FAQ - Universitywide COVID-19 Information

HEALTH/SAFETY

Symptoms of the virus are similar to those of a respiratory illness: fever, cough, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell. General treatment for this virus is supportive care as needed.

Prevention of infection is key. Public health officials and medical experts believe vaccination is an important step in helping to prevent or lessen the effects of this illness and its potentially devastating consequences. COVID-19 can be a mild illness in some or lead to severe disease or even death in previously healthy people. Additionally, long-term complications of COVID-19 remain unknown. Many treatments and medications are being studied, but there is currently no cure.

Student Health Centers can provide health care services for current students. Please call the health centers on your campus. Students may contact Rutgers Student Health to make an appointment:

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

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

Rutgers offers SARS-CoV-2 PCR saliva testing (for the active virus that leads to COVID-19) to employees and students who are working and learning on campus. View up-to-date testing requirements and guidance by visiting the Rutgers testing strategy webpage.

Rutgers has developed two apps that are ready for use by Rutgers faculty, staff, and students and became mandatory beginning September 28, 2020: the My Campus Pass and the Rutgers Visitors Log. These apps are intended to support the health and safety of all members of the Rutgers community. For help with technical issues please contact OIT directly at 833-OIT-HELP or help@oit.rutgers.edu.

My Campus Pass is a self-screening app that must be used by employees and students each day when traveling to campus or entering a Rutgers building. To keep you and others safe, the app asks basic questions about your current health to determine whether you are cleared for entry. The app may also be used to screen yourself for symptoms of COVID-19 even if you are not on campus.

To access My Campus Pass, log into my.rutgers.edu. Once you log in, the My Campus Pass window will be visible. Click on the “Get My Campus Pass” button, which will take you to the symptom survey for completion. You will also be asked to include any Rutgers building you plan to enter that day. Once you submit your survey, you will receive an immediate notification as to whether you’ve been cleared for entry.

The Rutgers Visitors Log app is available by logging into http://visitorlog.rutgers.edu. This is the official repository of visitor data that will be used exclusively for contact tracing. Visitors and guests with a legitimate business purpose that cannot be accomplished remotely must be registered each day using this platform. This platform replaces any paper logs or other systems that may currently be in use, and the contact tracing data will be retained for 30 days. Anyone with an active NetID can enter a guest through the system.

It is the responsibility of the person that invites guests, vendors, and contractors on campus to ensure they are entered into the university’s visitor log to account for proper contact tracing if/when necessary. Each visitor working on a project must be entered into the visitor log daily for the duration of the project.

For all visitors, maximum room occupancy limitations as outlined in the Return to Rutgers guide must be followed.

The CDC always recommends a yearly flu shot as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses, but this year, getting your flu shot is more important than ever. Flu vaccines will not prevent COVID-19, but they will reduce the burden of flu illnesses and hospitalizations on the health care system and conserve scarce medical resources for the care of people with COVID-19. That is why we urge all of you to take advantage of the many opportunities to get your flu shot.

Flu shots are available at local pharmacies and through your primary care provider. Please visit the State of New Jersey’s flu webpage to find a vaccine provider near you.

Students
The Rutgers Student Immunizations and Health Requirements policy (10.3.13) requires students who work directly with patients, or who handle material that could spread infection, to have a flu vaccination.

Students with a valid RU ID can obtain flu shots at Student Health. Contact your student health office to schedule an appointment for vaccination (see listings below). For more information, read the October 12, 2020 communication.

To make an appointment with Rutgers Student Health:

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)
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

Employees

Flu shots are already available at local pharmacies and through your primary care provider. Please visit the State of New Jersey’s flu webpage to find a vaccine provider near you.

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

Rutgers health care providers can find guidance on symptom monitoring and screening, COVID-19 exposure, and returning to work on our Health Care Provider Resource Center webpage.

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:

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

Rutgers health care providers can find HIPAA guidance on our Health Care Provider Resource Center webpage.

We’ve complied a document that answers frequently asked questions about effective personal protective equipment (PPE) for SARS-CoV-2 to ensure the safety of the Rutgers workforce during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The provided information is based on the latest scientific evidence but may change as our knowledge evolves.

UNIVERSITY OPERATIONS

Rutgers is open and operating.

Academics

Students return to campus for Fall 2021. Learn more details at your campus operating status page.

My Campus App

When traveling to campus or entering a Rutgers building, all employees and students must use the My Campus Pass symptom checker app. To access My Campus Pass, log into my.rutgers.edu. Once you log in, the My Campus Pass window will be visible. Click on the “Get My Campus Pass” button, which will take you to the symptom survey for completion. You will also be asked to include any Rutgers building you plan to enter that day. Once you submit your survey, you will receive an immediate notification as to whether you’ve been cleared for entry.

Faculty and Staff

Beginning July 6, 2021, all units will be performing their functions in-person, and all employees will resume working in-person, at least some of the time.
Learn more about returning to campus and read the Guide to Returning to Rutgers (June 2021)
Guidance from University Human Resources advising staff on telecommuting practices, employee leave management, and related workplace questions is available on OneSource.
Specific guidance for health care workers who have direct contact with patients is available from the Executive Vice President of Health Affairs.
All Rutgers community members should be sure to have their IDs with them whenever they are on campus and to display them accordingly.

Student Services

Rutgers–Camden

Check the campus operating status for more details: Rutgers University–Camden.

Admissions: admissions@camden.rutgers.edu
Financial Aid: finaid@camden.rutgers.edu
Registrar: camreg@camden.rutgers.edu
Student Accounting: camdensar-inquiries@camden.rutgers.edu
Disability Services: The office remains open as a resource for students. Email staff at disability-services@camden.rutgers.edu.

Rutgers–Newark

Check the campus operating status for more details: Rutgers University–Newark

Students should visit MyRUN for detailed information about services available.
Students can call 973-353-1766 ext.1 or email myRUN@newark.rutgers.edu for assistance.
Disability Services: Contact the office by email, ods@newark.rutgers.edu, or by phone, 973-353-5375.

Rutgers–New Brunswick

Check the campus operating status for more details: Rutgers University–New Brunswick

Admissions at 732-445-4636 and emails

Students may also call
- Financial Aid: 848-932-7057
- Registrar: 848-445-7000
- Student Accounting: 848-932-2254

Office of the Registrar: Requested documents will be available by mail
The New Brunswick Cashier’s office accepts payments online or via mail:

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Term Bill Processing Unit
P.O. Box 2021
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2021

Indicate the student’s name, telephone number, and RUID/A number on the front of the check.

Non-banked students can now book an appointment with a cashier at all campuses to make cash payments via a new online appointment system. We continue to encourage students to pay online for their health and personal safety.
RU-info can be reached via phone at 848-445-info (4636), text at 732-662-2664, or online at ruinfo.rutgers.edu. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Disability Services: Staff members are working remotely and can be contacted through email and phone.

RBHS

Check the operating status for more details: Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences

Registrar: rbhsregistrar@rbhs.rutgers.edu; 973-972-5374
Payments can be made online or mail payments to:
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Term Bill Processing Unit
P.O. Box 2021
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2021Indicate the student’s name, telephone number, and RUID/A number on the front of the check.
Disability Services: Working remotely, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., no reduction in services. Email: odsrbhs@rbhs.rutgers.edu or call 973-640-0058.

Rutgers Global provides Global Travel Resources with updates, advisories, and useful resources for international students and scholars.

Library building hours, policies, and service availability vary by location. Check the operating status of your campus libraries.

Find hours and details at:

Rutgers–New Brunswick Computer Labs

Rutgers–Newark Computer Labs

Rutgers–Camden Computer Labs

Computer Labs for RBHS Students

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

Check Transportation Services for updates.

For campus info:

Mail Services has suspended 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

Mail Services suspended 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:

Departments may pick up their mail and drop off outgoing mail at the following location between 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Use our Mail Services Hub located in the rear of ASB II, 57 U.S. Highway 1 on the Cook Campus. Use the rear loading dock entrance; ring the bell and staff will assist you.
Departments may request that their mail be held at the ASB II Mail 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:

Departments may pick up their mail and drop off outgoing mail at the following locations between 9 a.m.–2 p.m., 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.
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.

The Rutgers Barnes & Noble Bookstore locations in Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick are open to the public. They will continue to do business online.

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

All vendors/contractors must adhere to face covering and social distancing requirements.
It is the responsibility of the person that invited the vendor/contractor on campus to ensure they are entered into the university’s Visitor Log to account for proper contact tracing if/when necessary. Anyone with a NetID may use the visitor log.
Each person working on the project must be entered daily into the visitor log for the duration of the project.

CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND ACADEMICS

: 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.
: Links for returning rental books

New Brunswick students:
https://rutgers.bncollege.com/shop/rutgers/page/rental-book-return

Newark students:
https://newark-rutgers.bncollege.com/shop/rutgers-newark/page/rental-book-return

Camden students:
https://universitydistrict.bncollege.com/shop/university-district/page/rental-book-return
: Graduate and professional school students may refer to their campus operating status (Camden, Newark, New Brunswick, RBHS) and to their school websites for additional information about support services, remote instruction, degree completion, and more.
: The Office of Information Technology has developed technology recommendations for Rutgers students. Find details at: https://it.rutgers.edu/computer-recommendations-for-rutgers-students/.

HOUSING AND STUDENT LIFE

Rutgers University–New Brunswick and RBHS Students in New Brunswick

Residence Life

Rutgers University–Newark and RBHS Students in Newark

COVID-19 Operating Status

Rutgers University–Camden

Resident Hall Operating Status

Food Assistance
The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) has made it easier for college students to access food assistance during the public health emergency. Students aged 18 to 49 who are enrolled at least half time at an institution of higher education or business, technical, trade, or vocational school that requires a high school diploma may be eligible for food assistance through New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education provides a flyer [PDF] with additional details on eligibility.

Student Food Pantries on Campus
Camden
Newark
New Brunswick

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 posts announcements on their operating status page.

Information about dining and food resources at Rutgers University–Newark can be found at myRUN.

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

Mail Services has suspended normal departmental mail delivery to campus locations on the Newark, RBHS, Piscataway, and New Brunswick campuses until further notice.

Mail Services closed 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.

FACULTY AND STAFF

The Office of Information Technology offers a Return to Rutgers Tech Checklist as a webpage and downloadable PDF.

By Tuesday, July 6, 2021, each academic and administrative unit will begin performing functions in-person, and all employees will resume working in-person, at least some of the time. To allow for a Return to Rutgers planning process, the university will:

extend the telecommuting policy relaxation through December 31, 2021
extend the temporary expansion of permissible use of accrued paid sick time that was set to expire on May 31, 2021 through December 31, 2021

To learn more about the provisions and processes of the Emergency Family Medical Leave Act (E-FMLA) and Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act which were effective May 9 to December 31, 2020, read the FAQ.

You may also login to OneSource and select the COVID-19 Related Services option in the catalog for more details.

Learn more about the provisions, effective May 9 to December 31, 2020, by reading the May 1, 2020 communication and FAQ. You may also login to OneSource and select the COVID-19 Related Services option in the catalog.

You should contact OneSource 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.

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–New Brunswick, Rutgers–Newark, and Rutgers–Camden: 848-932-8254
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) Newark: 973-972-2900
RBHS New Brunswick/Piscataway and University Correctional Health Care: 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 New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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.

By Tuesday, July 6, 2021, each academic and administrative unit will begin performing functions in-person, and all employees will resume working in-person, at least some of the time.
Some services and facilities may be operating on a limited schedules. For more information, visit your respective chancellor’s website:
Learn more in the Guide to Returning to Rutgers (June 2021).

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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 been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Safety is our top priority. Refer to the Guide to Returning to Rutgers for protocols and guidelines.

Practice social distancing.
Wear a face covering when in common areas of buildings or in shared offices. Face coverings are not required outdoors.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
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.
When traveling to campus or entering a Rutgers building, all employees and students must use the My Campus Pass symptom checker app. To access My Campus Pass, log into my.rutgers.edu. Once you log in, the My Campus Pass window will be visible. Click on the “Get My Campus Pass” button, which will take you to the symptom survey for completion. You will also be asked to include any Rutgers building you plan to enter that day. Once you submit your survey, you will receive an immediate notification as to whether you’ve been cleared for entry.