COVID-19 Vaccinations Gain Momentum as Rollout Spreads Across America, Long Island University Hornstein Center National Poll Finds

BROOKVILLE, NY, April 8, 2021 – Results of a newly released Long Island University Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling and Analysis national poll reveal that a majority (55%) of Americans said they received a coronavirus vaccine, with variations by age, household income, and political beliefs. Americans over age 60 report being vaccinated at the highest rate (81%) as the vaccination rollout spreads rapidly across the country.

PDF Format – Includes sample and methodology detail

DEAR AMERICA,

Have you received a coronavirus vaccination?

55% OF AMERICANS SAID YES (UP FROM 15% IN FEBRUARY 2021)

Overall, 55% of respondents said they received a coronavirus vaccine, which is tracking significantly higher from 15% in February 2021 through a national poll conducted by the Long Island University Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling and Analysis.

81% OF AMERICANS OVER AGE 60 SAID YES

42% OF AMERICANS AGE 18-29 SAID YES

81% of Americans over age 60 said they received a coronavirus vaccine, which is tracking significantly higher from 13% in February 2021. By contrast, 42% of Americans in the 18- to 29-year-old age group received the coronavirus vaccine.

78% OF AMERICANS WITH HOUSEHOLD INCOME MORE THAN $150,000 SAID YES

47% OF AMERICANS WITH HOUSEHOLD INCOME LESS THAN $50,000 SAID YES

Household income makes a difference in the level of vaccinated Americans which can inform continuing vaccination rollout efforts. Americans with a household income less than $50,000 reported the lowest rate of vaccinations (47%) while Americans who make more than $150,000 indicate the highest rate of vaccinations (78%) based on household income.

66% OF DEMOCRATS SAID YES

51% OF REPUBLICANS SAID YES

48% OF INDEPENDENTS/OTHER SAID YES

Political beliefs make a difference in the level of vaccinated Americans. 66% of Democrats, 51% of Republicans, and 48% of Independents report they are vaccinated.

68% OF AMERICANS OVER AGE 60 ARE SATISFIED WITH THE COVID-19 VACCINATION ROLLOUT IN AMERICA

Americans were asked if they were satisfied with the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout process in America.

Of the respondents, 58% said yes, while 22% said no, and 21% said they were not sure. Americans over age 60 had the highest satisfaction rate at 68% approval.

72% OF AMERICANS WANT TO BE VACCINATED IMMEDIATELY OR WITHIN THE MONTH

Americans were asked if they would agree to be vaccinated if an FDA approved coronavirus vaccine was available right now. 72% of Americans said they would get the vaccine within a month of availability. CDC data indicate over 171 million vaccine doses have been administered to date in the United States (up from 44 million vaccine doses in February 2021).

DO YOU BELIEVE THE WORST OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS OVER?

42% OF AMERICANS SAID YES (UP FROM 25% IN FEBRUARY 2021)

Respondents were asked if they believed the worst of the pandemic was over. Overall, 42% of respondents said yes, which is tracking somewhat more optimistic than 25% in February 2021.

68% OF AMERICANS REMAIN CONCERNED OVER RISK OF FAMILY CONTRACTING THE CORONAVIRUS (DOWN FROM 78% IN FEBRUARY 2021)

Americans were asked how concerned they were about someone in their family becoming seriously ill from the coronavirus. 68% of respondents said they are somewhat or seriously concerned, which is tracking slightly lower from 78% in February 2021.

THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS (77%) ARE CONFIDENT THAT WEARING A MASK IN PUBLIC REDUCES THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS

National poll results found that 77% of respondents said they believe that wearing a mask in public reduces the spread of the coronavirus, while 15% did not believe that wearing a mask in public makes a difference, and 7% said they were not sure.

STATE VACCINATION PLANS AND CDC AUTHORIZED VACCINES

Each state health department has a tailored plan for vaccination rollout in the United States. Currently, the three vaccines that are authorized and recommended to prevent COVID-19 by the CDC are Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.

METHODOLOGY

This Long Island University Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis online poll was conducted through SurveyMonkey from April 6 to 7, 2021 among a national sample of 1,582 adults ages 18 and up. Respondents for this survey were selected from over 2.5 million people who take surveys on the SurveyMonkey platform each day. Data for this week have been weighted for age and gender using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to reflect the demographic composition of the United States. The modeled error estimate for this survey is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

ABOUT THE LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY STEVEN S. HORNSTEIN CENTER FOR POLICY, POLLING, AND ANALYSIS

The Long Island University Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis conducts independent polling, empirical research, and analysis on a wide range of public issues. Our studies inform the public and policy makers about critical issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the world. Visit liu.edu/Hornstein for more information and results from this national poll.

ABOUT LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY

Long Island University, founded in 1926, continues to redefine higher education, providing high quality academic instruction by world-class faculty. Recognized by Forbes for its emphasis on experiential learning and by the Brookings Institution for its “value added” to student outcomes, LIU offers over 250 degree programs, with a network of 270,000 alumni that includes industry leaders and entrepreneurs across the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information.

Long Island University Now Offers MyLIU Mobile Card on iPhone, Apple Watch, and Android Phones

Brookville, NY, April 7, 2021 — Today, Long Island University is launching its MyLIU Mobile Card that will allow students, faculty and staff to get around campus with just a tap of their iPhone, Apple Watch or Android phone at campus readers. Long Island University partnered with Transact, a leading campus credential solution provider offering NFC-enabled digital IDs, to support the implementation.

“Long Island University is a leader in technological innovation, and we are proud to offer our community members every new tool to create a seamless campus experience,” said Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline. “MyLIU Mobile Card is an exciting opportunity to further enhance our strong campus safety protocols and our commitment to protecting the environment while continuing to prepare our students for a digital future.”

With today’s announcement, members of the campus community can now add their MyLIU Mobile Card to Apple Wallet or Google Pay and use their iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android phone to complete any action that would have previously required a physical ID card. Users simply place their device near a reader to enter dorms, libraries, fitness centers and other buildings, buy lunch, make purchases at campus stores and more.

The move from physical cards to a contactless, MyLIU Mobile Card allows for transactions that are safe and convenient, and helps students, faculty and staff to avoid touching the readers or handing their ID cards to someone else. Long Island University can also issue school IDs remotely without the need to see students in-person or print and mail physical cards, creating a safer, more cost-effective and more environmentally friendly process.

MyLIU Mobile Card on iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android phones is also protected by two factor authentication to ensure only the student can access their own account, even if someone else knows their password.

Students can also suspend their campus ID if needed through the Transact eAccounts app on any device or Transact’s website.

Launching this new mobile solution complements the University’s launch in 2015 of Browse, an Apple-authorized campus store that serves as an all-purpose tech center. Browse showcases a range of high-end technology devices to enhance the student learning experience. Browse offers students experiential learning opportunities in retail, customer service, business management, entrepreneurship, small business operations, supply chain management, and technology support. Browse store associates also work alongside Apple certified technologists.

About Long Island University

Long Island University, founded in 1926, continues to redefine higher education, providing high quality academic instruction by world-class faculty. Recognized by Forbes for its emphasis on experiential learning and by the Brookings Institution for its “value added” to student outcomes, LIU offers over 250 degree programs, with a network of 270,000 alumni that includes industry leaders and entrepreneurs across the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information.

All-American Fencer Wins National Championship

LIU freshman fencer Laura Fekete became the first Shark ever to win an NCAA Division I National Championship in the epeé discipline, defeating the top-seeded fencer from the University of Notre Dame in the title bout. Fekete earned first-team All-America honors in the process, while her teammates Anna Szántay and Chejsa-Kaili Seck earned third-team All-America honors, also becoming the first All-Americans in program history.

Accomplished Executive Named CIO of New York Life

New York Life, America’s largest mutual life insurer, announced that Senior Vice President Bill Cassidy ’92 will assume the role of chief information officer. He will oversee enterprise technology, focused on continuing the company’s strong commitment to and investment in technology, and on driving solutions that benefit New York Life’s customers, financial professionals, and employees. Before joining New York Life, he served in various executive leadership roles at Och-Ziff Capital Management, BlackRock, Western Asset Management, and Goldman Sachs.

Pharmacy Professor Awarded Esteemed Research Grant

Jaclyn Cusumano, PharmD, BCIDP, an assistant professor of pharmacy practice, is a recipient of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s New Investigator Award, which is a highly competitive grant awarded to early-career pharmacy faculty. The grant is intended to be the first extramural research funding received by a faculty member as a principal investigator, providing a foundation for future scholarly endeavors and continued extramural funding success.

Best in the Nation Degree Programs

Intelligent.com, a leading college ranking platform, recognized Long Island University for having three top-ranked online degree programs in the nation. The online master’s in library science, master’s in homeland security, and overall homeland security program at LIU all ranked within the top 50 online degree programs nationwide in their respective categories, with the library science program being named “Best in the Northeast.”

Pharmacy Professor Joins Cutting-Edge Organization

Dr. Simon Bates, adjunct professor at LIU Pharmacy, joined the X-ray analysis team at Rigaku Americas Corporation, a global leader in X-ray spectrometry, diffraction, and optics, as well as small molecule and protein crystallography and semiconductor metrology. Rigaku will utilize Dr. Bates’ expertise in X-ray analysis to tailor its systems to clients’ needs and push Rigaku technologies into new markets.

Long Island University Awarded New York State HECap Grant to Fund New Drug Discovery Platform

New Cutting-Edge Technology Platform Expands LIU’s Research Portfolio, Provides Opportunities For New In-Demand Degrees

Brookville, NY, April 2, 2021 – Long Island University, a nationally ranked University, took another step forward to expand its innovative research portfolio with the announcement of a $378,000 award from the New York State Higher Education Capital (HECap) Matching Grant Program. LIU will use the grant towards the construction of an open-access Drug Discovery Platform to be housed in the College of Pharmacy, the first pharmacy school in New York.

The Drug Discovery Platform will inspire student innovation in drug design and development, spin-off companies, as well as provide a local resource for critical research and development for companies to move products from design to market. Construction is scheduled to begin spring 2021.

“Long Island University continues to invest in cutting-edge initiatives to expand our degree offerings and training for careers in the 4^th industrial revolution-inspired job market, and contribute to our region’s growing life sciences corridor,” said Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline.

With HECap support, the Digital Drug Design Platform academic programs will provide opportunities for new BSE and MS degrees in Digital Health and Engineering at LIU for up to 500 new students, with additional students attracted to LIU for the Artificial Intelligence Digital Engineering-enhanced health curricula.

Dr. Randy Burd, senior vice president for academic affairs, added “We are honored to receive the HECap grant and appreciate New York State’s support for our new Drug Discovery Platform.”

The platform will include a FabLab for tech transfer, prototyping, and serve as a driver for economic development. FabLabs are digital fabrication laboratories equipped with an array of cutting-edge tools to convert ideas into 3D digital prototypes. This will provide a high-tech, digital platform at LIU’s Digital Health Institute to respond to demand from pharma and nutraceutical companies for R&D that can enable product success. The Drug Discovery Platform will offer end-to-end solutions to empower organizations to discover, design, develop, and manufacture biologics from concept to commercial manufacturing. Initial estimates indicate up to 20 outside contracts will be implemented, with 30 LIU R&D projects benefitting from the FabLab.

“The Digital Discovery Platform will continue to keep LIU at the leading edge of research and innovation,” said Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy (LIU Pharmacy) Dean Dr. Arash Dabestani. “We are grateful for the HECAP grant which supports LIU’s continued efforts to meet the demand for high technology readiness for our students and our region’s growing pharma and nutraceutical sectors.”

The HECap Matching Grant Program is a competitive grant program that stimulates economic growth in communities across New York by providing matching funds to help independent institutions perform important upgrades to their campuses.

LIU Drug Discovery Platform

Long Island University’s drug discovery platform will include two laboratory components: The 3DEXPERIENCE® platform (3DS) for learning, certification and professional training; and the FabLab digital fabrication laboratory equipped with an array of cutting-edge tools to convert ideas into 3D digital prototypes.

The 3DS platform will be the Drug Discovery Platform’s discovery education and training arm and will rely on new, collaborative teaching/learning paradigms that seize new digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) environments — equipping students and professionals with skills and knowledge required to be successful global leaders in the 21st century digital-driven environments.

Activities in the FabLab will focus on generating innovative biological products for use in preclinical studies and Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, including generic drugs manufacturing, therapeutic antibodies, Diagnostic Kits, Immunotherapies, veterinary vaccines, and Neuromicrobiology, and thereby covering a diverse infectious disease, cancer treatment, and prevention portfolio. The goal of LIU’s state-of-the-art FabLab manufacturing facility is to meet all FDA Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards when it reaches steady state. The FabLab will also offer testing in molecular genetics – specifically Covid-19 and other infectious diseases.

This interactive cyber learning platform will support various digital drug discovery courses, thus allowing students to explore technical problems from a systems-level perspective, including the opportunity to acquire aptitude in inter-connected algorithmic intelligence, science and engineering principles – required skills for understanding intelligent behavior, learning, and adaptation with machines, robots and body-less computer programs. Teaching pedagogy will emphasize virtual and real project-based learning that simulates contextual environments — making learning exciting and relevant for digital and AI solutions.

HECap Grants

Since the program’s inception, HECap Grants have created well over $1 billion in infrastructure spending across New York and more than 14,000 jobs, including 7,000 construction jobs that paid prevailing wage. For every $1 of state funds awarded, colleges and universities in New York match at least $3 in support of their projects. Prior HECap awards for LIU include a $618,250 grant in 2019 to for construction of a Confocal Microscopy Core Laboratory and a $500,000 grant in 2018 to build a Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory.

About Long Island University

Long Island University, founded in 1926, continues to redefine higher education, providing high quality academic instruction by world-class faculty. Recognized by Forbes for its emphasis on experiential learning and by the Brookings Institution for its “value added” to student outcomes, LIU offers over 250 degree programs, with a network of 270,000 alumni that includes industry leaders and entrepreneurs across the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information.

Expert Executive Appointed as Visa Chief Diversity Officer

Visa has appointed Michelle Gethers-Clark ‘83, as its chief diversity officer and head of Corporate Responsibility. Gethers-Clark is a member of the Long Island University Board of Trustees, and she will work to ensure Visa’s organization and culture are inclusive while enhancing the company’s commitment to being responsible, ethical and sustainable. She previously served as president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Greensboro, North Carolina, and held various leadership positions across two decades with American Express.

Superintendent Elected President of National Association

Shari L. Camhi ‘90, superintendent of the Baldwin Union Free School District in Baldwin, New York, has been elected as the 2021-22 president-elect of AASA, The School Superintendents Association, representing the more than 13,000 public school superintendents nationwide. Under her leadership, the graduation rate at Baldwin Schools has climbed to 98%, ranking the high school among U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best High Schools for the first time. She was also selected as a prestigious “Leader to Learn From” by Education Week, and is a recipient of the ISTE Sylvia Charp Award.