
In compliance with New York State directive dated December 31, 2021, all full- and part-time faculty, all non-teaching instructional staff (which includes, among others, NTAs, CLTs, and those in the HEO series), and personnel in the Executive Compensation Plan are required to be fully vaccinated (two-dose Pfizer or Moderna regimen, or one-dose J&J) in order to remain employed by the university, except if a medical exemption, religious exception, or reasonable accommodation has been granted. Proof of vaccination must be uploaded into CUNYfirst no later than May 27, 2022.
Other stakeholders on campus who are not fully vaccinated or who do not disclose their vaccination status continue to be required to submit a weekly COVID-19 negative surveillance test and adhere to additional requirements aimed at keeping the CUNY community safe. Regular testing is not required for those who are fully vaccinated.
All visitors to a CUNY campus, whether accessing indoor or outdoor spaces, must provide proof to CUNY that they (i) are fully vaccinated or (ii) have had a negative COVID-19 molecular (PCR) test performed by an accredited lab no more than seven days prior to the visit. Visitors who are on campus for 30 minutes or less per visit are not required to comply with vaccination requirements, unless they are not able to remain socially distant (six feet) for 15 or more minutes.
Brooklyn College continues to promote vaccinations for everyone in line with CUNY's comprehensive #VaxUpCUNY campaign to help accelerate a full return to campus. For one, the college is participating in the Federal College Vaccination Challenge. The president and administration have issued a series of Return to Campus letters strongly urging everyone—students, staff, and faculty—to get vaccinated. This effort includes stationing a vaccine van on campus, notice of nearby vaccination sites and instructions on how to access the COVID Vaccine Finder to schedule a free and convenient appointment. The college is fighting vaccine misinformation by hosting public health sessions and providing accurate information to underscore that all three COVID vaccines available in this country are safe and effective. The college also worked to help everyone in our campus community get vaccinated before the spring semester. The administration reached out to leaders of the student body, staff, and faculty to help support their constituents in getting vaccinated.
The campus COVID-19 Vaccination Program for students is implemented by the Location Vaccination Authority (LVA). The LVA for Brooklyn College is Student Affairs Assistant Dean for Student Services Dave Bryan. His office is responsible for implementing the COVID-19 Vaccination Program on campus, including:
- accepting requests for exceptions or medical exemptions to the vaccine program;
- communicating decisions on the exceptions and exemptions based upon criteria that will be shared with them;
- answering questions about the vaccine policy, including those from international students
- who received a vaccine that is not approved by the FDA or WHO;
- verifying vaccinations; and
- explaining additional safety measures/precautions for those who receive an exception or exemption from the vaccine.
Testing
The university has 20 testing sites managed by a CUNY vendor, Applied DNA Clinical Labs (ADCL) using the CLEARED4 health verification system. These testing sites are open to all students, staff, and faculty for walk-in visits without appointments if capacity allows. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated, do not disclose their vaccination status, or are provided a religious or medical exemption are enrolled in a weekly testing program and must test every seven days through a university test site if they are on campus or in the office weekly. Otherwise, they are responsible for making sure that before going to campus, they test at a CUNY site within the previous seven days. Student athletes are required to produce a negative test before returning to campus and participate in weekly testing.
Visitors have the option to get tested at non-CUNY testing sites in order show a negative test taken no more than seven days prior to the visit. Unvaccinated visitors who are on campus for 30 minutes or less per visit are not required to comply with testing requirements, unless they are not able to remain socially distant (six feet) for 15 or more minutes. Visitors under the age of 5 are exempt from weekly testing unless routinely coming to campus and enrolled in an on-campus program.
Vaccinated individuals who are randomly selected to participate in a periodic screening program must swab at a university test site within seven days of being selected. Random testing is increased to 20% of the vaccinated and unvaccinated on-campus population for spring.
Individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 are encouraged to visit a public testing site or use an at-home test kit. Testing to return to campus should only be done at CUNY safeCircle test sites when symptom free to protect everyone in the CUNY community.
Brooklyn College stopped entry symptom screening (Everbridge self-reporting) as of fall 2021. Individuals are expected to self-monitor for symptoms and stay home when they are sick.
Support
Employees in isolation or quarantine are supported, if needed, through the Human Resource Services Benefits Office and Employee Assistance Programs. Students are similarly supported through a combination of their academic adviser for academic accommodations and the Office of Student Engagement for psychosocial, medical, and day-to-day support needs. The office offers numerous student support services from telemedicine with Student Health Clinic providers (e.g., personal counseling and advisers) to accommodations and counseling through the Center for Student Disability Services, Women's Center, Black and Latino Male Initiative, and Veteran and Military Programs.
Tracking
To assist contact tracing and decontamination in the event of a confirmed or presumed COVID-19 case on-site, staff, faculty, and researchers must fill out Brooklyn College's COVID-19 Case Collection Form. Submissions to the form are treated as confidential. Brooklyn College's administration utilizes the information submitted to trace contacts and alert them to possible COVID-19 exposures. The information is also utilized to identify spaces that must be restricted and undergo applicable cleaning and disinfection. Summary information is provided to the Brooklyn College community via the University COVID-19 Safety Tracker.
Quarantine and Isolation
Due to the evolving nature of COVID-19, Brooklyn College and the university adhere to latest CDC guidelines. Community members and visitors who are exposed to someone with COVID-19 should adhere to the following:
Population | What to Do |
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Isolation is required for all individuals with a positive viral test for or with symptoms of COVID-19. Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must stay home for five days (day 0 is the first day of symptoms, or the day a positive result is received for an asymptomatic case). In the absence or resolution of symptoms within the five-day period, wear a well-fitting mask outside of the home for an additional five days. Isolation should be longer if symptoms are present—at least 24 hours after no fever without fever-reducing medication and all symptoms are improving. Those who were severely ill should consult with a physician prior to ending isolation.
In order to return to campus, individuals who are required to isolate or quarantine must receive a negative PCR or antigen test (strongly recommended over PCR) through a licensed provider or obtain a doctor’s certification prior to returning to campus. If you are recovering from COVID-19, you should not get tested until you have completed your isolation requirements and are symptom free.
Travel
All individuals should follow the CDC domestic travel recommendations and international travel recommendations before reporting to work or campus and notify their manager in advance of the travel dates and should quarantine be required. Any students, staff, or faculty engaging in official travel on behalf of CUNY must follow the latest approval requirements for domestic and international travel.
Tracing
The coronavirus campus liaison follows up with all reports of positive tests, suspected cases, and possible exposure with information on quarantine and isolation and other resources. The liaison reviews CLEARED4 system data, campus access logs, and other data to confirm information and to assist local and state health officials with tracing. The college cooperates with New York State and New York City health departments for contact tracing efforts, including notification of potential contacts such as workers, visitors, and/or customers (if known) who had close or proximate contact with the individual, while maintaining confidentiality as required.
Confirmed Case Communications and Notification
When a COVID-19 case associated with time spent on campus is confirmed, the liaison and campus coordinator ensure data is sent to CUNY administration for communication with health officials. Campus notification of weekly and cumulative case counts are via the University COVID-19 Safety Tracker dashboard.
Case Cleaning
Per CDC guidelines, if someone is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, campuses do not necessarily need to close operations if they can close off the affected areas. Following notice of a positive case, if it has been fewer than 24 hours since the person was on campus, the affected area is closed off and appropriately cleaned and disinfected by Custodial Services. Once the area has been appropriately cleaned and disinfected, it can be reopened for use. Refer to "Cleaning and Disinfection."
Return to Campus Post-Illness or Quarantine
The coronavirus campus liaison refers to CDC guidelines for ending isolation after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.
Social Distancing and Capacity Limits
With the assumption that a majority of campus stakeholders were expected to be fully vaccinated by spring and with high vaccination rates in the state, physical distancing and capacity limits have been lifted for nearly all campus spaces and situations. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated should continue to practice physical distancing of six feet.
Instructional Spaces
Occupancy levels in instructional spaces campus-wide, therefore, are based on pre-COVID room capacities. The college optimizes its largest instructional spaces for multipurpose rooms where practical and feasible to do so.
Office Spaces
Per the space analysis, staff and faculty offices have ample space. It is the responsibility of unvaccinated individuals to adhere to distancing guidelines for the unvaccinated population.
Shared Spaces in Common Areas
In line with CDC guidance, distancing is not required in common areas. De-densification messaging in place at the start of the semester is being removed to align with this recommendation.
Shared Study and Student Service Spaces
Unvaccinated individuals should continue to practice physical distancing of six feet in these spaces. Appointments for heavily trafficked shared spaces may continue to employ scheduling, calendars, and remote methods to provide services. Administrative measures to stagger use of these spaces facilitate transition of staff to 70% on-campus schedules.
Public Health and Safety Requirements
Public health and safety requirements such as mask use and distancing on campus are informed by CDC, state, and CUNY guidance and may evolve as the pandemic changes.
Face Coverings
Due to the low levels of COVID-19 in New York City, the CDC no longer recommends and New York State no longer has a universal indoor mask mandate. CUNY has therefore lifted its temporary mask mandate. Anyone who would like to continue wearing masks in any setting is welcome to do so at any time.
While the CDC is not requiring people to wear a mask in communities that have low or medium COVID-19 levels, students, staff, and faculty who are still not vaccinated, or those who have been or will be granted a medical exemption or religious exception, are urged to continue to wear a mask. Mask requirements associated with isolation and quarantine as referenced later in these guidelines remain in effect.
Masking is recommended for visitors 2 to 5 years of age who are not eligible yet for the vaccine.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Face coverings and PPE will continue to be provided through a centralized distribution process. The college maintains a three-month stock of essential COVID-19 supplies. Sourcing, purchasing, and distribution of face coverings, COVID-19-related personal protective equipment (PPE), and cleaning materials is centralized.
Distribution of COVID-19 related supplies is managed by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety. A weekly supply is issued to offices depending on job task and work environment. College-provided face coverings are available as needed to non-employees, including students, at campus security gates, offices, and in the supply room, 405 Ingersoll Hall Extension (718.951.4268).
Promoting Hand and Respiratory Hygiene
Brooklyn College continues to facilitate health-promoting behaviors such as hand washing and respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette to reduce the spread of infectious illnesses, including COVID19. The college provides frequent reminders of proper hand hygiene with hand sanitizer widely available in common areas and rooms. Supplies including soap, paper towels, running warm water, and lined garbage can for hand washing. Touchless hand sanitizer stations (at least 60% alcohol) are available at the entrances to all buildings. Desktop and personal sanitizer is supplied to offices. Disposable wipes are also provided to wipe down commonly used surfaces before and after use. Hand hygiene is promoted through signage near handwashing sinks and at sanitizing stations. Individuals can report empty or broken dispensers, etc., through BC Fix-it on the BC Navigator app (pdf). Where possible, the college has added touch-free amenities, such as paper towel dispensers, sink faucets, and water bottle filling stations.
Eating and Drinking on Campus
Campus dining services offer grab-and-go snacks and meals service. There are touchless operation vending machines with improved food choices. Everyone is encouraged to eat alone and outside, in their private office, or in specially designated places.
Cleaning and Disinfection
Campus cleaning and disinfection procedures adhere to CDC and New York State. Facilities Custodial Services is responsible for the regular cleaning and disinfection of all restrooms and daily cleaning of high touch-point surfaces. Facilities maintains a log with details of cleaning regimens. The status of the regimen and log are reported to the coronavirus campus coordinator. When disinfection is recommended, EPA registered disinfectants for COVID-19 are used. Where required, staff are provided with appropriate protective equipment, pending application method.
Departments are provided with disposable wipes so that commonly touched surfaces and items can be wiped down before and after use. Disposable wipes do not require glove use unless otherwise noted.
Post-positive case cleaning and/or disinfection protocols follow CDC guidelines and are implemented whenever a person known or suspected to have COVID-19 has been on campus during the infectious period.
Reporting Safety Concerns
Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to report unsafe conditions. Urgent issues with ventilation should be reported to Facilities at extension 5885; less urgent issues can be reported to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at extension 5400 or via e-mail. Noncompliance with COVID-19 safety rules may also be reported to Campus Safety at extension 5511 or via e-mail. Further, confidential reports, concerns, or requests may be submitted via this form at any time.
Unique Facilities, Services, and Student Life/Inclusion Programming
Athletics
See the University and Brooklyn College Athletics Return to Sport Plan. All athletes are required to produce a negative test before returning to campus. Non-vaccinated student-athletes (CUNY-approved exemptions only) must continue to participate in weekly testing for the spring semester.
Student Activities, Clubs, Government, Orientation, and Interfaith Programs
These programs are allowed to resume on-campus gatherings and events, pending review and approval by the Student Center, Student Affairs, or department managing the space to be utilized. Student participating in on-campus activities must have provided proof of vaccination and booster in CUNYfirst unless an exemption has been approved. Non-CUNY guests, performers, and speakers must be approved and adhere to CUNY visitor policies in place.
Facility Preparations
Ventilation
Facilities teams and the Office of Environmental Health and Safety have confirmed ventilation throughout the campus conforms to CDC recommendations, including:
- increasing the introduction of outdoor air through opening of dampers and operable windows;
- disabling demand control ventilation or systems that turn the fans off when thermostats are satisfied so that fans run continuously;
- running HVAC systems at maximum outside airflow for two hours before and after the building is occupied;
- ensuring ventilation systems operate properly;
- increasing air filtration to as high as possible (MERV 13) without significantly reducing design airflow;
- making sure filters are properly sized and fit properly;
- ensuring restroom exhaust fans are functional and operating at full capacity;
- considering portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) fan/filtration systems to enhance air cleaning; and
- considering ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) as a supplemental treatment when options for increasing room ventilation and filtration are limited.
The assessment is supported by CUNY's Indoor Air Quality engineering consultant. Procedures to ensure optimal ventilation are being issued with the return of staff and faculty. Ventilation surveys are set to continue as a tool to ensure ventilation systems operate properly and provide acceptable indoor air quality for the campus capacity levels for each space.
Enhancements | Example Locations |
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Window exhaust fans | Ingersoll Hall—Microbiology teaching labs |
Portable air filter units | 4400 Boylan Hall—Speech Language Hearing Center waiting area 0202 Ingersoll Hall—Public Safety |
Wall-mount UV-C air sanitizers | 3139 Boylan Hall—Lecture hall West Quad Center—Enrollment Services Center |
Pedestal fans | 1219 Boylan Hall—Personnel reception area 2207 Boylan Hall—SEEK advisement area |
Human Resources
The majority of college employees have worked remotely in an online environment over the past 20-plus months. Their return to campus began on August 16, 2021.
CUNY expects all CUNY employees to spend 70% of their work time at their campus or office, which is equivalent to seven out of 10 days of in-person work in a two-week cycle. Supervisors advise staff to contact Human Resources for all reasonable accommodation requests for exceptions.
Brooklyn College Academy
This New York City Department of Education (DOE) high school on campus plans for 100% in-person instruction for the spring semester in accordance with local DOE guidance for reopening. Additional details on operational strategies, including testing, are available on www.schools.nyc.gov.
Library
The library is a valued asset that has successfully supported patrons for the past year remotely, including online reference and instructional services. This spring, the library continues to follow the Council of Chief Librarians' Reopening Task Force guidelines. Student study spaces, computer workstations, and instructional space within the building are available. No eating is allowed in the library. Monitoring of student adherence to safety requirements continues in the spring.
Outside Events
Instructional activities for students are prioritized over outside events and community programs. Future scheduling of events requires application to and approval by the RRB. Rentals for nonstudent productions is considered as long as the usage does not interfere with classes.
Student Success Preparations
During the pandemic, Brooklyn College keeps the needs of our students as a focal point. Through the Virtual Front Office, as well as in-person appointments for students who prefer to meet with a staff member on campus, students have access to comprehensive services across all areas of the campus either remotely or in person. This includes academic advisement, registration and student records, student financial services, and DegreeWorks. The International Student Services Office offers webchats, workshops, and orientation sessions (remote and in-person) for prospective students to assist with visa, housing, and related issues. Our Food Pantry remains open for in-person services to provide assistance to students with food insecurity. The Health Clinic and Personal Counseling Office are open for both remote and in-person services by appointment. Our Center for Student Disability Services works collaboratively with faculty to ensure eligible students needing academic accommodations are provided for them, regardless of mode of instruction.
Communication Plan
Platforms
Various media are used to communicate the relevant safety procedures to members of the campus community. This includes, but is not limited to: e-mail, website, social media, common-space screens on campus, oral announcements, the BC Navigator app, BC WebCentral, Bulldog News, and universal signage.
Posting of Plans
The college’s Spring 2022 Campus Reopening Plan, along with department or operational-unit specific plans, is conspicuously posted online and in places where notices to employees are customarily posted (e.g., Personnel Office and timeclocks) for employees to view once approved.
Reclosing Plan
Scale Back or Shut Down
Spring 2022 is a transition semester to more in-person activity. The college is prepared to reverse this transition if the situation dictates. CUNY has outlined monitoring criteria to aid the college in determining if circumstances warrant consideration of re-closing. Campuses monitor New York State COVID-19 infection rate metrics and local testing metrics that could lead to the need to scale back or shut down campus operations.
The college has a plan to detect early warnings of an infection surge, and a shutdown plan is in place to respond rapidly. Final decisions on shutting down are made by the Chancellery/COO's Office in consultation with local/state authorities.
As more has been learned about COVID-19 transmission, the presence of a single or otherwise small number of positive COVID-19 cases associated with the campus are no longer criteria for building-wide or campus-wide closures. Brooklyn College expects to close limited buildings/areas to the degree that a low level of risk to the wider campus community is present.
The decision to suspend in-person instruction and/or on-campus activities rely on the same governance structure as was in place for reopening. Stages of ramp down follow CUNY guidance and institutional priorities. The decision to suspend in-person instruction and/or on-campus activities defer to CUNY’s governance process: The campus coronavirus liaisons must report internal monitoring data and consult with the Campus Reopening Committee and the CUNY Chancellery/COO's Office.
The campus has prepared staged scalebacks, moving from a soft reopening to full operations. The plans and procedures are as follows:
Scenario I: Positive Case on Campus
If fewer than 24 hours have passed since the person who is sick or diagnosed with COVID-19 has been on campus, the affected workstation, classroom, office, and other exposed spaces are closed for up to a 24-hour period to ventilate the space prior to cleaning and disinfecting the area. If the case is still on campus, EMT-certified campus safety officers aids the individuals suspected of having COVID-19, including use of isolation rooms 114 Roosevelt Hall, 0704 James Hall, and 021 Ingersoll Hall Extension. Staff in the immediate area may temporarily be reassigned to a swing location and/or classes may be moved to an unaffected classroom.
Scenario II: Multiple Positive Cases
University guidance determines threshold levels for scaling of campus operations. Although it is no longer a New York State requirement, CUNY monitors local health conditions for circumstances warranting consideration of re-closing and in consultation with the Chancellery who makes final decisions with local/State authorities.
Scenario III: Widespread Community Transmission
The college uses two indicators—cumulative new case rate and percent positive tests over the past seven days—to determine the level of community transmission and likelihood of campus community transmission. Should these indicators suggest increasing transmission, the college consults with CUNY on whether to implement additional prevention strategies or consider restricting in-person learning and/or on-campus activities. In the event of gradual or complete shutdowns and/or the return of physical distancing, the college maintains operations with reduced occupancy based on state mandates and metrics. The college can accommodate either six- or three-feet social distancing scenarios if government officials reinstate safety measures in higher-education settings.
The college is prepared to "reverse engineer" the closing; to deploy distance learning modalities; to provide technology, tools, and resources for distance learning; to employ ways to minimize everyone's potential exposure; and to communicate with the campus community. If learning outcomes cannot be achieved via distance learning, the courses shall resume once the closure is lifted. If the campus is required to close, it consults with the university on an extension of the notification deadlines for Human Resource policies (e.g., reappointments, non-reappointments). Protocols for ramping down research and moving to remote follow Research Continuity guidance on the Guidance on Academic Continuity to campuses page.