What SU May Look Like in the Fall

By: Benjamin Schiller 

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – “I do think come the Fall, we are going to be back to normal if not, normal capacity in our spaces,” says SU Vice-Chancellor J. Michael Haynie. 

Vice-Chancellor Haynie is optimistic that Syracuse University will resume normal operations in late August. With the coronavirus vaccines set to be available for the general public in May, according to President Biden, Haynie believes that SU will not let its guard down in the Fall. 

“‘Do I still think there will be Covid testing in the Fall?’ Yes. I do think we will still be (testing) because there’s too much unknown about these variants and the efficacy of the vaccines, long-term,” says Haynie. 

Haynie says that the Fall coronavirus testing will feature random surveillance from the student body rather than weekly testing. Haynie believes that mandatory mask-wearing on-campus could return until the end of this year. 

“There might still be situations where we will be wearing masks in certain very close-quarters,” says Haynie. 

Just last week, the CDC announced guidelines for fully vaccinated Americans. They no longer have to quarantine if they have been exposed to COVID-19. Haynie says that updated coronavirus guidance for SU is coming. 

“When this latest change, for example, came from the CDC, what we are all now waiting for is what is New York State going to do,” says Haynie. 

Now with New York State allowing stadiums to open at 10-percent capacity, Haynie says that an in-person commencement for the classes of 2020 and 2021 could happen soon. 

“What we are doing right now is actually setting the conditions for us to be able to have a significant number of guests in (the Dome) for a commencement exercise in May,” says Haynie.