[cid:image001.jpg@01D78779.62A4D080]

August 2, 2021

Baruch Forward: Welcome Executive CDO Elliott Dawes and Our Return to Campus

Dear Baruch Community,

It is my pleasure to welcome Elliott Dawes, JD, LLM, as he begins his tenure today as Baruch's Executive Chief Diversity Officer. In this role, he will lead the Office of Diversity, Compliance, and Equity Initiatives and serve as the College's Title IX Coordinator, Section 504/ADA Coordinator, and Sexual Harassment Prevention Coordinator.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is mission critical to Baruch, and I am pleased to have a DEI leader of Mr. Dawes's stature<https://president.baruch.cuny.edu/to-the-baruch-community/announcing-baruchs-new-executive-chief-diversity-officer-elliott-dawes/> join us at this pivotal moment for the College and our nation. Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, Mr. Dawes will help us implement a comprehensive strategy for institutional transformation that will allow us to realize our shared vision of a strong and authentic DEI environment through action. As a longstanding champion of racial and social justice, as well as an experienced educator, civil rights attorney, and higher education administrator, he is well-positioned to inform and lead institutional transformation at Baruch.

Baruch Forward: Our Return to Campus

I am very much looking forward to seeing you on campus. I urge you to continue to monitor Baruch Forward<https://pmail.baruch.cuny.edu/PoliteMail/default.aspx?page=1XVorytNDUqRppZT2gpsGQ&ref_id=scoq9jMoxES8M_OroIUxGg> regularly for updates on new resources and protocols. CUNY also updates an extensive list of FAQs<https://www.cuny.edu/coronavirus/get-back-faqs/> regarding our return to campus. CUNY also provided new guidance on how to register your vaccination status through CUNYfirst.



Baruch's essential personnel-many of whom have been on site throughout the pandemic to keep our operations running-and some staff in units that work closely with students will come to campus starting Monday, August 9, to prepare for our students' imminent arrival. As CUNY central announced<https://president.baruch.cuny.edu/to-the-baruch-community/universitys-update-on-return-to-work-date-uploading-vaccination-verification/> last week, others will return to their offices starting Monday, August 16. The fall semester begins on Wednesday, August 25, and at that time, many students and faculty will start to arrive for in-person and hybrid courses.



A number of you have expressed concerns about the updated mask policy for vaccinated individuals. Please note that our guiding principle is to follow the latest CDC, State, City, and CUNY guidelines, while allowing faculty and staff discretion for additional precautions in their classrooms and offices. The CDC has recently updated their Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html>. The guidelines are likely to evolve in the coming weeks and months, and we will adjust our policy accordingly.


I want to express my enduring appreciation for your flexibility and understanding as we enter a new reality together. Even with the best planning and coordination, we may encounter unforeseen hurdles and frustrations. Please know that we are doing-and will continue to do-everything possible to make this historic transition as smooth as it can be for the entire Baruch community and, of course, to help our students continue their academic progress.

Sincerely,

S. David Wu
President, Baruch College

[cid:image002.jpg@01D78779.62A4D080]






<>

If you wish to unsubscribe from the BARUCH-STUDENTS-ANNOUNCEMENTS List, please send an E-mail to:
"[log in to unmask]".  Within the body of the text, only write the following:
"SIGNOFF BARUCH-STUDENTS-ANNOUNCEMENTS".