Dear Adelphi Students, Faculty and Staff,
In this, the 125th anniversary year of our founding, we are pleased to welcome everyone to Fall 2021 on Adelphi’s campus, at our satellite centers and in our online programs.
After these unusual 18 months and with the many adjustments we have all made for health and safety, we want to provide you with an overview of the academic experience for this year, now that our fall semester has begun.
Continued Health and Wellness During COVID-19
Adelphi University continues to follow the advice of public health experts and all requirements of New York state. We update our policies as the public health situation evolves, based on scientific data and the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and departments of health. Our most current guidance is always on Adelphi’s COVID-19 website.
Daily Health Screening
Everyone coming to the Garden City campus and the Manhattan, Hudson Valley and Hauppauge centers must complete the self-check on the COVID-19 health screening app daily before arrival. This includes faculty, staff and students.
Mask Requirements
Adelphi has reinstated a mask requirement for all individuals (regardless of vaccination status) at the Garden City campus and the Manhattan, Hudson Valley and Hauppauge centers. Details of this requirement are online.
Vaccination Requirements
Over the summer, Adelphi University announced new policies regarding vaccination for all members of our community. They are based on the latest reports from the CDC that show surging COVID-19 cases and high levels of COVID-19 transmission in areas surrounding Adelphi locations.
- Read the student vaccine requirement.
- Read the faculty and staff vaccination policy.
- Read vaccine FAQs on our Vaccination Information webpage.
The FDA-approved Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continues to be offered to all Adelphi faculty, staff, students and alumni free of charge at our Health Services Center. To schedule an appointment, please call Health Services at 516.877.6002 or email healthservicescenter@adelphi.
Other Health and Safety Protocols
Community members and visitors must follow all our health, wellness and safety protocols, which also include hygiene and handwashing, social distancing where noted and staying home when sick. Public safety officers and health and wellness ambassadors are monitoring compliance on campuses, in buildings and on the Panther Express Shuttle. They have undergone additional training to ensure checks are fair, equitable and comprehensive. If your daily health screening app has a red screen for any reason, you will be directed to Health Services.
If you see a violation of COVID-19 safety measures, you can report your concern by emailing healthandwellness@adelphi.edu or calling them at 516.877.6003. You can also call the Department of Public Safety and Transportation at 516.877.3511.
Case and Vaccination Tracking
Our Health and Wellness team continues to partner with the Department of Health for required contact tracing efforts in New York state. At Adelphi, we are also tracking COVID-19 cases and vaccination rates among our on-campus community to provide anonymized metrics on our COVID-19 Dashboard.
Meetings and Events Limits
Our University remains subject to New York state and Nassau County guidance for preventing and reducing the spread of COVID-19, which can change based on public health concerns. We also adhere to guidance from the CDC and recommendations of the New York state Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) in collaboration with a public health consultant.
- Indoor meetings should not exceed 50 people unless social distancing of six feet between individuals can be accomplished.
- Indoor events at on-campus venues should not exceed 50 percent of capacity.
- Proof of vaccination and/or a negative test for COVID-19 within 72 hours is required for attendance at all performance and athletic events expected to draw more than 50 people.
Updates to this guidance will be shared via our General Campus Health and Safety FAQs.
Cleaning, Disinfecting and HVAC Are Hospital-Grade Quality
We continue safeguarding our community with robust cleaning and air filtration protocols that are consistent with CDC best practices and Department of Health requirements.
Touch-free water fountains, bathroom fixtures and trash cans are widely available, as are plentiful hand sanitizing stations across campus and in our learning centers.
NY Hero Act Update
The New York Health and Essential Rights Act NY HERO Act requires employers to implement workplace safety plans in the event of an airborne infectious disease and mandates extensive health and safety protections for employees in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 6, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the designation of COVID-19 as an airborne infectious disease under the NY HERO Act. The mitigation protocols put in place at Adelphi University as part of its Master Restart Plan are compliant with NY HERO Act requirements. All Adelphi employees should report any concerns with the implementation of this plan to the University’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety by emailing healthandwellness@
We’re Excited About Returning to Our In-Person Experience
Today, we are so excited for the energy of Adelphi’s community now that we’re back together again. Here are some highlights of what we expect for Fall 2021.
Adelphi at 125
We hope you will join us in celebrating the amazing history we share. Feel free to download 125th anniversary Zoom backgrounds and other materials we’ve created. We’re also looking forward to special in-person and virtual events for this year’s Spirit Weekend. For more information, visit the 125th Anniversary: Spirit Weekend webpage. We are all part of building tomorrow together.
Momentum
In the coming weeks, we will post a report of the University’s achievements from the 2015–2021 strategic plan Momentum, which concludes at the end of this year. Stay tuned for opportunities in October and November to provide input on our next strategic plan, Momentum 2. We look forward to working together for the future of our University.
Our New Office of Community Concerns and Resolution (OCCR)
Our new Office of Community Concerns and Resolution (OCCR) launched on August 30. The new office and its inaugural chief will support existing University procedures to provide our community with enhanced and centralized resources for handling complaints and concerns. The OCCR will also help the Adelphi community address broader cultural concerns raised by students, faculty, staff and alumni. You can contact the office at occr@adelphi.edu.
Dine on Campus
Our newly renovated Ruth S. Harley University Center is open and the new UC Dining Hall will likely become your favorite dining option on campus with its wide variety of options and great space for studying, meeting and charging your devices. We are also excited that Post Hall is open for dinner and late-night dining for the first time in 18 months.
See our Fall 2021 dining schedule and locations online. We will continue to evaluate and respond to the community’s dining needs during the semester, so we encourage you to check the dining mobile app and the Dining Services website for the most up-to-date locations, hours and menus. You can also reach out to Dining Services at adelphidining@adelphi.edu or 516.877.3950.
Vibrant Student Life
This past year, our clubs and organizations put on more than 1,000 virtual programs with over 6,000 student participants. The Office of Residential Life and Housing facilitated 218 programs and events with over 1,900 participants. We are excited to have our students back on campus and look forward to offering your favorite activities and cocurricular leadership opportunities in hybrid formats. In-person gatherings will be consistent with public health guidelines and policies in place at the time.
Visit the Center for Student and Community Engagement and the Office of Residential Life and Housing for more information. You’ll also find a calendar of in-person and virtual student events in our weekly Adelphi Insider and on MyAULife.
Athletics and Recreation
We continue to abide by National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) guidelines regarding COVID-19 protections for student-athletes. Since these are updated regularly in consideration of the evolving pandemic, please visit the NCAA site, Resocialization of Collegiate Sport: 2021 Fall Training and Competition.
The Center for Recreation and Sports is offering a full lineup of sports clubs, intramural leagues and tournaments, in addition to opportunities for individual and group fitness activities, both in person and online. Visit the Campus Recreation website for more information.
Classroom Experiences Are Returned to Normal
Clear barriers remain in place in classrooms. Consistent with current state health department guidelines, our classrooms and all seating have been restored to pre-COVID-19 capacity.
Eating is not permitted in the classrooms, labs, studios and other instruction spaces, unless by a student who has a documented accommodation.
Transportation
Our Panther Express Shuttle is running to local shopping centers, supermarkets and entertainment destinations. Masks are required on the shuttle and our drivers may ask to see your daily health screening app.
Parking
All students, including first-year and sophomore residents, are welcome to park in our Garden City campus lots. Optional additional parking at the Garden City pool is available starting September 7. In order to avoid a parking summons, you must register your vehicle with the Department of Public Safety and Transportation and display a 2021–2022 parking sticker on your left rear bumper by October 1. Visit the Public Safety Command Center in Levermore Hall, Suite 113, and see the Department of Public Safety and Transportation website for more information.
Support and Resources for All Adelphi Community Members
We offer virtual and in-person resources to support mental health, academics, faith, wellness, personal and career goals, among many others. Our students, faculty and staff can find a full listing of important resources on our website.
Have a Great Fall Semester!
We will continue to actively communicate with you about our guidelines and policies that evolve with the public health situation. Our COVID-19 website is a great resource for the latest information.
Your questions and feedback continue to be welcome. Please feel free to email us at executiveleadership@adelphi.edu or healthandwellness@adelphi.edu.
We look forward to a vibrant and fulfilling fall semester where everyone feels safe, stays healthy and is respected and welcome. Thank you for your full and diligent compliance with our safety measures in place.
Sincerely,
Christine M. Riordan, PhD, President
R. Sentwali Bakari, PhD, Vice President for Student Affairs
Kristen Capezza, MBA ’12, Vice President of Enrollment Management and University Communications
Maggie Yoon Grafer ’99, MA ’08, Associate Vice President of University Advancement and External Relations
Jacqueline Jones LaMon, JD, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Gene Palma, Vice President of University Wellness, Safety and Administration
James J. Perrino, Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations
Christopher Storm, PhD, Provost and Executive Vice President