GUIDANCE FOR NEW YORK STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ON REOPENING FOR ...

GUIDANCE FOR NEW YORK STATE

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ON

REOPENING FOR THE 2020-21

ACADEMIC YEAR

NOTE: THIS GUIDANCE WAS ORIGINIALLY RELEASED ON JULY

31, 2020 AND WAS LAST UPDATED ON JANUARY 15, 2021. IT

MAY CONTINUE TO BE REVISED PERIODICALLY. VISIT THE

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT¡¯S OFFICE OF

HIGHER EDUCATION WEBSITE FREQUENTLY TO ENSURE YOU

HAVE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE VERSION.

Board of Regents Higher Education Committee Co-Chairs

Kathleen M. Cashin, Regent J.D. #2 & Catherine Collins, Regent J.D. #8

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

Regents of The University

BETTY A. ROSA, Chancellor, B.A., M.S. in Ed., M.S. in Ed., M.Ed., Ed.D. .................

T. ANDREW BROWN, Vice Chancellor, B.A., J.D. ............................................................

ROGER TILLES, B.A., J.D. .................................................................................................

LESTER W. YOUNG, JR., B.S., M.S., Ed.D. . ......................................................................

CHRISTINE D. CEA, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. . ...........................................................................

WADE S. NORWOOD, B.A. ...............................................................................................

KATHLEEN M. CASHIN, B.S., M.S., Ed.D. ......................................................................

JAMES E. COTTRELL, B.S., M.D. .......................................................................................

JOSEPHINE VICTORIA FINN, B.A., J.D. ..............................................................................

JUDITH CHIN, M.S. in Ed. ...............................................................................................

BEVERLY L. OUDERKIRK, B.S. in Ed., M.S. in Ed. ...........................................................

CATHERINE COLLINS, R.N., N.P., B.S., M.S. in Ed., Ed.D. ............................................

NAN EILEEN MEAD, B.A., M.A. ......................................................................................

ELIZABETH S. HAKANSON, A.S., M.S., C.A.S. ................................................................

LUIS O. REYES, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. ...................................................................................

SUSAN W. MITTLER, B.S., M.S. ........................................................................................

FRANCES G. WILLS, B.A., M.A., M.Ed., C.A.S., Ph.D. ...................................................

Bronx

Rochester

Manhasset

Beechhurst

Staten Island

Rochester

Brooklyn

New York

Monticello

Little Neck

Morristown

Buffalo

Manhattan

Syracuse

New York

Ithaca

Ossining

Interim Commissioner of Education and President of The University of the State of New York

SHANNON L. TAHOE

The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status,

national origin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, services and

activities. Portions of this publication can be made available in a variety of formats, including braille, large print or audio tape, upon

request. Inquiries concerning this policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to the Department¡¯s Office for Diversity and Access,

Room 530, Education Building, Albany, NY 12234.

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Table of Contents

Message from Chancellor Betty A. Rosa ....................................................................................................... 5

Message from Interim Commissioner Shannon Tahoe .................................................................................. 6

INTRODUCTION AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ 7

Regional Meetings .............................................................................................................................................7

Development of the Guidance Document .......................................................................................................8

Key Resources ...................................................................................................................................................8

HEALTH AND SAFETY ................................................................................................................................. 10

NYS Governor and Department of Health Guidance and Requirements .................................................. 10

Additional Considerations for Reopening .................................................................................................... 10

Input from Regional Meetings ........................................................................................................................ 10

Educating the IHE community about preventing the spread of COVID-19 .................................................................................... 10

Creative use of outdoor and community space ............................................................................................................................. 11

Addressing mental health needs .................................................................................................................................................... 11

Resources ......................................................................................................................................................... 11

Official government resources ....................................................................................................................................................... 11

Other resources .............................................................................................................................................................................. 12

ACADEMICS, STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, AND FINANCIAL AID ................................................................ 13

Regulatory Context & Requirements............................................................................................................. 13

Regulatory Flexibilities & Guidance .............................................................................................................. 13

Distance Education Flexibility Fall 2020 ......................................................................................................................................... 13

Shortened Semester Flexibility 2020-21 Academic Year ................................................................................................................ 13

Ability to Benefit (ATB) Tests .......................................................................................................................................................... 14

Pass/Fail Grading Policies and teacher certification reviews ......................................................................................................... 14

GRE Requirement for Admission to Graduate Teacher and Educational Leadership Programs .................................................... 14

Verification of High School (or Equivalent) Completion Status ...................................................................................................... 15

General Education Core/Liberal Arts and Sciences ........................................................................................................................ 15

Additional Considerations for Reopening .................................................................................................... 15

Input from Regional Meetings ........................................................................................................................ 16

Equity.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 16

Financial Aid ................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

The Digital Divide and Instructional Design for Remote and Blended Learning and Online Student Services .............................. 17

Resources ......................................................................................................................................................... 18

CLINICAL EXPERIENCES AND EXAMINATIONS FOR EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION ............................................ 20

Regulatory Context/Requirements ................................................................................................................ 20

Regulatory Flexibilities ................................................................................................................................... 20

Educator Preparation Program Clinical Experience Flexibilities ..................................................................................................... 20

Educator Preparation Program Requirement Flexibilities .............................................................................................................. 21

Educator Certification Flexibilities .................................................................................................................................................. 22

Additional Considerations for Reopening .................................................................................................... 24

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Resources ......................................................................................................................................................... 27

CLINICAL EXPERIENCES AND EXAMINATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL LICENSING ............................................. 28

Regulatory Context/Requirements ................................................................................................................ 28

Regulatory and Policy Flexibilities ................................................................................................................ 28

Alternatives to meet clinical experience requirements ................................................................................................................. 28

Employment of recent graduates ................................................................................................................................................... 31

Licensing examinations .................................................................................................................................................................. 31

Renewal of limited permit in medicine .......................................................................................................................................... 32

Input from Regional Meetings ........................................................................................................................ 32

Resources ......................................................................................................................................................... 33

OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS ........................................................................................................................ 34

Overview ........................................................................................................................................................... 34

Regulatory and Policy Flexibilities ................................................................................................................ 34

Higher Educational Opportunity Program (HEOP) ......................................................................................................................... 34

Liberty Partnerships Programs (LPP) .............................................................................................................................................. 34

Additional Considerations for Reopening .................................................................................................... 35

Programmatic Considerations ........................................................................................................................................................ 35

Budget and Fiscal Considerations ................................................................................................................................................... 35

Input from Regional Meetings and recent MBK/TOC II Summits ............................................................... 35

Resources ......................................................................................................................................................... 36

POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ........................................................................................ 37

Regulatory Context/Requirements ................................................................................................................ 37

Resources ......................................................................................................................................................... 37

BUDGET AND FISCAL MATTERS .................................................................................................................. 38

State Funding Context .................................................................................................................................... 38

CARES Act Funding ........................................................................................................................................ 38

Input from Regional Meetings ........................................................................................................................ 39

Resources ......................................................................................................................................................... 39

DATA REPORTING ...................................................................................................................................... 40

Regulatory Context/Requirements ................................................................................................................ 40

Data Collection and Reporting Flexibilities .................................................................................................. 40

Additional Considerations for Reopening .................................................................................................... 40

General Considerations .................................................................................................................................................................. 40

Budget and Fiscal Considerations ................................................................................................................................................... 40

Resources ......................................................................................................................................................... 40

APPENDIX: STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK GATHERED VIA THOUGHTEXCHANGE ............................................... 42

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Message from Chancellor Betty A. Rosa

New York State is fortunate to be home to public and private colleges

and universities that attract students from across the country and

globe. New York¡¯s rich diversity is an asset that must be leveraged as

we start to reopen our institutions of higher education in the wake of

this global pandemic. To do this, the Board of Regents, the Education

Department, and I convened regional meetings with a diverse cross

section of stakeholders connected to our higher education community

participating and providing input to help create this guidance.

The four virtual meetings held in early July included participants with

expertise in various substantive areas across the higher education

spectrum. The feedback we received was truly invaluable and critical in

informing the decision-making that went into developing this document.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the notion that colleges are an integral part of our lives,

our economy and our communities. We have come to rely on them to prepare our citizens for a life of

productivity, research, and meaningful contribution that goes far beyond traditional academics.

As we developed this guidance, we were mindful that COVID-19 has had a particularly harmful effect

on people of color and those that are economically disadvantaged ¨C in terms of health, employment,

and their ability to receive the supports and resources necessary for a successful college experience.

As colleges shifted to off-campus learning models, many students from low-income and rural

communities did not have access to the internet, technology, or the supports they need to

meaningfully participate in remote learning. This kind of unequal access to resources only serves to

strengthen my resolve, and the Regents¡¯ resolve, to ensure educational equity for all students.

We are truly grateful to all of the faculty, leadership, staff, and especially our student participants for

their time and rich contributions. We also recognize the staff of the State Education Department for

their valuable contributions to this document ¨C with a special note of appreciation for the extraordinary

efforts of Dr. John D¡¯Agati, Senior Deputy Commissioner for Education Policy; Dr. William Murphy,

Deputy Commissioner for Higher Education; and Allison Armour-Garb, Chief of Staff for Education

Policy, who were paramount to the development of the guidance.

With the help of our fellow New Yorkers and all of our higher education partners, we will recover and

work toward building a renewed system that ensures our campuses and college communities are

meeting the needs of all students.

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