Published March 11, 2020
Dear Campus Community:
Since the start of the spring 2020 semester, the University at Buffalo has been actively monitoring developments related to COVID-19 and preparing for any disruptions in university operations, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the New York State Department of Health, and the Erie County Department of Health.
To that end, our Academic Working Group, led by A. Scott Weber, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, has been planning and coordinating for a potential transition to a distance-learning model of course instruction.
Today, in an effort to reduce density in the campus environment and help mitigate the possibility for exposure to COVID-19, Governor Cuomo announced that all SUNY institutions, including UB, will implement plans to maximize distance learning and reduce in-person instruction, effective March 23 and through the end of the spring 2020 semester.
As always, our priorities are the health and safety of our entire campus community, and ensuring that our students can complete their academic course requirements.
As we move to a distance-learning model of instruction, UB will remain open, and UB’s campus operations will continue without interruption. This includes residence halls, campus dining, student academic support and health services, university libraries, transportation, campus safety and all other university services. Again, our campus operations will not be disrupted.
All professional obligations of UB faculty and staff remain unaffected. I thank you for your commitment to UB and for your efforts, on behalf of our university, to make this adjustment as seamless as possible.
Shortly, Provost Weber will send an email communicating further guidance regarding the transition to distance learning.
To stay informed, please visit our COVID-19 UB website for the latest related UB news and updates, as well as announcements and bulletins from authoritative sources including the CDC, the state and county health departments, and SUNY.
During this period, we ask that you continue to follow public health recommendations to avoid the spread of respiratory illnesses. These include avoiding close contact with sick individuals; frequent hand-washing; covering your cough or sneezing with a tissue; cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces; avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; and staying home when you are sick.
As a reminder, there have not been any confirmed cases of COVID-19 at UB or in Erie County.
As we work through this evolving and challenging situation, I truly appreciate the support, resilience and adaptability of our campus community.
Sincerely,
Satish K. Tripathi
President
