FAQ

The fall semester at Rutgers University will combine a majority of remotely delivered courses with a limited number of in-person classes. The decision was not made easily or hastily, but was made due to the uncertainty regarding the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in cases in other areas of the country, and in consultation with public health experts and university leaders.

A phased approach will be implemented for the return of employees.

• Employees who can effectively work remotely will likely continue to do so until restrictions are eased for larger gatherings or increased density.
• Testing may be critical as campus populations and operations increase, with the understanding that if public health guidelines dictate, reduced staffing may need to be implemented again.

Departments have the discretion to utilize remote work, alternating days, flexible work hours and staggered reporting/departing, while making reasonable accommodations and being mindful of workforce anxiety once employees return to work.

Face coverings must be worn by all employees and visitors on campus when in the presence of others and in buildings in public settings.

Read Community Safety Practices for more information.

Employees and students should practice social distancing by maintaining a minimum of six feet of space between one another and by refraining from gathering in groups.

Read Community Safety Practices for more information.

In-person meetings among employees are strongly discouraged and shall not exceed 50 percent of a room’s capacity, assuming individuals can still maintain six feet of separation for social distancing requirements.

Employees are encouraged to communicate with colleagues by email, telephone, or other available technology rather than face-to-face.

Read Community Safety Practices for more information.

Employees must wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after being in a public place, after blowing nose, coughing, sneezing, or touching the face.

Maintain a minimum of six feet of space between one another.

Wear face coverings when in the presence of others and in buildings in public settings.

Read Community Safety Practices for more information.

All students moving in to on-campus housing must undergo COVID-19 PCR testing one to three weeks prior to move-in day. A second test will be done at move-in. Students should expect periodic testing throughout the semester. Find more information at health.rutgers.edu/covid-19-testing.

Every employee shall perform a self-assessment daily–monitoring for signs and symptoms of COVID-19–before reporting to work. If the employee does not feel well or is sick, the employee must stay home. If an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, or is out sick with signs and symptoms, the employee will be required to provide medical clearance to return to the workplace.

The development of a program for self-screening, testing, and contract tracing continues. Testing protocols are being developed by medical teams at RBHS.

Read the On-Campus Testing page for more information.

University facilities will be inspected and cleaned before staff, faculty, and students return to campus. Custodial crews will focus on high-traffic areas such as entrances, elevators, lavatories, conference rooms, and gathering areas.

Employees should take care to clean their individual work areas, including frequently touched surfaces such as light switches, doorknobs, drawer handles, phone sets, and keyboards.

Read Returning to Rutgers: Institutional Plan for Restart, the how-to guide that outlines the principles, practices, and protocols that are applicable throughout the university as we begin to repopulate Rutgers spaces.

Only visitors with a legitimate business purpose on campus and invited guests are permitted in workplaces.

The fall 2020 semester at Rutgers University will combine a majority of remotely delivered courses with a limited number of in-person classes. Our planning process prioritizes student, faculty, and staff safety, and is focused on the creative uses of academic spaces to accommodate in-person instruction and the specific needs of certain disciplines, such as music and the performing arts, for campus infrastructure.

The Rutgers Board of Governors took the unprecedented step of freezing tuition and fees for the coming year. This action was taken in recognition of the economic stresses that confront every member of our community and despite cost increases in virtually every area of our operation. Tuition and fees are set at the minimum amount required to provide our 70,000 students with a world-class education. A robust Rutgers education, whether delivered in a remote, hybrid, or in-person fashion, is comprehensive and is provided by some of the finest scholars in American higher education.

In recognition of the financial hardship that many students and families find themselves in, the university announced a reduction in the “campus fee” for the academic year. This fee supports many vital aspects of university operations that continue to function, like library resources and student services. For full-time undergraduate students, this change will translate to at least a $300 reduction in their term bills over the academic year.

Institutional Planning and Operations has organized special teams and developed a process to assist departments with preparation of spaces to return to Rutgers.

It begins with department heads, as they know their spaces and operations best. If assistance in evaluation of space or implementation of protective measures is needed, the department head should speak to their respective dean, director, or vice president.

Deans, directors, vice presidents, or their appropriate representatives may request assistance with space and occupancy assessments, temporary signage and graphics, furniture rearrangements, and environmental health and safety matters.

For more information, see IP&O_FAST [PDF]

Contact the University Facilities Service Call Center once a request is deemed appropriate by a dean, director, vice president, or their appropriate representatives.

Call 848-445-1234 or visit https://ipo.rutgers.edu/facilities and click on Submit a Maintenance Request.

Symptoms of the virus are similar to those of a respiratory illness: fever, cough, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell. There is no specific treatment for this virus at this time other than supportive care as needed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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 wearing a mask while in public, covering coughs and sneezes, washing your hands often, staying home if you are feeling unwell, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, and avoiding touching your face or sharing personal items such as utensils and foods.

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 if you are symptomatic
• Practicing social distancing and adhering to government and agency guidance
• Wearing a face covering is required when on campus.

This year, it will be 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 novel coronavirus.

Student Health Centers can provide health care services for current students. Please call the health centers on your campus. Staff are available to provide care through video visits, telephone visits, and in some cases personal visits to the Health Centers. 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

The Hurtado Health Center remains open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please call 848-932-7402 to make an appointment for a health visit or laboratory visit. Walk-in appointments are not currently available. Our clinicians are also available for video or telephone visits.

CAPS is providing services remotely.

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

In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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 Neutral 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.

As cases of COVID-19 are confirmed, the university will follow New Jersey Department of Health (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.

Visit New Jersey’s COVID-19 Information Hub, the state’s official website for services and information related to coronavirus, for more information on the state’s disease monitoring.

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 New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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.

At Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Rutgers Health has already begun to expand in-person ambulatory service delivery. As in most areas of the country, elective procedures were suspended at the outset of the outbreak to free up all available resources for COVID-19 patients. As inpatient capacity becomes available again, non-urgent procedures are now being rescheduled. Outpatient activity will increase with social distancing, and continuing travel restrictions will necessitate reliance on telemedicine as a major means of delivering care.

Drive-through testing clinics are available on all campuses to any member of the Rutgers community authorized to receive COVID-19 testing. You may go to clinic location. Please make an appointment through the Return to Rutgers page: go.rutgers.edu/COVID-19-Testing.

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.

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.

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

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.

Rutgers is open and operating. Please note that 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–New Brunswick
• Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
• Rutgers University–Newark
• Rutgers University–Camden

Academics

For fall 2020, graduate and professional education will return to a combination of in-person and remote learning. The majority of undergraduate courses will be delivered remotely with a limited number of in-person classes. RBHS students should contact their deans regarding clinical rotations and clinical instruction.

Events

The suspension of in-person events such as classes, programs, camps, conferences, or other activities at Rutgers University will remain in place this fall to ensure we do our part to limit opportunities for the virus to spread.

Athletics

The Big Ten Conference announced the postponement of the 2020-21 fall sports season, including all regular-season contests and Big Ten Championships and Tournaments. Read a letter from Patrick E. Hobbs, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, on the fall athletic season at Rutgers–New Brunswick.

Both Rutgers–Newark and Rutgers–Camden have canceled their fall 2020 sports seasons in compliance with the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)‘s decision to suspend all sport contests and league championships during the 2020 fall semester.

Faculty and Staff

• University offices and services remain open and operating, although with some telecommuting and remote practices in place.
• 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 on OneSource.
• 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. Wearing face coverings while on campus is required. If you feel unwell, please stay home.
• The university is operating 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.

Student Services

Rutgers–Camden

Rutgers is open, but some services and facilities may not be operating or may be operating on limited schedules. Check the campus operating status for more details: Rutgers University–Camden

The One-Stop Center and the Contact Center remain operational via email and will respond within two business days:

• 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

Rutgers is open, but some services and facilities may not be operating or may be operating on limited schedules. Check the campus operating status for more details: Rutgers University–Newark

One Stop and Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, Registrar and Student Accounting will be serving students remotely Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• 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 

Rutgers is open, but some services and facilities may not be operating or may be operating on limited schedules. Check the campus operating status for more details: Rutgers University–New Brunswick

The Visitor Center and the 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.
• All on-campus visits/tours are suspended until further notice.
• One Stop Student Services Center: Is closed for walk-in inquiries until further notice. Students can contact a Student Services Adviser using the following contact forms: 

• • Financial Aid

  • Registrar

  • Student Accounting

• Students may also call Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
  • 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 only.
• Cashier: The New Brunswick Cashier’s office will be closed for in-person payments until further notice. Payments can be made online at paymybill.rutgers.edu or mail payments to:

Rutgers University Student Accounting Services
P.O. Box 2021
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2021

• 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

Rutgers is open, but some services and facilities may not be operating or may be operating on limited schedules. Check the operating status for more details: Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences

• Registrar: rbhsregistrar@rbhs.rutgers.edu; 973-972-5374
• 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.

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

• Financial Aid


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

• Financial Aid: 848-932-7057

Camden

Student may contact financial aid by sending an email to:

•   finaid@camden.rutgers.edu

Newark

Financial Aid will be serving students remotely Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• 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.

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

The Rutgers Library buildings are currently closed to visitors.

Students, faculty, and staff are eligible to use pickup and delivery services including interlibrary loan, and online library services are available through the Rutgers University Libraries website.

Computer labs are currently closed.

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

• Rutgers University–New Brunswick
• Rutgers University–Newark
• Rutgers University–Camden

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:

1. 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.
2. 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:

1. 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.
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.

The Rutgers Barnes & Noble Bookstore locations in Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick will reopen to the public (see the schedule below). They will continue to do business online. You may enjoy free ground shipping for orders of $49 or more as you shop online for course materials, supplies, and Rutgers clothing and gifts at the following websites.

Camden (Store location reopening August 17, 2020)
University District Bookstore
Email: sm8006@bncollege.com
Phone: 856-968-1200

Newark (Store location reopened August 10, 2020)
Barnes & Noble at Rutgers–Newark 
Email: bksrutgersnewark@bncollege.com
Phone: 973-353-2227

New Brunswick (Store location reopening August 18, 2020)
Barnes & Noble at Rutgers
Email: am660@bncollege.com
Phone: 732-246-8448

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 Art Museum to the public until further notice. In addition, all previously scheduled programs and events at the university are suspended.

The most effective way to reach museum staff at this time is by email. Please visit the contact page and select the staff member’s department. If you do not know the staff member’s department, email info@zimmerli.rutgers.edu and include the name of the person you wish to reach, or a brief description of the information you seek, and your message will be directed to the appropriate individual.

Please visit our home page, as well as social media pages, for updates and virtual activities.

The Rutgers Foundation has created emergency funds to support students during COVID-19. Select the fund to support and make a donation online at: give.rutgers.edu/emergencysupport. Learn more about emergency support funding for students and research at: support.rutgers.edu/covid19support.

Fall 2020 Instruction

Professional and Graduate Education

• Graduate education will be a combination of in-person and remote education in September.
• Graduate education will be prioritized for access to campus facilities wherever possible in absolute adherence with state and federal guidelines, testing expectations, and strict plans for protective distancing.
• Professional education will be a combination of in-person and remote modes at the discretion of the chancellors.
• Professional students will likewise be given priority access to our campus facilities wherever feasible, and health sciences professional students will have access to training in our healthcare delivery sites.

Undergraduate Education

• The majority of our courses will be delivered remotely.
  • Rutgers faculty are busy preparing for remote undergraduate instruction and building on lessons learned from the spring semester.
  • The university has made, and will continue to make, investments in instructional technology and training to further enhance the student experience.
  • All classes that are taught remotely will meet the standards and expectations of the world-class institution that Rutgers is.
• A limited number of courses that benefit from direct access to campus facilities will be held on campus with appropriate health-related precautions.
  • Examples include select courses in the arts, laboratory or field work, and clinical instruction.
  • Each chancellor has worked with the schools’ deans and faculty and will provide updates on specific courses that will use at least some in-person.

Prepare for Fall 2020

For details on the upcoming semester and directions to resources that can answer your questions, visit your respective campus website:

• Rutgers University–New Brunswick
• Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
• Rutgers University–Newark
• Rutgers University–Camden

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.

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.

Rental textbooks can be returned free by shipping back via UPS (see links below). You will need your order number to print the UPS shipping label. This can be found in the confirmation email from your online order OR if you rented your textbook in store, find it in any of your rental reminder emails. The UPS label can be printed on or before your Charge Date. Students may also print their own shipping label from the bookstore website: www.rutgers.bncollege.com [Textbooks/Textbook Rentals/Rental Return].

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.

Students in the School of Graduate Studies should refer to the school’s COVID-19 information including the deadline change for the submission of theses and dissertation materials and FAQ.

The Office of Information Technology has developed technology recommendations for Rutgers students. Find details at: https://it.rutgers.edu/computer-recommendations-for-rutgers-students/.

Rutgers University–New Brunswick and RBHS Students in New Brunswick

• Residence Life’s Operating Status

Rutgers University–Newark and RBHS Students in Newark

• COVID-19 Operating Status

Rutgers University–Camden

• Resident Hall Operating Status

The Rutgers Student Food Pantry is operating out of the Graduate Student Lounge (126 College Ave, behind Panera Bread). Students can come to the Graduate Student Lounge by appointment only to receive a bag of non-perishable items. Appointments are available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between the hours of 12 to 3 p.m.  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, is 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.

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.

The current suspension of all in-person events such as classes, programs, camps, conferences, or other activities at Rutgers University will remain in place to ensure we do our part to limit opportunities for the virus to spread.

Please also monitor event-specific postings to receive up-to-date guidance from event organizers. Students and university employees are reminded that wearing a face covering is required on campus, and they should stay home when they are ill. For more information, please read the Community Safety Practices page.

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.

On September 16, 2020, the Big Ten Conference announced the adoption of stringent medical protocols with the intention to resume the football season on October 23-24. Updates regarding other fall and winter sports are to be announced with testing protocols required before competition can resume.

Both Rutgers–Newark and Rutgers–Camden have canceled their fall 2020 sports seasons. This was done in compliance with the decision made by the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) to suspend all sport contests and league championships during the 2020 fall semester due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to continue to support social distancing, the university will:

• Extend the telecommuting policy rule relaxation policy through December 31, 2020.
• Provide COVID-19 related leave in concert with the Emergency Family Medical Leave Act (E-FMLA) and Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act which was signed into law on March 18, 2020.

Read the FAQ to learn more about the provisions and processes of E-FMLA and EPSLA effective May 9 to December 31, 2020. 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 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.

Learn more about the provisions and processes of  E-FMLA and EPSLA effective May 9 to December 31, 2020, and read the FAQ. 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.

• Rutgers is open and operating. The university has moved to remote instruction, with the exception of clinical instruction. Some services and facilities may not be operating or are operating on limited schedules. For more information, visit your respective chancellor’s website:
  • Rutgers University–Camden
  • Rutgers University–Newark
  • Rutgers University–New Brunswick
  • Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
• University Human Resources has issued an Update on Leave and Telecommuting (March 19), a follow-up communication on COVID-19 Telecommuting and COVID-19 Paid Leave Update (April 24), a timeline extension email COVID-19 Telecommuting Extended until December 31, 2020 (August 13), and an email on the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (E-FMLA) and Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) (May 1) that is effective May 9 to Dec. 31, 2020. Please refer to the most recent communications for the latest information. Or review UHR’s OneSource website for additional information on policies.
• Clinical research guidance for the RBHS community is detailed in the communication, Guidance on the Conduct of Clinical Research at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• Employees are strongly encouraged to use teleconference services, such as Webex, in lieu of in-person meetings.
• 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 co-workers by following guidance on health and safety. If you feel unwell, please stay home.

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 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.

For more information, visit the Community Safety Practices page.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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:

1. 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.
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.

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.

On July 31, Brian Strom, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, issued a travel advisory for Rutgers employees who have traveled to states on New Jersey Travel Advisory List.

Yes, a detailed plan is available with a phased and safe Return to Research at the university. The plan involves increasing Rutgers research capacity in 25% increments, then assessing results before moving to the next phase. This is a method that a number of our peer universities are initiating as well. Read the communications from David Kimball, senior vice president, Research and Economic Development, that outlines the plan.

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.

The Rutgers Foundation has created an emergency fund to support research, clinical care, and the purchase of medical supplies. You can make a donation online at: give.rutgers.edu/covid19. Learn more about emergency support funding at: support.rutgers.edu/covid19support.