We have decided to continue our primarily remote operations to continue our efforts to prioritize health and safety of our community, and to give the community certainty on how the summer semester will look. This past academic year, we have witnessed situations where colleges across the country initially made plans for greater in-person activities and have been forced to revert back to online instruction due to an increase in cases. Our intention is to give our community the assurance that we can maintain the safest possible operations, and that we are able to maintain a consistent mode of operations that, for the most part, won’t be subject to changes should infection rates fluctuate.
If conditions significantly improve, we may reconsider these policies over the course of the summer terms. We will continue to adhere to state and local guidelines, and take additional health and safety measures that we deem necessary to meet the unique needs of our community.
Since our priority is to maintain a reduced on-campus population, we will continue to encourage faculty, staff, and students to hold all meetings and group gatherings virtually. While we understand that Zoom meetings are not the same as meeting in person, we believe that this is the best approach to prioritize the health and safety of our community. We acknowledge that it is possible to maintain a safe distance, but we are also conscious of the risks associated with traveling to and from campus, so it is the College's goal to discourage any activity that would require unnecessary risk of exposure. For more information on the College's policy for on campus work adjustments in response to COVID-19, please visit the Workforce Adjustments page.
Testing continues to be a key component of the College’s response to the pandemic and helps us identify COVID-19 cases and monitor the prevalence of the virus within our community. Effective May 17th, 2021, a NEW PCR test is required for all students, faculty, staff, and affiliates accessing the Teachers College campus and other facilities. This test must be received on or after May 1st, 2021. This includes essential staff and individuals who have visited campus during the Spring 2021 term and who previously complied with the campus access requirements. Essential staff should work with their managers to coordinate testing at Columbia Health.
Access to the Teachers College campus via the Daily Health Screen questionnaire and TC ID card will only be permitted for those students, faculty, staff, and affiliates who submit a NEW PCR test by May 17, 2021. For those who complete a new PCR test after May 17, 2021, campus access will be reinstated within 24 hours of submission of a negative gateway test. If you visited campus during the spring term and completed all health and safety requirements, campus access will be allowed while awaiting the summer term gateway test results. A negative test result is required prior to your return to campus.
A&HA 4061 - Printmaking Processes
A&HA 4092 - Intro to Ceramics
A&HA 6905 - Indep Studio Work: Printmaking
A&HA 6906 - Indep Studio Work:Ceramics
A&HL 4085 - Pedagogical English Grammar
A&HL 4101 - Phonetics & Phonology
A&HW 4040 - Women of the World: Tchng Iss
ORLD 6054 - Lrng to Think Strategically
Your program director will have information on program level offerings. The course catalog also includes information on the instructional mode.
Please see the OISS FAQ website.
We strongly recommend that all individuals, students and employees in international contexts be vaccinated as soon as possible and receive the full dose series for optimal protection. Vaccines authorized by the U.S. FDA or by the World Health Organization (WHO) will be acceptable.
According to the CDC, individuals who received a full series of a vaccine currently authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) do not need any additional doses with an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.
For individuals who were partially vaccinated with a WHO-authorized vaccine or who were vaccinated with a vaccine not authorized for emergency use by the WHO, a full series of an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine can be administered with a minimal interval of 28-days post vaccination with a non-FDA-authorized vaccine.
It is TC’s intention to follow CDC guidance regarding individuals who may need additional vaccination in order to meet the vaccination mandate for the Fall semester.
Effective August 1, 2021, all new and returning students, staff, faculty, and TC housing affiliates must be fully vaccinated in order to access campus for the fall 2021 semester. All individuals who plan to access campus on or after August 1 must submit proof of vaccination no later than 10 days in advance of the date which they plan to access campus. In accordance with New York State public health laws, the College will accommodate religious and medical exemptions, as we do for other vaccines.
Yes, students or employees taking classes virtually or working remotely are still required to get vaccinated.
We will accept evidence of vaccination that has received authorization by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Yes, vaccinations will be available to anyone who has been unable to get vaccinated internationally. Vaccination must be obtained at the earliest opportunity upon arrival in the United States. Students and staff must time their arrival so that they are fully vaccinated at least 10 days prior to the start of the semester.
No. Try to get vaccinated as soon as possible in your home country in order to protect you, your family and community from COVID-19.
We strongly urge you to get vaccinated as soon as possible, as there may be additional requirements you have to meet if you arrive on campus unvaccinated.
Students, faculty, and staff, are expected to complete the vaccination requirement at least 10 days prior to their return to campus, and will be restricted from accessing campus if they have not complied with the requirement. But this process must be timed and scheduled. We will assist international students in this situation so that they can access TC residences immediately, but will be required to comply with additional precautions (such as weekly testing) until they are fully vaccinated.
TC has a process for requesting medical or religious exemptions as well as exemptions based on pregnancy status or if you are currently breastfeeding. See Religious & Medical Exemptions and Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Exemptions.
Yes, you will be able to register for classes prior to vaccination. However you will not be able to attend in-person classes if you are not fully vaccinated at least 10 days prior to the start of the Fall semester.
You will not know who is and who is not vaccinated; however, students will not be allowed on campus unless they have met the vaccine requirement or have received a religious or medical exemption.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has advised that employers may require COVID-19 vaccinations, provided that we offer exemptions to individuals with (i) disabilities that prevent COVID-19 vaccination and (ii) sincerely held religious beliefs that prevent COVID-19 vaccination. Employers may also request that an employee provide proof of receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination to ensure that employees have received the vaccine.
The EEOC guidance takes into account the fact that COVID-19 vaccines are currently subject to Emergency Use Authorization. Some COVID-19 vaccines may only be available to the public for the foreseeable future under Emergency Use Authorization granted by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA requires vaccine providers to give each individual receiving the vaccine the information contained in the Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers. Teachers College complies with these obligations.
The HIPAA privacy rule is not implicated in our process. Teachers College will follow best practices and comply with applicable laws in maintaining privacy and security with respect to vaccination status.
If you are an international student, contact the Office of International Students and Scholars at tcintl@tc.columbia.edu. They will be able to review options for your enrollment and visa status for the Fall semester.
Please contact CovidStudentCare@tc.columbia.edu with any other questions you may have about the vaccine mandate.
Teachers College Preparedness
Phone: (212) 678-3111 Email: returntocampus@tc.columbia.edu