Looking Ahead to our Jan. 31 Return to Campus

January 25, 2022

Dear Rutgers University­–New Brunswick Community,

After a two-week delay made necessary by the spread of the Omicron variant, I am eager to welcome our students, faculty, and staff back to the full repopulation of our campus on Monday, January 31, 2022, which Executive Vice President Calcado re-confirmed in his email of Friday, January 21.

I write today to share that excitement, and to remind you of the safety measures that are necessary for our return. As always, the latest updates can be found in the Universitywide COVID-19 Information page and our Rutgers–New Brunswick Campus Status FAQ.

Vaccination is our best defense against COVID. Rutgers has now expanded the vaccination requirement to include boosters. All students and employees who are eligible to recive a vaccine booster must do so, and must upload proof by January 31. Rutgers is a vaccine administration site and offers boosters at no cost at our three campus clinics. Individuals who have recently tested positive may extend the booster deadline by 90 days from the date of their positive COVID test; please see the links in this paragraph for details. Further information about the booster requirement can be found in the Universitywide COVID-19 Information page and the university’s COVID-19 Vaccine page.

Additionally, we will continue our established protocols and safety procedures for on-campus activities. The use of face coverings while indoors is required, unless seated alone in an enclosed office or at a designated work station. Two KN95 face coverings will be made available to all students and can be obtained at all student centers starting Monday, January 31. Two KN95 face coverings will be made available to all faculty and staff members through their deans and department offices in the near future. Self-screening using the My Campus Pass is still required. Each of us should continue to use common sense and take part in our shared responsibilities for the safety of our community. Information on the university protocols and other essential information can be found in the recently updated Guide to Returning to Rutgers and Navigating our Classrooms and Student Spaces.

I know that the two-week delay in our return to campus has created questions for Rutgers–New Brunswick students, and will seek to answer them here. Rutgers–New Brunswick students whose return to on-campus housing has been delayed due to the changes announced earlier this month will be eligible for a refund which will be calculated and communicated to students after the move-in. The deadline to reduce or cancel a Rutgers–New Brunswick Dining Services meal plan has been extended two weeks, to February 15. Finally, Rutgers–New Brunswick’s Add-Drop period for Spring 2022 has been extended to January 27, to allow more time for students to finalize their course schedules.

As Executive Vice President Calcado noted, the health and safety of our community remains our top priority. Protocols will change as we consult with public health agencies and assess data, including the number of positive cases in New Jersey, COVID-19 hospitalizations, state and regional hospital capacity, and the severity of the dominant variant. Please continue to look for updates at https://coronavirus.rutgers.edu.

Rutgers University–New Brunswick students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to share concerns and questions with their respective university leaders and support systems or directly with the Chancellor-Provost’s office via this online form. I will do my best to ensure a timely and effective response.

This is a challenging time for all of us. If you are feeling anxious or know someone who is, I urge you to seek assistance. Rutgers has many wellbeing resources available to assist students and employees. Please become familiar with these documents and bookmark and share them with others as needed.

I look forward to a joyful and vibrant Spring semester as our students, faculty, and staff come together to learn, work, live, and play by the Banks of the Old Raritan. As we found during the fall and throughout this pandemic, we Scarlet Knights can accomplish anything together.

Sincerely,

Francine Conway, Ph.D.
Chancellor-Provost, Rutgers University–New Brunswick