Dear Mustang student-athletes and families,
As you know, each passing day we are missing you more than the last, and hope that you are well and remaining healthy during this unprecedented time.
The changing impact of COVID-19, as well as the direction we receive by experts are evolving each day, and sometimes by the minute. As you are aware decisions are made with the health, safety and welfare of our student-athletes, the SUNY Morrisville and surrounding communities in mind.
SUNY Morrisville officials have done an excellent job in providing our students and families with resources to help navigate this stressful and uncertain time together.
We are thinking of all of you, and your loved ones, and will continue to provide you with the most up-to-date information as possible.
Stay Mustang strong, and remember to reach out if you need anything.
Below we've included some resources specific to student-athletes, but also encourage you to visit the COVID-19 page established by SUNY Morrisville officials for additional information.
General SUNY Morrisville COVID-19 Resources
https://www.morrisville.edu/coronavirus
Academic Resources:
- SUNY Morrisville's tutoring services are available ONLINE!
The tutors who had been working face-to-face are working remotely at a variety of times Sundays through Fridays. The Tutoring Schedule posted on the website still provides the list of tutors, their courses, and their tutoring hours. Find times when a tutor for your course is available there, and then sign into Blackboard, go to Tools, and click the Tutoring Center to enter Pisces, the system we're using for online tutoring.
If you have questions, email TutoringCenter@morrisville.edu . NightOWL online tutoring is also still available (more info in the Tutoring Schedule and on the college website).
https://www.morrisville.edu/contact/offices/tutoring-center
Athletic Resources:
-
Due to COVID-19 guidelines, for the health and safety of our student-athletes and campus community, all student-athletes needing rehabilitation for an injury MUST schedule an appointment with the athletic training staff. Book an appointment!
SUNY Morrisville Athletics Frequently Asked Questions – February 19, 2021
This Q&A will be updated as new information is made available from SUNY Morrisville, NCAA and League Offices.
What will the athletic experience be like for the spring semester?
SUNY Morrisville Athletics will continue to follow NCAA and New York State guidance, and updates to participation will be made in accordance with any changes made by each organization. In accordance with campus cleaning protocols, THERE WILL BE NO USE OF LOCKER ROOM SPACE associated with any of practice or training sessions.
Will there be Fall / Winter Sports?
Fall sports teams will not participate in intercollegiate competition this fall. The Empire 8 Conference postponed fall competition on
July 15, including SUNY Morrisville Football.
The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC), in which the Mustangs compete in the sports of men’s & women’s cross country, men’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball, suspended competition on
July 17.
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) on
July 20 announced the suspension of fall competition, affecting field hockey at SUNY Morrisville.
Likewise, the SUNYAC also announced the suspension of winter conference and non-conference competition on
Oct. 19, impacting men’s ice hockey.
The Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL), with whom SUNY Morrisville holds membership in the sport of women's ice hockey, also suspended conference and non-conference competition for the season on
Oct. 23.
Will spring-sport student-athletes return early to begin preseason?
No, all student-athletes will be scheduled for a date to report to campus along with all other residential SUNY Morrisville students by the Office of Residence Life. .
When will student-athletes know if spring sports will happen?
SUNY Morrisville will continue to put the health and safety of our student-athletes, staff and campus community at the forefront of all decision making, and will explore, alongside league offices, all options for a safe return to play for member institutions.
As soon as a decision has been made by the New York State Governor’s Office, along with SUNY and associated league offices, we will notify our student-athletes.
Will athletic teams who are not competing continue to function as teams? Will coaches still be on campus?
It is expected that coaches will be permitted to engage with their team and student-athletes in the fall, per campus, state and NCAA limitations and guidelines.
Will coaches and team rooms be available for student-athletes?
At this time, protocols are being put in place to follow, such as scheduled use, cleaning requirements and capacity limitations for all recreational facilities. Spaces will reopen in line with state guidelines. Team locker rooms will not be accessible at this time.
The most up-to-date information regarding recreational facilities can be found within the
Fall 2020 Plan for Restarting On-Campus Activities and Operations.
Coaches will be permitted to engage with their teams and student-athletes in accordance with campus, state and NCAA limitations. Coaches’ offices will be restricted to occupancy limitations and will not be allowed to be used as a place to “hang out” as in the past.
Will fall sports be moved to the spring season?
SUNY Morrisville is committed to providing a meaningful student-athlete experience, provided it is safe to do so. The health and safety of all constituents of our campus community continues to be a priority as we discuss returning to intercollegiate athletics. As we discuss potential models for returning to play, we will be doing so with safety as a priority, and will make those available when we finalize those plans.
Will fall sports have the opportunity to engage in their non-traditional season?
The decision regarding non-traditional seasons has yet to be determined, but our goal is to provide our student-athletes in regards to the health and safety of our campus community. In the event non-traditional seasons are allowed, all SUNY Morrisville guidelines will be followed.
Will athletic spaces, such as fields, courts and weight rooms be available for student use?
All athletic and recreational spaces will be reopened according to guidance from New York State. The most up-to-date information can be found on the SUNY Morrisville
COVID-19 resource page for Campus Activities.
We are required to follow all college and state guidelines for group gatherings, including social distancing, group size and limitations on sport activity.
Will athletic training, and strength & conditioning be available?
Appointments with athletic training will be mandatory and protocols will be implemented. All rooms will have enhanced daily cleaning protocols in place and, as additional protocols are confirmed, we will email updates (through the SUNY Morrisville email system) to student-athletes and post information on our
athletics website.
Will student-athletes need to complete medical clearance paperwork and screening/baseline requirements for sports medicine?
Yes, all students trying out for a team MUST complete all necessary paperwork prior to participation. Due to limitations on group gatherings, we request that all students complete such paperwork through our
online system prior to the first date of classes.
Are there certain medical conditions in relation to COVID-19 that might preclude me from participating in organized athletic activity?
As outlined in the
NCAA Resocialization of Sport document, specific underlying medical conditions such as moderate to severe asthma, immunocompromised status, severe obesity, diabetes or additional heart, lung, kidney or liver disease have all been identified as conditions that may place an individual into a higher-risk category. It is recommended that individuals with increased risk factors refrain from participation in the early stages of organized athletic activity. The presence of increased risk factors may require additional documentation from your primary physician, and all final participation clearances are at the discretion of the health care providers at the college.
What should I do with any equipment issued from the Athletics Department equipment room if I am not returning to campus this fall?
We ask that you reach out to our Equipment Manager,
Tom Dickinson, to notify him of the equipment you have and set up a plan to return equipment to campus.
Will student-athletes need to complete compliance paperwork for the Athletic Office?
Yes, the compliance process for participating in intercollegiate athletics has not changed from previous years. All student-athletes trying out for a team MUST complete all necessary paperwork as determined by the Compliance Office. All forms have been made
available online for interested students as well.
Due to limitations on group gatherings, the mandatory NCAA eligibility meeting for all students trying out for a team will be delivered in an online format. Contact
Brandy Thurston, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, with any questions you may have.
If a team does not compete this spring, but a student-athlete engages in athletically related activity within the declared playing season, will the student-athlete be charged with a season of participation?
No. A student-athlete is only charged with a season of participation when the student-athlete participates (practices or competes) during or after the first contest in the traditional segment. If the student-athlete's engagement in athletically related activity does not include outside competition, the student-athlete may practice without being charged with a season of participation.
Will a leave of absence be necessary to stay on track from an NCAA eligibility perspective?
No. A leave of absence is not necessary. SUNY Morrisville is not competing in the fall of 2020, therefore a student-athlete is not using a season of eligibility in their sport. Student-athletes have 10 full-time semesters to complete four seasons of participation in a sport. An NCAA waiver will be considered for those student-athletes who may need to exceed 10 semesters of eligibility as a result of circumstances (COVID-19 pandemic) beyond their control.
If I participate on a team and the season is interrupted or suspended due to COVID-19, will I be charged with a semester of eligibility?
No. The NCAA approved a recommendation (July 9, 2020 approval) that ALL Division III student-athletes will not be charged with a season of eligibility if their team could not participate in at least 50% of the maximum number of contests/dates of competition for their sport during the season.
That also applies to student-athletes who are unable to participate in their sport during the 2020-21 academic year, as long as the student-athlete was otherwise eligible for competition.
What guidance will be provided regarding general health and safety, fitness, recreation and dining services for the SUNY Morrisville campus community?
All campus community members of SUNY Morrisville are encouraged to visit the
Fall 2020 Reopening Plans and Updates website, which includes FAQs and Resources by topic.
Where can resources for SUNY Morrisville students and parents be found?
Frequently asked questions for students and parents can be found on the college’s
COVID-19 resources page.
What will returning to campus look like?
Necessary procedures for returning to campus are identified in a Frequently Asked Questions document available in the college’s return to campus plan. Visit the
FAQ – Procedures for Returning to Campus website for additional information regarding your return to campus, housing and screening.
