From: communications@hunter.cuny.edu [communications@hunter.cuny.edu] on behalf

of Jennifer J. Raab [president@hunter.cuny.edu]
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2020 5:44 PM

Subject: Update on Hunter's Response to Coronavirus
To the Hunter community,

We are incredibly grateful for the patience, empathy, and kindness of our students,
faculty, and staff in these challenging times. As we take measures to safeguard your
health and safety through social distancing, we want to assure you that while we may
not all be together physically, Hunter College remains a strong community. We continue
to respond to the minute-by-minute changes in this rapidly evolving situation, and will
continue to reach out and share updates as they become available.

While most of you will be teaching, learning, and working remotely in the next few days,
we want you to know that Hunter will remain open for students, faculty, and staff if you
need to access technology or your offices or need a quiet place to study or work. The
libraries are open with modified hours <https://s29068.pcdn.co/wp-
content/uploads/covid-related-library-hours.jpog> and have enhanced their ability to
support you remotely. Please continue checking our website <https://hunter.cuny.edu/>
on the status of our facilities and resources, as we anticipate there will be changes to
hours and services offered at many of them.

Transition to Remote Instruction

We are working swiftly to implement remote teaching, learning, and working for our
community without compromising our commitment to excellence in education,
scholarship, and research. We are grateful for the commitment of our provost, deans,
department chairs, and faculty to move the significant breadth of Hunter’s coursework
online so rapidly and so smoothly. We want to remind faculty of the multitude of training
sessions and office hours <https://hunter.cuny.edu/distance-learning-tools/> that are
being offered in the coming days to support this transition. Many students and faculty
have already connected about plans to continue the semester, and other students will
hear from their instructors in the next few days; please look for emails or Blackboard
messages.

We also appreciate the flexibility and dedication of our staff, especially our critical
employees who have been on campus ensuring that Hunter can remain open.
Managers are working to create thoughtful remote work plans that promote the health
and safety of our community and allow the majority of our employees to contribute to
Hunter from home.

Important Academic Date Changes

To respond to this unexpected situation and to ease the transition to remote instruction
for many of our students, CUNY has approved certain changes to our academic


calendar. Please note the following:

* Course Withdrawal Period — Last Day to Drop with a Grade of “W.” The current
deadline date listed on the calendar is Wednesday, April 1, 2020. We will move that
date to Thursday, May 14, 2020. This is the published “Last Day of Classes,” and before
final examination week (05/16-05/22) and also prior to the “End of the Spring Term,”
(05/22/2020).

* Last Day to File for Pass/No Credit/Fail Option — For eligible students who meet the
requirements of our “Pass/Fail/No Credit Option” policy (go to page 5)
<https://www.cuny.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/page-

assets/about/administration/offices/registrar/resources/CUNY-Uniform-Grade-Glossary-
and-Guidelines-08012018-1.pdf> , the University will move the deadline to Thursday,

May 14, 2020. This is the published “Last Day of Classes,” and before final examination
week (05/16-05/22), and also prior to the “End of the Spring Term,” (05/22/2020).

* Incomplete Grades — Students who receive an INC grades in the Spring 2020 term
would generally be required to submit outstanding work, “according to a deadline
established by individual colleges (go to pages 4-5) <https://www.cuny.edu/wp-
content/uploads/sites/4/page-

assets/about/administration/offices/registrar/resources/CUNY-Uniform-Grade-Glossary-
and-Guidelines-08012018-1.pdf> of the University but no later than the last day of the

following semester.” The University will maintain the current policy to allow students to
submit completed work to faculty for resolution of INC grades for courses taken in
Spring 2020 through the Fall 2020 semester. We expect that this provision will address
some of the issues that have arisen as a result of student placements and internships
that have been interrupted by this crisis.

Hunter Is Here for You

We want to reiterate that there are many resources available to support our community
during this difficult and uncertain time.

For our students, we want to remind you that we have developed a Coronavirus
Emergency Assistance Fund through the support of our loyal donors and alums; if you
have lost wages, have unexpected medical costs, or have any other financial needs
related to the coronavirus crisis, please contact Vice President and Dean of Students
Eija Ayravainen <mailto:%20dean.of.students@hunter.cuny.edu> for more information.

We have begun concerted fundraising efforts to provide students in need with
technology , including laptops that students can take out on a long-term loan, to ensure
all have access to remote learning. We have already been able to purchase new
laptops for students to borrow, and we are committed to continuing these efforts. To
learn more or request a technology loan, contact Director of Student Life Miesha Smith
<mailto:%20ms177@hunter.cuny.edu>. Additionally, both our 68th Street campus and
Brookdale campus food pantries <https://ww2.hunter.cuny.edu/students/student-
life/emergency-support-and-resources/> remain open, and we are committed to
keeping them stocked. The Counseling Center <http:/Avwww.hunter.cuny.edu/cws> is


open and here for you, both virtually and with some limited in-person and virtually
sessions, to help you navigate this difficult time.

For faculty and staff in need of support, our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
provides free, confidential counseling.

We urge all employees to set up direct deposit if you have not already done so to avoid
potential delays in receiving your check.

With Gratitude

Thank you also to everyone in our community for your patience and flexibility as we
transition to our new normal given the challenges of COVID-19. Special thanks go out to
our facilities team and the essential personnel who are physically on campus making
sure that Hunter remains open and prepared to support its students, faculty, and staff.
Your dedication to the safekeeping of our community’s health and well-being is
unparalleled, and we are very grateful.

Sincerely,
Jennifer J. Raab