Fall 2021 Update

NJIT Community Members,

It is apparent that COVID-19 will be with us for the foreseeable future, as is evidenced by the continued emergence of variants. I understand the worry that the Delta variant, in particular, is causing. Throughout this pandemic, NJIT has relied upon the three pillars of its Pandemic Recovery Plan — adherence to governmental mandates, reliance on guidance from health experts and agencies, and our own collective informed judgement — and we have applied these principles to ensure that we are able to reopen our campus in a safe and responsible manner. We have put protocols in place to maintain the safety of our campus and to enable students to receive an educational experience that includes in-person learning and the socialization that is so vital to their mental wellbeing. 

Our preparations to open the NJIT campus began in April, and I would like to share a few of the steps we have taken to ensure that our students and staff are able to return to campus safely. On April 28th we announced the decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for all of our students, faculty and staff, with limited exemptions. We know that vaccination is the best tool available to combat this virus, and I am pleased to be able to share with you that 97% of our employees are fully vaccinated. To date, approximately 89% of NJIT’s students are fully vaccinated, with roughly 92% having received at least one dose of vaccine. We are confident that this high vaccination rate within our immediate community will help us maintain a safe environment on campus

We also appreciate the highly contagious nature of the Delta variant and have implemented additional safety measures, including the temporary reissuance of an indoor mask mandate for all, regardless of vaccination status. This decision was based on recommendations from the New Jersey Commissioner of Health and the CDC. We also are mandating twice weekly testing of all students and employees with approved exemptions from COVID-19 vaccination and for those who are not yet considered to be fully vaccinated. Contact tracing with quarantine and isolation protocols also are in effect, as is a separation of vaccinated and unvaccinated students in campus housing. 

While we will continue to monitor and adjust to developments going forward, we are confident in the protocols we have put in place and in our ability to facilitate safe in-person learning while providing our students with the rich educational experience they deserve. This pandemic continues to test our resilience and to be a source of anxiety, and providing the safest possible environment for our students in which to learn and our employees to work in is our top priority. 

Sincerely,

NJIT President Joel S. Bloom