Dear SPS Students,

As NYU President Hamilton’s recent note indicates, the University has announced that due to continuing health and safety concerns related to the pandemic, the All-University commencement ceremony for this year will be held virtually. Additionally, in-person celebrations will be planned when it is deemed safe to do so. At SPS, we will be following this guidance for our own convocation events. Although we know this news is disappointing, this decision will ensure that we are able to protect graduates, their family members, friends, and loved ones who would normally attend these ceremonies in person.

This year has, no doubt, been challenging. It has required each of us to creatively rethink every aspect of our daily lives. I have marvelled at the way SPS students have been able to shift to learning, working, networking, celebrating, and gathering virtually. It is because of your selflessness and deep dedication to keeping each other safe, that the entire SPS community has been able to navigate through an academic year like no other.

Graduation is a rite of passage and a milestone celebration in your life. You have worked so hard to earn your degree, and I want to assure you of the School’s commitment to commemorating this incredibly special occasion with all of the pomp and circumstance that it warrants. During the course of this pandemic, there is much that we have learned about utilizing the virtual space to build community, to host exciting and engaging programming, and to create memorable experiences. This is ultimately the goal for this year’s Convocation Ceremony, and we want you to play an integral role in planning it. We hope that you will work with us to design an event that reflects the spirit of SPS and that celebrates all of your wonderful accomplishments.

To that end, we would like to invite all graduating SPS students to participate in a brainstorming session with the Office of Student Affairs on Wednesday, February 17th at 9:00 am EST (click here to RSVP). We look forward to hearing the ideas you have for making this a truly memorable occasion.

This year, the SPS Virtual Convocation Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 20th at 9:00 am EST for both undergraduate and graduate students. The NYU All-University Virtual Commencement Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 19th, 2021 at 11:00 am EST. All graduating students will receive an email with information regarding registration and graduation attire. It also will contain Zoom links to share with family and friends. Of course, we will also be in touch as soon as we have more information about when we can gather in-person to celebrate.

While graduation ceremonies mark the end of a very distinct period in your life, they also signal the start of a new chapter—one of limitless personal and professional possibilities. They serve as a reminder that the best is truly yet to come. Congratulations Class of 2021! I look forward to celebrating this new beginning with you. 

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean 

Important Spring 2021 Schedule Changes

Dear SPS Students, 

It is hard to believe that the majority of the semester is now complete. While the fall 2020 term may not be what we all had envisioned, the various adjustments (both in-person and remote) that we have made at NYU and SPS have allowed us to keep our community safe and healthy, while also maintaining the robust learning and engaging extracurricular opportunities for which we are known. 

While we remain optimistic that soon we will resume normal operations, we must continue making the necessary adjustments to protect our community’s health. To that end, we hope you have read the University's announcement regarding important changes to the spring 2021 calendar. Due to the enormous risk in spreading the COVID-19 virus associated with spring break travel, this week-long break has been replaced with two new 3-day weekends. We understand the mental health benefits and rejuvenation that often accompany spring break and have therefore communicated with SPS faculty the need to safeguard these newly introduced long weekends against additional workloads or assignments. 

Please be in touch with your academic advisor about the spring semester schedule, and make sure to check your Albert Student Center for your assigned registration appointment. Spring 2021 registration will begin as planned on Monday, December 7th.

While we understand these changes may feel like yet another adjustment, we do not make these decisions lightly. These modifications have life-saving implications and it is in that regard that we are confident that each and every member of the SPS community will rise to the occasion as we have done time and time again during this pandemic. 

Take care and stay safe. 

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean 

Dear NYU SPS Graduate Student, 

In light of the many disruptions the COVID-19 pandemic has caused across the country and around the world, we are writing to both new and returning NYU SPS graduate students to assure you that the University and NYU SPS are carefully and thoughtfully preparing for the fall semester in order to provide the stellar education for which NYU SPS is known, in a safe and supportive environment. We also want to clarify the modalities of delivery in which classes will be offered to ensure that you have sufficient time to plan ahead given some of the continuously changing circumstances we face.

We know the key to a successful academic year will take the sustained effort and commitment of each and every one of us. We also recognize that it is more critical than ever for us to communicate clearly and to be sure that students are well-informed throughout the academic year. This communication serves to provide you with a preliminary overview of academic and student life in the year ahead as we reconvene on campus with an unprecedented set of safety protocols in place.

We wish each and every one of you success in your studies. Please know that we are here to help and support you every step of the way.

Questions and concerns can be addressed via email at sps.studentaffairs@nyu.edu or phone 212.998.7002.

Please check NYU’s coronavirus web hub frequently for the latest news and updates.              

Our First Priority - Keeping Each Other Safe

Over the last few months, each of us experienced living through the pandemic in some form of self-isolation. As we pivot to reassembling in the fall, we must do so with great care.

You have already received communications from the University about our safety and health plans. Please visit the SPS COVID site for details and look for updates during the summer. NYU's multilayered plan—with requirements for wearing masks, physical distancing, testing, reducing density in classrooms and residence halls, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation—cannot eliminate all the risks, but together its elements can significantly contribute to checking the spread of COVID-19.

Just as vital as our plans and protocols is our personal and mutual sense of responsibility to one another. When you wear a face covering, when you maintain physical distancing, when you sanitize your hands, when you forego a hug of greeting, you are not just doing it to keep yourself COVID free, you are doing it to keep your friends, your faculty members, and everyone else healthy, too. This fall, we all have a responsibility—to keep each other safe.

In the coming weeks, the University will be rolling out a set of online learning modules that you will be required to watch before arriving on campus, including one on health protocols. You also will receive additional communications reinforcing University safety rules.   

Flexibility

The circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to change rapidly.  That is why our planning has emphasized flexibility: flexibility in terms of how we will teach and learn, flexibility in terms of making sure you can take courses regardless of whether you can be physically present in a classroom, flexibility in terms of the academic year, and flexibility in case health indicators take a turn for the worse at any of our campuses.

Your Classes

We are committed to providing you the excellent education you expect from NYU. Our aim in reconvening on campus is to make in-person academic engagement part of our students' experience. Faculty members are spending the summer preparing for fall classes—both in-person and remote—thinking about the best ways to engage students, and devising vibrant educational experiences that immerse them in great ideas and teach them to think critically and creatively regardless of the learning format.

Types of Classes

To align with our safety plans, classes will take three forms (or “modalities”) in 2020-2021 (and they will be designated as follows in NYU’s course registration system, Albert):

• In-person classes: The instruction is in-person
• Online classes: All of the instruction is remote, whether the course meets at a designated time (synchronous), is self-paced (asynchronous), or a combination of both. Though wholly online, these courses will retain their usual enrollment size and students will have opportunities for regular engagement with the professor
• Blended classes: A mix of in-person and remote. In most cases, blended courses will be assigned a classroom, but due to COVID physical distancing guidelines and adjusted room capacities, not all students will be able to attend every class session in person. For example, you may enroll in a class with 24 students but your assigned classroom might fit only 12. In this scenario, the registrar will assign you to either group A or group B (12 in each group for a 50% split) and your instructor will tell you which class sessions your group will attend in-person and which it will attend remotely.

Regardless of modality, every class will make remote attendance possible for students who must study remotely this fall (such as those confronting travel restrictions or quarantines).

Class Registration

The University is currently working to revise course listings in Albert to reflect how courses will be taught/delivered in the fall. This is being done to ensure that there is the correct mix of in-person, fully online, and blended classes needed to meet COVID-19 related guidelines as they apply to the number of students allowed in a classroom. For courses at the New York campus, the updating process by the University should be completed by Monday, July 13. At that time, the most current snapshot of course schedules and delivery methods will be available for students to review and make informed decisions regarding new registrations or changes they may need to implement to their program of study if conflicts or other issues arise. These scheduling changes may have certain ramifications for international students regarding the ratio of online to in-person classes required to maintain their current student visa status (please see ‘Information for International Students’ section below). Your academic adviser is available to help you make these decisions.

Remote Attendance and "Go Local" - Locational Flexibility

Travel restrictions, mandated self-quarantines, slowdowns in visa processing – COVID-19 has created many challenges for a university as global and mobile as ours. We recognize that some students will have difficulty getting to New York City this fall.      

In response, every class – including in-person classes – will be available to attend remotely, and many in-person classes will have special online sections reserved for students who plan to attend remotely. Even if you cannot travel as planned, or if you find yourself quarantined for a period, you can carry on your studies without interruption. Some of our students will be able to study at NYU Shanghai, this will allow them to go to an NYU location to which they can travel and legally study without the need for additional immigration documentation, and while there take a mix of in-person and remote classes. 

Information for International Students 

On Monday, July 6, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released guidance requiring any international student studying in the US to be enrolled in at least one in-person or blended class for the duration of the semester. International students who have not yet read the email from NYU’s Office of Global Services should do so as soon as possible, as it contains important details to consider regarding fall enrollment. NYU, both directly and working alongside other colleges and universities, is urging the government to reconsider these guidelines.

Student Life

Staff members of the NYU SPS Office of Student Affairs have been working with NYU SPS Student Council members over the summer to plan events and activities for the fall. Programming will be as engaging and fun as ever, but will be conducted in the safety of an online environment. You’ll be able to:

• Engage in a wealth of social and professional events
• Participate in student organizations
• Take part in community service opportunities
• Take advantage of workshops to hone time management and presentation skills

Weekly announcements from the Office of Student Life will keep you posted on the many activities and traditions that go on at the School. 

Wasserman Career Development Services

The NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development at NYU SPS provides critical career counseling services and will be at your service from day one, through graduation and beyond. 

Alumni Relations

Start enjoying some of the benefits of being a member of the NYU alumni community now! The Office of Alumni Relations has extended an invitation to all continuing students to join the Violet Network – learn more about all of the benefits and opportunities this platform provides. New students will be invited to join the platform at the start of the academic year in September. 

International Student Support Center

International Students find a home away from home by connecting with the International Student Support Center (ISSC), which provides numerous resources to help them acclimate to NYC and to the rigors of NYU academic life.

Academic Advising  

Throughout your academic career at NYU SPS, your academic adviser will be there to help you to succeed—personally and professionally. Click here for a full overview of services and for a full list of academic advisers by division.

Conclusion

The regular habits and practices of recent years won’t work this year. We will need to strive a little harder, do a little more. It may not be a regular year or one that we might have wished for, but we believe that working together, we will make this a great and memorable year.

You are students at a leading university in one of the world’s truly great cities at a profound, unprecedented, and historic time. This is a moment for big ideas, and big ideas – their creation, their debate, their dissemination – are what NYU SPS is all about.

Best wishes for the remainder of your summer. You will be hearing more from us before the start of fall classes. And remember to check on NYU’s coronavirus web hub often for the latest news and updates. 

Sincerely, 

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean 

Dear SPS Students,

I hope you are all eager to begin your journey at NYU SPS! The new academic year is going to be one of the most uniquein educational history and all of us here at SPS are working energetically to deliver an experience that is consistent withthe high quality education and university co-curricular life that SPS and NYU are known for. We at SPS are not lookingback, but looking forward to what can be a most extraordinary university experience. What will make it different isgoverned by the measures we are taking to provide a safe learning environment that is governed by New York State andCity health and safety regulations. As I write to you, those regulations are still evolving and we will be letting you know ofthe NYU safety provisions as soon as they are formalized.

Academic Planning and Course Registration

As you have heard, we are preparing for a Fall that will consist of a combination of in-person and remotely deliveredclasses. Many of our students will be here in New York City taking a combination of courses in-person and remotely andothers are staying home and studying completely remotely. Some of you will be studying at an NYU campus abroad. Thedual modality of in-person and remote will hold true for our support services and co-curricular activities. No matter whereyou are, you will be able to participate in programming that will include remote participation. As we have seen over thepast few months, students are engaging in our remote programming in high volumes.

All NYU undergraduate students were recently asked about their interest in the NYU Go Local option. Each of yourdepartments will use this information, along with health regulations guidelines, to revise the current course schedule forfall. All course offerings will be finalized ahead of your registration appointments on July 20.

Student Life

The SPS experience would not be what it is without robust student life programming. The Office of Student Affairs has created a Google calendar, which provides easy access to summer events, workshops and activities, as well as programming for international students from the International Student Support Center, which includes tutoring and academic success workshops.

The student councils, as well as our student club leaders, are working on their fall programming. We are looking forwardto a very vibrant and extensive schedule that will, as in previous semesters, include social and professional events, andcommunity service opportunities. Our fall hallmark event, the SPS Spirit Week will offer a variety of creative andeducational opportunities for students to have fun, learn and network. Dates and details will be announced.

Career Services and Networking

A critical resource that I encourage you to leverage from day one is the NYUSPS Wasserman Center for Career Development. As a SPS student, you have your own dedicated team of career coaches and services that will partner with you regardless of how you will attend NYU this fall.

As a first step, activate your Handshake account which will connect you to coaching, industry events and resources from anywhere in the world. While there is no doubt that COVID-19 will continue to impact and redefine our world of work, the career resiliency of SPS students is impressive. Join the over 3,000 SPS students who utilized career services last year and take advantage of exciting virtual programs that will build professional resiliency, connect you to employers that are currently seeking talent, and provide career mentors through the new NYU Violet Network (more information below). If you would like to learn more or get a head start on defining your own career success, please email sps.wasserman@nyu.edu to be connected to a career coach.

Violet Network

I am delighted to let you know that the SPS Office of Alumni Relations will be inviting all students to join the Violet Network - our new global platform for alumni, faculty, and students to connect, network, and mentor in early July. SPS has a network of over 30000 alumni, 4500 students, and 1300 faculty across the world. The platform has exciting features that will allow you to filter based on industry expertise, location, organization, school and division affiliation and find support based on industry, affinity, identity or region. You can also sign up for professional, social and industry events taking place virtually, listen to alumni conversations and participate in the SPS Violet Network Mentor Program led in collaboration with the SPS Wasserman Center. Please look out for an email invitation to join the platform in early July.

We hope this email provides you with a window into the comprehensive support services and co-curricular programming that is currently available and new features and activities that await you in the fall. Combined with our exceptional academic curriculum, these additional supports and programming will prepare you to become future industry practitioners and leaders that are poised to overcome any industry challenge or future disruption. The academic deans, faculty, and staff are enthusiastic to welcome you to your new academic home - #WeAreSPS.

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean 

Dear SPS Students, 

I hope you are all eager to begin your journey at NYU SPS! The new academic year is going to be one of the most unique in educational history and all of us here at SPS are working energetically to deliver an experience that is consistent with the high quality education and university co-curricular life that SPS and NYU are known for. We at SPS are not looking back, but looking forward to what can be a most extraordinary university experience. What will make it different is governed by the measures we are taking to provide a safe learning environment that is governed by New York State and City health and safety regulations related to COVID-19. As I write to you, those regulations are still evolving and we will be letting you know of the NYU safety provisions as soon as they are formalized.

Academic Planning and Course Registration

As you have heard, we are preparing for a Fall that will consist of a combination of in-person and remotely delivered classes. Many of our students will be here in New York City taking a combination of courses in-person and remotely and others are staying home and studying completely remotely. Some of you will be studying at an NYU campus abroad. The dual modality of in-person and remote will hold true for our support services and co-curricular activities as well. No matter where you are, you will be able to participate in programming that will include remote participation. As we have seen over the past few months, students are engaging in our remote programming in high volumes.

Recently, all SPS students received a Fall 2020 Planning Information email about your study plans for the fall. Each of your departments will use this information, along with health regulation guidelines, to revise the current course schedule for fall. All course offerings and schedules will be finalized by July 12. You may notice a change in your course schedule or in the instruction modality for some of your courses. Your advisor can address your questions or concerns and you will have time to finalize your schedule well before the start of the semester. In addition, a number of departments will be planning co-curricular events and programs to foster learning outside the classroom, including virtual lecture series, industry visits, and conferences. 

Career Development

We also know how important career development and support is for our students and the NYUSPS Wasserman Center for Career Development is here to support you in achieving your professional goals. You do not need to wait until the fall to activate your career action plan. Career coaches are available now, offering virtual appointments that fit your schedule and time zone. A combination of in-person and remote appointments will be available in the fall.  

This summer and fall, exciting programs are being offered that will connect you to employers that are currently seeking talent, and provide career mentors. To make a coaching appointment and receive NYUSPS Wasserman e-newsletters highlighting resources and events, log into your Handshake account. For questions, email sps.wasserman@nyu.edu

Student Life

The SPS experience would not be what it is without robust student life programming. The Office of Student Affairs has created a Google calendar, which provides easy access to summer events, workshops and activities, as well as programming for international students from the International Student Support Center, which includes tutoring and academic success workshops. 

The student councils, as well as our student club leaders, are working on their fall programming. We are looking forward to a very vibrant and extensive schedule that will, as in previous semesters, include social and professional events, and community service opportunities. Our fall hallmark event, the SPS Spirit Week, will offer a variety of creative and educational opportunities for students to have fun, learn and network. Dates and details will be announced.

Violet Network

I am delighted to let you know that the SPS Office of Alumni Relations will be inviting all students to join the Violet Network - our new global platform for alumni, faculty, and students to connect, network, and mentor in early July. SPS has a network of over 30000 alumni, 4500 students, and 1300 faculty across the world. The platform has exciting features that will allow you to filter based on industry expertise, location, organization, school and division affiliation and find support based on industry, affinity, identity or region. You can also sign up for professional, social and industry events taking place virtually, listen to alumni conversations and participate in the SPS Violet Network Mentor Program led in collaboration with the SPS Wasserman Center. Please look out for an email invitation to join the platform in early July. 

We hope this email provides you with a window into the comprehensive support services and co-curricular programming that is currently available and new features and activities that await you in the fall. Combined with our exceptional academic curriculum, this additional support and programming will prepare you to become future industry practitioners and leaders that are poised to overcome any industry challenge or future disruption. The academic deans, faculty, and staff are enthusiastic to welcome you to your new academic home - #WeAreSPS. 

Sincerely, 

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean 

Dear SPS Graduate Students, 

It is my sincere hope that this email continues to find you and your loved ones safe and healthy. During these unprecedented times, taking good care of yourselves and our neighbors is key to getting through this difficult period. Together we will emerge stronger than before.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been guided by two principles: safeguarding the safety and health of our community and ensuring the continued academic progress of our students. These guidelines will continue to steer our decisions for the 2020-21 academic year. 

Although there are many uncertainties that lie ahead, the University is proceeding with plans to reconvene in person in the fall, with the appropriate safety measures in place, including:

• reviewing all of our campus spaces to ensure that any in-person classes, activities, and events allow for social distancing;
• making masks available for all members of the NYU community and requiring their use;
• conducting virus and antibody testing and contact tracing;
• reducing density in student housing; and 
• developing more flexible formats for student life activities.

In addition, in close partnership with the University, SPS is diligently working on ways to offer students various levels of academic flexibility. These developing plans include:

• creating a robust set of courses that will be available in fall, spring, and summer;
• making sure that all courses are designed to be agile in responding to public health developments;
• offering many classes in a mixed mode to enable you to participate in-person or remotely (with the understanding that some courses or parts of courses may be offered only remotely); and
• providing those who are eligible* to study at the NYU Shanghai campus the option of taking some SPS in-person courses on campus. Please note this option would only be available for certain courses in specific degree areas with limited capacity. We will provide more information about this option over the next few weeks.

*Please note that eligibility for study at NYU Shanghai is limited to citizens and permanent residents of mainland China who have been physically present in mainland China since May 15, 2020 or earlier, and Mainland Entry Permit holders from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan who also meet the May 15, 2020 criteria.

In the coming academic year, NYU will be launching a new set of courses on topics of the greatest student interest across the University, taught by some of our most prominent and esteemed faculty and open to all students. These courses will be available regardless of where you find yourself this fall. We will share more later this summer.

So what are your next steps as an SPS graduate student? 

Each SPS degree has different course requirements and each student may have differing circumstances. For planning purposes, it is critical that you fill out the SPS Fall 2020 Planning Form in order to indicate your plans of study for the fall semester. The deadline for this form is Monday, June 1st. 

Please note as we hear from students about their plans for the fall, if adjustments are necessary to the fall schedule your advisors will be in touch. For those of you who have not yet registered we encourage you to do so immediately. If you have any questions or concerns please contact your academic advisor. 

Whatever your preferred path of study may be, we are here to support you and ensure your academic progress. We are hard at work exploring options to safeguard the excellent quality of your education and that your experience at SPS remains strong and vibrant. We look forward to having you join us in the fall, stay safe and be well.

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum, EdD

Dean

Dear SPS Students, 

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you all. As you have read, the University officially announced the postponement of NYU’s 188th All-University Commencement Exercises, due to take place in Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, as well as the individual school graduation ceremonies. 

The events over the last few weeks have changed our world and required us to meet unique challenges. Knowing the profoundly special place that our commencement exercises hold for our graduating students, we postponed making this decision as long as we could, in the hope that new information might lead us down a different path. Alas, that has not transpired. Now, more than ever, the COVID-19 crisis requires that we all do our part to safeguard public health and the wellbeing of those around us. Given the advice of public health officials, as well as the restrictions put in place by city and state authorities, our actions today and in the coming weeks can save thousands of lives and it is against this backdrop that this painful decision was made. 

To the outstanding Class of 2020: You have worked so hard and have achieved so much. We have asked you to make unprecedented adjustments and now we write to you about the University’s decision to postpone the May Commencement Celebrations. As I recall my own graduation from New York University, I understand how deeply disappointing this is. However, I am also confident that your day to celebrate with the New York University community lies ahead and will be suffused with a special significance due to the extraordinary circumstances that led to its delay. Our promise is to celebrate you with the same vigorous enthusiasm and pride that you deserve. As the University explores opportunities for a rescheduled Commencement at a date still to be decided, we will do everything we can to reschedule the SPS Convocation Ceremonies (with a virtual option for those that are unable to participate on this new date/time). 

In the meantime, I ask you to join me in re-imagining what is possible for near-term celebrations. Our NYUSPS Office of Student Affairs, together with our student leaders, is in the process of coming up with creative ways to honor this important milestone virtually and to make sure that each and every one of our graduates feels acknowledged for their truly remarkable, noteworthy accomplishments. We invite your ideas and suggestions and we count on your creativity, enthusiasm and collaborative spirit (a form will be sent to those who are graduating soliciting ideas).  

With all my heart, I want to thank you - our students - for your strength, for your resilience, and for your courage. It is my greatest honor to lead the SPS community - a community defined by its innovative spirit, inclusiveness, and fortitude. We will meet this moment and emerge stronger in the end because #WeAreSPS. 

Sincerely, 

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D. 

Dean

Dear SPS Students,

I hope you and your families are well and that you were able to take some time for yourself to relax and enjoy your spring break despite the many adjustments you’ve had to endure over the last several weeks. 

The last two weeks have changed the course of history. Each day NYU and the School of Professional Studies have had to make critical decisions. While some decisions have been extraordinarily difficult, I am proud that our community has stepped up in order to safeguard all of our health and safety and to ensure the success of our students. I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to you - our students - the center of every decision we make. You have been asked to make unprecedented adjustments and have done so with remarkable grace and courage. While this is not the year we had envisioned, I remain optimistic because I have witnessed first-hand the tremendous resilience and dedication of our SPS community. 

As we resume classes today, I am happy to welcome you back and let you know that everyone in the School is here to support you. Although our facilities have closed, our key services remain available and our staff is working remotely --responding to your emails and phone calls. 

As you settle into a new routine, I would like to draw your attention to our modified pass/fail (P/F) policy. In recognition of the disruption caused by COVID-19 and the undue stress and pressure students may face as a result, SPS is extending the eligibility of P/F to all SPS courses currently in progress this semester. In addition, the deadline by which students may elect to take a course P/F rather than for a letter grade will be extended until Tuesday, May 12 or before your final exam/project is due. Please refer to the SPS academic policies website for more information (click here for undergraduate students; click here for graduate students) and for how to request P/F for a course. 

While this change is being made with students in mind, I want to be unequivocally clear that our commitment to your academic success and learning goals for the semester remain firmly in place. On this, we will never deviate. I also want to encourage you to be in touch with your academic advisers about which and how many courses you may want to take on a P/F basis, especially if you are considering P/F for a course that is required for admission to a professional/graduate school and/or a certification. Finally, if you receive tuition reimbursement from your employer based on a specific grade, please be sure you contact your employer before you opt for a P/F option.

Our community is now truly a global one as many of you have returned home within the United States and around the world. No matter where we are, no matter where we sit when we turn on our computers, we can still remain connected, participate in our classes, reach out with a question, or just say hello to a friend. This new reality has given us a chance to step out of our comfort zones, learn new modes of communication, and find exciting new ways of bridging the distance. 

Keeping this in mind, I strongly encourage you to stay in touch --with your faculty, your fellow students, your deans, your advisors, and the many NYUSPS services. Later today, you will receive an email from the Office of Student Affairs which will include remote opportunities for us to continue to engage outside the classroom, communicate, and network. Included in this communication are dates for my upcoming ‘Dean’s Virtual Coffee Hours’ (click here to RSVP for undergraduate students; click here to RSVP for graduate students). I hope to see many of you there.  

I know there are still some outstanding questions and I assure you we will remain in frequent and regular communication as new developments arise. Please be sure to check the SPS COVID-19 website for the latest updates (including virtual resources from Bobst Library). Stay well, stay strong and know that our community will remain connected. We are here to support you and #WeAreSPS!

With best wishes, 

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D. 

Dean

Dear SPS Students,

We hope you have already read yesterday’s message from President Hamilton regarding the new measures the University is taking to address the COVID-19. We realize this is a challenging time for all of us at SPS and we appreciate your continued cooperation. As we transition to temporary remote instruction, please consider the learning opportunities presented by this modality. 

As we respond to this evolving situation, our guiding principles are twofold: the health and safety of our community and ensuring the academic progress of our students. Below is important SPS-specific information that will expand on University guidance.

• Beginning Wednesday, March 11, classes will be held remotely through Sunday, March 29th (including weekends). Please look for an email from your faculty member(s) providing you with your class session link. In addition, the Center for Academic Excellence and Support (CAES) is creating a toolkit for students that will be available by 5:00 pm today. 

• Your advisors and the staff at the Office of Student Affairs remain available. Please be sure to reach out to them with any questions or concerns, by e-mail at sps.studentaffairs@nyu.edu or by phone at 212.998.7002. In addition, you can access your advisor contact information by visiting www.sps.nyu.edu/advising.

• Note that University and School services will continue to be available, but I would like to bring your attention to the following very important services and provide remote access information:

• The Wasserman Center for Career Development at SPS
• The SPS International Student Support Center (ISSC), (for international students only) 
• The NYU Wellness Exchange
• The Moses Center for Students Accessibility
• ·StudentLink Center

• Finally, for your reference, we are including here the new SPS COVID-19 webpage that will include the latest resources and communications from SPS. Note: updates will be available by 5:00 pm on the website.

Our objective during this challenging time is to ensure that there is continuity in your educational experience, to help you achieve your academic goals, and to ensure that you continue to make academic progress.  We also want to encourage you to take care of yourselves and to seek support, if you need it, from friends, family, and the many resources available through the University community.

Most importantly, remember that you are part of a caring, supportive and resilient community and we will face these difficulties together—because WeAreSPS.

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum

Dear SPS Noncredit Students, 

We hope this message finds you in good health. The last few weeks have changed the course of history. Each day NYU and the School of Professional Studies have had to make critical decisions. While some decisions have been extraordinarily difficult, I am proud that our community has stepped up in order to safeguard all of our health and safety and to ensure the success of our students. 

As we settle into a new routine, I would like to draw your attention to our modified pass/fail (P/F) policy. In recognition of the disruption caused by COVID-19 and the undue stress and pressure students may face as a result, SPS is extending the eligibility of P/F to all SPS courses currently in progress this semester. If you would like to utilize this option, please contact our Noncredit Student Services Office by e-mail at sps.certificate@nyu.edu or by phone at 212-998-7150. Please note if you receive tuition reimbursement from your employer based on a specific grade, please be sure you contact your employer before you opt for a P/F option.

While this change is being made with students in mind, I want to be unequivocally clear that our commitment to delivering a quality learning experience remains firmly in place. Please also be sure to check the SPS COVID-19 website for the latest updates and virtual resources. As always, thank you for your continued flexibility and commitment. 

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum

Dear SPS Noncredit Students,

In response to the evolving situation with COVID-19, New York University will be moving to remote instruction for all classes beginning Wednesday, March 11th through Sunday, March 29th (including weekends) - see link to communication from President Hamilton. We realize this is a challenging time for all of us at SPS and we appreciate your continued cooperation. As we transition to temporary remote instruction, please consider the learning opportunities presented by this modality. 

As we respond to this evolving situation, our guiding principles are twofold: the health and safety of our community and ensuring the academic progress and intellectual pursuits of our students. Below is important SPS-specific information that will expand on University guidance.

• Please look for an email from your faculty member(s) providing you with your class session link. In addition, the Center for Academic Excellence and Support (CAES) is creating a toolkit for students that will be available by 5:00 pm today. 

·         The Office of Noncredit Student Services remains available. Please be sure to reach out to them with any questions or concerns, by e-mail at sps.info@nyu.edu or by phone at 212-998-7150. Office hours are from Mon-Thurs: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm; Fri-Sat: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.

·         Noncredit students should refer to the CDC website for the latest updates on COVID-19 and preventive measures. 

·         Finally, for your reference, we are including here the new SPS COVID-19 webpage that will include the latest resources and communications from SPS. Note: updates will be available by 5:00 pm on the website.

Our objective during this challenging time is to ensure that there is continuity in your educational experience and to help you achieve your academic goals. We also want to encourage you to take care of yourselves and to seek support, if you need it, from friends, family, and the community.

Thank you in advance for your continued cooperation and resilience.

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum

Dear Colleagues, 

Welcome to the Spring 2021 Semester! I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and well, and that you have had an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate before the start of a new term. 

For several reasons, the beginning of this semester is filled with promise and hope. In the US, we have witnessed the successful transition of power despite the tumultuous events of the past few weeks. We also have been encouraged by the vaccine's arrival and the herculean efforts of our healthcare professionals who have worked around the clock to administer it. While the rollout has gotten off to a slower start than anticipated, we have great hopes that the process will begin to accelerate, so that we may resume more normal patterns of day-to-day life. The spring semester also will bring new and exciting opportunities for teaching innovation, and for continuing our efforts to provide a responsive and nurturing environment in which our students feel safe, productive, and intellectually stimulated.

We knew from the start that this pandemic would be a marathon rather than a sprint. While there may be a light at the end of the tunnel, there is still so much work to be done and so many precautions that we must continue to take. To keep our community safe the University has tightened previous testing protocols and processes (see NYU message here). We encourage you to review all of this information carefully and for your convenience, we have included some links below. For full information and details, please visit the NYU Returns hub. 

- Testing guidelines 
- Daily Screener
- Social distancing
- Contact tracing 
- Compliance with safety and health rules
- Community Standards & COVID-19

In addition, whether you plan to return to campus for Spring 2021 or not, all faculty and staff members must watch the newly updated Mandatory Safety Guidelines Video for Spring 2021 by Wednesday, January 27th (please check your inbox for an email from NYUiLearn). For those who will be on campus, I remind you of the critical importance of taking personal responsibility for your own health and behavior to ensure your safety and the wellbeing of all of those in the campus community. Remaining vigilant and adhering to guidelines will help to ensure that we will be able to continue through an uninterrupted spring semester. 

While the pandemic may have upended virtually every aspect of our daily lives, I remain profoundly inspired by how we have met this crisis as a community. Our faculty members have adopted new teaching practices and pedagogy. Our staff has seamlessly transitioned all work operations to a remote modality. And our entire community has faced this crisis with resilience and incredible determination. Working together we will emerge a stronger institution than we could ever have possibly imagined.

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

Dear Colleagues, 

As the calendar year draws to a close, I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on our mutual experiences during these difficult times, while taking stock of all that we have accomplished together. To say that this year has been challenging would be a gross understatement. The global pandemic has left no aspect of our lives untouched. The health, economic, social, and personal toll that COVID-19 has taken will reverberate for years to come. 

While we have been faced with tremendous adversity, our resilience and deep commitment to our students has allowed us to triumph in many ways. At NYU, we managed to successfully complete the fall semester uninterrupted—a feat believed by many to be impossible. At NYU SPS everyone rose to the challenge. In just a few short months our faculty members, with the assistance of the Center for Academic Excellence and Support (CAES), seamlessly transitioned our entire curriculum into a combination of in-person, remote, and blended course formats. The SPS staff worked tirelessly to provide students with comprehensive online support services and robust student life programming in order to deliver on our promise of a premiere educational experience. And, our impact on industry expanded exponentially, with our world-renowned conferences and events being offered remotely and reaching an unprecedented number of attendees. In every way imaginable, SPS faculty and staff members have met this tumultuous moment in time with perseverance, innovation, and determination.

As many of you know, at the end of this academic year, I will be stepping down in my role as dean of SPS. While this past year has been particularly challenging, the truth is that I am incredibly grateful to have served with you during this time because it has allowed me to work with you in new and innovative ways to benefit our students. I thank each and every one of you for your enduring resilience, unwavering commitment, and generosity of spirit. It will inspire me for a lifetime. 

On an operational note, please be aware that all SPS buildings will be closed from December 24th and will reopen for general access beginning Thursday, January 21 (we will be sending out a separate notice with further details). Work will continue remotely beginning January 4th. We hope this is welcome news for all our staff members who have played such a critical role in continuing our in-person operations throughout this semester. 

As we enjoy the holiday season, which will pose new challenges in the ways we celebrate, let us remember to foster the human connections that we hold so dear through innovative and creative channels. I encourage you to take a much-needed mental and physical respite in order to re-energize for the new year. The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is finally near and together we will emerge stronger than ever. 

Best wishes for a safe and joyful holiday season. 

With gratitude,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

Dear members of the NYU SPS community,

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, each of us has needed to readjust and reimagine virtually every aspect of our daily lives. Universities across the country have grappled with a multitude of safety and logistical issues as they plan for the return to campus this fall and the academic year ahead. As the dean of NYU SPS, I have been an active participant in numerous discussions regarding these topics—at the School and the University level. I want to assure NYU SPS students and their parents, faculty members, and administrators that New York University has worked tirelessly to prepare a comprehensive, multilayered plan to provide for the safety and well-being of the entire NYU community—NYU Returns.

Informed by the very latest health and scientific research and intelligence, as well as guidance from the CDC, and NYC and NYS government officials, the NYU Returns website provides the most up-to-date information available in one location. For your convenience, we have broken out some of the key topics on the NYU Returns site by category.

• Safety and Health (including detailed information about COVID-19 testing requirements)
• Building Basics 
• Classroom and Classes 
• Student Housing
• Dining  
• Informational webinars
• and much more…

Because the COVID-19 pandemic situation remains fluid, we strongly suggest that you bookmark and visit the NYU Returns website often for updates, and also check your email for notifications.

At the school level, we have created a dedicated SPS Returns website, featuring helpful information that is applicable specifically to the SPS community. Given the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, these pages will serve as living documents, which will be frequently updated as new information becomes available. The SPS Returns website is designed to complement NYU Returns guidelines.

Undoubtedly, this academic year will be unlike any other in our school’s history. Our goal is to continue to provide the stellar academic and co-curricular education for which NYU SPS is known. Let us approach the coming year with a renewed sense of purpose, flexibility, courage, and a deepened commitment to caring for one another. Working together, we can build a more resilient and inclusive community that emerges stronger in the aftermath of this unprecedented crisis. The start of the new academic year is fast-approaching and I enthusiastically look forward to welcoming you in person and remotely. 

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

NYU Reads and Other Activities to Open a Community Dialogue That Addresses Racism and Inequality

Dear SPS Community Member, 

The recent protests in response to the horrific events of the past few weeks remind us of how much work remains to be done to embrace and advance the principles of social justice, equity, and inclusion and to root out racism and bigotry at every turn. While activism is highly personalized, the University has introduced several initiatives that will provide for the opportunity to join together through shared readings, discussions, and activities, which foster a greater sense of community to address the critical issues at hand. 

As some of you are aware, NYU Reads is a university-wide initiative in which all first-year and new transfer students across NYU participate. It is designed to bring the NYU community together around a single common reading, chosen by a University committee composed of faculty, student, and administrator representatives. This year, the program will expand to two books—one for fall, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, and one for spring, Exit West: A Novel—and all students, staff and faculty members, and administrators will be invited to participate. The goal of expanding the scope of the program is to build a shared sense of community, values of discovery, critical inquiry, and intellectual exchange around a common theme. For instructions on how to digitally access both books please visit the NYU Reads website.

For the Fall 2020 semester, the University has selected NYU Law professor Bryan Stevenson's  Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption (2014). Named one of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, Kirkus Review and Time, the reading of this pivotal work is one of several ways to engage in a University-wide dialogue on the critical topic of pervasive racism and injustice. 

Throughout the fall semester, there also will be several occasions for the community to participate in this urgent discourse including a conversation with Professor Stevenson, and additional programming focused around the important work of the Equal Justice Initiative and NYU’s Prison Education Project. These touchpoints represent only a select few of the myriad teaching opportunities and programming initiatives that the University will offer in these critical areas. 

Just Mercy is an inspirational book, but it also can be tough to read, especially  during difficult times. For students who may need emotional support while reading it, or who have concerns about reading a work that discusses and/or depicts instances of racism, racial injustice, violence against Black people, capital punishment, and violent crimes, professional counselors are available to talk 24/7 through the Wellness Exchange hotline at +1-212-443-9999, or to chat through the Wellness Exchange app (available in the Apple App Store or Google Play). Faculty and staff members may seek support through the Carebridge Employee Assistance Program.

For the Spring 2021, the University has selected Exit West:A Novel by Mohsin Hamid (2017). Exit West tells the story of a young couple, Nadia and Saeed, whose escape from their war-ravaged city turns into a global odyssey thanks to a series of secret portals that whisk them away to unknown destinations. Their story opens up questions about borders, migration, love and loss, what it means to be human or a citizen, what it means to be part of a community, and what home means in multiple and shifting contexts. Our hope is that reading Exit West will prompt both new and continuing NYU students to reflect on their journeys to this point in their lives---from adapting to a new environment and finding community, to confronting ideas and experiences that challenge their worldview and shape new aspirations. And for all members of the NYU community, Hamid’s novel provides a vantage point from which to reflect on this particular moment in human history as we grapple with disruptions to our everyday lives. Additional programming details will follow as we near the spring term. 

As members of the NYU SPS community, let us unwaveringly commit to the hard work that is required to eradicate racism, prejudice, and bigotry. Participating in the activities and initiatives mentioned above is a way that we can all play an active and productive role in doing so. Let’s work together to create a School and a campus environment that is characterized by equity, inclusion, and belonging for all. Together let us build the future we wish to see. 

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

Dear SPS Faculty and Staff, 

First and foremost, I hope that you and your loved ones are well and staying safe and healthy. As we conclude a semester unlike any other in our history, I would like to thank each of you for your continued commitment and dedication to SPS and to one another during this highly challenging time. Fighting the war against the silent enemy of COVID-19 consumes much of our time and energy, and now more than ever we must stand up to the injustice of racism and not tolerate it on any level. Your role modeling this to our students is critical to the health of our community and society. Thank you for safeguarding our values of social justice, equity, and inclusivity. 

As I reflect back on the success of our spring semester, I recognize that it was only possible because of your flexibility and resilience. Building upon this achievement now requires us to turn our attention, energy, and ingenuity to what comes next.  

As indicated in the memorandum sent to faculty and staff on May 19, the University is preparing for a gradual and controlled reconvening at NYU’s campuses and sites in New York City, the US, and abroad. As has been the case since the outbreak of this pandemic, our decision making will continue to be guided by two underlying principles: the safety and wellbeing of the entire NYU community and the continued academic progress of our students. To this end, for the coming academic year we should expect new community-wide protocols and practices (detailed information will be available in the coming weeks). 

Several university-wide committees and school-wide committees have been relentlessly working on designing a 2020-21 academic year that is shaped by both health and safety, as well as carefully thought out plans that will enable us to adapt to a rapidly evolving pandemic and changing circumstances. In a recent email to undergraduate students, Provost Katherine Fleming outlined new initiatives that will provide students with much-needed flexibility during these uncertain times including: offering an array of courses both in person and remotely; creating a robust set of courses that will be available in fall, spring and summer; and offering eligible students the ‘Go Local’ option, among other opportunities. For your reference, I recently sent a similar letter to SPS graduate students (see ‘degree student communications’ toward bottom of page). 

As we all know, we are a complex school. Our needs at the undergraduate and graduate level differ, as they do in each of our degree offerings. All of the SPS academic divisions have begun a process of drawing up plans that are guided by students’ study plans, along with faculty, staff and health and safety protocols provided by the University (faculty have received information on teaching accommodations and we expect to receive staff information in the near future). Each of the units will be working together with faculty and staff to develop revised academic and work schedules as appropriate and necessary. 

We have also made the decision to continue to offer non-credit programs via remote learning through the Fall 2020 semester. While I understand that this news may be disappointing to some, SPS is committed to offering our educational programs in a manner that ensures the health and safety of our community. Uncertainty remains regarding access to and reopening plans of leased facilities used to deliver non-credit programming. In order to allow for proper planning for the fall, this decision is necessary at this time. During the fall we will evaluate returning to in-person delivery for the Spring 2021 semester. 

In addition, as a courtesy to NYU alumni quarantined in their homes (as we all are), we recently made a select group of non-credit courses free of cost to NYU alumni and saw both great enthusiasm for these offerings and a surge of interest in our academic portfolio based on web traffic. In fact, we saw a 132% increase in new users visiting the SPS website (5/23 - 5/25) when compared to the prior period. 

While there are still many questions that need to be answered, what do we know? Without a doubt, the success of the 2020-21 academic year will require the high level of adaptability, resiliency, and creativity that each one of our community members demonstrated this past spring. Working together we can continue to build upon the innovation that has flourished over the past months and reach new heights in our academic excellence. 

As we tackle new emerging challenges each day, I am reminded that we are in a marathon, not a sprint. And it is only through respect for each other, partnership and a proactive can-do spirit that we can continue to advance and emerge as a stronger institution than before. As we enter the summer months, I hope you all take time to re-energize as safely as possible and reflect on what matters most to you. Stay healthy and be well. 

With gratitude, 

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

Dear SPS Faculty, 

The last two weeks have changed the course of history. Each day NYU and the School of Professional Studies have had to make critical decisions. While some decisions have been extraordinarily difficult, I am proud that each and every one of us has stepped up in order to do our part in safeguarding the health and safety of our community and the success of our students. 

I thank each of you for your remarkable efforts during these challenging times. You have managed to make what initially seemed impossible, possible, and have demonstrated that our community becomes stronger when facing a crisis. 

We must now turn our attention to phase two of remote teaching preparation. Phase one was getting set up with technology and expanded training, phase two is implementing the remote classroom. For some, this modality is completely new and with it will come some challenges. For all of us, the path to delivering our courses in this new mode will require continued adjustment, learning, and, above all, frequent communication with students. 

The Center for Academic Excellence and Support (CAES) is here to help. They have been holding Zoom I training for technical start up since March 6 and moved into Zoom II training for enhanced pedagogical engagement starting March 18th. Over 600 of you attended training and/or scheduled consultations with CAES!  I can't thank you enough for stepping up to the plate, working with the CAES staff, and, perhaps most critically, helping each other get up to speed with technology and new pedagogical ideas. The Zoom sessions have been spaces of wonderful, collaborative faculty learning. For online materials, future training dates, and 1:1 consultations, please visit the CAES website or write to caes.sps@nyu.edu. Please see below for CAES support hours. 

As we settle into this new routine, I also wanted to share two important updates: 

• Today we will be sharing our modified pass/fail (P/F) grade policy for Spring 2020 with all students. In recognition of the disruption caused by COVID-19 and the undue stress and pressure students may face as a result, SPS, together with schools across the University, is extending the eligibility of pass/fail to all of our courses currently in progress this semester. In addition, the deadline by which students may elect to take a course P/F rather than for a letter grade will be extended until Tuesday, May 12 or before their final exam/project is due. While this change is being made due to these extraordinary circumstances, I want to be unequivocally clear that our commitment to student academic success and each course’s learning goals for the semester remain firmly in place. On this, we will never deviate and we thank you for upholding this standard of excellence. 

• I would like to provide additional clarification about the requirements of teaching remotely at SPS. The scheduled dates and times for all courses will persist to help insure connectivity with our students and consistency in our meeting patterns. It is also critical at this moment for students to experience a sense of community, albeit online, which we have the opportunity to achieve. 

In addition, faculty have flexibility to include instructional videos and off-line engagement activities for our students as asynchronous supplements to synchronous instruction. In other words, your live online Zoom sessions should start at their regularly scheduled times, but you may augment live telecasts with off-line activities.  

I have spent time considering your commitment to learning outcomes and the expectations of our students. And I'd like to share that I firmly believe, after spending nearly two years with all of you, that SPS can set the example for stellar remote teaching. If any school can do this well, it is SPS. At the end of this semester, my hope is our students will appreciate the challenges that both they and our faculty overcame. They will recognize our faculty strength in curricular innovation. And they will successfully graduate or return to NYU next semester as students proud of SPS. 

During this transition, please rest assured that we are here for you -- your Associate Deans, academic directors, ACP coordinators, and various support units, like CAES, are at the ready waiting to assist you. I would be remiss not to acknowledge the tremendous hard work and dedication of the entire CAES staff in helping us during this period. 

Let me close by saying: thank you again for your partnership, your good will, your courage, and your support. I know there are still some outstanding questions and I assure you we will remain in frequent and regular communication as new developments arise (please be sure to check the SPS COVID-19 website for the latest updates - including virtual resources from Bobst Library). Until then, stay safe and be well. 

With gratitude, 

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.
Dean

CAES Support Hours

CAES - Phone: 212-992-9137 or Email: caes.sps@nyu.edu

Monday, 3/23 - Thursday, 3/26: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm  

Friday, 3/27: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Media Team - Phone: 212-998-7232, 212-992-3315, 212-992-8350

Monday, 3/23 - Friday, 3/27: 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Saturday, 3/28 and Sunday, 3/29: 9:00 am - 6:00pm

CAES will be offering Monday - Friday, 9-10 am pop-in Zoom and Teaching Strategies Support

https://nyu.zoom.us/meeting/register/v5MvcOipqz4rH8eKR1jZWAhwdPO3fRqHqg

CAES will be offering Monday - Friday, 1:30-2:30 pm pop-in Zoom and Teaching Strategies Support

https://nyu.zoom.us/meeting/register/vJEocu-grTMpkgYDpKLHHIDYKMj6JLZnUQ

If you need technical assistance with remote instruction after 5pm, contact SPS IT at 212-998-7232 or NYU IT at 212-998-3333. If your question is about Zoom, go directly to support.zoom.us.

Dear Faculty Colleagues, 

In light of President Hamilton's email from last night, I write with key points to keep in mind as you transition to remote instruction. We realize this is a challenging time for all of us at SPS and we appreciate your efforts to ensure the success of our students. 

As we respond to this evolving situation, our guiding principles are twofold: the health and safety of our community and ensuring the academic progress of our students. With this in mind, we draw your attention to the points below: 

• It is important that you teach your courses remotely at the same day and time as they are currently scheduled, beginning Wednesday, March 11th, and through March 29th (including weekends). 
• As early as possible TODAY, contact all students on your class roster to let them know your plans for remote instruction, including the class session link. Students will be awaiting communication from you. The Center for Academic Excellence and Support (CAES) is building a toolkit for students. It will be ready by 5pm today. Please distribute this link to your students.
• If needed, contact CAES (caes.sps@nyu.edu) to schedule a consult or attend their daily 3-4pm online training session for Zoom and NYU Classes [https://nyu.zoom.us/j/967544944 ]. The CAES website has instructions for transitioning to remote instruction  [CAES Remote Teaching Planning and Strategies Webpage] as does central NYU IT [NYU IT Remote Teaching Webpage]
• As you prepare, consider the benefits of transitioning your course to remote instruction. How might you and your students benefit from the creative learning solutions you are developing?  How might you demonstrate agility and innovation in classroom environments? We are encouraging flexible solutions. Are there ways you can use this latitude to your students’ advantage?
• If your course meets during NYU's spring break next week (March 16-20), please transition fully to remote instruction starting tomorrow, March 11th.
• If you need to offer a midterm exam but are unsure of how to do so remotely, consider postponing the exam until after spring break. In the meantime, CAES will develop best practices for remote assessment and will have them ready early next week. We encourage you to contact your division's COVID-19 point person to brainstorm solutions [see below].
• For your reference, we are including here the new SPS COVID-19 webpage that will include the latest resources and communications from SPS. Note: updates will be available by 5:00 pm on the website.

During these unusual circumstances, I am certain of one thing: together we will persevere. As always,  thank you for your dedication, resilience, and support. 

Sincerely, 

Susan Greenbaum

Live vs. Asynchronous Remote Teaching 

Dear faculty, we want to thank you for your flexibility and commitment to preserving our academic mission during this unprecedented crisis. We recognize that you have been asked to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, and we are grateful for your efforts. 

As the second half of the semester begins, a number of you have expressed concern about replacing in-person class meetings with live video conferencing. These concerns have been exacerbated by dispersal of faculty to your (often busy) homes, and wider dispersal by our students to time zones all over the world.

One possible adaptation is asynchronous teaching, where you prepare material for students in advance, and interaction between and among you and your students takes place throughout the week, via tools like email or forums, rather than being limited to the class meeting time. The simplest way to think about the difference is “If a task must be completed during scheduled class time, it is synchronous. If it can be completed sometime during the week, it is asynchronous.” (Here’s me, making this point in a video I recorded while writing this.)

Individual schools may have their own requirements around live instruction, due to pedagogic preference or licensing requirements—check with your Dean’s office—but the Provost’s Office encourages schools to allow faculty to do whatever suits their class, their students, and their curriculum best. That may include a mix of synchronous and asynchronous, or primarily one or the other.

In short, we trust your expertise and your judgment: Balancing synchronous and asynchronous work is part of your role as the instructor, like the many other choices you make about how to teach your courses. NYU-wide, there are only two “hard and fast” rules that govern synchronous vs. asynchronous teaching, during your shift to remote instruction:

1. Where faculty have live, synchronous sessions, they should be scheduled at the standard class time. If we begin shifting class times, it will introduce enormous conflicts on student calendars; the only timing for any given class guaranteed to avoid such conflicts is the currently scheduled time. (In cases where a class has many students in distant time zones, faculty may optionally offer a second class meeting.)

2. The NY State Board of Education does not demand 1:1 correspondence between in-person classroom time and live, synchronous sessions online. Instead, per NYU’s Office of Academic Program Review and Assessment:  “Asynchronous offerings can be considered comparable to lectures when it comes to instructional time. This said, students should complete the faculty interaction components missed in asynchronous lectures through other means, whether that is a class discussion board or some other kind of supervised interaction.”

Please remember: Even prior to the crisis, every course had asynchronous elements. Reading assignments and responses, problem sets, papers, individual and group projects, faculty comments, edits on student work—these are already asynchronous; the faculty member prepares them in advance and the student completes them on their own time, working to a deadline.

With the shift to remote instruction, faculty can move some or all of the tasks that took place in the classroom to an asynchronous format. If a faculty member lectures in class, they can pre-record those on their time, and the students can watch on their time (and in time zones far from New York.) If faculty has Q&A with students, that can be conducted over email or on the Forums in NYU Classes, instead of Zoom. All classes have some asynchronous elements; some classes can be conducted entirely asynchronously. 

Though there is no universal model, many remote courses move to about half live, half asynchronous replacements for class meeting time. Instead of two 75 minute course meetings a week, these courses move to one such meeting, or two 45 minute meetings on different days, with faculty recording lectures in advance, and using the live time for QA and conversation. Other degrees of shift are possible; at least one faculty member has moved her course entirely to email and shared documents, for both assignments and faculty/student interaction.

So long as those constraints are met, along with any school-wide requirements, faculty are free to re-balance their courses between live and asynchronous elements as they feel suits the class and situation best.

Clay Shirky, Vice Provost for Educational Technologies,

On behalf of the Office of the Provost

clay.shirky@nyu.edu

Dear Colleagues, 

Welcome to the Spring 2021 Semester! I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and well, and that you have had an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate before the start of a new term. 

For several reasons, the beginning of this semester is filled with promise and hope. In the US, we have witnessed the successful transition of power despite the tumultuous events of the past few weeks. We also have been encouraged by the vaccine's arrival and the herculean efforts of our healthcare professionals who have worked around the clock to administer it. While the rollout has gotten off to a slower start than anticipated, we have great hopes that the process will begin to accelerate, so that we may resume more normal patterns of day-to-day life. The spring semester also will bring new and exciting opportunities for teaching innovation, and for continuing our efforts to provide a responsive and nurturing environment in which our students feel safe, productive, and intellectually stimulated.

We knew from the start that this pandemic would be a marathon rather than a sprint. While there may be a light at the end of the tunnel, there is still so much work to be done and so many precautions that we must continue to take. To keep our community safe the University has tightened previous testing protocols and processes (see NYU message here). We encourage you to review all of this information carefully and for your convenience, we have included some links below. For full information and details, please visit the NYU Returns hub. 

- Testing guidelines 
- Daily Screener
- Social distancing
- Contact tracing 
- Compliance with safety and health rules
- Community Standards & COVID-19

In addition, whether you plan to return to campus for Spring 2021 or not, all faculty and staff members must watch the newly updated Mandatory Safety Guidelines Video for Spring 2021 by Wednesday, January 27th (please check your inbox for an email from NYUiLearn). For those who will be on campus, I remind you of the critical importance of taking personal responsibility for your own health and behavior to ensure your safety and the wellbeing of all of those in the campus community. Remaining vigilant and adhering to guidelines will help to ensure that we will be able to continue through an uninterrupted spring semester. 

While the pandemic may have upended virtually every aspect of our daily lives, I remain profoundly inspired by how we have met this crisis as a community. Our faculty members have adopted new teaching practices and pedagogy. Our staff has seamlessly transitioned all work operations to a remote modality. And our entire community has faced this crisis with resilience and incredible determination. Working together we will emerge a stronger institution than we could ever have possibly imagined.

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

Dear Colleagues, 

As the calendar year draws to a close, I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on our mutual experiences during these difficult times, while taking stock of all that we have accomplished together. To say that this year has been challenging would be a gross understatement. The global pandemic has left no aspect of our lives untouched. The health, economic, social, and personal toll that COVID-19 has taken will reverberate for years to come. 

While we have been faced with tremendous adversity, our resilience and deep commitment to our students has allowed us to triumph in many ways. At NYU, we managed to successfully complete the fall semester uninterrupted—a feat believed by many to be impossible. At NYU SPS everyone rose to the challenge. In just a few short months our faculty members, with the assistance of the Center for Academic Excellence and Support (CAES), seamlessly transitioned our entire curriculum into a combination of in-person, remote, and blended course formats. The SPS staff worked tirelessly to provide students with comprehensive online support services and robust student life programming in order to deliver on our promise of a premiere educational experience. And, our impact on industry expanded exponentially, with our world-renowned conferences and events being offered remotely and reaching an unprecedented number of attendees. In every way imaginable, SPS faculty and staff members have met this tumultuous moment in time with perseverance, innovation, and determination.

As many of you know, at the end of this academic year, I will be stepping down in my role as dean of SPS. While this past year has been particularly challenging, the truth is that I am incredibly grateful to have served with you during this time because it has allowed me to work with you in new and innovative ways to benefit our students. I thank each and every one of you for your enduring resilience, unwavering commitment, and generosity of spirit. It will inspire me for a lifetime. 

On an operational note, please be aware that all SPS buildings will be closed from December 24th and will reopen for general access beginning Thursday, January 21 (we will be sending out a separate notice with further details). Work will continue remotely beginning January 4th. We hope this is welcome news for all our staff members who have played such a critical role in continuing our in-person operations throughout this semester. 

As we enjoy the holiday season, which will pose new challenges in the ways we celebrate, let us remember to foster the human connections that we hold so dear through innovative and creative channels. I encourage you to take a much-needed mental and physical respite in order to re-energize for the new year. The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is finally near and together we will emerge stronger than ever. 

Best wishes for a safe and joyful holiday season. 

With gratitude,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

Dear SPS Staff, 

As the summer draws to a close and we usher in the 2020-2021 academic year, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all to our new way of work. The mix of in-person and remote working and teaching is a unique start to the new year and I am confident that if any school can do this right, it is SPS.  

As I sat and thought about what I’d like to say in this letter, the recurring theme in my mind was one of complete gratitude. In fact, it would be impossible to write a letter to the SPS staff without mentioning how very grateful I am to every one of you for all the time and hard work you have invested in supporting our faculty and students since the coronavirus began in March. It is truly remarkable. 

Over the course of the past six months, I have witnessed you take on the responsibilities of providing last-minute advisement appointments to students in need, of addressing visa restrictions, and in tackling the behemoth of transferring courses to new teaching modalities. The agility with which you have embraced each of these challenges is commendable, and all while putting in long hours to ensure that our students are prepared for the upcoming year. Your flexibility and adaptability to each of these changes during this time of rapid transition has been integral to SPS’ success. And to top it all off — you have tackled each challenge with a positive attitude, and I know it hasn’t always been easy. 

I know many of you are facing the additional stress of maintaining a work/life balance as you negotiate the demands of your time while working from home; some of you with loved ones in tow—your spouse or partners, children, and parents; while others of you are far from family. Whatever the case may be, I am sincerely grateful for your dedication and commitment to our students. I believe we work as hard as we do because we take great pride in helping our students succeed in both their academic and professional endeavors. As you continue to negotiate the demands on your time, we encourage you to utilize the resources available through the Work Life Office. For those in our community who sense that they might benefit from additional support during this difficult time, we encourage you to seek support through the Carebridge Employee Assistance Program. 

As we head into the new year, I hope you will join me by choosing to embrace a spirit of gratitude. We still have much to be grateful for—our students have chosen to come and study with us despite facing a global pandemic, and we have the privilege of working with one another. Let’s continue to press on with eager anticipation for the endless possibilities that lie ahead because our students are excited to be studying with us!

To kick-off the beginning of the year, the Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs will host a virtual Welcome Back Reception for faculty and staff on September 14th, 2020 from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm via zoom (click here to RSVP). I hope to see you there. 

To close, I would like to remind you that if you are returning to campus, we are looking to you to do your part by taking personal responsibility for your own health and behaviors, not only for the safety of our community, but also to ensure that we are able to continue an uninterrupted fall semester. With great sadness and disappointment, the NYU Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards has already suspended a small number of students for violating COVID-19 guidelines. These failures to observe the important new health and safety guidelines NYU has set in place do not reflect our values, and we want to reassure our community that we will continue to take immediate action, though we hope that everyone will behave responsibly so that it will not be necessary. Over our 85-year history, the SPS community has always risen to the occasion and I have every confidence we will once again. 

The year ahead will not be easy, but working together there is nothing SPS can’t accomplish. Best wishes to each of you on a successful fall semester.

With warm regards,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

Dear members of the NYU SPS community,

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, each of us has needed to readjust and reimagine virtually every aspect of our daily lives. Universities across the country have grappled with a multitude of safety and logistical issues as they plan for the return to campus this fall and the academic year ahead. As the dean of NYU SPS, I have been an active participant in numerous discussions regarding these topics—at the School and the University level. I want to assure NYU SPS students and their parents, faculty members, and administrators that New York University has worked tirelessly to prepare a comprehensive, multilayered plan to provide for the safety and well-being of the entire NYU community—NYU Returns.

Informed by the very latest health and scientific research and intelligence, as well as guidance from the CDC, and NYC and NYS government officials, the NYU Returns website provides the most up-to-date information available in one location. For your convenience, we have broken out some of the key topics on the NYU Returns site by category.

• Safety and Health (including detailed information about COVID-19 testing requirements)
• Building Basics 
• Classroom and Classes 
• Student Housing
• Dining  
• Informational webinars
• and much more…

Because the COVID-19 pandemic situation remains fluid, we strongly suggest that you bookmark and visit the NYU Returns website often for updates, and also check your email for notifications.

At the school level, we have created a dedicated SPS Returns website, featuring helpful information that is applicable specifically to the SPS community. Given the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, these pages will serve as living documents, which will be frequently updated as new information becomes available. The SPS Returns website is designed to complement NYU Returns guidelines.

Undoubtedly, this academic year will be unlike any other in our school’s history. Our goal is to continue to provide the stellar academic and co-curricular education for which NYU SPS is known. Let us approach the coming year with a renewed sense of purpose, flexibility, courage, and a deepened commitment to caring for one another. Working together, we can build a more resilient and inclusive community that emerges stronger in the aftermath of this unprecedented crisis. The start of the new academic year is fast-approaching and I enthusiastically look forward to welcoming you in person and remotely. 

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

NYU Reads and Other Activities to Open a Community Dialogue That Addresses Racism and Inequality

Dear SPS Community Member, 

The recent protests in response to the horrific events of the past few weeks remind us of how much work remains to be done to embrace and advance the principles of social justice, equity, and inclusion and to root out racism and bigotry at every turn. While activism is highly personalized, the University has introduced several initiatives that will provide for the opportunity to join together through shared readings, discussions, and activities, which foster a greater sense of community to address the critical issues at hand. 

As some of you are aware, NYU Reads is a university-wide initiative in which all first-year and new transfer students across NYU participate. It is designed to bring the NYU community together around a single common reading, chosen by a University committee composed of faculty, student, and administrator representatives. This year, the program will expand to two books—one for fall, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, and one for spring, Exit West: A Novel—and all students, staff and faculty members, and administrators will be invited to participate. The goal of expanding the scope of the program is to build a shared sense of community, values of discovery, critical inquiry, and intellectual exchange around a common theme. For instructions on how to digitally access both books please visit the NYU Reads website.

For the Fall 2020 semester, the University has selected NYU Law professor Bryan Stevenson's  Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption (2014). Named one of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, Kirkus Review and Time, the reading of this pivotal work is one of several ways to engage in a University-wide dialogue on the critical topic of pervasive racism and injustice. 

Throughout the fall semester, there also will be several occasions for the community to participate in this urgent discourse including a conversation with Professor Stevenson, and additional programming focused around the important work of the Equal Justice Initiative and NYU’s Prison Education Project. These touchpoints represent only a select few of the myriad teaching opportunities and programming initiatives that the University will offer in these critical areas. 

Just Mercy is an inspirational book, but it also can be tough to read, especially  during difficult times. For students who may need emotional support while reading it, or who have concerns about reading a work that discusses and/or depicts instances of racism, racial injustice, violence against Black people, capital punishment, and violent crimes, professional counselors are available to talk 24/7 through the Wellness Exchange hotline at +1-212-443-9999, or to chat through the Wellness Exchange app (available in the Apple App Store or Google Play). Faculty and staff members may seek support through the Carebridge Employee Assistance Program.

For the Spring 2021, the University has selected Exit West:A Novel by Mohsin Hamid (2017). Exit West tells the story of a young couple, Nadia and Saeed, whose escape from their war-ravaged city turns into a global odyssey thanks to a series of secret portals that whisk them away to unknown destinations. Their story opens up questions about borders, migration, love and loss, what it means to be human or a citizen, what it means to be part of a community, and what home means in multiple and shifting contexts. Our hope is that reading Exit West will prompt both new and continuing NYU students to reflect on their journeys to this point in their lives---from adapting to a new environment and finding community, to confronting ideas and experiences that challenge their worldview and shape new aspirations. And for all members of the NYU community, Hamid’s novel provides a vantage point from which to reflect on this particular moment in human history as we grapple with disruptions to our everyday lives. Additional programming details will follow as we near the spring term. 

As members of the NYU SPS community, let us unwaveringly commit to the hard work that is required to eradicate racism, prejudice, and bigotry. Participating in the activities and initiatives mentioned above is a way that we can all play an active and productive role in doing so. Let’s work together to create a School and a campus environment that is characterized by equity, inclusion, and belonging for all. Together let us build the future we wish to see. 

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

Dear SPS Faculty and Staff, 

First and foremost, I hope that you and your loved ones are well and staying safe and healthy. As we conclude a semester unlike any other in our history, I would like to thank each of you for your continued commitment and dedication to SPS and to one another during this highly challenging time. Fighting the war against the silent enemy of COVID-19 consumes much of our time and energy, and now more than ever we must stand up to the injustice of racism and not tolerate it on any level. Your role modeling this to our students is critical to the health of our community and society. Thank you for safeguarding our values of social justice, equity, and inclusivity. 

As I reflect back on the success of our spring semester, I recognize that it was only possible because of your flexibility and resilience. Building upon this achievement now requires us to turn our attention, energy, and ingenuity to what comes next.  

As indicated in the memorandum sent to faculty and staff on May 19, the University is preparing for a gradual and controlled reconvening at NYU’s campuses and sites in New York City, the US, and abroad. As has been the case since the outbreak of this pandemic, our decision making will continue to be guided by two underlying principles: the safety and wellbeing of the entire NYU community and the continued academic progress of our students. To this end, for the coming academic year we should expect new community-wide protocols and practices (detailed information will be available in the coming weeks). 

Several university-wide committees and school-wide committees have been relentlessly working on designing a 2020-21 academic year that is shaped by both health and safety, as well as carefully thought out plans that will enable us to adapt to a rapidly evolving pandemic and changing circumstances. In a recent email to undergraduate students, Provost Katherine Fleming outlined new initiatives that will provide students with much-needed flexibility during these uncertain times including: offering an array of courses both in person and remotely; creating a robust set of courses that will be available in fall, spring and summer; and offering eligible students the ‘Go Local’ option, among other opportunities. For your reference, I recently sent a similar letter to SPS graduate students (see ‘degree student communications’ toward bottom of page). 

As we all know, we are a complex school. Our needs at the undergraduate and graduate level differ, as they do in each of our degree offerings. All of the SPS academic divisions have begun a process of drawing up plans that are guided by students’ study plans, along with faculty, staff and health and safety protocols provided by the University (faculty have received information on teaching accommodations and we expect to receive staff information in the near future). Each of the units will be working together with faculty and staff to develop revised academic and work schedules as appropriate and necessary. 

We have also made the decision to continue to offer non-credit programs via remote learning through the Fall 2020 semester. While I understand that this news may be disappointing to some, SPS is committed to offering our educational programs in a manner that ensures the health and safety of our community. Uncertainty remains regarding access to and reopening plans of leased facilities used to deliver non-credit programming. In order to allow for proper planning for the fall, this decision is necessary at this time. During the fall we will evaluate returning to in-person delivery for the Spring 2021 semester. 

In addition, as a courtesy to NYU alumni quarantined in their homes (as we all are), we recently made a select group of non-credit courses free of cost to NYU alumni and saw both great enthusiasm for these offerings and a surge of interest in our academic portfolio based on web traffic. In fact, we saw a 132% increase in new users visiting the SPS website (5/23 - 5/25) when compared to the prior period. 

While there are still many questions that need to be answered, what do we know? Without a doubt, the success of the 2020-21 academic year will require the high level of adaptability, resiliency, and creativity that each one of our community members demonstrated this past spring. Working together we can continue to build upon the innovation that has flourished over the past months and reach new heights in our academic excellence. 

As we tackle new emerging challenges each day, I am reminded that we are in a marathon, not a sprint. And it is only through respect for each other, partnership and a proactive can-do spirit that we can continue to advance and emerge as a stronger institution than before. As we enter the summer months, I hope you all take time to re-energize as safely as possible and reflect on what matters most to you. Stay healthy and be well. 

With gratitude, 

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

Dear SPS Staff, 

The last two weeks have changed the course of history. Each day NYU and the School of Professional Studies have had to make critical decisions. While some decisions have been extraordinarily difficult, I am proud that each and every one of us has stepped up in order to do our part in safeguarding the health and safety of our community and the success of our students. 

The scale and extent of what we have accomplished in the last few days is unprecedented. Offering hundreds of courses and moving all office operations to a fully remote modality in a few short days was unfathomable just a few weeks ago. The fact that we have successfully accomplished this herculean feat is a testament to the commitment and talent of you, our dedicated staff. 

Although we have changed our mode of delivery - both for our classes and our office operations - I want to state unequivocally that one thing that will never change is our commitment to excellence. In our classrooms, our faculty remain dedicated to the academic success and learning goals of our students. In our virtual offices, our staff are offering the same quality services in support of our academic mission and our students. 

As we welcomed students back to our virtual campus earlier today, we informed them of an important modification to our Pass/Fail grade policy (please view this communication under the student tab on the SPS COVID-19 website). As we have additional new developments or changes, we will be sure to be in touch. Please also be sure to check the SPS COVID-19 website for the latest updates (including virtual resources from Bobst Library).

In the few days we have been fully remote, I have received numerous emails from staff and faculty about how they are making this ‘new normal’ work as seamlessly as possible. In that regard, my office has started a Best Practices for Telework and Community Engagement Document, which we hope will serve as a helpful resource to you all. Please note this is a living document and we look forward to adding additional thoughts and ideas from our community (please email sps.dean.office@nyu.edu with any recommendations - we would be delighted to hear from you). 

I know there are still some outstanding questions and I assure you we will remain in frequent and regular communication as new developments arise. As you may have seen, I am still hosting the upcoming staff coffee hours (clerical/technical on Thursday, March 26; administrators on Thursday, April 2 - click on links to RSVP). I hope to see you there. Until then, stay safe and be well. 

With gratitude, 

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D. 

Dean

Dear SPS Staff,

As you may have read from EVP Martin Dorph and VP Sabrina Ellis, the University is now strongly urging transitioning to fully remote for office operations, effective Monday, March 16th. I have made the decision to do so with as close to 100% compliance as possible. As previously noted, essential personnel are still required to report to campus (primarily those working in facilities and technology. If you are unsure please be sure to contact your supervisor). While SPS buildings remain open for now, you can expect limited access to classrooms and other spaces.

As we all navigate uncharted waters, I want to reiterate my firm belief that we should take this as an opportunity to practice what we preach about SPS - we are a nimble and adaptable organization. Now, more than ever, we must be vigilant about maintaining the quality of service we are known for and focused on the work that is required to run our operations as seamlessly as possible. Working remotely requires us to be very proactive in our communications with students, faculty and our fellow colleagues and to be available at our phones and computers during our regular working hours. In essence, our work should continue as usual. 

If you have not already done so, today please be sure to install the NYU VPN, Zoom, and Cisco Jabber on your desktop or laptop (in addition, please review the NYU Tech Guide to Teleworking). The NYU VPN allows you to access NYU systems for which you need to be on the NYU network (like Albert); Zoom is for video and/or conference calls; and Cisco Jabber allows you to receive your desk phone calls remotely either on your laptop or mobile device.

I realize these are challenging and unprecedented circumstances and I thank each and every one of you for your unrivaled commitment and resilience. Let us all come together to do what is necessary to protect our health and that of our family, friends and neighbors.

Sincerely

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

Dear Administrative, Clerical and Technical Staff Colleagues,

By now I am sure you have all read yesterday’s message from President Hamilton regarding the new measures the University is taking to address COVID-19.

We realize this is a challenging time for all of us at SPS and we appreciate your efforts to ensure the success of our students. As we respond to this evolving situation, our guiding principles are twofold: the health and safety of our community and ensuring the academic progress of our students.

While our students and faculty transition to remote instruction, I would like to highlight some points that relate specifically to staff:

• Administrative offices remain open. It is critical that all staff continue to support all academic and administrative operations. 
• During this time supervisors may be flexible with adjusted schedules. However, all individuals essential to operations are required to be present on campus. 
• In addition, supervisors can make accommodations for telework for those individuals that are eligible and able to do so. 
• In the event that office functions move to a remote modality, continued support of the academic mission and operations will remain a priority. Again, those individuals essential to operations may be required to be present on campus.
• Deans and Directors will continue to document and discuss essential business functions and develop plans to perform those functions remotely should the need arise. During this time, staff members should perform "tech checks" to ensure their ability to access systems and data remotely. 
• Finally, for your reference, we are including here the new SPS COVID-19 webpage that will include the latest resources and communications from SPS. 

During the coming days I expect that many of you will continue to have questions and seek clarification on operations-related issues. I ask that you direct those questions to Carlo Pellicciari (cp74@nyu.edu) for resolution.

Most importantly, I would like to thank you all for your continued commitment to our students, our faculty, and our School at this time.

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum

Dear SPS Community, 

A note of thanks has perhaps never been more appropriate. As our thoughts turn to safely gathering for the Thanksgiving holiday, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the entire SPS community for your enduring resilience, generosity of spirit, and unwavering flexibility over this past year. 

For some of us, this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday will look different than many others. Perhaps only immediate family will be around the dinner table or you will share a meal with friends via a Zoom screen. For others in our community, this may be your first experience with this American holiday. In whatever ways we come together, let us also remember to educate ourselves about Native American and Indigenous histories and celebrate November as Native American Heritage Month. Stripped away of all the excess trimmings, at its core the Thanksgiving break allows us a time to reflect on the history of this country and to be grateful for our health, family, friends, community, and peace. 

During a tumultuous year like this one, I encourage us all to return to the basics and recommit to the values that make the world a better place. I, myself, am truly grateful to be part of this wonderful SPS community and to contribute to the important work of educating current and future leaders and changemakers. I am thankful for all our extraordinary students, faculty, and staff, who inspire me on a daily basis. And I recommit myself to upholding our SPS mission and values each and every day. 

I wish you all a safe Thanksgiving break and look forward to brighter days ahead. 

With gratitude,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean

Dear SPS Community Members, 

Once again, our nation, our city, and our community is in mourning. The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the many other horrific events that have transpired in recent weeks, serve as a glaring reminder of the systemic racism, inequality, and prejudice that continues to plague our country and permeate society at large. 

While the pain, anger, and sorrow we feel can seem overwhelming, the importance of continuing to work for social justice is too critical to give in to despair and fear. Instead, we must use this moment to recommit our efforts to eradicate the racism, bigotry, and hatred that threatens to undermine our core values. As an institution of higher learning, we must strive to uphold and safeguard the principles of equity, inclusion, and justice for all members of our community. Each of us must live up to this commitment through our words and our actions. 

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of blatant racism and the disproportionately poor health outcomes and care in marginalized and disenfranchised populations, particularly Black and other impacted communities, remind us that prejudice and inequality are omnipresent. During these troubling times, it is critical that the NYU SPS community is united in showing its support for all of our students, faculty members, and staff, while standing as one voice against the horrors of what we are currently witnessing. The strength of our community is deeply entrenched in its diversity and inclusivity. Now, more than ever, we must join with our family members, friends, neighbors, fellow students, and colleagues to ensure that justice and equality prevail. 

Over the next few weeks, I will be hosting opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to come together to engage in this important conversation. For those in our community who sense that they might benefit from additional support during this crisis, we encourage you to visit the Wellness Exchange (for students) or Carebridge (for employees). Above all, know that you are not alone, and that we are committed to creating a living and learning environment that is truly safe and welcoming for all. 

Sincerely,

Susan Greenbaum, Ed.D.

Dean