Date: August 9, 2022
To: The NYU Community
From: Dr. Carlo Ciotoli, MD, MPA, Vice President for Campus Health

I hope your summer is going well.

With the start of the fall semester rapidly approaching, I am writing to provide you a brief update on COVID-19 policies and the emerging public health concern, monkeypox.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations continue to be the first line of defense against infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. You should expect that compliance with required vaccines will be rigorously enforced.

First-time, Incoming Students

You must be in compliance with all of NYU’s immunization requirements. If you are new to NYU this fall, you must be fully in compliance with our requirements for COVID-19, MMR, and meningococcal meningitis (or have been granted a valid exemption).

The deadline for submitting proof of your required immunizations was July 15; if you are not yet compliant, you must submit your proof of immunization right away. Failure to comply will result in serious consequences including de-enrollment from your classes and losing access to NYU buildings.

New Employees

All employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and receive a booster (or have been granted a valid exemption), and to promptly upload proof of vaccination.

Ongoing Students and Employees

Compliance with NYU’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements includes getting a booster. If you have become eligible for a booster, you must get it and upload proof of it.

COVID-19 Related

Masks

We will begin the fall 2022 semester with our current masking rules remaining in place (i.e., that masks must be worn in certain “obligatory” spaces, including classrooms and some workplace settings) to allow time to assess the impact of the return of the campus community. However, absent a serious decline in public health, the mask requirement for obligatory spaces will be lifted towards the end of September.

Please note: Faculty who are teaching in spaces where there is a distance of six or more feet between themselves and the front row of student seating may opt, if they wish, to teach without a mask. All others are expected to wear masks, however, as are students, when they are attending class in person.

Goodbye, Daily Screener; Hello, “Violet Go” Pass

We heard you — we will be replacing the Daily Screener with “Violet Go” — a once-and-done pass that will remain in your phone’s (iOS and Android) ticket wallet as long as you comply with NYU’s vaccination requirements.

We will be providing additional information in the coming weeks.

Reporting Your Positive Test

Students, faculty, and employees who test positive for COVID-19 using non-NYU tests should complete the reporting form. However, if you develop symptoms of COVID-19 or are exposed to someone with COVID-19, you are no longer required to complete the reporting form. You can visit this webpage for additional guidance.

Monkeypox Related

The emergence of monkeypox (as this virus is currently commonly called) in New York — where about one-quarter of all US cases have been identified — has led officials to declare a state of emergency to enable government agencies to move more swiftly to address the outbreak.  

NYU is closely following developments. The University has established a monkeypox information hub and will continue to update this webpage as additional information becomes available.

Stay Home If You Feel Sick

An important piece of advice: if you are experiencing the symptoms of either COVID-19 or monkeypox, stay home. Seek medical guidance from your personal health care provider before going to work (if you are an employee) or from the Student Health Center (if you are a student) before going to classes.