Ithaca College

 Submitted on behalf of Rosanna Ferro:

Dear Students,

A great deal has changed since I last wrote to all of you on March 25, but one thing has not—the leadership team in Student Affairs and Campus Life has continued to work diligently to problem-solve the multiple issues we have been presented with given our new way of operating. We are certainly not alone in this, as my colleagues at institutions across the country are also working creatively to resolve these issues.

As I have shared with you in all of my communications since we began remote instruction, my number one priority will continue to be the health and safety of our students, our campus, and our local community. I want you to know that I understand how frustrating it has been to have to navigate these current times, and ask that you provide us with your trust and patience as we continue to work on ensuring that your needs are met. Below are some critical updates that I want you all to be informed about.

Move-Out Plan & Virtual Meeting on Thursday, May 7
We know that one major area of frustration for many of our students continues to be not knowing when and how you will be able to retrieve items from your residential space. In a communication to on-campus students sent last week by the Office of Residential Life and Judicial Affairs, we stated that we would be sharing the college’s move-out plan this week.

Unfortunately, the plan we had prepared to announce must now be changed again. I want to be as transparent as possible around this. I want you all to know that it has always been our intention to activate the move-out process as soon as it was possible given the restrictions put in place by New York State.

Over this past week, we have joined with our local partners, including the Tompkins County Health Department, in a number of critical discussions. The county's public health director has expressed concern with bringing thousands of people back into the community at a time when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is directing a methodical, phased approach to reopening the state, and has asked the college to "delay implementing this plan until guidance from New York State supports large scale travel between regions."

This is not what we were hoping to share with you at this time. Our intent all along has been to work in accordance with the state regulations while still addressing your needs. We are now having to rethink our original move-out plan to be able to address the concerns raised by the county health department. What we can share with you at this time is that move-out will be taking place over the span of a few weeks, there will be a process for you to sign up for timeslots, and options for packing, storage and shipping will be available. We are committed to providing you with weekly updates and are launching a website dedicated to the move-out process with details as they are confirmed.

We were hoping to have a detailed plan to discuss with you at tomorrow’s virtual meeting but will now shift the focus to sharing what we can at this point and to continue to hear your thoughts and concerns. As a reminder, the Virtual Meeting about Move-Out and Housing Selection is taking place tomorrow, Thursday, May 7, from 12:10 PM ­-1:00 PM. Sign-up to participate here. We recognize the inconvenience that this has caused and thank you for your continued patience as we navigate this public health crisis together.

Counseling and Psychological Services throughout the Summer
The Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) will remain open to all enrolled IC students this Summer between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM Monday-Friday, by calling 607-274-3136. Our services will include intake appointments where we can help you assess what might best provide you the support you need, brief and supportive individual counseling, limited group counseling, assistance with referrals to local resources near your home, information regarding apps and other online mental health resources, and overall support for your ability to remain connected to your personal and academic IC goals. In addition, our after-hour services will continue so that you can call to speak with a live counselor after 5:00 PM. weekdays and on weekends. We are here to support you and the IC community!

Face Masks for Students
Face masks for students who are still living on or near campus are available 24/7 in the Public Safety lobby, and students who reside off campus in the South Hill area can have them delivered once per week through the end of the spring semester by emailing their request to publicsafety@ithaca.edu. The off-campus deliveries are pretty popular, and the officers enjoy helping our students!

Reminder to Complete the 2020 Census|
The Census impacts government representation at the state and federal level, as well as access to state and federal funding and the provision of social services. The importance of counting college students where they spend the majority of their year cannot be underestimated, particularly in small college towns like Ithaca. Students who had been living on campus before remote instruction began don’t need to do anything—you will be counted through the “group quarters” enumeration process created by the Census Bureau.

Students who had been or are still living off campus in Ithaca should designate one member of their apartment to complete the Census for all of you by going to https://my2020Census.gov.  You won’t have a “code” unless you’ve received the mail that was sent to your apartment, but you can complete the Census by entering your address. If you're not sure who from your apartment has completed the Census, each individual member should submit their own Census information in the online portal.

Campus Life Awards Winners
The Campus Life Awards annually recognize 10 graduating Ithaca College seniors who have demonstrated outstanding involvement in and commitment to campus life throughout their four years at Ithaca College. The recipients of the 2020 awards have also shown leadership through their final semester, in the face of unprecedented events. Please join us in celebrating these impressive student leaders, who represent the best of the Ithaca College community!  

I will communicate with you as soon as possible when we are able to announce our plans for the move-out process, along with providing updates on how we are adapting to serve our student community. In the meantime, please continue to contact us with your questions. Again, thank you for your continued patience and grace as we work to address your concerns.

All my best,

Rosanna Ferro, EdD

Vice President for Student Affairs & Campus Life