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Frequently Asked Questions

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Academics

Financial Aid

International Students

University & Program Operations 

Health & Wellness

 


Academics

Dealing with moving to online courses and other responsibilities during COVID-19 have made it difficult for me to devote as much time to my classes as I otherwise would. Do I have options if I am worried about how this semester will impact my academic performance?
NYU Stern has made the decision to suspend a few specific pass/fail policies for the Spring 2020 semester (for Stern courses). We hope this will help create equity and alleviate some of the concerns you might have as we shift to remote learning. For Spring 2020, Stern Pass/Fail(P/F) policy will be as follows (for Stern courses):
  • Students may take any course P/F.
  • Courses taken P/F will not affect your GPA (positively or negatively).
  • There is no limit on the number of classes that may be taken P/F.
  • The deadline to contact the Ph.D. Office to request P/F is May 12th.
Students taking classes outside of NYU Stern are asked to check with the host school/department on their own policies.

Two things to note about faculty and pass/fail:
  • Faculty will not know which students have elected to pass/fail their course, unless the students decide to inform them
  • Faculty will assign letter grades to all students in their course. The registration system will automatically convert these letter grades to P/F for those students who have elected to pass/fail the course.
If you would like to take any or all of your Stern courses as P/F, please fill out our information collection form. Please note this form is only for Stern courses; as previously noted, you will need to contact the host school/department to see if you can request P/F for non-Stern courses.

My research progress has been disrupted by the pandemic. What should I do?
To the extent that it is possible, students should continue any part of their dissertation research that can be conducted remotely. In lieu of in-person meetings with advisors, students should arrange virtual meetings. We realize, however, that despite these efforts to continue research remotely, some components of research may simply have to be put on hold until on-campus restrictions are lifted. You should work with your advisor to determine what progress you can, and cannot, reasonably make during this time, given those restrictions.

The inability to make the same progress as originally anticipated this semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic is being addressed through extension to program time-limits for all current students equal to one year.

For additional resources, please also visit NYU’s page on research and laboratories. We also urge you to read Dana Turjeman and Meghan Duffy’s article on “Some Advice for PhD Students and Their Metors in the Time of Coronavirus."

If I have plans to travel for academic or research purposes, what should I do moving forward?
The University currently prohibits all non-essential University-related international travel and travel domestically to California and Washington State until further notice. All other domestic travel is strongly discouraged.  No upcoming non-essential travel will be reimbursed during this period. For more information, please NYU's travel information page.

My research involves interaction with human subjects, including conducting interviews and physical examinations. Will I be able to continue my research?
Owing to the current need to minimize contact with other people, restrictions have been placed on certain forms of human subjects research. Please see the guidance posted by the University on human subjects research.

Ph.D. Program policy requires that doctoral dissertation defenses include a public presentation. How can that requirement be met given COVID-19?
The University’s first priority is the health and safety of its community. That said, we are able to exercise flexibility with meeting defense deadlines on a case-by-case basis, including the postponement of defenses. Students should email Anya Francioli or Marissa Hernandez directly if they wish to postpone. 

Should you choose to move forward with your proposal or defense, it must be conducted remotely. Committees should be flexible in the technology to be used (e.g. Skype, Zoom, etc.). If you need help using any remote services, we urge you to contact the Stern Helpdesk which is maintaining operations. 

We also urge you to review the following resources: The wet-signature requirement for all defense paperwork is currently relaxed. All defense paperwork can be filled out, signed, and turned in electronically.

Please refer to our dissertation defense instructions for more information.
 

Financial Aid

The situation has had an unexpected impact on my finances. What resources are available to me?
Ph.D. Program Loans up to $5,000 are available for current students. Please e-mail Marissa Hernandez for information on how to apply.

Students are also eligible to apply for NYU’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.

Will Ph.D. students continue to receive their consistent stipends and benefits through the COVID-19 crisis?
Current students will continue to receive their stipend and benefits as outlined in their offer letter. Incoming students will receive funding that was promised in offer letters.

Are there plans to extend funding for students?
Yes - current, rising 5th and 6th year students will receive one additional year of stipend support in their 6th year. No additional stipend support will be provided to students in other cohorts.


International Students

I am an international student. Can I return to my home country?
International graduate students should consult NYU’s Office of Global Services before returning home. Travel restrictions change frequently, and a doctoral student who travels outside the United States may face difficulties returning whether or not they currently hold a visa that allows re-entry. The benefits of returning to their home country must be carefully weighed against the risk of a delayed return. Ph.D. students unable to return to the United States before the beginning of the fall semester will not face any program penalties, and every effort will be made to ensure they can continue making program progress.

I have many questions about my immigration and I-20 or DS-2019 status. Where can I find this information?
Please visit the NYU Office of Global Services website for information affecting international students and scholars, and refer to their frequently asked questions for information related specifically to COVID-19.

I will not be able to arrive in time for the start of the semester. What should I do?
The University is making every effort to continue processing visas as usual, however, we may face delays given the current restrictions in place on travel and visa issuance. As we learn more information, we will work with students to coordinate arrival. If arrival must be delayed, there will be no penalty to the student - we will do our best to begin instruction remotely, and set up a later arrival date if necessary. More guidance is being shared with our Office of Global Services and this information will be passed on to students as soon as possible.
 

University & Program Operations 

Where can I find information on New York University’s operating status?
This information is available at the University's COVID-19 response page.

Will the University re-open for the Fall semester?
As you know, NYU is providing instruction in virtual formats for the entirety of the spring and summer semesters. The University is currently evaluating options for the Fall, but hopes to resume operations as normal.

What is the Ph.D. Program’s plan for commencement?
As of now, all in-person commencement activities have been canceled. The Ph.D. Program will host a virtual “Toast the Graduates” event on May 18th to recognize the accomplishments of our graduates. Additionally, we are working on an in-person hooding ceremony for graduating students once campus reopens.

I need to access important documents I left in my office. Can I enter the building?
Under special and extreme circumstances, building access can be temporarily granted to students. Those students who need access should email Anya Francioli for further details.
 

Health & Wellness

What health and wellness resources are available to me? The NYU Student Health Center (SHC) is now offering most of their services virtually. For more information, please visit the SHC website. The University and SHC have also put together a website on Tips and Resources to Maintain your Mental Health.