HR News

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff and Families:

With less than four weeks to go in the spring semester, our campus is beginning to experience an uptick in COVID cases, a trend that is consistent with what is occurring across the country and here in Onondaga County. As we approach the end of year activities, including final projects and exams, and Commencement exercises, it is important that we take reasonable action to minimize the impact of COVID infections on academic outcomes and experiences. That’s why, effective Tuesday, April 19, our campus will transition to COVID level “Blue.”

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff and Families:

As you may be aware, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending indoor masking in Onondaga County. This recommendation is based on three data points, including active COVID cases, hospitalizations and hospital capacity. The CDC’s action does not represent a federal masking order but is instead a recommendation to our community. The University has no new information to indicate that the Onondaga County Health Department or the New York State Department of Health intend to issue a local masking order in response to the CDC’s most recent guidance.

Last week, the University announced that pending current public health conditions, it would move to masking level “Yellow.” After assessing the current landscape, both here on campus and throughout Central New York, effective tomorrow, Monday, March 14, the University is officially at masking level “Yellow.”

In recent weeks, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, the Onondaga County executive, and many of our national and New York state peer institutions have announced significant changes to public health guidelines. Primarily, these changes relate to reduced indoor masking requirements, including the elimination of mask mandates for children attending K-12 public schools across New York state.

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff and Families:

Thank you for your continued commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of our community throughout the COVID pandemic. As you are aware, shortly after the start of the fall semester, the University’s COVID level was elevated to “Red” based on increasing COVID cases, hospitalizations and test positivity rates on campus, in Central New York and across New York state. The University’s COVID level has remained at “Red” since Aug. 28. However, today I am writing to inform you that effective Monday, Feb. 21, our campus will transition to level “Blue.”

 

The seven-week, in-person class will begin on Friday, Feb. 25, and run through April 8. Participants must attend for all seven weeks.

Participants will gain skills for creating alignment and agreement by fostering open dialogue around high-stakes, emotional or risky topics at all levels of an organization. These are conversations around work quality, time management, productivity, performance, sensitive issues, conflict or a strained relationship, for example.

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff and Families:

Today, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the New York State Department of Health will not extend the existing statewide order requiring that all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, are masked indoors while in public settings and venues. That statewide order expires tomorrow, Feb. 10. Masks will continue to be required in health care facilities and in public K-12 schools. The governor cited the significant decline in both new cases and hospitalizations as key factors that informed this decision.

For many parents, it’s one of the most important decisions they’ll ever make: Where do I send my child for daycare?

Heather Coleman, an associate professor and associate department chair of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, will be forever grateful that she chose the University’s Early Education and Child Care Center (EECCC) for her two children, who are now in the second and fourth grades at the HW Smith Pre-K-8 School in Syracuse.

Dear Colleagues:

Over these last two years, there has been a significant shift in the workplace. Many organizations, including Syracuse University, have responded to the pandemic in creative and innovative ways to meet the evolving needs of the workforce while sustaining and advancing core business functions. We have learned a lot. As a result, we are excited to announce that the University will begin a pilot program this semester to expand flexible work arrangements (FWA) for staff.