Message from the GSAS Dean
As of July 2, 2020
Dear GSAS Students,
To say that we are living in uncertain and challenging times would be to understate the case significantly, and while there is no denying the stress entailed by current circumstances, it is also clear that the world has rarely been in more urgent need of the great analytical capacity that is fostered through graduate study. Daunting as the moment is, there is no better time for you to be joining us in the Graduate School of Arts and Science, and we look forward to welcoming you in September!
The dynamism of this period is exemplified by the fact that, just three months ago, New York State--and within it, New York City--was the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. As of this past month, it had the lowest coronavirus infection rate in the nation. Keenly aware that this situation could change, the NYU administration is working in close consultation with state and local authorities to plan for a fully mounted curriculum in fall 2020, to be offered in a variety of modalities.
Within GSAS it falls to our different academic programs themselves to determine how to provide their students with an optimal educational experience in the coming semester. They have been informing the Graduate School of their plans in this regard, which overall entail in-person class meetings, remote instruction, and combinations thereof, along with a host of different ways to promote maximum intellectual engagement beyond the formal class context. Crucially, whatever their primary instructional mode, all classes will offer remote accessibility.
Specific information about your particular program's fall instructional plans can be found on the unit's web page, accessible via the Graduate School's official online roster of master's programs and doctoral programs. In addition to consulting those pages, feel free to contact your program for further details. Otherwise, do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have. Please have a safe and healthy summer, and we'll see you in the fall!
All best,
Phillip Brian Harper
Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Science
As of April 20, 2020
To students admitted to GSAS for fall 2020:
Many of you will have read my previous message indicating that NYU expects the fall 2020 semester to go forward with in-person on-campus instruction. I am writing now to reiterate that message, while at the same time acknowledging that developments with the coronavirus pandemic could change things, and that we therefore cannot absolutely guarantee a full return to campus in September. While it is too early to know for sure what alternatives might be available for our students, one way or another in fall 2020 NYU will be fully open and operational, and educating its students.
The NYU administration is meeting daily to discuss how best to insure students' safety--by far our top priority--and to maintain the continuity of the University's educational functions. Earlier this year, when it became clear that in-person learning would no longer be feasible at NYU's various campuses and global sites for the spring term, the University quickly made a number of adaptations to facilitate remote learning, and it has continually refined those over the succeeding weeks.
As University leadership contemplates next steps, it is following the expert advice not only of government officials and public health officers, but also of highly-regarded authorities at NYU itself, in units including the Medical School, the College of Global Public Health, the Office of Global Resiliency and Security, and the Student Health Center. In short, NYU is benefiting from the leadership and counsel of top professionals in relevant fields as it navigates the challenges posed by the current crisis. Thus it is well equipped to make any necessary adjustments while ensuring that its new students begin their enrollments in the fall semester and that its continuing students progress in their degree programs and receive the education they expect.
As before, I encourage you to consult your Admitted Student Resource Page for information about what you need to do now to prepare for classes in the fall. Your admission offer letter contains a link to this page, which is updated whenever there is new information for us to share.In particular, please pay attention to:
--Section VII, which provides up-to-date information of particular importance to you as a new
student
--Section II, which has instructions for new international students about preparing to enroll in the fall
We also encourage you to keep in close touch with your department.
We remain committed to successfully beginning your enrollment in the fall and being as flexible as possible in light of the uncertainty generated by the pandemic. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at gsas.admissions@nyu.edu.
With my warmest regards and best wishes for the health and safety of you and your loved ones,
Phillip Brian Harper
Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Science
As of March 26, 2020
All of us at the Graduate School hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy, and that you are finding sources of emotional support during this extremely stressful time. The COVID-19 pandemic has of course upended routines across the country and the world, and this is no less true at NYU--or in GSAS--than anywhere else.
My most important message to you now is that NYU's most senior leadership has told our students that "NYU expects to start the fall 2020 semester on campus, in-person, and with the normal rhythms of campus life restored." We here at GSAS are looking forward to the start of classes in the fall, and are doing everything now to be sure that your enrollment as a new student goes smoothly.
We encourage you to regularly look at your Admitted Student Resource Page for information about what you need to do now to prepare for classes in the fall. You will find a link to this page in your admission offer letter. We update this page regularly, whenever there is new information for us to share. In particular, please pay attention to:
--Section VII which lists recent updates of importance to you as a new student
--Section II which has instructions for international new students about preparing to enroll in the fall
We also encourage you to keep in close touch with your department.
We are sensitive to the uncertainty that this time may create for some new students, and we will be flexible in any way we can. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at gsas.admissions@nyu.edu.
With our best regards,
Phillip Brian Harper
Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Science