Russell Sage College extends spring break; moving all coursework online
TROY, N.Y. » Russell Sage College has extended its spring break by one week and transitioning all coursework to distance learning.
The college, which has a campus in downtown Troy and Albany, said it will take the following steps:
• The college will extend its spring break by one week and transition all coursework to distance learning on Monday, March 23, 2020, through Friday, April 3, 2020. Any online courses that are already being delivered will continue as normal. The college will reevaluate and inform the community of its plans for April 4, 2020, and beyond.
• Sage’s Crisis Team and Pandemic Support Team will continue to meet daily to actively monitor the situation. The college said it remains in regular contact with local, state and federal health authorities and will act on their guidance as it is issued.
• Students who remained in housing for spring break are welcome to stay in their rooms. The college will continue to offer food service and other support services, although service hours may be adjusted or reduced. If you are on campus and intend to stay you must fill out this housing form by March 18, 2020.
• If you left for spring break and have appropriate access to technology services in your home, we encourage you to stay home. If your only access to network and technology services is on campus, or you need access to the local community to complete clinicals, student teaching or internships, or you do not have a secure home situation, please fill out the housing form by March 18, 2020. The college will confirm your ability to return to campus by email. Do not come to campus until you have received approval to return. If approved, you may return to campus on March 22, 2020.
• All offices will remain open and faculty and staff should report to work as usual. If you have concerns about your own health please contact Laura D’Agostino, Director of Human Resources to discuss options.
• Tutoring services remain available through Smarthinking Online Tutoring.
• All college-sponsored travel has been suspended.
• Admission events and open houses have been rescheduled for April 19, 2020 and April 25, 2020. Please contact admission@sage.edu for more details. The Office of Admissions will still be offering individual visits to campus and will be offering additional virtual events in the coming weeks. To schedule a visit please call that office at: Albany (518) 292-1730 or Troy (518) 255-2217. They are always happy to work with prospective students and look forward to hearing from you, officials said.
• Athletic practices and games have been canceled effective March 13, 2020. The college will follow guidance from the NCAA and Empire 8 to determine when we will resume practice and competition.
• All on-campus events are canceled effective today until Friday April 3. This includes any campus-sponsored event as well as external groups renting Sage facilities. At this time the college does anticipate running a Commencement Ceremony but may do so in an altered format. The college will make an announcement about its ability to run Commencement by April 15, 2020.
• Faculty program directors will send details to students regarding clinicals, student teaching, fieldwork, internships or service-learning experiences. As long as the facility allows students to continue to participate in these experiences and you are healthy, you can continue to attend.
• Work Study students and Graduate Assistants should contact their supervisors for guidance about work schedules.
“I am aware that all of these measures represent disruptions of our ordinary routine and practices. I am confident that our community will come together in serving the public health and in contributing to the best possible academic experience of our students. I thank you for sharing that commitment,” Russell Sage College President Christopher Ames said in a statement posted online Thursday. CORONAVIRUS