The following email was sent to the Law School community on March 12, 2020.
Dear Law School Community:
This has been a challenging week as we adapt to the spread of coronavirus and plan for the future. I am grateful for the hard work of so many members of our community who have helped us tackle these challenges and develop our future plans, and for the patience of all of you as we move forward.
I write now to clarify how the new measures outlined in this afternoon’s communications from University leadership (appended below) will impact the Law School, and to address some additional matters specific to the Law School.
Remote Teaching and Learning. As President Hamilton indicated in his message, remote instruction will now extend until at least April 19, 2020, for all New York University classes, including all classes at the Law School.
- At the Law School, our first day of remote instruction was largely a success, thanks to the patience, flexibility, and professionalism of all members of the community who participated. Thank you all.
- Of course, today was not without some glitches. Yesterday, in our note about using Zoom, we incorrectly stated that classes conducted via Zoom would be automatically recorded. Instead, faculty and instructors will need to opt in to record classes at the start of each session.
- Bar Eligibility and Remote Instruction: We are aware that there can be restrictions on distance learning for students planning to pursue admission to a bar. The Law School is in the process of seeking a temporary waiver of these restrictions from the New York Court of Appeals given the circumstances.
Faculty-Student Reading Groups. The suspension of all faculty-student reading groups is now extended through April 19, 2020.
Gatherings and Non-Essential Activities. Effective through April 19, 2020, all gatherings and non-essential activities—meaning those not related to core academic activities—should be canceled, postponed, or conducted in a “virtual” way that does not bring large groups of guests and community members together in a single venue. This policy may be extended. The Deans’ Cup scheduled for April 2, 2020, has been canceled.
Faculty Meetings and Faculty Workshops. In compliance with the above restrictions on in-person gatherings, through April 19 we will endeavor to convene faculty meetings and Monday faculty workshops through Zoom. I will share additional details on this effort in a separate message to the faculty.
Student Services. Student-facing administrative offices wrote to all students yesterday with updated contact information and hours of operation. An update to this email will come early next week—please stay tuned.
Law School Facilities and the Law Library. Law School buildings will remain open, including the Law Library, though hours may be adjusted. A limited number of classrooms will be available for use as study space. Check here for updates on hours of operation. The use of high-traffic areas may be restricted as necessary.
NYU-Related Travel. All non-essential NYU-related travel, both international and domestic, should be canceled until further notice. This includes NYU-related travel for all students, whether traveling in groups or as individuals. No new non-essential NYU-related travel plans should be booked. Travel by students returning home or to NYU from our Law Abroad programs in Paris and Buenos Aires is exempt from this rule.
International Students. NYU urges you to keep in mind that travel restrictions have and can change rapidly with little notice. International students planning to leave the U.S. on personal travel should consult with an advisor from the Office of Global Services.
As I noted earlier this week, we have established a dedicated email address for coronavirus-related issues: law.cvq@nyu.edu. Please write to that address with any urgent questions or concerns.
As I know you understand, these measures are designed to protect the health and well-being of our community while also ensuring we are able to continue our academic mission. I thank all of you for your commitment and patience.
Stay healthy.
Trevor Morrison
Trevor W. Morrison
Dean
Eric M. and Laurie B. Roth Professor of Law
New York University School of Law