COVID-19 Information
Learn about the steps we are taking to keep the campus safe and what you can do to help.
Safe Campus
Photo of Reopening concept after the coronavirus pandemic - stock photo
Keeping Our Campus Safe for Teaching, Learning, Living, and Working
Governor Murphy’s recently issued Executive Orders No. 242 and No. 243 lifted many COVID-19 related restrictions due to improved public health statistics and increased vaccinations in New Jersey.
As our university community looks forward to pre-pandemic operations on campus, we would like to ensure clarity about our continuing vigilance in the adherence to recommended safety precautions. While each vice president may provide more detailed guidance for their own division, noted below is a summary of those continuing precautions across our campus:
- Vaccinations: Vaccination against COVID-19 offers the best path forward for us to return safely to a vibrant and fully accessible campus community. The data shows that the vaccines are safe and effective. If interested, please complete the COVID-19 vaccination interest form that is linked here. All students taking in-person classes will be required to show proof of immunization, as announced in a campus-wide message in April, 2021. We encourage you to view our archived Vaccination Q & A Town Hall, which offers answers to many common questions about the vaccine.
- Surveillance Testing: This approach will help detect asymptomatic occurrences of infection and prevent further transmission by enabling contact tracing. Full information can be found on the COVID-19 Surveillance Testing website and you can sign up for an appointment.
General Safeguards
- Face Masks & Social Distancing: Individuals who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear a mask or practice social distancing indoors on campus or at off-campus university activities.
- Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are required to wear a mask indoors on campus and at off-campus university activities.
- Masks are not required outdoors.
- Fully vaccinated individuals are welcome to wear a mask if they so choose at their discretion.
- Please remember to keep a mask with you at all times as individual locations you visit off-campus may have their own requirements and requests.
- Enhanced Cleaning Protocol: The housekeeping staff continues to work diligently to enrich the cleanliness of all common areas, restrooms, classrooms, lab spaces and offices using cleaning products certified by the Environmental Protection Agency. Common areas and restrooms are cleaned and disinfected daily including the use of a Clorox 360 Electrostatic Sprayer.
- Hand sanitization stations were installed throughout campus.
- Ventilation: Bipolar ionization technology was installed in air handling units to purify the air. Ventilation rates were increased where possible. Central air filtration was improved to MERV-13 (the grade of filter recommended by ASHRAE) or the highest compatible with the filter rack.
- Physical Barriers: Installed throughout campus in service areas where social distancing was difficult to maintain.
- Online Training: “Staying Healthy in a Changing Environment” (25 minutes) was made available to faculty, staff, and students on how to safely return to the campus community.
The use of all the above practices will enhance our ability to keep our campus safe and make it a vibrant community as we move into the summer months and fall semester.
Please note that the foregoing protocols are subject to evolving public health guidance from federal, State, and local authorities. Notwithstanding the positive public health news and signs that our collective efforts to end this pandemic are working, the University recognizes the emotional toll that the last year has put on many of us. The University remains actively engaged to ensuring a safe and healthy campus. Together, we can emerge stronger from this pandemic than we entered it.
Please note that the foregoing protocols are subject to evolving public health guidance from federal, State, and local authorities. Notwithstanding the positive public health news and signs that our collective efforts to end this pandemic are working, the University recognizes the emotional toll that the last year has put on many of us. The University remains actively engaged to ensuring a safe and healthy campus. Together, we can emerge stronger from this pandemic than we entered it.
Protocol for Reporting a Positive COVID Diagnosis