NJIT Pandemic Recovery Update - June 2020

NJIT Students, Parents, Faculty and Staff,

I write today to provide further details regarding the Pandemic Recovery Plan we first shared on May 5, 2020, and updated on May 22, 2020. NJIT plans to begin welcoming faculty, staff and some students back to our campus throughout the Summer and, as we have stated in prior communications, to broadly implement a converged learning model that will enable us to offer in-person classes once the Fall semester begins on September 1, 2020.

At present, we are making the necessary preparations to allow students to learn where they are most comfortable, whether that is in a classroom or lab with their peers or from a remote location in a synchronous fashion. We also anticipate restarting research activities shortly and are readying to house students in our residence halls while providing campus life experiences. In doing so, we will adhere to the guidelines set forth by our state and the recommendations of the federal government and will take all responsible and reasonable precautions to safeguard the health and wellness of the members of our campus community.

While our pandemic recovery planning and preparations will continue for some time, we commit to providing transparent and timely communication as decisions are reached or circumstances change. Today, we announce that NJIT will enter Phase 2 of our recovery plan in alignment with the State of New Jersey’s migration into Stage 2. Our implementation will be phased over a period of weeks, with the expectation of employees starting to return on Monday, June 15 and reaching 25% of staff on campus no later than July 15, 2020. With the recent announcement by Governor Murphy lifting the stay-at-home order in New Jersey, NJIT looks forward to welcoming faculty and staff back to campus, maintaining appropriate social distance but renewing our collegial and vibrant campus environment.

In addition to our transition to Phase 2, we would like to provide the following details regarding our planning and progress toward recovery:

Academic Calendar

Our ability to implement a converged learning model provides us with a high degree of flexibility in adapting to changing circumstances. Therefore, we will follow the previously established academic calendar.     

Face Coverings and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

NJIT will provide all students, faculty, and staff with two cloth face coverings, so that one may be worn while the other is washed. The initial delivery of face coverings is expected on or about July 1. Until then, NJIT encourages staff members to wear face coverings they may already have and are comfortable with or to use surgical masks that we will provide. Public safety officers will be dispersed outside of the parking garages and the light rail station to accommodate those who need a mask next week. Community members will be required to wear a face covering in all public and common areas until we reach Phase 4 of our recovery plan. In circumstances where social distancing cannot be accomplished, such as in certain labs, NJIT will provide the appropriate PPE or implement other protocols designed to maximize the safety of our community members.

Self Monitoring, COVID-19 Testing, and Contact Tracing

NJIT continues to solicit advice from medical professionals and colleagues at other higher education institutions regarding testing of our community for COVID-19. We encourage those who have an opportunity to be tested prior to returning to campus to do so, but are not requiring it as a condition to return at this time. We strongly recommend that everyone self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and consider using the CDC self check application or the State of New Jersey symptom checker before reporting for work. If you don’t feel well, please stay home and seek appropriate medical attention.

Should a positive case be identified on campus, NJIT will cooperate with state and local health officials in their contract tracing protocols. Information will be provided on office location, interactions with others, classes attended, research activities and location, and other institutional data. For employees, this will be coordinated by Human Resources. For students, the Dean of Students office will be the primary point of contact.

Additional details regarding testing protocols for the Fall semester will be disseminated as soon as a conclusion is reached.

Social Distancing in Offices and Common Areas

Social distancing will be required in all locations on campus until the guidelines are relaxed by federal, state, and local authorities. Occupancy of elevators will be restricted based upon the cab size, with priority given to individuals with disabilities and the elderly. Restroom occupancy will be restricted. Signs and decals will be installed to remind everyone of this requirement.

Social Distancing in Classrooms and Labs

Should social distancing be required during the Fall semester, NJIT has developed a plan to limit the number of students attending each class session in-person. Through the converged learning model, students will be able to attend in person, in reduced numbers, to facilitate social distancing. The balance of the class will participate synchronously in a virtual mode with the ability to interact and ask questions as if they were participating in person. Where social distancing cannot be achieved in experiential learning environments, such as labs and studios, personal protective equipment will be provided.

Social Distancing in the Residence Halls

Social distancing will be required in public and common areas of the residence halls. Face coverings will be required in all public or common spaces within residence halls. Resident students will clean and disinfect their own rooms and shared bathrooms. Common bathrooms, such as those in Redwood Hall, will be cleaned per CDC recommendations by the Building Services staff. Information regarding moving into the residence halls can be found on the Residence Life website.

Campus Life

NJIT is preparing to deliver a vibrant campus life experience that is in accordance with guidelines provided by the State of New Jersey. We will host in-person events and campus activities, so long as they are permitted by the State, and we will take appropriate steps to safeguard the wellness of our community members. These may include social distancing, use of face coverings, deployment of our converged learning technology, and other measures.

Dining Services

Gourmet Dining Services, in conjunction with the Dean of Students, is preparing their dining plan and menu to provide safe food distribution and appropriate social distancing in dining facilities. Additional information will be available soon through the NJIT Gourmet Dining Website. During Phase 2, limited boxed lunches will be available for order, but staff is encouraged to bring their own meals. 

Athletic and Fitness Facilities

During Phase 2, NJIT Athletics will reintroduce in-person operations at a reduced capacity to prepare for the return of our student athletes. Gatherings will have a maximum 25 attendees with strict social distancing. Most operations will continue virtually, and fitness facilities remain closed to the NJIT community. Additional information will be provided as we approach Phase 3 of the Pandemic Recovery Plan.

Library and Non-Classroom Learning Spaces

In Phase 2, the Van Houten Library will open with limited hours. Littman Library remains closed. Most library services will remain virtual, with selected services available on-site. Social distancing practices will be enforced, and occupancy of the library will be monitored. In other common spaces, furniture will be spread out to facilitate social distancing to the extent possible. We rely on the appropriate use of these spaces and remind everyone of their responsibility to maintain appropriate social distance.

Visitors to Campus

Once the State of New Jersey moves to Stage 3 of the multi-stage approach to recovery, visitors will be allowed on campus. Visitors will be required to follow the same guidelines regarding face coverings, social distancing, and self monitoring/testing as the NJIT community members. Their host will be responsible for communicating these requirements prior to their visit.

Most Vulnerable Community Members

While we are looking forward to the return of our campus community, we recognize that some members of that community may be at greater risk than others and remain somewhat apprehensive about in-person interaction. For students fitting this description, our

converged learning model will allow synchronous learning and extensive interaction with faculty and classmates from a remote location until such time as they are comfortable returning to the classroom. For faculty and staff who have similar concerns, there is a process established to request reasonable accommodations. That process was explained in a recent message from Vice President for Human Resources Dale McLeod, which can be found here.

As we move into the Summer and continue to learn more about COVID-19 as well as how we can best respond to the conditions it presents, NJIT will adapt and improve its plan for Fall 2020. Much work has been done to date, and I want to thank the Pandemic Recovery Steering Committee for its tireless efforts in preparing NJIT to begin its return to in-person operations while taking the appropriate steps to mitigate risk to our community members. The committee’s work will continue for as long as necessary and always will be guided by two priorities--delivering upon the university’s mission to provide a high-quality educational experience and assuring, to the best of our ability, the safety and wellbeing of NJIT’s community members.

In closing, I look forward to welcoming some of you back to campus in the near future, and many more at the onset of the Fall semester. For those who may return somewhat later, I eagerly await that day as well and encourage you to avail yourselves of the many ways we are making available to stay connected to our university community. I wish you all good health and thank you for all you do on behalf of NJIT. 

Sincerely,

NJIT President Joel S. Bloom