The Conservation Center responds to COVID-19

As the fall 2020 semester begins, our innovative faculty and staff with active and welcomed student input, are developing new methods of teaching and learning that blend traditional in-person instruction with remote learning technologies, seizing upon the advantages of each approach and specifically adapting them to meet the needs of our dynamic program. Our efforts have centered on the scheduling and deployment of hybrid online and face-to-face instructional models, synchronous and asynchronous teaching combined with a renewed appreciation for the strengths and challenges of Zoom screens, innovative uses of technology, PPE protocols, and assessing the impact of occupancy restrictions due to strict social distancing. Some of our courses are fully online. Thus, we have been obliged to develop and refine approaches in teaching fiber and pigment microscopy, materials analysis, documentation photography, and treatment skills via distance learning. Our attention has been centered on ensuring that faculty, staff, and students are safe, healthy, and connected and that our students have flexible and robust educational plans as they progress through our program.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic we have changed out application requirements and admission procedures.  The GRE has been suspended for one year.  All admissions interviews will be conducted remotely.  Please note that NYU does not require Pre-program Internships.

NYU Reopening and Operating Plan for COVID-19

In accordance with guidance from New York State’s Department of Health, NYU prepared and submitted a COVID-19 Reopening and Operating Plan. Our plan, which describes some of the ways in which the University has adapted to the COVID-19 era, is informed by the following guiding principles:

  • Creating layers of safety

  • Fulfilling our academic mission; maintaining the highest standards of teaching and research

  • Establishing multiple modes of learning, teaching, research, and working

  • Responding flexibly and quickly to an evolving public health landscape

  • Creating a flexible fall-spring-summer schedule

  • Advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and enhancing pathways to success for marginalized and/or vulnerable members of the NYU community

  • Using NYU’s Global sites to provide access to those who cannot enter the U.S.

As the public health landscape shifts, and if local, state, or federal guidance changes, we will modify our plans. However, our top priority will not change: protecting the health, safety, and well-being of our NYU community, and of our neighbors in New York City and across the state.


NYU Returns: 2020-2021 Academic Year COVID-19 Information