As we come to the successful completion of a semester like no other, we congratulate our 2020 graduates! NYFA students have risen to the challenge of learning and creating during the pandemic; our faculty and staff have brilliantly and tirelessly supported and educated them despite all the challenges. We can now look forward to our Summer and Fall terms and share these updates on our current plans.
Summer Semester: All NYFA campuses will start the Summer semester online. Our faculty have designed their courses for the Summer to take advantage of the Zoom platform and ensure that we achieve our educational goals. Any return to campus during the Summer will be made based on the safety conditions of each campus location, and we will only return when we are confident that necessary safety and health protocols are in place. In the event we do return to campus during the Summer, students will still have the option of continuing online for the rest of the semester.
Fall Semester: We are planning to start all Fall programs on time and on campus. NYFA will be prepared for alternate possibilities, so that we are able to adapt, as required, to the evolving public health situation. This may include offering portions of our curricula through remote instruction if necessary. We will have a better idea of how the Fall term will be impacted by public health concerns later this summer and we will provide an updated plan on or before August 3rd. In any event, NYFA will be adopting the best practices in health and safety protocols for its campus.
Safety and Health Practices for On Campus programs: When we return to campus we will be prepared to implement practices in accordance with evolving public health guidance and best practices for institutions of higher education that may include:
Lower the density in our facilities through staggered classes and expanded hours
Continue to keep NYFA class sizes small
Limit size gatherings on campus
Maintain social distancing on campus and in production
Wear masks as recommended in all NYFA facilities and productions
Disinfect all equipment between uses
Maintain fresh ventilation of all classrooms
Increase individual mentoring and small group meetings
Utilize our largest classrooms to allow for social distancing
Disinfect classrooms and all shared spaces with recommended frequency
Hold theory or lecture based classes online when possible or necessary
Monitor and track the health of all students, faculty and staff through measures including daily symptom checks
Work remotely and in rotating schedules
NYFA will make adjustments or additions to practices according to the current conditions of each campus and as necessary for the well-being of the community.
NYFA's COVID-19 Task Force continues to meet daily to analyze the latest recommendations and information from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) as well as national, state and local public health and education authorities to ensure that we are coordinating our efforts to implement guidelines and best practices in accordance to these agencies, for each campus as appropriate to that city.
During this unprecedented time, we ask that everyone continue to follow all safety guidelines to protect their own health and the health of those around them.
We cannot wait to see you again on campus. Until then please stay in touch with us and with each other.
