Vunerable Populations

Staff Scheduling and HR + Persons on Campus

• All faculty and staff are expected to perform their job responsibilities; however, employees should not be compelled to return to campus to complete work that the College determines can be accomplished remotely.
• If the College determines that an employee’s work cannot be accomplished remotely, managers and supervisors should contact The Liaison for support in finding and implementing appropriate adjustments to the work schedule and/or workplace related to Covid-19 issues including, but not limited to, staggered and/or alternating schedules, temporary job redesign or task reassignment (within the parameters of existing job descriptions), physical space adjustments, staggered reporting/departing and other options. Changes in arrival and departure times and temporary job redesign options for staff members under a collective bargaining agreement must be discussed with and approved by the Office of Human Resources and, if appropriate, the Labor Designee prior to implementation.
• In addition, BMCC will consider requests for certain leaves or work schedules by employees under the following circumstances: government imposed stay-at-home orders, health-care provider imposed self-quarantine because of certain vulnerability, self-quarantine because of Covid-19 symptoms, obligation to care for an individual subject to health-care worker required Covid-19 related quarantine or isolation order, or obligation to care for certain children under certain Covid-19 related circumstances. Such employees should notify their supervisors, and contact the The Liaison for support in determining whether their circumstances warrant such leaves or adjustments. (Note that such leaves may be with or without pay, or a portion of pay.)
• Students and employees with disabilities are encouraged to request accommodations they may need. BMCC is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and academic adjustments to allow qualified individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in educational programs, activities, and perform their jobs.
• In addition, students and employees who believe that they have underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk for COVID-19 (i.e., as identified by the Centers for Disease Control) and wish to seek such an accommodation, may do so. Furthermore, employees may request such an accommodation if they are at higher risk to COVID-19 based on age in or for other reasons relating to their personal circumstances.
• The process for an employee or student seeking an accommodation is governed by the CUNY Procedures for Implementing Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments
  https://bmccstroac.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/2019/11/Procedures-for-Implementing-Reasonable-Accommodations-9.21.2016.pdf.
• Employees who wish to request a reasonable accommodation under these Procedures should contact the Office of Human Resources at
  officeofhumanresources@bmcc.cuny.edu or the Director of Human Resources, Gloria Chao at gchao@bmcc.cuny.edu and submit this Reasonable Accommodation Request
  Form: https://bmccstroac.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/2022/02/RequestForReasonableAccommodation-12.16.pdf).
• Students who wish to request a reasonable accommodation should contact the Office of Accessibility at accessibility@bmcc.cuny.edu or 212-220-8180. The identified offices
  will engage in an interactive process with individuals who request an accommodation in order to identify an appropriate reasonable accommodation. (NOTE: CUNY prohibits retaliation against individuals for requesting reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments, appealing decisions concerning such requests.)
• BMCC also recognizes that employees may request changes to their work schedules or conditions for other reasons such as sharing childcare responsibilities with a Covid-19 essential worker . Employees with work modification requests that are not otherwise covered above should contact the Director of Human Resources, Gloria Chao at gchao@bmcc.cuny.edu.
• In addition to the options set out above, employees may be eligible for leave, time off or other workplace adjustment under various other CUNY leave policies, including those implementing the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the NYS Paid Family Leave: https://bmccstroac.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/2020/01/PFL-NYS-Care-for- Family-member_Technology.pdf, and/or the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf.
• In addition, in order to help meet their needs, employees may request a voluntary short-term reduction in hours, or use of their annual leave accrual balances in accordance with established Time and Leave policies after consultation and with the approval of their supervisor. More information on various leave programs is available on the Office of Human Resources Policies website: https://wwwdev.bmcc.cuny.edu/hr/policies/. Faculty and staff may contact the Office of Human Resources at: officeofhumanresources@bmcc.cuny.edu or Director of Human Resources, Gloria Chao at gchao@bmcc.cuny.edu to determine whether there is an appropriate leave for an employee’s situation and needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions – Students

• How do I register with the Office of Accessibility?
  For the latest information on the Office of Accessibility please click https://wwwdev.bmcc.cuny.edu/student-affairs/accessibility/ Here you will find information on the registration
  process (including the forms needed to register with the office); The services the Office of Accessibility provides on and off campus. And other helpful information. Please e-mail your completed application and documentation to Nicole Leach at nleach@bmcc.cuny.edu If you have any question about the registration process, or the services the Office of Accessibility provides please contact accessibility@bmcc.cuny.edu or 212-220-8180.
• How will students receive their accommodations for in person classes and hybrid classes?
  After your application has been approved the Office of Accessibility will send you an e-mail listing the accommodations you have been assigned. This e-mail will also include the contact information of Office of Accessibility staff such as the Learning Specialists and or the Assistive Technology Specialist, LEADS counselor and Project REACH coordinator. We will also direct you to the “professor notification form.” You will complete this form at the beginning of each semester. On this form you will list your name and CUNY first ID. You will also include your course/s, (classes) along with section and your professor/s name. After you complete the form you will e-mail this form to accessibility@bmcc.cuny.edu (Please do not submit this form until all of your professors are listed on CUNY First). The Office of Accessibility will then contact your professor via e-mail, and will inform them of your accommodations.
• How do students schedule timed tests and quizzes for classes on campus and online? If you have competed the Professor notification form (see 2b.) and have been assigned the accommodation of double time for all timed quizzes and exams your professor will be aware that you are registered with the Office of Accessibility. If you are taking classes remotely you will send your professor a reminder e-mail a few days before your exam or quiz so your professor is able to adjust the parameters (time) on blackboard allowing your accommodation of double time. You will send this e-mail a few days before your scheduled exam or quiz and will include accessibility@bmcc.cuny.edu in the correspondence. If you have a timed exam or quiz on campus you will e-mail the Office of Accessibility a Release of Examination form. This form will be completed by you and your professor. You will e-mail this completed form to accessibility@bmcc.cuny.edu and a proctor will be arranged for you on campus or remotely. You will submit this form at least 5 days before your exam so a proctor can be arranged.
• What happens if I have classes on campus but I’m unable to come to BMCC because of an illness or a situation related to COVID-19? If a student is unable to attend an on campus lecture they will notify their professor. If available the professor will provide access to the class zoom link. If a student is unable to attend a lab, if available the professor will provide access to a link to the lab session. The issue of whether students can participate in a lab session remotely has to be explored and a procedure developed that meets program, accreditation, and other requirements. Please contact the Office of Accessibility at accessibility@bmcc.cuny.edu with any questions or concerns.

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Student Academic Needs Out of the Classroom

• Offering options for students at higher risk for severe illness that limit their exposure risk (e.g. virtual learning opportunities). Ensure that college website provides information about all academic services clearly and easily so students can access the information and services remotely. Continue to offer academic support services virtually including tutoring and supplemental instruction. Offer in-person tutoring for limited hours to serve members of a vulnerable student population in designated areas. Ensure that students have access to academic support service and knowledge about how to access them. Continue to offer peer mentoring virtually. Continue to serve the needs of high school students in programs including College Now, Upward Bound and other programs virtually.

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Students Academic Needs in Classroom

• Explore the provision of a virtual option to take courses that are offered face-to-face ensuring that program, accreditation and other requirements can be and are met by students attending virtually. Work out a plan to administer and proctor exams to vulnerable student populations virtually. Work with faculty to explore virtual options for students in vulnerable populations.
• Ensure that students who cannot attend these courses are not penalized once permission for them to participate virtually is approved. Provide access to technology to facilitate participation in virtual learning environment and support students with learning disabilities or difficulties with remote learning platforms.

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Frequently Asked Questions – Employees

• Will I need to complete a daily screen before returning to campus? Yes. All individuals are required to complete a daily screening tool prior to arriving on campus. Individuals who are scheduled to be on campus and are unable to complete the self-screening tool, will receive screening assistance from on-site screeners before they can enter the campus.
• Will I need to complete a mandatory Return to Work training video before visiting campus facilities? All individuals who receive permission to visit campus facilities are required to complete mandatory Return to Work training video via Blackboard or video link.
• Can supervisors prevent employees from returning to work because the supervisor believes the employee falls into a higher risk category for COVID-19? Supervisors may not prevent employees from returning to work based solely on the supervisor’s belief that the employee falls into the CDC’s categories of individuals at higher risk for severe complications from COVID-19. Supervisors with questions or concerns should contact BMCC Office of Human Resources at: officeofhumanresources@bmcc.cuny.edu .

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Additional Considerations – Direct Deposit Encouraged

• While the college will continue its current practice of on-site payroll distribution, in an on-going effort to reduce the number of campus visits and to comply with occupancy density limits per current campus plan, and to protect themselves as well as vulnerable colleagues and students from potential exposure, all employees are strongly encouraged to enroll in direct deposit of payroll checks.