COVID-19 Updates at Rutgers
Remote instruction begins today across Rutgers following an extended spring break, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s “stay-at-home” order and Rutgers President Robert Barchi’s continued call for university employees to work from home where possible.
As we move through the COVID-19 crisis together, keep checking the Rutgers COVID-19 information website for updates, including answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ).
Here are some of the latest updates and the impact at Rutgers.
Remote instruction begins today and will continue through the end of the spring semester.
Faculty members can find technology tools for remote instruction along with answers to questions that arise as remote instruction gets underway. Technology resources are also available for students as they begin course work remotely.
Clinical-setting instruction for some Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) students continues where possible and with high standards of health hygiene and protection in place. RBHS deans from the relevant schools will continue to be in touch with students regarding more detailed plans for remote instruction. RBHS students should contact their deans regarding clinical rotations and clinical instruction.
University library services are now online only.
Library resources and information on how to access collections, get support for research during remote instruction, and contact a librarian are available here.
The governor’s “stay-at-home” executive order has direct and indirect impacts on Rutgers.
On Saturday, March 21, Gov. Murphy placed further restrictions on social gatherings and business operations in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. As President Barchi noted in his message to the Rutgers community on Saturday, the university is prepared to follow the state’s guidance. Among the direct impacts, the order:
- Specifically permits travel to work and for educational purposes. Instructors intending to utilize classroom settings to broadcast their remote teaching may still travel to campus to do so.
- Closes all physical libraries and computer labs at public and private colleges and universities. It has no effect on online library services.
- Encourages telecommuting to the extent possible but specially identifies research lab workers as employees who may not be reasonably expected to telecommute because their physical presence may be required.
- Specifically exempts health care and medical service providers from the restrictions contained in the Executive Order.
Rutgers is taking several measures to offer students academic support during these challenging times.
Students will be provided additional time to withdraw from courses.
Students also will have until May 22, 2020, to choose a Pass/No-credit grading option for individual courses. Pass/No-credit grades are not factored into GPAs.
If students choose a Pass/No-credit option, a note will appear on transcripts to indicate the circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak. While a Pass/No-credit grade may impact how transcripts are viewed by employers and other universities, the impact is likely to be minimized by the fact that several universities are currently allowing this conversion.
Grading and withdrawal policies vary by campus and, sometimes, by school, depending on accreditation and program requirements. Students should connect with academic advisers before deciding on grading or withdrawal options. Click on these links for more information from Rutgers-Camden, Rutgers-Newark, and Rutgers-New Brunswick.
Telecommuting for university employees is strongly encouraged where possible.
The university has formalized the COVID-19 Telecommuting and COVID-19 Paid Leave (CPL) process and guidelines. These guidelines are effective immediately and will be in place through April 30, 2020. You can read about the guidelines in Senior Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness Vivian Fernández’s message to the university community. And you can find technology resources for working remotely and more info on COVID-19 telecommuting and leave policies on the university’s COVID-19 website.
If you do need to enter a Rutgers facility in support of essential operations at the university, be sure to display your Rutgers ID, which you should keep with you at all times.
