For Students

Due to the rapid spread of the Omicron COVID variant, and in keeping with our robust efforts to prevent community spread of the virus, spring semester classes will begin in a remote format on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. We are, however, committed to a semester built around in-person learning.  Accordingly, we intend this to be a two-week limited remote learning period. Barring any further pandemic complications, in-person classes will begin in-person instruction on Monday, January 31, 2022.  We will reassess our planning over the weeks ahead and we will keep you posted on any updates. During the period of remote classes, there will be no events at the law school. The building will be open 8 am-midnight, Sunday-Thursday, and 8 am-6 pm Friday, and the library will be operating on reduced hours (which can be found here). Full library services will be offered remotely via email.  

This decision is based on the most recent evidence and our best efforts to place the safety of the community and the public as our top priority. 

As previously announced, Cardozo will be requiring booster shots for all students, faculty and employees who are eligible to receive them, and we will require a negative PCR test to access the building starting on January 13. Relevant deadlines are as follows:

Everyone entering the law school building for the Spring semester must upload proof of COVID-19 booster vaccination starting on January 10, and no later than January 29 or 48 hours prior to your first entry into the building. Submit your proof of vaccination through InsideTrack.
Those who are not yet eligible must obtain their booster as soon as they become eligible (i.e. 6 months after the second Pfizer or Moderna shot, or 2 months after the single J&J shot) and must upload the proof within 30 days of eligibility.

As was the case in the Fall, during the Spring semester all Cardozo staff members, faculty, and students will be required to wear masks in the building except when actively eating or drinking, until further notice.

Neck gaiters, bandanas, masks made of mesh, and masks that contain a vent or exhalation valve are prohibited. We *strongly* encourage you to wear a high-filtration mask, i.e. N95, KN95, or KF94. Cloth masks are not effective personal protection against Covid, especially the omicron variant. 

Faculty, staff, and students must upload a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken no more than five days before they enter the building. You must upload results no later than 48 hours prior to returning to the building. For students and faculty planning to return on January 31, that means that your test must be taken no earlier than January 26, and uploaded by January 29. You will be able to upload the results of your test through InsideTrack.

In addition to the protocols above, we will require weekly surveillance testing of the entire Cardozo population. Details about on-campus testing will be available by the start of the term.

For faculty (in anticipation of the start of class on 1/18):

• Upload proof of vaccination and booster to Inside Track, starting on Monday, 1/10 and no later than 48 hours from the date of your return to the building.
• Those who are not yet eligible must obtain their booster as soon as they become eligible (i.e. 6 months after the second Pfizer or Moderna shot, or 2 months after the single J&J shot) and must upload the proof within 30 days of eligibility.
• Upload proof of a negative PCR test taken no earlier than Thursday, 1/13. It must be uploaded no later than 48 hours from the date of return to the building.

For staff (precise return date to be determined with supervisor):

• Upload proof of vaccination and booster to Inside Track, within 72 hours of the first date of return to the building in 2022.
• Those who are not yet eligible must obtain their booster as soon as they become eligible (i.e. 6 months after the second Pfizer or Moderna shot, or 2 months after the single J&J shot) and must upload the proof within 30 days of eligibility.
• Upload proof of a negative PCR test taken no earlier than 5 days prior to returning to the building in 2022. It must be uploaded no later than 48 hours from the date of return.

In addition to the protocols above, we will require weekly surveillance testing of the entire Cardozo population. Details about on-campus testing will be available by the start of the term.

 1. All guests must be invited by appointment only. No events are open to the general public. While New York City is classified as having a “substantial” or “high” risk of community transmission, guests for events are limited to speakers or panelists. 

2. All invited visitors must provide proof that they are fully vaccinated 24 hours prior to their appointment, in order to be permitted to enter the building.

3. All visitors must also abide by our policy of wearing a mask everywhere in the building, unless actively eating or drinking, at all times.

Only the following departments and groups are permitted to invite guests to campus:

Administrative offices

Academic Centers, including clinics

Faculty Members

SBA-recognized student groups (for student-sponsored programs), including journals and honors societies.

Here are the procedures to follow if you are inviting a guest to the building:

Name of guest, proof of vaccination, and the guest's appointment date and time, should be submitted, at least 24 hours before the guest’s appointment.

Faculty members should forward the visitor’s name, appointment time, and proof of vaccination to Josie Tirado in the Dean's Office.

Administrators, associate deans, and directors should collect the guest’s name and proof of vaccination and then share the approved guest’s name to Cardozo security.

SBA-recognized student groups should send the guest's name and proof of vaccination to the Office of Student Services.

Please note that a delay in completing these steps may cause the guest to be delayed as they enter the building.

We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 Delta variant data and will update this policy as circumstances change.