Dear Queens College Students,
I am eagerly awaiting the beginning of my first academic year here at Queens College. While this year will be different than any other academic year that any of us have experienced, we are committed to providing you with the highest-quality education possible as we cope with challenging circumstances. You can rest assured that although 99 percent of classes will be held remotely this semester, our faculty and staff are still here to provide student services in many ways to help advance your education.
I want to acknowledge the staff from the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), who worked tirelessly along with the Office of Information Technology to train faculty and staff members to bring their classes online at rapid speed this spring. Many worked day and night in the beginning of the pandemic so that our students’ pursuit of higher education would not be disrupted.
We have continued to work diligently during the summer months to further enhance our online learning and services, serving over 30 percent more student enrollments than in summer of 2019. Since May 1, CTL has been preparing for the fall semester and has enrolled 720 faculty members in a two-week workshop for teaching online, with another 500–700 faculty members expected to partake in the workshop before the summer is over.
We are also deeply grateful for the round-the-clock work of our dedicated Public Safety and Building and Grounds Teams for all they have done to keep the campus safe and clean.
I’d like to especially thank the Ad Hoc Working Group on Reopening for helping to devise a plan that ensures the safety of our college community while maintaining the quality of education. Our draft plan for reopening the college was submitted to CUNY for appropriate review, consistent with New York State guidelines.
Here are the many ways our student services have been operating virtually:
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The Academic Advising Center has already held over 4,000 one-on-one remote meetings with students and will continue to be available virtually this coming semester. Students can register for an appointment with the QC Navigate App.
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The QC Hub is operating virtually, and students needing assistance can speak with a representative through our LiveChat support.
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The Center for Teaching and Learning has numerous resources on its website to help both faculty and students get up to speed with remote learning, and our Information Technology department is also available to assist with LiveChat and e-mail support.
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Staff from The Office of Special Services are checking voicemails and responding to email inquiries to address student needs daily and can assist students who need additional tools to succeed with remote learning.
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We are continuing to upgrade our technology to ensure that all students can properly learn remotely. Laptops have been made available on loan for students who need them in order to participate in remote learning. So far, 314 devices have been loaned to QC students. Simply fill out a form online or email keeplearning@qc.cuny.edu to apply. And there’s no need to come to campus to pick up your device, as it can be mailed to your home. Students also have free access to Zoom’s enterprise license.
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Our library is providing remote access to materials with your QC ID. All the library’s online books, journals, and streaming videos are available, and we are working with faculty to replace physical course reserves with online material. Library help is available for assistance online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Users can email a quick question or describe a research problem, chat with a librarian in real-time, or even send a text message. We are also offering a full slate of online panels and workshops. Also, a limited number of library study spaces and computers will be available by reservation to students who need them. More information about reserving library spaces is forthcoming.
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The Center for Career Engagement and Internships is also offering virtual services such as online appointments and workshops. Since it began virtual operations, the office has held over 600 student appointments with career educators, 240 student career assessments, 70 career workshops and events, and has posted 1,350 job opportunities.
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The Aaron Copland School of Music has created a new series, QClass, which offers online workshops, classes, and performances.
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Although intercollegiate competition has been postponed this semester due to health and safety concerns, our athletics department, now more than ever, is committed to its role in enhancing the physical and mental well-being of the QC student body. Athletics staff are actively recalibrating recreation programming to include a wide variety of virtual fitness, aerobic, and yoga classes.
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The Counseling, Health, and Wellness Center has licensed mental health professionals available to help students struggling during this difficult time. Simply call (718) 997-5420 and leave a message with contact information, and calls will be returned during normal business hours. You can also email CounselingCenter@qc.cuny.edu.
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The Office of Institutional Advancement has created “QC at Home,” a series of virtual events that include the Professionals on Campus lecture series as well as many alumni reunions.
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The Office of Student Affairs will have a full calendar of events, programs, and meetings of registered student organizations throughout the fall semester. Peer services will also be available. Students can email vpsa@qc.cuny.edu for more information.
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Our Knights Table Food Pantry has continued to operate on campus throughout the pandemic, allowing food-insecure students to pick up nonperishable items by appointment. In the past academic year, we served students with pre-plated meals and food pantry bags more than 1,400 times.
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I have held three “Meet President Frank H. Wu” virtual meetings where members of the QC community have a chance to express their concerns and ask me questions. I will be holding another session on Wednesday, August 12 at 6 pm.
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While we certainly hope to return to campus and a sense of normalcy at some point later in the academic year, in the meantime, Queens College will continue to do everything we can to make this new way of learning as seamless as possible.
All the best,
Frank H. Wu
President, Queens College
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