Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Over the past several weeks you have received multiple updates about COVID-19.  I begin this message by expressing my sincere gratitude for all of the staff members and administrators who continue to work tirelessly to help St. John’s respond to this current challenge.  The University could not continue to operate without your efforts and your dedication.

As you know, the University remains open.  Many non-faculty employees have expressed concerns related to the safety of continuing to come to work on a University campus.  There are no known cases of COVID-19 at this time on any of the St. John’s University campuses or locations.  The University’s transition to virtual instruction effective March 12 through March 27 was made to significantly reduce the number of people on our campuses and at our locations.  It will also reduce the density of social encounters, thereby reducing the risk of “community spread” of the virus.  The University is actively monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak and taking guidance from the New York City Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and we will continue to update you as the situation evolves.

Beginning Friday, March 13, administrative units will test their business continuity preparedness by having some employees work remotely.  Your supervisor will inform you if and when you will be scheduled to work from home.  We are testing our capacity to operate remotely in the event we are required to close.  Again, we will provide timely updates of any such changes.

As a reminder to supervisors, if any member of your department presents as ill, they should be sent home and advised to seek medical care. This guidance applies to you as well.  Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath.   

We recognize that concerns about COVID-19 continue to escalate, and we remind all employees of our relationship with Corporate Counseling Associates (CCA), our external assistance provider.  CCA provides services to all University employees and their household or family members. CCA maintains a 24-hour helpline: 800-833-8707. Professional consultants are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to offer support and resources, simply by calling the confidential helpline. Calls will always be answered by a licensed/certified mental health professional who will assess needs, respond competently to emergency situations, and promptly direct callers to the appropriate expert area(s). To meet with a counselor in person (locally or nationwide), employees can call the helpline to schedule an appointment.

The Office of Human Resources has created a list of Frequently Asked Questions for staff and administrators, which can be found here. We encourage you to review the list carefully. 

Again, I thank all of our staff members and administrators for your dedication and persistence in the midst of this challenging time. 

Nada M. Llewellyn, Esq., Associate Vice President for Human Resources, Chief Diversity Officer, and 
Deputy General Counsel