February 22, 2021
Dear Teaching Faculty,
Thank you for all that you continue to do to support our students through this ongoing health pandemic. The close collaboration between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs continues to be successful in being able to offer face-to-face academic opportunities.
However, we need your assistance.
Contact Information
When an individual tests positive for COVID-19, Student Health Services immediately initiates contact tracing to identify individuals who may be at-risk. It is important to note that the name of the positive individual cannot be disclosed to you for privacy reasons.
We ask that you please update your contact information with Human Resources as soon as possible. We are finding that records are outdated or do not have complete information.
Please take 2 minutes to make sure your contact information is correct, first with Human Resources:
- Log in to the SUNY HR portal at https://www.suny.edu/time
- Go to “SUNY HR Self-Service”
- Click on “Phone”
- If your information is incorrect, click “Select” next to the incorrect phone number, then click “Update”
- If your information is not in the system, click “Select” next to the correct blank field (cell phone, home phone or other phone), then click “Add”
- Fill out the form and submit
- If you are having trouble, simply contact Human Resources at (315) 267-4816
Please also check your emergency contact information in the College’s emergency alert system, Potsdam Rave Alert. We use this system to notify campus quickly of weather emergencies, as well as important alerts related to the pandemic:
- Go to https://rave.potsdam.edu
- Log in with your SUNY Potsdam email account and password
- Confirm your contact information
- You can add up to 2 additional email addresses, 3 cell phone numbers and 3 landline phone numbers (Tip: Try using one of your additional phone numbers to add contact information for a close family member, so that they can be aware of campus alerts as well!)
Answering Your Phone
We know that spam calls are on the rise, but if you unexpectedly receive a call from a campus number (315-267-xxxx) or a 518-area code number, please answer, as this is a contact tracer trying to get in touch with you. Student Health Services will reach out to you first to gather information and then will share it with Public Health. The 518-area code number is most likely someone from Department of Public Health as they will also reach out to individuals.
Information for Contact Tracing
For faculty members who are teaching a face-to-face course (including labs) or a small group vocal or instrument instruction, review sessions, etc., it is critically important to have the following information readily available. Not having this information readily available delays the process and could cause further spread of COVID-19.
- Take attendance for every face-to-face interaction
- Create a seating chart to include the following information:
- Room location (name of building and room number)
- Location of individuals in room (it is helpful to keep individuals in a consistent place each time you meet)
- Distance between individuals
- Make a note of the activities that occurred
- Ensure date, start time, and end time are listed on the documentation
- Keep the above information readily available (in your preferred digital format and location) to ensure you can quickly email it to Student Health Services if contacted by a contact tracer
If you have any questions about this request or the contact tracing process, please contact your academic dean.
Bette
Bette S. Bergeron, Ph.D.
Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUNY Potsdam
315-267-2891
bergerbs@potsdam.edu