Update on Spring Semester

Published: Thursday, January 7, 2021

Dear Highlanders,

We are looking forward to welcoming members of our campus community back to NJIT for the spring 2021 semester and building on the success of our Pandemic Recovery Plan implementation. Because of your cooperation and adherence to protocols throughout the fall semester, NJIT was able to execute its plan for converged learning with in-person instruction, restarted scholarly research activities, provided support services to students, and hosted a significant residential population. 

The second wave of the pandemic continues to impact our country, our state, Essex County, and the City of Newark. The NJIT Pandemic Recovery Plan uses three guiding principles as the basis for decisions: mandates, guidance, and informed judgement. Out of an abundance of caution, NJIT will take a proactive approach by starting the spring 2021 semester using converged, fully remote learning for the first two weeks (from Tuesday, January 19 through Sunday, January 31.) Converged, in person instruction will begin on Monday, February 1. As always, these decisions are made in the interest of maintaining the health and wellness of our university community members. This decision will enable us to better assure a low COVID baseline among those returning to campus.

Though we will begin the semester using remote only instruction, please note the following:

  • NJIT’s residence halls will open to students.
  • Dining services will be available for students, faculty, and staff.
  • Student support services will be available based on the current flexible model that allows for both in-person and remote services.
  • Van Houten Library will be open for limited in-person and virtual services.
  • Research will continue utilizing phase 2 protocols and approved plans.
  • Administrative offices will remain at the phase 2 level of in-person coverage based on respective plans and business needs, unless an adjustment is approved by the area vice president.

Thank you for your understanding of NJIT’s decision to begin the semester utilizing remote-only instruction. I would like to remind everyone who will be on campus at any point in the weeks ahead of the following:

  • Face coverings are required in all public places on campus, both indoors and outdoors, with limited exceptions for eating and drinking.
  • Social distancing continues to be required in all locations on campus.
  • Baseline testing is required within 14 days of January 19 for the entire NJIT community.
  • Surveillance testing will continue and is both random and voluntary. Any member of the community who wants to be tested can be tested up to twice per month.
  • The NJIT Health Pledge reminds us to monitor our health and not come to campus if we are experiencing symptoms.
  • Information about our pandemic recovery and various outcomes to date can be found at www.njit.edu/pandemicrecovery/.

NJIT will continue to evaluate local, regional, and national data and information as we move into the spring semester. We are encouraged by the progress made in the vaccination of healthcare professionals and applaud the efforts of the County of Essex in their distribution of the vaccine. In the near term, we anticipate higher education faculty and staff will be eligible for vaccination. Once more information becomes available, we will inform the NJIT community.

I look forward to a successful spring semester and a gradual return to normalcy starting in the near future, and I encourage our students, faculty and staff to pre-register for New Jersey’s COVID vaccine distribution program at covidvaccine.nj.gov/.

Stay well,

NJIT President Joel S. Bloom