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Coronavirus COVID-19 Update

Fall 2020 Reopening 

Understanding that plans are contingent upon each state meeting the health and safety metrics outlined by the state governments of New York and New Jersey, all Berkeley College campuses, with the exception of White Plains, will run a combination of online and hybrid courses for the Fall 2020 semester. Hybrid courses offer an online experience that is complemented by hands-on learning at a Berkeley College campus. All courses at the White Plains campus will run in an online instructional modality for the entire Fall 2020 semester. 

Click here to read more fall reopening information in a message from President Michael J. Smith.

Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions about the fall semester. 

School of Health Studies Reopening Plan

The New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education has granted Berkeley College a waiver to conduct laboratory sessions required for students in the School of Health Studies to complete their course requirements from the winter and spring 2020 semesters. Students in Berkeley College’s nursing and allied health programs, such as Surgical Technology, Practical Nurse and Medical Assistant, will complete their clinical education hours at the Woodland Park campus beginning June 29, 2020.

Students, faculty and staff may return physically to campus only if they are specifically instructed to return to campus during the period of June 29 through September 8, 2020.


Students, faculty and staff who drive to the Woodland Park campus should park in Lot A. Students from the Newark and Woodbridge campuses who utilize the College’s shuttle service should observe social distancing guidelines by maintaining space between the driver and other passengers. Face coverings must be worn on the shuttle. Vehicles will be cleaned and disinfected between each use.

The laboratory course schedule, with pick-up and drop-off times will posted by the faculty in the Canvas course prior to the date of returning to campus.

Students are expected to leave the campus upon completion of their scheduled class instruction, unless waiting for transportation.

Upon arrival on campus, students, faculty and staff must sign in at the Public Safety booth located in front of Renaissance Hall.

At the Public Safety booth, students, faculty and staff are required to show successful completion of a COVID-19 Health Questionnaire. The questionnaire must be completed each day the student or associate enters the campus, within three hours of arrival. Students traveling from the Woodbridge and Newark campuses via College’s bus and/or shuttle transportation must show documentation of the completed COVID-19 Health Questionnaire prior to getting on the bus or shuttle.

To complete the COVID-19 Health Questionnaire, log on to BerkeleyCollege.edu/Checkin and enter your Berkeley College username and password. Users must answer questions about their health and wellness, including if they have recently tested positive for COVID-19 and if they are experiencing any symptoms. Students, faculty or staff displaying symptoms upon check-in will be sent home.

Students with questions about the COVID-19 Health Questionnaire should contact:

A limited number of buildings, classrooms and areas will be open. Classroom capacities will be significantly reduced to meet social distancing requirements. The Woodland Park campus library, gym, bookstore and café will remain closed.

Students and associates are to maintain at least six feet of distance, unless the area (e.g. elevators) or activity (e.g. faculty instruction) requires a shorter distance. Students and associates must wear masks or face coverings upon entering any campus building and/or during any other activity that involves closer interaction.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Until further notice, Berkeley College requires that students, faculty and staff wear protective facial coverings (surgical mask or cloth face covering) at all times while on campus, including on the campus shuttle.

Masks must cover the nose, mouth and chin. Personal masks that are homemade will be permitted for use as long as the size is appropriate. Masks with inappropriate, violent or offensive graphics are not permitted. The College will provide face masks to anyone who needs a mask.

Students, faculty and staff will wear face shields when required during classroom or laboratory instruction.

Gloves are not required in order to enter the campus. However, gloves provided by the College may be required during classroom or laboratory instruction.

General Information


Converting On-Site and Hybrid Courses to an Online Modality

The Center for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology (CCIT) and Online Faculty Support and Instructional Design Team (OFST) are here to assist you. The HelpDesk will serve as our communication center and will generate support tickets and get them out to CCIT and OFST teams as quickly as possible. Please contact the HelpDesk directly at 973-278-5400 ext. 1540 or helpdesk@berkeleycollege.edu to request support from the CCIT or OFST.

Faculty will utilize Canvas and other approved Berkeley College technology to deliver remote instruction during the closure. Keep in mind that students may not have the recommended technology, nor the appropriate technical skills to participate as they would in an on-site environment. Flexibility is critical to their success in this situation.

  • Remote instruction will be conducted asynchronously.
  • Substantive and regular communication with students is a required component of remote instruction.
  • Assignment deadlines must be flexible. Students should incur no penalties for handing in late work.
  • Faculty should convert proctored exams to more accessible formats such as unproctored Canvas quizzes, papers, or projects.
  • Enrollment verification and progress report procedures will remain the same; students should be marked present for enrollment verification if completing coursework and/or are in contact with faculty.
  • Faculty should prepare an email to be sent out upon news of a campus closure that reiterates how to contact them for help (e.g. Berkeley email, Canvas Inbox).
  • Faculty will apportion their availability throughout each week.

For information regarding the Berkeley College Office of Disability Services, please visit: https://berkeleycollege.edu/admissions/disability-services/index.html.

Communicating with Online Students

Tools to Communicate with Students

Substantive and regular communication with students is a required component of online instruction. It is important for instructors to establish and maintain open two-way communication lines with students. Recommended tools/methods to communicate with students:

  • Canvas Discussions
  • Canvas Inbox
  • Canvas Chat
  • Zoom
  • Canvas Announcements
  • Email - (use the BC Class List by Instructor link on Canvas to view student emails)

How to Use Communication Tools

Canvas Announcements

Canvas Inbox

Canvas Chat

Canvas Discussions

Zoom

Need More Help with Communication Tools

Faculty requiring assistance with communication tools can reach out to the IS Helpdesk (to be connected with CCIT/OFST staff) or the Canvas Support line. Faculty can also explore the self-help guides and tutorials posted to this site.

Instructional Strategies for Online Teaching

Instructional Strategies

Convert Activities and Assessments to Support Online Instruction

You may need to adjust or replace activities and assessments. Consider alternative assignments and assessments to support online instruction. As you make adjustments to your course, remember to communicate the changes to your course.

Options include:

  • Use Canvas Discussions to replace in-class discussions.
  • Use Canvas Pages to add relevant worksheets, lecture notes, files, or other content to your Canvas course.
  • Use Canvas Modules to organize course content and activities.
  • Convert written assignments to Canvas Online Assignments.
  • Convert tests, quizzes, and exams to Canvas Quizzes.
  • Convert an oral presentation assignment to a PowerPoint to be submitted as a Canvas Online Assignment.
  • Use Zoom or Canvas Chat to conduct office hours.

Instructional Tools

Canvas Discussion

Canvas Modules

Canvas Pages

Canvas Rich Content Editor

Canvas Assignment Groups

Canvas Online Assignments

Canvas Quizzes

Zoom

Chat

Need More Instructional Strategy Help

Faculty requiring assistance with converting on-site and hybrid materials and activities to a digital format can reach out to the IS Helpdesk (to be connected with CCIT/OFST staff) or the Canvas Support line. Faculty can also explore the self-help guides and tutorials posted to this site.

Instructional Tools Self-Help Guides and Tutorials

Communication Tools

Canvas Announcements

Canvas Inbox

Chat

Discussion Boards

Zoom

Content Creation and Organization

Modules

Pages

Rich Content Editor

Assignments

Canvas Online Assignments

Canvas Quizzes

Assignment Groups

Gradebook

Using the Gradebook and SpeedGrader

Sharing Canvas Content with Colleagues

Share with Another Instructor

Share with Another Course

Manage Content Shared with You

Additional Support

IS Helpdesk

The Berkeley HelpDesk is available 24/7 to assist you with tech support:

  • Call 973-278-5400 ext. 1540
  • Email: helpdesk@berkeleycollege.edu or
  • Live chat: Technical Live Help

Canvas Support

For Canvas Support 24/7:

Turnitin Support

For Turnitin Support:

Zoom Support

For Zoom Support 24/7:

  • Call 1.888.799.9666 ext 2
  • Chat live with support by visiting your account and selecting “help” in the lower right-hand corner
  • Submit an online support request

Library Support

Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday: 1:00 - 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Sunday 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

New York State Department of Health Hotline: 1-888-364-3065
Up-to-date Information from New York State:
https://health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/

New Jersey Department of Health Hotline: 1-800-222-1222
Up-to-date Information from New Jersey:
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH):
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/coronavirus.page

World Health Organization (WHO):
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education:
https://www.state.nj.us/highereducation/index.shtml

More about Coronavirus COVID-19
From the World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Frequently Asked Questions about the Coronavirus from the World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

Advice to Students Transitioning to an Online Environment
https://berkeleycollege.edu/newsroom/2020/03/advice-to-students-transitioning-to-an-online-environment.html

Berkeley College Tips for Online Success
https://berkeleycollege.edu/newsroom/2020/03/tips-for-online-success.html

Center for Academic Success Virtual Guidelines
https://berkeleycollege.edu/newsroom/2020/03/center-for-academic-success-virtual-guidelines.html

The New York City Study Abroad program start for Monday, April 6, 2020, has been postponed. For questions relating to Study Abroad, please contact:

Nori Jaffer, Ed.D.
Vice President, International
877-381-3237 ext. 4304
NAJ@BerkeleyCollege.edu

For questions relating specifically to the Global Alliance program at the White Plains campus, please contact:

Suzeana Stewart
888-307-5543 ext. 3333
Suzeana-Stewart@BerkeleyCollege.edu

We understand that members of the Berkeley College community may be experiencing heightened levels of anxiety during this time. Berkeley College encourages students who feel anxious or worried about friends and family because of the coronavirus to contact a Personal Counselor by campus:

New York City
Diane Georges, Director of Personal Counseling and ADA Coordinator
212-986-4343 ext. 4216
Diane-Georges@BerkeleyCollege.edu

Alexandra Sabal Farah, Personal Counselor
212-986-4343 ext. 4263
Alexandr-Farah@BerkeleyCollege.edu

Sarah Nickerson, Personal Counselor
212-986-4343 ext. 4217
Sarah-Nickerso@BerkeleyCollege.edu

Newark
Danielle Hewitt, Personal Counselor
973-278-5400 ext. 6183
Danielle-Hewitt@BerkeleyCollege.edu

Online
Sandra Coppola, Senior Director of Personal Counseling
973-278-5400 ext. 1320
SEC@BerkeleyCollege.edu

Santa Rock, Personal Counselor
973-405-2111 ext. 6402
SGR@BerkeleyCollege.edu

Paramus
Santa Rock, Personal Counselor
973-405-2111 ext. 6402
SGR@BerkeleyCollege.edu

White Plains
Alexandra Sabal Farah, Personal Counselor
212-986-4343 ext. 4263
Alexandr-Farah@BerkeleyCollege.edu

Woodbridge
Danielle Hewitt, Personal Counselor
973-278-5400 ext. 6183
Danielle-Hewitt@BerkeleyCollege.edu

Woodland Park
Sandra Coppola, Senior Director of Personal Counseling
973-278-5400 ext. 1320
SEC@BerkeleyCollege.edu

Sheri Burkat, Personal Counselor
973-278-5400 ext. 1321
Sheri-Burkat@BerkeleyCollege.edu

For faculty and staff, Berkeley College’s Employee Assistance Program is available to help:

The Employee Assistance Program is designed to assist families with balancing the demands of work with those of their personal lives. The Employee Assistance Program is a one-stop resource that offers consultation, information, and personalized community referrals, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for you and your family members.

When you call, you will be assisted by expert consultants who can help with emotional well-being. These calls are confidential.

When face-to-face sessions are warranted, you may receive up to three.

You can call any time, day or night at 855-775-4357 or Online Work-Life EAP Resources http://rsli.acieap.com.

Additional details can be found on Berkeley365 – Human Resources – Benefits – Employee Assistance Program (EAP).


We want to take this opportunity to remind our diverse Berkeley College community that we are an institution that takes pride in its welcoming environment and unwavering promotion of the values of equity and inclusion. These challenging times are not an excuse to behave differently toward any individuals or groups. We must maintain civility in our interactions with peers, students and colleagues. As always, any student who experiences discrimination of any kind can speak with their campus’ Student Development and Campus Life office for support. Likewise, faculty or staff can speak with Human Resources.

Berkeley College has postponed or cancelled all events until further notice. When possible, the College will host virtual events instead. The College is taking this action to minimize any potential health and public safety risks associated with COVID-19. When possible, the College will host events virtually instead. The College continues to monitor the status of COVID-19 and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization, New York State Health Department and New Jersey Department of Health. Please continue to check this webpage for any updates.

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