Return to Campus FAQs–Fall 2022
Updated, 8/23/22
For the most up-to-date information on CUNY COVID-19 guidelines, including key information for students, refer to the CUNY website.
Student Questions
Q: I am a returning student. Do I need to have a negative COVID test before classes start?
A: It depends.
- All students living in dormitories are required to take a COVID test at one of the CUNY testing site locations before moving in.
- All athletes are required to take a COVID test at one of the CUNY testing site locations before classes start.
- Students attending in-person classes or on-campus activities should take a COVID test before the first day of classes. However, students do not need to upload or disclose the results. If you have a positive test, you should not come to campus.
- Students who are taking online classes with no in person component and will not be on campus are not required to take a test before classes start.
Q: How would I know if I’ve been randomly selected for testing and what do I do if I have been selected?
A: You will receive an email from “cleared4work.com” informing you of your selection. The email will be sent to your preferred email address (as indicated in CUNYfirst). You must take a COVID-19 test at any CUNY testing site within 14 days of the notification. Failure to do so will prevent you from coming onto campus.
Q: I’ve heard that the COVID booster will be required for participation in on-campus classes activities. Is this true? If so, what is the deadline to comply?
A: CUNY encourages all members of the CUNY community to be vaccinated and boosted, but receiving a booster is not currently required for in-person course registration.
Q: My religious/medical exemption was rejected. Is it true that I cannot appeal?
A: All decisions of the committee are final and not subject to appeal. However, you are permitted to reapply if new documentation and information should become available.
Faculty Questions
Q: I know I can’t require students in my class to wear a mask, but I would like to request that they do so. Is that okay?
A: No. Mask wearing is optional on campus. Because of the authority faculty has in a classroom, a request may be interpreted as a requirement. However, you may inform your class that you (the professor) will be wearing a mask and explain why. For example, “I live with an immunocompromised person and will be wearing a mask in class to keep you and my loved ones safe.”
Q: The CDC recently changed COVID guidelines. Is CUNY following these new CDC guidelines?
A: Please refer to the CUNY COVID-19 site for regular updates to the guidelines.
Q: Can I switch my course modality from the one listed in CUNYfirst?
A: No. Course modality cannot be changed at any time after students have registered.
Q: I am not vaccinated and I do not have a religious or medical exemption. May I keep my Fall 2022 teaching assignment? What if I’m teaching an online class?
A: CUNY requires that all faculty be fully vaccinated to maintain employment (unless they have requested and been granted a religious or medical exemption).
Q: Can offices have reduced hours or coverage?
A: No, all offices must provide coverage during regular operating hours. Remote work agreements may not reduce hours of operation.
Q: Are gathering and meeting spaces open for use? (e.g. cafes, libraries, lounges, etc.)
A: Yes, all gathering and meeting spaces are open for use. Please refer to specific campus sites for specific information on hours of availability.
Q: What is the CUNY policy on student COVID-related absences when syllabi may state that attendance is required?
A: Faculty should show the same flexibility they normally would for any student illness/medical absence.
Administrator Questions
Q: Are Department/College Personnel & Budget committees permitted to hold virtual meetings for Fall 2022/Spring 2023?
A: Meetings can continue to take place virtually as long as Governor Hochul’s legislation extending virtual public meetings is in place. Any changes to the legislation will be conveyed to the campus’s executive offices.
Q: Will random testing of vaccinated members of the community continue?
A: CUNY’s random testing protocol is still in place. If anything changes, the CUNY community will be notified and the CUNY COVID-19 site will be updated.
Q: Will colleges be allowed to pivot to online instruction if there is COVID or Monkeypox incline in outbreaks?
A: CUNY will continue to monitor COVID & Monkeypox outbreaks and will provide guidance on any possible changes to course modality. Campuses may not pivot to online instruction without consultation with CUNY OAA/EVC Hensel.
Q: Are there any expectations of report monitoring for Monkeypox similar to what is already in place for the COVID pandemic?
A: At this time CUNY is not required to report monitoring for Monkeypox. If anything changes, campuses will be notified and the CUNY COVID-19 site will be updated.
Q: Many faculty and students may have ignored random testing over the summer and are no longer eligible to enter campus until they test and get a negative result, which may take several days. Will there be any grace period to allow faculty and students to enter campus once they test but are waiting for results?
A: It was assumed that those who did not respond to their Random Testing invitation during the summer were not on campus. As a result, CUNY removed them from the campus restriction list and entered them into the Fall Random Testing pool. They should have access to campus when they arrive. When they are called for random testing in the fall, failure to comply will result in their access pass being denied.
