COVID-19 - NJIT Classes, Commencement, and other important topics

Published: Tuesday, March 17, 2020

NJIT Community Members,

This week, both state and federal governments have issued guidelines for social distancing that call for severe limits on the number of people gathering in a physical space at any one time throughout the next several weeks, or longer. These recommendations will be followed by NJIT, in the interests of both the public health and the wellness of members of our university community. We fully grasp the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and believe that our primary responsibilities are to fulfill our mission of delivering a high-quality academic experience (whether in-person or online) and to safeguard our community members.

The guidelines that have been set forth of late now make it clear that NJIT will need to make further adjustments to its planning and operations. Therefore, please note the following significant announcements:

  • Classes for the remainder of the Spring semester, including exams, will be delivered online. We will not return to in-person instruction until at least the Summer session and will be prepared to deliver Summer courses in a virtual format, if necessary.

  • NJIT’s in-person commencement ceremonies must be transitioned to a virtual environment. At present, NJIT is working to develop a plan for virtual commencement ceremonies, and we will share more information as soon as it is available.

  • The NJIT Library will close until further notice. The computer lab in the Student Mall will remain open for those who continue to need access to on-campus computing resources for academic purposes.

We understand that the need for these changes is extraordinarily disappointing to the members of our community. Our students, faculty, and staff care deeply about NJIT and one another and want to be interacting with one another, face-to-face, in classes, at events, during competitions and performances, and while working collaboratively on a daily basis.

We also appreciate that these announcements may spur many questions for which we do not yet have precise or complete answers. For example:

  • Does this mean that international students should return to their home countries? Answer: As this can be a complex decision, depending upon an individual student’s home country, visa status, as well as personal and academic issues, a separate communication is being sent to international students, and the Offices of the Dean of Students and Global Initiatives will be available to consult with individual students and provide the best possible guidance.

  • Will students be compensated for the fees they have paid for housing, dining, and parking that will not be available for the remainder of the Spring semester? Answer: NJIT is making preparations to credit returning students and refund graduating seniors for fees they have paid toward housing, dining, and parking that will not be used or accessed for the remainder of the Spring semester, but several factors must be considered before any plan is put into action. For example, NJIT must analyze the potential impact on federal and private financial aid for individual students before making any determinations. NJIT also must finalize and announce procedures for resident students to collect their belongings and vacate their rooms without breaching the new guidelines for social distancing.

  • What will a virtual commencement ceremony entail? Answer: Many of the specific details are not yet determined, but NJIT is working to develop an event that will be as meaningful and engaging as possible and will celebrate the accomplishments of graduates and honorary degree recipients in the best possible manner under current circumstances.

Additional communications with specific directions regarding the above concerns, as well as others, will be forthcoming as soon as details and procedures have been finalized.

We are aware that the announcements we are making today are both significant and disappointing. Given the new guidelines put in place by state and federal government and the rapidly changing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, these steps are necessary, and communicating them to our university community as quickly as possible is the most responsible course of action.

We deeply regret that there has been such great disruption to both NJIT’s operations and its campus community this semester. These changes are unsettling but will be temporary. Together, we will continue to work through the challenges we face until such time as we are able to return to regular campus operations. Until then, thank you all for your patience, cooperation, and contributions as we respond to this unique and complex situation. Stay safe and be well.

Sincerely,

NJIT President Joel S. Bloom