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FAQ

Prevention and Care | Health Care Providers | University Operations | Classroom Instruction and Academics | Remote Instruction | Housing and Student Life | Events | Faculty and Staff | Research | Travel and Study Abroad

PREVENTION AND CARE

Symptoms of the virus appear to be consistent with those of a respiratory illness: fever, cough, and shortness of breath. There is no specific treatment for this virus at this time other than supportive care as needed.


The CDC believes the virus is spread by person-to-person close contact.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, the CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses such as covering coughs and sneezes, washing your hands often, staying home from work or school if you are feeling unwell, disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and get your flu shot.


It is important to take steps to prevent contracting or spreading disease. These include:

  • Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve while coughing and sneezing
  • Washing your hands with soap and water often and for at least 20 seconds
  • Using an alcohol-based sanitizer on hands if soap and water are not available
  • Avoiding touching your face
  • Not sharing foods, utensils, e-cigarettes, etc.
  • Cleaning commonly touched objects and surfaces regularly
  • Staying home from class/work/events if you are symptomatic

This year, it is especially important to get the flu vaccine as many of the symptoms of the flu (including fever and cough) are the same as those of the newly reported coronavirus. The flu vaccine is the best way to reduce your risk of contracting the flu as well as mitigate its symptoms, recover faster, and curtail its spread. If you have not received a flu shot, please do so soon.

In addition, any member of our community returning from a country designated Level 3 by the CDC is required to self-isolate for 14 days before returning to campus. This advice is parallel to that of the CDC.


Students at home with symptoms should contact their local health care provider, making sure to call ahead and apprise the provider of symptoms, recent travel, and concerns. If a student is on campus with symptoms, they should contact student health services.


Hurtado Health Center will remain operational but with limited staff and no evening hours.

The main CAPS office at 17 Senior Street on the College Avenue campus will remain operational but most services will be provided remotely.

For the latest operating status, please visit the Student Health site.


In accordance with CDC recommendations, University Facilities has increased routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces in all buildings, including doorknobs, elevator buttons, and other surfaces. No additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning is recommended at this time.

Facilities is using Enviro Care Neutral Disinfectant to clean most surfaces. Enviro Care Natural Disinfectant has demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on hard, non-porous surfaces and is qualified under EPA’s emerging viral pathogen program for use against SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus that causes COVID-19.


Students Returning from COVID-19 Affected Areas & Self-Isolation Period: The CDC has provided guidance suggesting that persons returning from affected areas should self-isolate at home for 14 days. Once the 14-day period is complete and no symptoms are present, returning to campus is permitted. Specific health-related questions can be directed to Rutgers Student Health at 848-932-7402.

Employees Returning from COVID-19 Affected Areas: Employees returning from a CDC restricted location, or were exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19, please contact the Occupational Health office below before returning to work.

Occupational Health Offices by location:


As cases of COVID-19 are confirmed the university will follow NJDOH protocols for containment and those who have had close contact with the patient will be contacted and monitored by the appropriate health agency with the support of the university.

Employees and students who test positive for COVID-19 and are physically on campus or in Rutgers facilities should contact Occupational Health and Student Health directly to report the case and seek guidance.

Rutgers Student Health offices by location:

  • Rutgers–New Brunswick
    • Call 848-932-7402
    • Locations and hours can be found at health.rutgers.edu/locations.
    • Make an appointment online via our Patient Portal (requires NetID)
    • Local Hospitals
      • Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – 732-828-3000
      • St. Peter’s University Hospital – 732-745-8600
  • Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
    • Newark – 973-972-8219
    • New Brunswick – 732-235-5160
  • Rutgers–Newark
    • Call 973-353-5232
    • Visit Blumenthal Hall, Room 104
    • Email: stuhlth@newark.rutgers.edu
  • Rutgers–Camden
    • Call 856-225-6005
    • Visit the Campus Center, second floor

Rutgers Occupational Health offices by location:

  • Rutgers University: New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden: 848-932-8254
  • Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) Newark: 973-972-2900
  • RBHS New Brunswick/Piscataway: 848-445-0123 ext. 2
  • Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Faculty and Staff: 732-235-6559

The Occupational Health and Student Health offices will then evaluate these individuals and the risk of exposure to others in accordance with the N.J. Department of Health and CDC Risk Assessment Guidelines. As appropriate, Occupational Health and/or Student Health will speak to those who are deemed to be close contacts of the individual and potentially at risk. Those who are not contacted will have been deemed to not be at-risk.

If there are locations and areas that require additional cleaning following a report of a positive COVID-19 test, those areas will be addressed by the University’s Institutional Planning and Operations and Environmental Health and Safety staff.

While these are the steps that we are taking, it is important to know that tracking and reporting positive COVID-19 tests is the responsibility of local and state health departments. Any announcements regarding positive COVID-19 cases will come from those agencies.


Thank you for your interest in sharing resources with us.  A shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) is being felt across the country. If you have access to PPE that you would like to donate to Rutgers health care workers please visit this webpage to learn how you can contact us to coordinate your contribution.


HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

All health care faculty, staff, and students who interact directly with patients, in all Rutgers schools, are directed to:

  • CEASE all domestic business-related travel, including travel to Philadelphia and New York City, for any and all Rutgers sponsored activities; this ban does not prohibit travel needed to provide patient care
  • These travel limits are in addition to the University’s limitations on international travel
  • Not attend meetings on or off campus with more than 15 people
  • Cancel in-person group meetings that are not related to patient care
  • Move classroom teaching activities to remote instruction platforms, consistent with President Barchi’s announcements on March 10 and March 17.  There are no changes in clinical rotations and clinical instruction.

Use this NJDOH algorithm infographic to help assess risk exposure and what steps to take.

If you have any difficulty breathing or feel in respiratory distress, you need to be seen in an emergency department.

  • Notify supervisor or co-workers to call 911 for help.
  • Notify your supervisor and leave work immediately
  • Contact your primary care provider for medical advice
  • Self-isolate at home unless otherwise advised by your medical provider
  • Notify your Occupational or Employee Health office for advice on testing and return to work instructions
    • Rutgers Occupational/Employee Health offices by location:

If you have any difficulty breathing or feel in respiratory distress, you need to be seen in an emergency department.  Call 911 for help.

  • Do not report for work
  • Contact your primary care provider for medical advice
  • Notify your supervisor as soon as possible
  • Notify your Occupational or Employee Health office for advice on testing and return to work instructions
    • Rutgers Occupational/Employee Health offices by location:
    • Rutgers University New Brunswick, Newark and Camden: 848-932-8254
    • Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) Newark: 973-972-2900
    • RBHS New Brunswick/Piscataway: 848-445-0123 ext. 2
    • Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Faculty and Staff: 732-235-6559

You have fever, cough, shortness of breath or other symptoms of respiratory infection AND you have potential exposure to patients with COVID-19 because of patient care, travel, or contact with a suspected or known COVID-19 patient.


No. If you are not sick (fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other respiratory symptoms) you will not be tested.

There is NO role for testing employees without symptoms at this time.

Contact your Occupational or Employee Health office for advice on self-monitoring and restrictions from work.

Rutgers Occupational/Employee Health offices by location:


No. Do not return to work.

Notify your supervisor and Occupational or Employee Health office when you return to the US for work restrictions and self-monitoring instructions.

Rutgers Occupational/Employee Health offices by location:


Notify your Occupational or Employee Health office for advice on testing, restrictions from work, and self-monitoring instructions.

Rutgers Occupational/Employee Health offices by location:


The COVID-19 crisis represents an unprecedented national emergency. Regulators have relaxed certain HIPAA standards and expectations in connection with good faith provisions to enable the use of telehealth during the pandemic. Covered health care providers, however, are still required to comply with all other HIPAA Rules. We’ve provided the following reminders to ensure that we continue to employ best practices related to patient privacy. If you have questions, contact a compliance officer for additional guidance.


UNIVERSITY OPERATIONS

Rutgers is open and operating. The university has moved to remote instruction, with the exception of clinical instruction, for the remainder of the spring semester. Some services and facilities may not be operating or are operating on limited schedules.

Check these links for up-to-date information at:

Rutgers University–Camden

Rutgers University–Newark

Rutgers University–New Brunswick

Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences


Classroom instruction at Rutgers–Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick 

  • Beginning Monday, March 23, through the end of the spring semester, all in-person instruction, with the exception of clinical instruction, is suspended. (All classes from March 12 to March 22 are canceled).
  • Individual instructors are expected to be in contact with their students regarding their plans for remote instruction prior to March 23.

Instruction at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences

  • Courses at RBHS continue as scheduled.
  • Beginning Monday, March 16, all RBHS classes were provided remotely. RBHS deans from the relevant schools will continue to be in touch with students regarding more detailed plans for remote instruction.
  • Students should contact their deans re: clinical rotations and clinical instruction.

Housing

  • With the suspension of classes through the end of the spring semester, residential students will receive a notification with guidance about next steps and timing for moving out of residence halls on their respective campuses. Do not come to campus to move out until you receive guidance.
  • Students who received a waiver to continue residing on campus will be permitted to stay.
  • Rutgers will be issuing prorated refunds for room and board. Information on this topic will be forthcoming. The university asks everyone for their patience during this process in this challenging time.

Campus Activities

  • All events scheduled at the University through the month of May are suspended, including Rutgers Day and Commencement.
  • Commencement and convocation ceremonies on all campuses are suspended. A final determination on whether or not commencements can be rescheduled to a later date will be made in the coming weeks. Canceling or postponing commencements will have no effect on our ability to confer degrees on our graduates.
  • All athletic competitions are suspended.

Faculty and Staff

  • University offices and services will remain open during this time period.
  • Effective March 18, 2020, the university will operate under a card access only model. During this time, buildings/rooms with electronic access control readers will require the use of RU ID cards for entry at all times. All Rutgers community members should be sure to have their IDs with them whenever they are on campus. While RBHS buildings are excluded from this policy, Rutgers–Newark buildings are included.
  • Employees are strongly encouraged to use teleconference services, such as Webex, in lieu of in-person meetings.
  • Guidance from University Human Resources advising staff on appropriate telecommuting practices, employee leave management, and related workplace questions is available.
  • Specific guidance for health care workers who have direct contact with patients is available from the Executive Vice President of Health Affairs.
  • Please take steps to protect your health and the health of your coworkers by following guidance on prevention and care. If you feel unwell, please stay home.

Travel

  • We strongly suggest that all members of the Rutgers community reconsider any upcoming domestic travel, especially to areas where there has been a significant incidence of COVID-19.
  • All Rutgers-led international spring break programs are canceled.
  • All students in third-party study abroad programs are strongly encouraged to return.
  • All international travel sponsored by Rutgers is suspended.
  • Any member of our community returning from a country designated Level 3 by the CDC is required to self-isolate for 14 days before returning to campus.
  • Refer to the Travel page for more guidance and travel-related information.

 


The executive order issued on March 16, 2020, does not order the closure of institutions of higher education, but does order a ban on in-person teaching beginning on March 18, 2020. The order will remain in effect for at least the next two weeks. Rutgers is open and operating. Click here to  read more about the executive order.


Admissions

  • The Visitor Center and Undergraduate Admissions office are closed to the public.
  • Admissions staff will continue to answer phone inquiries at 732-445-4636 and emails during this time.
  • Campus visits/tours are suspended through the month of May.
  • Admitted Student Open House on April 4 has been postponed, and virtual options will be made available to those who planned to attend.

One Stop Student Services Center

The One Stop Student Services Center is closed for walk-in inquiries through the month of May. Students can contact a Student Services Adviser using the following contact forms:

Students may also call Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

  • Financial Aid: 848-932-7057
  • Registrar: 848-445-7000
  • Student Accounting: 848-932-2254


Students may contact a Student Services Adviser using the following contact form:

Students may also call Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

  • Financial Aid: 848-932-7057

Requested documents are available by mail only. You can contact the office Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 848-445-7000.

 


The New Brunswick Cashier office is closed for in-person payments. Students can make payments online at paymybill.rutgers.edu or mail payments to: Rutgers University Student Accounting Services, PO Box 2021, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2021.


The Rutgers Library buildings are currently closed.

Online library services are available through the Rutgers University Libraries website.


Computer labs are currently closed.


Zimmerli Museum:

In the interest of protecting the well-being of our staff, the university community, and all visitors, and following guidance from campus, state, and federal authorities regarding measures that best promote public health, we have decided to temporarily close the Zimmerli to the public, beginning on Friday, March 13, at 4:30 p.m., through at least Sunday, April 5. In addition, all previously scheduled programs and events through the month of May have been canceled or postponed.

Like everyone at this time, we are actively monitoring COVID-19 as the circumstances continue to evolve. Any further updates will be announced on our website and social media channels.

Please Note: PaparazZi Café is closed until further notice.


Bus service will be available on a reduced schedule. Buses are currently running on a modified spring break schedule. Check Transportation Services for updates.
For campus info:

Rutgers University–New Brunswick

Rutgers University–Camden

Rutgers University–Newark


Help with technology issues or questions is available from the Office of Information Technology Help Desk.


Effective March 23, Mail Services will suspend normal departmental mail delivery to campus locations on the Newark, RBHS, Piscataway and New Brunswick campuses until further notice.

For Students: Mail Services will close service windows at student post offices to limit exposure between postal clerk and students. Postal clerks will still be present at student post offices to support the students still on the New Brunswick, RBHS, and Newark campuses. Mail and packages for these on campus students will be placed into the automated locker system for students to retrieve.

For Employees:

Important Notices for Rutgers New Brunswick, Rutgers Newark, and RBHS:

  • RBHS loading docks will remain open but will not be delivering. Departments will need to go to the loading dock area to retrieve their packages.
  • Campus mail will continue to be transported between Newark/ New Brunswick and Camden/ New Brunswick.
  • Mail Services will be working with UPS, FedEx, DHL, Amazon, Laser Ship and Office Depot to redirect departmental deliveries (with the exception of RBHS loading dock locations) to one of the Mail Hubs mentioned above. These packages will be held until picked up by their respective department.

New Brunswick/Piscataway areas:
In place of the former mail delivery system, departments will have two options:

  1. Departments may pick up their mail and drop off outgoing mail at the following locations between 9:00am – 2:00pm, Monday through Friday.
    • Departments with an address that contains zip code 08901, please use our Mail Services Hub located in the rear of ASB II, 57 U.S. Highway 1 on the Cook Campus. Entrance through the rear loading dock, use doorbell if the door is closed.
    • Departments with an address that contains zip code 08854 please use our Mail Service Hub located at Tillet Hall, 53 Ave E on the Livingston campus. Entrance through the rear loading dock, use the rear entrance double doors.
  2. Departments may request that their mail be held at the ASB II Mail Facility or Tillet Hall Facility for an extended period of time. Please email mailquestions@ipo.rutgers.edu to request this option.

Please feel free to contact Tom Stadthaus (New Brunswick) at tom.stadthaus@rutgers.edu or at 848- 932-4267.

Newark Areas:
In place of the former mail delivery system, departments will have two options:

  1. Departments may pick up their mail and drop off outgoing mail at the following locations between 9:00am – 2:00pm, Monday through Friday.
    • Departments with an address that contains zip code 07103 please use Mail Services located at 30 Bergen St, ADMC complex, room 212, please use the rear door in the rear of the parking lot
    • Departments with an address that contain zip code 07102 please use Mail Services located at 110 Bradley Hall, our office is on the first floor next to the elevators.
  2. Departments may request that their mail be held at our Mail Facility for an extended period of time. Please email mailquestionsnewark@ipo.rutgers.edu to request this option.

Please feel free to contact Sam Bandy (Newark) at 973-972-4060 or Samuel.bandy@rutgers.edu with any questions.

Camden Areas:
These changes do not apply to the Camden Campus Mail service. For more information on Camden Mail Service please contact Shari Wakeley 856-225-6003 or shari.wakeley@rutgers.edu


The University Finance and Administration COVID-19 Updates page has posted guidelines for deliveries to Rutgers and non-Rutgers addresses.


Following the guidelines provided by the CDC and federal government, the Rutgers Barnes & Noble Bookstore locations in Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick are currently closed to the public. The bookstores will remain closed to the public until further notice. Starting Monday, March 23, the Rutgers bookstores will continue to do business online. You may enjoy free shipping as you shop online for course materials, supplies, and Rutgers clothing and gifts at the following websites.

Camden
University District Bookstore
Email: sm8006@bncollege.com
Phone: 856-968-1200

Newark
Barnes & Noble at Rutgers–Newark 
Email: bksrutgersnewark@bncollege.com
Phone: 973-353-2227

New Brunswick
Barnes & Noble at Rutgers
Email: am660@bncollege.com
Phone: 732-246-8448


CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND ACADEMICS

Classroom instruction at Rutgers–Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick 

  • Beginning Monday, March 23, through the end of the spring semester, all in-person instruction, with the exception of clinical instruction, is suspended. (All classes from March 12 to March 22 are canceled).
  • Individual instructors are expected to be in contact with their students regarding their plans for remote instruction prior to March 23.

Instruction at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences

  • Courses at RBHS will continue as scheduled.
  • Beginning Monday, March 16, all RBHS classes will be provided remotely. RBHS deans from the relevant schools will be in touch with students regarding more detailed plans for remote instruction.
  • Students should be in touch with their dean regarding clinical rotations and clinical instruction.

Students have until May 22, 2020, to choose a Pass/No-credit grading option for individual spring 2020 courses. Grading policies vary by campus and, sometimes, by school, depending on accreditation and program requirements. Students should connect with academic advisers before deciding on grading options. Follow these links for more information from Rutgers-Camden, Rutgers-Newark, and Rutgers-New Brunswick.

If a student opts for a Pass/No-credit grade, a note will appear on the transcript indicating the circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak.


Pass/No-credit grades are not calculated into GPAs. While a Pass/No-credit grade may impact how transcripts are viewed by employers and other universities, the impact is likely to be minimized by the fact that several universities are currently allowing this conversion.


Rutgers will accept Pass/No-credit grades from students transferring to most schools at Rutgers. Students transferring to RBHS schools must submit letter grades (A to F) per accreditation requirements.


Rutgers is taking several measures to offer students academic support during these challenging times.

Students will be provided additional time to withdraw from courses.

Students also will have until May 22, 2020, to choose a Pass/No-credit grading option for individual courses. Pass/No-credit grades are not factored into GPAs.

If students choose a Pass/No-credit option, a note will appear on transcripts to indicate the circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak. While a Pass/No-Credit grade may impact how transcripts are viewed by employers and other universities, the impact is likely to be minimized by the fact that several universities are currently allowing this conversion.

Grading and withdrawal policies vary by campus and, sometimes, by school. Students should connect with academic advisors before deciding on grading or withdrawal options. Find more information from Rutgers-Camden, Rutgers-Newark, and Rutgers-New Brunswick.


Free internet access is available from a number of sources. See the list of providers offering free internet access on the  Technology Resources for Students page.

Student interns should check with their faculty advisers for guidance.


Through its partnership with Vital Source, the Rutgers Barnes & Noble Bookstore is pleased to offer students meeting the following criteria access free eBooks as part of Vital Source Helps:

1. Attend a 2-year or 4-year institution on a semester academic calendar. A complete list of eligible institutions is available at Vital Source.
2. Enrolled in course(s) that began prior to March 16, 2020.
3. Use an institution-provided email address.


Rental textbooks are due May 13, 2020. Barnes & Noble will provide a one-week grace period to allow for students to ship their rental books back to the Bookstore. Students that rented textbooks will receive emails beginning the week of exams reminding them to return their rental books. Directions to print a shipping label will be included with those emails.


The 2020 Rutgers University summer session will proceed as scheduled. Because of the spread of the COVID-19 virus, instruction for all courses will be offered remotely.

Registration is open for summer session classes. Please direct any questions you might have about course offerings to the school or department offering the course, or to the dean’s office of the school in which you are enrolled or wish to be enrolled.


REMOTE INSTRUCTION

Ensure that you have a valid method to communicate with your students such as email addresses for the students in each of your classes, lab sections, or other courses, and that you have ready access to this information off-site. Please review the Communicate section of the Quick Start page for guidance on communicating with students and accessing students’ email addresses.


If you are using a Learning Management System (LMS), the LMS includes tools to communicate with your students. Each system has different tools and instructions. If you would like to use the LMS to communicate with your students, record and stream presentations, or have online web conferencing, see the LMS section of the Technology Tools page, which includes information for each LMS at Rutgers.


The Rutgers Electronic Grading and Information System (REGIS) and Banner (RBHS) allow instructors to view their rosters and export them to your spreadsheet software. The export includes the student email addresses that can be entered into your email software of choice. Please review the following documentation on how to access and export your roster:

Additionally, many departments have their own email lists for classes. Please reach out to your department for more information about lists that they may have available.


If you’d like to continue to deliver lectures to your students during the change in operating status, the best way to do so is by recording and distributing your lecture through your LMS using Kaltura. This allows students to watch it when they are available and reduces the chances of a student missing out on the lecture. Visit the Technology Tools page for additional details.


In general, it is best to use the tools within your learning management system (LMS) for lectures. Visit the Technology Tools page for additional details.


You can use Kaltura or Webex as options to host online office hours. For more information, visit the Technology Tools page to access information about learning management systems and Webex.


Web conferencing software is available for students to meet and discuss in real time, from wherever they are. Your learning management systems provide asynchronous options for group projects and discussions. Webex is another option. For more information, visit the Technology Tools page.


You can convert your test to an online test in your learning management system with randomized questions and a time limit, turn it into a final project that students can submit online, or ask students to submit their presentation on a videoconferencing device and upload it to your learning management system. For more information, visit the Technology Tools page.
 


For more information about using your learning management system (LMS) or Webex for  web conferencing, visit the Technology Tools page.


If you are not using an LMS, you can communicate with students directly through email. You can use an established mailing list or obtain a list of all addresses from a central system. The Rutgers Automated Mass-mailing System (RAMS) system will automatically create a mailing list that contains all your student email addresses that will be automatically updated. Please review the documentation for requesting a list and using the RAMS system.

If you have not already done so, you may want to set up a course webpage in Sakai, Canvas, or Blackboard and post the syllabus and class assignments. Ask your department for help to do so and get training if needed.

For additional information on teaching remotely without a current LMS for your course, see the Quick Start page.


Rutgers has a great network of instructional designers, technologists, and support specialists along with a plethora of online resources to assist you in taking your course online. You should first direct your requests for assistance to the group who normally provides this type of support for you. If you don’t know who that is or have never needed this type of support before, visit the Getting Help section of the Quick Start page to find contact information for the various learning technology groups at Rutgers as well as links to training, documentation, and resources to help you get started.


The Office of Information Technology wants to encourage all members of our community to exercise caution to avoid scams and other cyber threats that seek to exploit this global health crisis. View the tips on how to avoid these scams.


HOUSING AND STUDENT LIFE

Students who received a waiver to continue residing on campus will be permitted to stay.

With the suspension of in-person instruction through the end of the spring semester, residential students will receive a notification with guidance about next steps and timing for moving out of residence halls on their respective campuses. Do not come to campus before you receive guidance. Card key access is suspended to residence halls.

Rutgers University–New Brunswick

  • All non-break residence halls closed on Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m. with card key access discontinued.
  • Only students who reside in other countries, in university family housing, or who have prior approval from Residence Life will be allowed to stay in selected residence halls and apartments.
  • Keep up-to-date on Residence Life’s Operating Status

RBHS Students in New Brunswick

  • Since clinical rotations and clinical instruction continue for RBHS students, those living in on-campus housing in New Brunswick will be given exemptions to remain in residence halls.

Rutgers University–Newark Students Residing on Campus

  • Only students who reside in university family housing, or who have prior approval from Residence Life will be allowed to stay in selected residence halls and apartments.
  • Students will be notified via email about any changes to residence hall operations.

RBHS Students in Newark

  • Since clinical rotations and clinical instruction continue for RBHS students, those living in on-campus housing in Newark have been given exemptions to remain in residence halls.

Rutgers University–Camden

Students whose only home is the residence hall, are housing insecure, reside outside the U.S. or outside of the Northeast United States, may request accommodations by emailing housing@camden.rutgers.edu.  Accommodations will be reviewed and determined on an individual basis.

Learn more about the Resident Hall Operating Status for Camden.

 


Students currently residing in off-campus rental housing are asked to give serious consideration to returning to their homes during the time that in-person classes are suspended.

As a tenant you are responsible for continuing to pay rent per your lease contract. You should first try and speak to your landlord to discuss your situation. You may reach out to Rutgers Student Legal Services at sls@echo.rutgers.edu, the New Brunswick Rent Control Office (732-445-5050), or the NJ Department of HUD for assistance in communicating with your landlord if you are struggling to pay your rent.

Currently due to the COVID-19 pandemic the NJ State Government is adhering to a no eviction moratorium for a period of two months.


The Rutgers Student Food Pantry will be closed on Monday, March 23. Starting Tuesday, March 24th, students can come to the Graduate Student Lounge (126 College Ave, behind Panera Bread) by appointment only to receive a bag of non-perishable items. For this week, appointments are available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday between the hours of 12–3pm.  Appointments must be made one day in advance by visiting go.rutgers.edu/foodsignup.

39 Union Street, the off-campus office and normal location of the Rutgers Food Pantry, will be physically closed.

For updates on status see the Off-Campus Living Office and Food Pantry page and their social media channels.

 

 

 


Some services and facilities may not be operating or are operating on limited schedules. Check these websites for more updates on what is open and hours of operations.

The main Rutgers University–New Brunswick Student Affairs status page provides the latest updates to Student Affairs Operations and Services. Please note recreation and students centers are closed.

Specific details on food availability at Rutgers University–New Brunswick .

Rutgers University–Camden announced an Update on Campus Responses to COVID-19.

Rutgers University–Newark announced Spring Break hours of operation.

Bus service is on a reduced schedule. Check Transportation Services for updates.


According to guidance from the US Department of Education, students employed in federal work-study jobs who were scheduled to work for the remainder of the spring semester will be paid through the federal work-study program until the last day of the spring semester, which is May 4, 2020. Student cannot exceed the amount of their current award. 


Effective March 23, Mail Services will suspend normal departmental mail delivery to campus locations on the Newark, RBHS, Piscataway and New Brunswick campuses until further notice.

Mail Services will close service windows at student post offices to limit exposure between postal clerk and students. Postal clerks will still be present at student post offices to support the students still on the New Brunswick, RBHS, and Newark campuses. Mail and packages for these on campus students will be placed into the automated locker system for students to retrieve.


Student ABC will take the following steps in the coming weeks:

  • Housing, dining and parking charges will be credited to each eligible student’s account. The refunds will be calculated on a prorated basis beginning on March 23, the first day following Spring Break, and ending on May 16, the required move-out date at the University. We encourage students to set up direct deposit to receive their refunds faster and more securely.
  • Financial holds that block registration will not be placed on student accounts that have past due balances. We sympathize with families and understand the financial hardships that many families are facing during this difficult time, as well as the expectation that students focus on their academic work.

See Information on Refunds for Student Housing, Meals, and Parking. The Student ABC staff is available to answer any questions or concerns through our online portal or you may call us at (848) 932-2254. Additional support is available by contacting the offices below:


Refunds for housing, dining, and parking charges are the only refunds we have committed to at this time.


EVENTS

  • All university events are suspended through May 31.
  • Commencement ceremonies at all campuses are suspended.
  • Rutgers Day is canceled.
  • Groups with events scheduled after May 31 are urged to begin considering alternative plans in case future events will need to be cancelled or postponed.
  • No new non-essential events should be scheduled until further notice.

Please also monitor event-specific postings to receive up-to-date guidance from event organizers. Students and university employees are reminded that part of good respiratory hygiene is staying home from events when they are ill.


Rutgers University Alumni Association has announced the following:

  • Rutgers Giving Day, scheduled for March 25, is postponed. The new date is TBD
  • Alumni Weekend in New Brunswick, which was to have occurred April 24-25, is postponed. New plans are TBD

For updates and information about other alumni and donor events, please check the Ralumni.com events page.

For more information about how to help students encountering difficulties, please visit the Rutgers University Foundation homepage.


With the health and well-being of student-athletes, coaches, and staff of primary concern, Rutgers Athletics has taken the following steps beginning on Thursday, March 12, and proceeding through at least May 31.

  • The NCAA and Big Ten Conference canceled all athletic competition for the remainder of this academic year.
  • All third-party competitions or events scheduled to take place at Rutgers University Athletics facilities have been cancelled. The sponsoring entities have the discretion to place these events at alternative venues.
  • All international travel is prohibited.

All single game ticket purchases, as well as third-party ticketed events, will be refunded by the Rutgers Athletics Ticket Office. The Ticket Office will be contacting all accounts that purchased tickets once refunds are processed.

 

 


President Barchi announced on March 17 that all events scheduled at the University through the month of May are suspended. This includes commencements at all campuses. A final determination on whether or not commencements can be rescheduled to a later date will be made in the coming weeks. Canceling or postponing commencements will have no effect on our ability to confer degrees on our graduates. Please also monitor the following commencement websites for additional information:


For Rutgers–New Brunswick and RBHS:

  • Barnes and Noble and the regalia vendor, Oak Hall, have both agreed to issue refunds for regalia that was ordered for direct shipment to homes or for store pick-up.
    • For regalia orders that chose the ship to home option, contact Oak Hall, the regalia vendor, directly at webdept@oakhalli.com.
    • For regalia orders that chose the ship to store option, since the Governor of New Jersey has ordered all non-essential retail operations to close, all ship to store orders will now be canceled and refunds will be automatically processed. If you would still like to purchase regalia to be shipped to your home, please go to  rutgers.bncollege.com to process your order.

For Rutgers–Newark:

  • For undergraduates: Barnes and Noble and the regalia vendor, Oak Hall, have both agreed to issue refunds for regalia that was ordered for direct shipment to homes or for store pick-up.
    • For regalia orders that chose the ship to home option, contact Oak Hall, the regalia vendor, directly at webdept@oakhalli.com.
    • For regalia orders that chose the ship to store option, since the Governor of New Jersey has ordered all non-essential retail operations to close, all ship to store orders will now be canceled and refunds will be automatically processed. If you would still like to purchase regalia to be shipped to your home, please go to https://rutgersnewark.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/Welcome to process your order.
  • For graduate students: because different graduate programs handle regalia in different ways, students should contact the bookstore regarding the availability of refunds: 973-353-2227 or bksrutgersnewark@bncollege.com.

For Rutgers–Camden:

  • Barnes and Noble and the regalia vendor, Herff Jones, have both agreed to issue refunds for regalia that was ordered for direct shipment to homes or for store pick-up.
    • For regalia orders that chose the ship to home option, contact Commencement Specialists, Herff Jones College Division, at 1-800-837-4235.
    • For regalia orders that chose the ship to store option, since the Governor of New Jersey has ordered all non-essential retail operations to close, all ship to store orders will now be canceled and refunds will be automatically processed. If you would still like to purchase regalia to be shipped to your home, please go to http://colleges.herffjones.com/college/_RUTGERS to process your order.

For graduates who would still like to order cap and gowns for your own celebrations, you may still order them and have them shipped to your home address.

Order regalia for:

Rutgers–New Brunswick and RBHS

Rutgers–Newark

Rutgers–Camden


Dance Marathon scheduled for April 3–4 at Rutgers–New Brunswick is canceled. In an effort to honor this annual fundraising event for kids, the organizers are asking participants to submit photos and videos online that capture the spirit of this proud university tradition.


The Rutgers–New Brunswick Admitted Students Open House on April 4 has been postponed, along with all campus tours through May 31.

The Rutgers–Newark Admitted Students Day on April 18 has been moved to a live online event, please register here: https://admissions.newark.rutgers.edu/virtual-admitted-student-day-2020. All campus tours have been cancelled through May 31.

Admitted Student Open House at Rutgers–Camden, previously scheduled for April 18 has been postponed, along with all campus events through May 31.


Out of an abundance of caution, we are canceling our upcoming N.J. Statewide Career & Internship Fair scheduled for April 24. This event was open to students, alumni, as well as the general public within the tri-state area.

We recognize that this may cause some hardship among candidates seeking employment opportunities, and thus have worked with our Big10+ Career Consortium colleagues to provide candidates a chance to connect with employers through the HireBig10+ Virtual Career Fair on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Registration is free for Rutgers University students and alumni from all campuses. Visit https://hirebig10.vfairs.com/en/ for more information.

Additionally, visit http://careers.rutgers.edu/coronavirus for continual updates regarding all virtual career services at Rutgers–New Brunswick, including advising appointments, career meetups, career fairs, and interviewing options.

 


FACULTY AND STAFF

Effective March 12, 2020, through April 30, 2020

You should contact OneSource as soon as possible and forward appropriate medical documentation confirming the diagnosis within five (5) business days of your initial absence. You should also let your supervisor know that you will be absent due to illness, but you are not required to disclose your medical diagnosis to your supervisor.

Diagnosed employees are advised to stay home and follow medical direction regarding treatment and absence from work. Diagnosed employees are permitted to be absent from work and will not have to charge accrued paid time off during such absence.

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 and are physically on campus or in Rutgers facilities should contact Occupational Health directly to report the case and seek guidance.

Rutgers Occupational Health offices by location:

  • Rutgers University: New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden: 848-932-8254
  • Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) Newark: 973-972-2900
  • RBHS New Brunswick/Piscataway: 848-445-0123 ext. 2
  • Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Faculty and Staff: 732-235-6559

The Occupational Health office will then evaluate these individuals and the risk of exposure to others in accordance with the N.J. Department of Health and CDC Risk Assessment Guidelines. As appropriate, Occupational Health will speak to those who are deemed to be close contacts of the individual and potentially at risk. Those who are not contacted will have been deemed to not be at-risk.

If there are locations and areas that require additional cleaning following a report of a positive COVID-19 test, those areas will be addressed by the University’s Institutional Planning and Operations and Environmental Health and Safety staff. It is important to know that tracking and reporting positive COVID-19 tests is the responsibility of local and state health departments. Any announcements regarding positive COVID-19 cases will come from those agencies.


Effective March 12, 2020, through April 30, 2020

If an employee is directed by a medical professional or government agency to self-isolate or quarantine due to suspicion of, exposure to, or diagnosis with COVID-19, the employee will not be required to charge accrued paid time off if they provide documentation to OneSource verifying the same within five (5) business days of the initial absence, if feasible.  You should also notify your supervisor that you will not be reporting to work.

For cases where individuals are undergoing a period of isolation or quarantine, documentation from a local, state or federal governmental agency, a medical professional, office, or hospital or proof that the employee was recently in a location where the recommendation by a governmental agency is to self-quarantine will satisfy the requirement to provide documentation.

If an employee does not provide such documentation, the employee will be required to utilize accrued paid time off for any absence, in accordance with university policy.


Effective March 12, 2020, through April 30, 2020

Employees have to stay home with a child due to the closure of a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, or childcare center related to COVID-19, will be required to provide documentation verifying the closing. Such documentation should be submitted to OneSource.  You should also notify your supervisor that you will not be reporting to work.

Supervisors should determine if work from home arrangements are feasible for both non-exempt and exempt employees during the period of the closure.  Please refer to the Online Guidance for COVID-19 Telecommuting. Supervisors must consider the feasibility, operations, technology needs, and access for those employees whose jobs permit telecommuting.

If a telecommuting arrangement cannot be accommodated, an employee will not be required to use accrued leave during the period of the COVID-19-related closure.  However, unless excused from work due to illness, COVID-19 related self-quarantine, or an approved leave for the care of a sick family member, essential employees must report to work as directed by their supervisor,  and will be paid at their regular rate of pay.  If an essential employee does not report to work as directed, the employee may be required to charge paid time off in accordance with university policy, or be subject to employment action as deemed appropriate by their supervisor.


Effective March 12, 2020, through April 30, 2020

Child is defined as a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild or legal ward of an employee, child of a domestic partner or civil union partner of the employee.


Effective March 12, 2020, through April 30, 2020

If an employee needs to care for an immediate family member who (i) has been diagnosed with COVID-19, (ii) was directed by a medical professional or government agency to self-isolate or quarantine due to possible exposure to or diagnosis with COVID-19, and/or (iii) is undergoing a period of self-quarantine or isolation pursuant to public health assessment recommendations, the employee should contact OneSource.  You should also notify your supervisor that you will not be reporting to work.

Employees shall submit appropriate documentation verifying the family member’s COVID-19-related illness, exposure, and/or quarantine period to the OneSource within five (5) business days of the employee’s initial absence.

If no such documentation is received, the employee will be required to charge applicable accrued paid time off (i.e. sick leave).


Effective March 12, 2020, through April 30, 2020

Family member is defined as spouse, child, parent, or someone who stood in loco parentis when you were a child.


Effective March 12, 2020, through April 30, 2020

Diagnosed with or caring for a family member diagnosed with COVID-19 – For cases where individuals are diagnosed with COVID-19 or are caring for a family member diagnosed with COVID-19, a letter or note from a health care provider that specifically states the employee or family member’s diagnosis of COVID-19 or suspicion of exposure to COVID-19, including a start date and estimated return to work date, will satisfy the documentation requirement.

Self-Quarantine – For cases where individuals are undergoing a period of isolation or quarantine, documentation from a local, state, or federal government agency, a medical professional, office, or hospital or proof that the employee was recently in a location where the recommendation by a governmental agency is to self-quarantine will satisfy the requirement to provide documentation.

School Closure – For cases where individuals who have to stay home with a child due to school closures, a letter or communication from the preschool program, elementary, secondary school, child care center, or local, state or federal governmental agency will satisfy the documentation requirement.


Effective March 12, 2020, through April 30, 2020

For all COVID-19-related absences referenced above, appropriate documentation must be received by OneSource within five (5) business days of the initial absence, if feasible.

If such documentation is not received within two (2) weeks from the initial date of the absence, the employee will be required to charge applicable accrued paid time off (i.e., Sick, Sick Leave, VAC, AL, PH, or ML) for the absence.



If an employee is showing flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever above 100.4ºF, cough and/or sore throat, body aches, headache, chills) or symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) their supervisor should direct them to leave work. If the employee appears too ill to drive, the supervisor may offer to call a family member to pick them up. If the employee asks for an ambulance or appears very ill, the supervisor should call an ambulance.

In advising the employee, supervisors should be mindful of current recommendations from Rutgers’ Senior Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs and the CDC regarding COVID-19—it is generally recommended that employees remain home from work until they are fever free (without the use of fever-reducing medications) for at least 24 hours.


If an employee refuses to go home, the supervisor may call Occupational Health (OH) and transfer the call to the employee for discussion with a physician or nurse. After a discussion with the employee, OH will advise both employee and the supervisor whether the employee will go home and the expected duration of absence. OH will also provide direction to the employee about when to return to work. If the employee is sent home, the employee may return to work only when they have  been fever-free (and off fever-reducing medications) for the past 24 hours.


No. The supervisor should inform their local Occupational Health Office and they will provide guidance on the matter.


A supervisor should contact Occupational Health if an employee has a seen a physician and has been diagnosed with COVID-19.


We have encouraged faculty to consider a variety of approaches to remote instruction. The decision is up to each faculty member.


Employee safety is our top priority, as such we ask employees to follow CDC recommendations for everyday preventive actions to void the spread of COVID-19, including:

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • Do not organize or attend in-person meetings with more than 15 people.

 


University employees who have previously booked travel arrangements should adhere to the following guidelines to cancel travel plans:

Airline Reservations Booked through a Travel Agency

  • Contact the booking travel agency to cancel the reservations.

Airline Reservations Paid for with Personal Funds/University Travel Card

  • Cancel the reservation via phone through the agency/airline. Typically, after a reservation is canceled, you will have up to one year from the date the ticket was issued to use the credit from the canceled ticket (minus the change fee). Please confirm the cancellation policy directly with the airline.
  • Submit a completed and approved Cancelled Trip Notification Form to expenseexception@finance.rutgers.edu. Once approved by University Procurement Services, the form must be attached to the expense report for reimbursement along with the trip itinerary, proof of payment, and proof of cancellation.

 Hotel and Conference Registrations

  • Contact the hotel and/or conference host directly to request cancellations and refunds. Refund checks should be made payable to “Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey” and submitted with the Cancelled Trip Notification Form to the address on the form.

Please review the Cancellation Tracking Matrix and submit any documentation related to cancelled trips to University Procurement Services for tracking of residual funds and notifications of available credits for future travel. If you have questions, please contact the Procurement Help Desk at procure@finance.rutgers.edu.


Changes with respect to faculty evaluations:

  1. We will extend the probationary period (tenure clock) for full-time tenure track faculty who are in a probationary period as of January 1, 2020, for one year. In other words, academic year 2019-20 will be excluded from their probationary period—much like we exclude an academic year for other contractual reasons (parental or medical leaves). Faculty will have until May 1 to request an additional year, which must be approved by the department chair and the dean.
  2. We will administer student course evaluations at the end of the semester, as is our usual practice, but will permit faculty, at their option, to exclude the teaching evaluation data for spring 2020 from their promotion or reappointment packets.

Effective March 23, Mail Services will suspend normal departmental mail delivery to campus locations on the Newark, RBHS, Piscataway and New Brunswick campuses until further notice.

Important Notices for Rutgers New Brunswick, Rutgers Newark, and RBHS:

  • RBHS loading docks will remain open but will not be delivering. Departments will need to go to the loading dock area to retrieve their packages.
  • Campus mail will continue to be transported between Newark/ New Brunswick and Camden/ New Brunswick.
  • Mail Services will be working with UPS, FedEx, DHL, Amazon, Laser Ship and Office Depot to redirect departmental deliveries (with the exception of RBHS loading dock locations) to one of the Mail Hubs mentioned above. These packages will be held until picked up by their respective department.

New Brunswick/Piscataway areas:
In place of the former mail delivery system, departments will have two options:

  1. Departments may pick up their mail and drop off outgoing mail at the following locations between 9:00am – 2:00pm, Monday through Friday.
    • Departments with an address that contains zip code 08901, please use our Mail Services Hub located in the rear of ASB II, 57 U.S. Highway 1 on the Cook Campus. Entrance through the rear loading dock, use doorbell if the door is closed.
    • Departments with an address that contains zip code 08854 please use our Mail Service Hub located at Tillet Hall, 53 Ave E on the Livingston campus. Entrance through the rear loading dock, use the rear entrance double doors.
  2. Departments may request that their mail be held at the ASB II Mail Facility or Tillet Hall Facility for an extended period of time. Please email mailquestions@ipo.rutgers.edu to request this option.

Please feel free to contact Tom Stadthaus (New Brunswick) at tom.stadthaus@rutgers.edu or at 848- 932-4267.

Newark Areas:
In place of the former mail delivery system, departments will have two options:

  1. Departments may pick up their mail and drop off outgoing mail at the following locations between 9:00am – 2:00pm, Monday through Friday.
    • Departments with an address that contains zip code 07103 please use Mail Services located at 30 Bergen St, ADMC complex, room 212, please use the rear door in the rear of the parking lot
    • Departments with an address that contain zip code 07102 please use Mail Services located at 110 Bradley Hall, our office is on the first floor next to the elevators.
  2. Departments may request that their mail be held at our Mail Facility for an extended period of time. Please email mailquestionsnewark@ipo.rutgers.edu to request this option.

Please feel free to contact Sam Bandy (Newark) at 973-972-4060 or Samuel.bandy@rutgers.edu with any questions.

Camden Areas:
These changes do not apply to the Camden Campus Mail service. For more information on Camden Mail Service please contact Shari Wakeley 856-225-6003 or shari.wakeley@rutgers.edu


The University Finance and Administration COVID-19 Updates page has posted guidelines for deliveries to Rutgers and non-Rutgers addresses.


In response to questions about a potential essential employee card or letter, John Hoffman, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, has developed the following guidance in accordance with the Governors Executive Order 107:

  1. Display your Rutgers ID, which you should keep with you at all times;
  2. If you are stopped explain that you are traveling to or from work at an educational institution, or in support of essential operations at an educational institution, and that remote support of this educational function is not practicable, all of which is expressly provided for in the Governor’s Executive Order (EO 107 at paragraphs 2, 10-11); and
  3. Verification of your employment can be provided by RUPD, which can be reached at 848-932-7211.

RESEARCH

The Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED) has posted FAQs regarding laboratory research on  their website.

On March 25, 2020, ORED issued the memo, Status Update: Research Operations and Contingency Planning, which communicates the following mandates for responsible research operations:

  1. Telecommuting – Research and research related activities that can be performed remotely, must be performed remotely until further notification.
  2. Onsite Work – Any presence onsite requires strict adherence to social distancing and may require rescheduling researchers to reduce their density in the research labs. Research laboratories should minimize overlap among the roles of key personnel onsite at any given time to ensure strict enforcement of university and CDC guidance on health care and minimize the risk that an entire cohort of researchers could become infected.
  3. Further Contingency Planning – Researchers are urged to consider which specific research experiments, studies and projects would be considered critical and to develop plans in the event further restrictions are imposed on onsite laboratory research.

Please read the memo for important details.


The Office of Research and Economic Development has posted FAQs regarding research administration on their website.


The Office of Research and Economic Development has posted FAQs regarding animal care on their website.


TRAVEL AND STUDY ABROAD

  • All international travel sponsored by Rutgers is suspended.
  • We strongly suggest that all members of the Rutgers community reconsider any upcoming domestic travel, especially to areas where there has been a significant incidence of COVID-19.
  • We further recommend that should you feel a need for domestic Rutgers-related travel, that you consult with your immediate supervisor regarding the appropriateness of the travel and to determine if any alternatives to travel might be effective.

All Rutgers-led international spring break programs have been suspended. We urge students who have personal or professional plans to travel, either internationally or domestically, to reconsider their travel. The university is following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding travel.


If you plan to travel abroad we urge you to review the entry and exit requirements for the U.S. and your intended destination before your trip. In doing so, please consider the possibility of travel delays, future quarantines, or prolonged self-isolation when returning from travel. Note that travel restrictions can change rapidly, and airlines may change or cancel flights in response.


Rutgers STRONGLY recommends that students consider ending participation in “partner university” and “provider” programs that have not already been cancelled and to return home.


Rutgers study abroad programs are canceled. Students are strongly encouraged to return home from abroad.


For Rutgers Global–Study Abroad programs, we are coordinating with STA Travel to help students with booking flights to return home; students should call the following number 800-781-4040. Identify yourself as a Rutgers University student studying abroad and representatives at STA Travel can begin to provide assistance. Although Rutgers University strongly recommends that students make plans to depart, the final decision on returning rests with students and their guardians.


We understand that departing your country of study at this time may affect your academic plans at Rutgers. The academic options and recommendations will vary by program and student. If you have further questions related to credits, please contact your dean and Dr. Fang Du at fdu@global.rutgers.edu.


For students continuing their studies and coming from countries that do not require self-isolation, Rutgers University may be able to assist in finding on-campus housing where possible and appropriate. Housing cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your campus residential life office.


The University is working to limit unanticipated financial burdens. We are sensitive to the impact this has on students and any financial aid already offered. We will be working with the students in each program to address any financial concerns related to their potential return home and changes in their academic program. Please contact the study abroad office or your Spring Break sponsor. The study abroad office may be reached at 848-932-7787 or email ru_abroad@global.rutgers.edu