News Detail

10/06/2020 

The following message is being sent on behalf of President Erik J. Bitterbaum:

Monday, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras and I announced a temporary study-in-place period that has understandably raised some questions. In response, I would like to offer the following clarifications: 

• As a containment strategy, the SUNY system requires us, to the best of our ability, to keep students on campus and in the local community rather then send them home. In cases where colleges have sent students home in response to an outbreak, the virus has spread to other communities, putting vulnerable family members at risk. Further, we do not want students bringing the virus back to campus once the study-in-place period ends. 
  
• That is why on-campus students who go home during study-in-place will not be allowed back into campus housing until the spring semester. They will also not receive a refund for room or meal plan expenses.  
  
• The only exceptions to study-in-place will be made for medical reasons. Students needing to go home to keep appointments for essential medical, dental or psychiatric care will require prior approval, and appropriate documentation must be provided to Student Health Services for review. Students seeking a health-related accommodation may contact the Disabilities Resources Office and the Counseling Center may assist in matters related to mental health concerns. Students qualifying for a medical exemption cannot go home unless they test negative for COVID, and will not be allowed back without another negative test.
  
• Students who are currently at home and not on campus will need to come back. However, they will not be allowed back on campus without submitting proof of a negative COVID test to Student Health Services. Students who are currently at home in isolation and quarantine should return to campus when their isolation or quarantine periods are ended. Quarantining students will not be allowed back without proof of a negative COVID test. Isolating students may return when their isolation time ends.  
  
• During this period, off-campus students can only come to campus if they need to pick up a meal if they are on a plan, report to a Cortland Auxiliary job, keep a medical or COVID testing appointment or pick up a package from Neubig Hall. If they need access to Internet, they can go to the library, which has limited seating and reduced daily operating hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students needing to use a computer may use a campus computer lab.  
• Some people are confused by the term “study in place.” Please know this is not a lockdown. Students will not be confined to rooms or buildings. By “in place” we want students to remain in Cortland and limit unnecessary excursions that could put them or the community at risk. 
  

We know the coming weeks will be a challenge, and we appreciate your cooperation as we take the necessary steps to protect our students, their families and communities, our faculty and staff, and the residents of Cortland.  

All the best,  

Erik J. Bitterbaum