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Return to Rutgers | Public Safety Updates

June 29, 2021

Members of the Rutgers Community:

As local public health conditions improve, the University is looking forward to beginning a phased approach to welcoming members of the community back to campus to resume in-person academic and work activities.  The following information is provided to update students, faculty, staff and guests on current public safety policies and resources available.

  • Access to University Facilities: The “card only access” model put in place in March 2020 will be removed for Newark and New Brunswick facilities effective July 6th, 2021. Building coordinators are welcome to resume requesting door schedules for their respective areas.  Camden facilities will remain on the card only access model at this time requiring the use of an RU ID card to obtain access to buildings.

Given that face coverings will be commonplace, faculty, staff and students must have their Rutgers ID cards on their person at all times and are strongly encouraged to display their ID while on campus and/or in Rutgers buildings. If a new or replacement RU ID card is required, please visit the Identity and Access Management website. Those replacing a card can use their existing ID photo.

  • COVID Observations: The health and safety of our community is a shared responsibility. While we are hopeful that our community will adhere to the requirements outlined in the Guide to Returning to Rutgers, we recognize that some matters may need further review. If you believe someone or some group is in violation of the established university safety guidelines, please fill out a COVID Observation Report. This form is not monitored in real-time and has been developed to report only non-emergency concerns.
  • Online Crime Reporting: When you return to campus, things may not be quite like you left them. If you believe this is as a result of a crime (i.e., vandalism, theft, burglary), please use the Rutgers Internet Police Reporting System to file an online police report. This system accepts reports for minor crimes which occurred within the Rutgers University communities in Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick.
  • New Public Safety App: Effective immediately, University Public Safety will begin to decommission the current 69050 short-code system utilized to send nonemergency text messages to the Rutgers Police Department. The system will be replaced with a free enhanced mobile safety app available for use by all Rutgers students, faculty, staff, and guests who are subscribed to the university’s Emergency Notification System (ENS). To learn more about the app features and how to properly connect it to receive notifications from Rutgers University, visit https://ipo.rutgers.edu/publicsafety/text.
  • Decriminalization of Cannabis (Marijuana): President Jonathan Holloway convened a universitywide Cannabis Decriminalization Impact Task Force earlier this year to consider the overall impacts the new state law has on university operations and to implement necessary policy and procedural changes before the fall 2021 semester. Rutgers must also consider the requirements of federal law regarding the possession, distribution, and use of cannabis—recreational or medicinal—on Rutgers property and in campus facilities. The university will provide additional information on this subject, including a new university website inclusive of FAQ, this summer.

Thank you for your continued support of our public safety efforts.  We look forward to seeing you back on campus.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Cop
Executive Director of Public Safety
Chief of University Police
Institutional Planning and Operations
University Public Safety