| Dear Students, Faculty, Staff and Families:
With 25 days until Commencement Weekend, planning continues in earnest as we prepare to host our students and their loved ones on campus. I am grateful to students who completed our survey to indicate whether they intend to participate in this year’s Commencement exercises in person. This step was necessary to help us determine how many ceremonies will be held to comply with New York State’s published regulations for end-of-year academic celebrations. These regulations, which we are required to enforce, dictate public health measures, such as stadium capacity, vaccination, testing requirements for entry and social distancing arrangements, to name a few of the factors that we balanced during planning. With that in mind, I write today to provide an update on the schedule of ceremonies and to remind individuals who intend to participate about the vaccination/testing requirements for entry. Confirmed Schedule of Ceremonies Based on the student response and in compliance with New York State regulations, Syracuse University will need to host three Commencement ceremonies. The schedule is as follows: Commencement Ceremony No. 1 Commencement Ceremony No. 2 Commencement Ceremony No. 3 Commencement Tickets As previously communicated, each graduate who has registered their intent to participate in person will be allowed to have up to two guests attend their ceremony. Tickets will be available for selection beginning on Thursday, May 6, at 10 a.m. ET. Graduates will receive a specific email with specific instructions to claim their ticket and two guest tickets. Following ticket selection, students will receive a confirmation email, as well as a ticket with their selected seating assignment and tickets and seating assignments for their guests. As a reminder, per the New York State graduation guidance, all guests must comply with social distancing guidelines. Students will be seated on the field level of the stadium in three-person “pods.” Guests will be seated in audience sections of the stadium in two-person “pods.” Seating pods will be arranged to maintain 6 feet of distance between groupings. Empty seat buffers will be created at aisles. As noted above, seating assignments will be issued via the ticketing process. To allow for ease of entry, guests will be assigned a specific gate and arrival time for entry. This will allow for socially distanced entry and compliance with all entry requirements. To our faculty and staff who plan to attend one or all of the Commencement ceremonies: please be advised we are working on a registration system for you to indicate your intent to participate and submit your proof of vaccination or testing. School/College Convocations All school and college convocations will be presented virtually at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 22, and recordings will be posted online so that graduates and their families can watch them at a later date if needed. More information about how to access the virtual convocations will be shared in the coming weeks and can be found on the Commencement website. Pre-Event Testing/Vaccination Compliance New York State has mandated very specific guidelines related to stadium entry and participation in the Commencement exercise, for all graduates, guests and participants. The state requires that anyone accessing the stadium for Commencement must comply with one of the following options: · Proof of completed vaccination; specifically, on the day of the event the individual must provide documentation indicating that at least 14 days have passed since the individual received the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or at least 14 days have passed since the individual received Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. We strongly encourage guests to seek out a vaccination as it is the most reliable pathway for entry into the stadium. · Proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR-type test, administered within 72 hours of the event. · Proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen-type test, administered within six hours of the event start time. Please plan ahead to ensure your compliance with New York State’s venue entry requirements. All graduates and guests are responsible for complying with state regulations for entry to the stadium. Anyone who plans to attend the ceremony and who cannot provide proof of COVID vaccination should ensure they have access to testing services capable of returning a test result within the window of time required by New York State (72 hours prior to the event for a PCR-type test; six hours prior to the event for an antigen-type test). To support a safe and efficient entry experience into the stadium, we will establish a pre-event compliance station that will open on campus beginning at noon ET on Thursday, May 20. At this station, students and guests can have their COVID-compliance documents verified in advance of the weekend’s Commencement activities, and be issued a unique pass allowing for significantly expedited access to the stadium on the day of Commencement. If your travel plans allow you to take advantage of this service, we strongly encourage you to consider pre-verification. All guests who are not pre-verified will be required to have their vaccine or testing documentation reviewed and approved on-site at the stadium. All of us at Syracuse University are very much looking forward to celebrating our graduates’ achievements alongside their families, our faculty and our staff. We appreciate your continued patience as we implement a Commencement plan that aligns with New York State requirements. To learn more about Commencement 2021, please visit Commencement.syr.edu. There you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions. Sincerely, Steve Bennett |
HR News
FSA Updates for Faculty and Staff: Now Cover PPE, 2020 Deadline, Increased Contribution Limit for Dependent Care
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) offer a great way to save money by allowing you to contribute pre-tax dollars into an account that you can use to pay for eligible health and dependent care expenses.
Effective immediately, personal protective equipment such as face masks and hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol) purchased to prevent the spread of COVID-19 now qualify for reimbursement from a Health Care FSA. Purchases made as early as Jan. 1, 2020, are eligible for reimbursement with proper documentation.
As a reminder, if you had a Health or Dependent Care FSA through Syracuse University in 2020, the deadline to submit eligible expenses for reimbursement is April 30, 2021. Any unused funds from 2020 will carry over to your FSA for use in 2021. Unlike prior years, there is no limit to the amount you may carry over from 2020.
As previously announced, faculty and staff have new options in 2021 that provide additional flexibility in managing FSA elections. Besides the carryover of all unused funds from 2020, other options include:
- Carryover of all unused FSA funds from 2021 to 2022;
- Mid-year FSA election changes allowed without a qualifying event; and
- Maximum contribution to a Dependent Care FSA in 2021 increased from $5,000 to $10,500 per household.
Faculty and staff can contact HealthEquity/WageWorks at 877.924.3967 (TTY: 866.353.8058) or HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 with any FSA-related questions.
Important Update for Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
The American Rescue Plan Act has allowed the University to offer eligible faculty and staff an expanded option for managing their 2021 dependent care expenses through their Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Effective immediately, employees have the option to increase their 2021 Dependent Care FSA annual contribution from $5,000 to $10,500 per household, and from $2,500 to $5,250 for individuals filing separately.
This option is in addition to the FSA options previously announced, including the ability to carry over all unused Dependent Care and Health Care FSA funds to the next year and to make mid-year election changes without a qualifying event. Additional details regarding the changes to 2020 and 2021 FSAs can be found on the Human Resources FSA webpages.
To make a change to your Dependent Care FSA contribution for 2021, contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042. For any FSA-related questions, contact HealthEquity/WageWorks at 877.924.3967 (TTY: 866.353.8058) or HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042.
‘Build Your Financial Know-How’ Wellness Workshops Offered to Faculty and Staff in May
A new financial wellness workshop series for faculty and staff will be offered virtually through Carebridge, the University’s faculty and staff assistance program, in May. The series will provide a practical approach to enhancing your financial aptitude while focusing on actions you can take to protect your finances.
Coping with financial challenges can increase personal stress, and if not managed correctly, result in costly mistakes. Becoming more conscious about your financial wellness starts with building your financial know-how. No matter what chapter of your life you are in, you can always begin, change or improve your financial story.
The workshops will be available as webinars and cover the following topics:
- Tuesday, May 4: Managing Your Personal Finances
- Friday, May 7: Gaining Control of Debt
- Monday, May 17: Developing a Savings Strategy
Each workshop will be offered at three different times on the same day, 9 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. ET, so you can attend at a time that is convenient for your schedule. Visit hr.syr.edu/financial-events for more information and to register.
With questions or if you require accommodations to participate, contact Human Resources at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.
Pfizer Vaccine Appointments Available for Friday, April 16, at the Barnes Center
| Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
The Barnes Center at The Arch continues to distribute the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, or if you haven’t made an appointment, please take action today. We have a number of open appointments for Friday, April 16. Take action! Sign up for your vaccination today! Friday, April 16, Appointments Available! Here’s how to sign up: · Students: Please make your appointment now through the Student Patient Portal. · Faculty/Staff: For faculty and staff interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine on campus, we ask that you complete this online form at your earliest convenience. · Confirming your Appointment: The Barnes Center staff will contact you via text or email to confirm your vaccination appointment. Please keep your cell phones and devices on hand so the Barnes Center staff can easily reach you. Submit Proof of Vaccination As a reminder, if you received a COVID-19 vaccination at an off-campus vaccination clinic but haven’t submitted proof yet, please do so immediately: · Students: Students who have already received or will receive the COVID-19 vaccine at an off-campus site, we ask that you submit your documentation through the Student Patient Portal as soon as possible. · Faculty/Staff: The Office of Human Resources is asking faculty and staff to complete a brief COVID-19 Vaccine Status Attestation Questionnaire to confirm their vaccination status. Faculty and staff can also use the form to claim exemption from this requirement for medical or sincerely held religious reasons. Thank you for your continued adherence to public health guidelines and for making a vaccination plan to support our community’s well-being. Sincerely, |
Syracuse University Public Health Team
Important Public Health Update: Barnes Center Will Pause Distribution of J&J Vaccine
| Dear Students, Families, Faculty and Staff:
A short time ago, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a temporary pause in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson single dose COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA indicated that this recommendation is being made “out of an abundance of caution,” to allow for the opportunity for experts to review the cases of six individuals—out of the nearly 7 million who have received the J&J vaccine to date—who developed a rare type of blood clot shortly after being vaccinated. Given the FDA’s announcement, effective immediately the Barnes Center will suspend the distribution of the J&J vaccine until the FDA issues additional guidance based on its ongoing review. At the same time, following consultation this morning with the Onondaga County Health Department, later today the county will provide the Barnes Center with a supply of the Pfizer vaccine so the University can continue to provide on-campus COVID-19 vaccinations to students, faculty and staff. Later today, we will provide an update with additional relevant information about the evolving J&J situation and our transition to the Pfizer vaccine. Finally, for those with a vaccination appointment today at the Barnes Center, your appointment will likely be rescheduled. You will be contacted directly by the Barnes Center to update your appointment date and time. If you have an appointment tomorrow, please plan to attend as scheduled to receive the Pfizer vaccine. There continues to be widespread scientific support that broad vaccination is the safest and most effective way to mitigate exposure to and the spread of this communicable illness. I urge you to visit the CDC website or the FDA website to learn more about the process by which vaccinations are reviewed and approved. The University will continue to monitor this developing situation and share the most up-to-date, pertinent information as it becomes available. Sincerely, |
1,600 Doses of Vaccine Now Available–Register Today!
| Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues:
On Wednesday, April 7, Syracuse University will begin administering the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccination on campus to interested students, faculty and staff. We have received an initial allotment of 1,600 doses from New York State and Onondaga County. We expect to receive more doses in the coming days and weeks and will notify our community as they become available. Pre-Register for On-Campus Vaccination Appointments: For faculty and staff interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine on campus, we ask that you complete this form at your earliest convenience. Barnes Center staff will begin contacting students, faculty and staff who pre-registered to receive a vaccination through the University to schedule their appointment. This notification will be done via text or email. Important request: We ask that you keep your cell phones and devices on hand so the Barnes Center staff can easily reach you. You will receive frequent updates from the Public Health Team about vaccine availability as we continue to receive additional doses. Please be sure to register as soon as possible. A widely vaccinated community is key to preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Sincerely, Public Health Advisory: COVID-19 Cases on the Rise
Update on Syracuse University Employee Eligibility for COVID-19 Vaccine
Syracuse University Public Health Team Fall 2021 Semester Update
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