Coronavirus Updates
Fairleigh Dickinson University continues to take measures to reduce the risks concerning COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus. We are planning in line with recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of State and the State of New Jersey Department of Health, as well as Canadian federal and British Columbia health authorities for our Vancouver Campus, and the Department of Health and Social Care in the United Kingdom for Wroxton College.
The University’s notifications regarding the coronavirus will be posted here in reverse chronological order so that all messages are available and the most recent appear first. Related information for reference is also provided as links shown on this page. Members of the University community who are feeling ill or who are aware of someone who is feeling ill should review the Student, Faculty and Staff Health sections of Coronavirus Information from HR.
April 20, 2020
President’s Update – Important Cost-Saving Measures
Dear Faculty and Staff,
Across our country and around the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive suffering, hardships, and the need for unprecedented changes in how we live and work. At FDU, we have come together as a community to adjust our operations, to offer our educational programs online, and to support our students as best we can. The incredible efforts of our faculty and staff to adapt to this new environment in such a short time are extraordinary and demonstrate dedication to FDU and our students like never seen before.
As we move forward, we also must respond to the significant financial impact of this crisis. Most notably, we have experienced increases in certain operational expenses, refunds to our students for room and board costs, and a decrease in revenue from a variety of sources, not the least of which will be our upcoming summer program tuition.
This new financial reality, combined with the uncertainty of when we can resume normal operations, means that we have to consider all options to address these challenges, while ensuring that we do not compromise the quality of an FDU education. Our focus for the immediate future is on those operations that directly impact the educational experience of our students.
Like many colleges, we have taken some basic steps already, such as enacting a hiring freeze and only proceeding with a limited number of capital projects. But we will have to do more to help the University overcome the financial challenges we face. Before we ask our faithful employees to make sacrifices, I think it’s important that our leadership demonstrate our commitment to the University and all of you in this struggle, and that is why I have decided to take a 20% pay cut. At the same time, the senior leadership team has unanimously agreed to reduce their salaries by 10%, and remaining members of the President’s Cabinet will reduce their salaries by 8%. These salary reductions will last as long as necessary and will be used to establish a special relief fund for students and families in need and to support the University’s budget.
Unfortunately, we have to take some other measures as well. As you know, we moved nearly all our operations remotely beginning March 16. Many employees have since continued their responsibilities, but many others cannot do all the previous work they had been doing. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 has significantly limited the need for various University functions in at least the short term.
For these reasons, the University will be instituting a furlough program, effective April 27. A furlough is a temporary unpaid leave of absence, with the expectation that the employee will be recalled within a specific period of time. With students off campus until at least late August, we project that most employees furloughed will return on August 10, but this date may change. We have consulted with supervisors, deans, and directors to determine how best to identify employees to furlough. If you are among those who were identified, you will soon receive a notification from Vice President of Human Resources Rose D’Ambrosio.
Furloughed employees are individuals who cannot fully perform their job remotely, or the need for their job has been substantially reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a change in business operations. Please note that the University will continue to offer and make its normal contributions toward medical/dental coverage for furloughed employees and eligible dependents. In addition, furloughed employees may be eligible for state unemployment benefits, as well as federal pandemic unemployment benefits provided under the CARES Act. Furloughed employees are not expected to work during the furlough period—in fact, they are not permitted to engage in any University-related business, including e-mails, phone calls, or meetings, until their duties resume.
I’m sure there will be other questions concerning this program, and those who are notified will be provided with more details and support as they cope with this transition. For questions concerning furloughs, please contact Rose D’Ambrosio at dambrosi@fdu.edu. Again, it is our hope and expectation that many employees who are furloughed will be recalled on August 10, but of course we will have to re-evaluate this as the situation evolves.
I want everyone to understand how difficult a decision this is. I assure you that we evaluated all our options before coming to this decision. We deeply value all our employees, and so many of you have played such important roles at the University. And we also understand that while many of the employees furloughed haven’t had full workloads since we moved to remote business operations, they were still making contributions that now will have to be handled by others with full workloads. We are very sorry for this and continue to appreciate all the efforts that so many of you are making in this very trying time.
Despite these challenges, we remain fully committed to ensuring that the quality of education remains at the level our students have come to expect. And we will continue to do everything possible to enable our students to pursue their studies and attain their goals.
As I wrote to you earlier, I wish I could accurately predict the future and tell you when this will be over, but until then we must plan and prepare for as many scenarios as possible. With your help and sacrifices, we will continue to position ourselves in the best possible manner for today and tomorrow, and we will continue to be there for our students like we always have been.
I thank each and every one of you for your resiliency, your determination, and your resolve. Thanks to you, I know we will meet these challenges with continued courage and strength, and I know we will enjoy brighter days ahead.
With great appreciation and admiration,
Christopher A. Capuano, Ph.D.
President
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Links to Updates
April 20: President’s Update – Important Cost-Saving Measures.
April 9: President’s Update – A Note of Appreciation.
April 9: Deadline Extension for Student Withdrawal from Classes.
April 7: All Summer Sessions for 2020.
April 3: Update on Pass/Fail Option for Spring Semester 2020.
April 2: Graduate Summer Sessions 2020.
March 30: Undergraduate Summer Sessions 2020.
March 25: President’s Update – Commencement.
March 25: Pass/Fail Option for Undergraduate Students for Spring Semester 2020.
March 20: President’s Update – Remote Learning Extended for Remainder of Spring Semester.
March 20: Pass/Fail Option for Undergraduate Students for Spring Semester 2020.
March 15: President’s Update – Latest Actions Related to COVID-19 Pandemic.
March 13: Wroxton College Students to Return Home.
March 10: President’s Update on Moving to Remote Learning.
March 9: Working together as a community and an update on potential self-isolation.
March 6: Update on travel restrictions and recommendations, and a travel registry for faculty and staff.
March 2: Update on University-sponsored international trips as well as more travel-related news.
February 28: Update on international travel, study abroad, our international campuses and necessary precautions.