Pandemic Recovery Update - November 24, 2021

Dear NJIT Community Members,

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, the Pandemic Recovery Steering Committee expresses appreciation to every member of our community for your continued support and cooperation this semester. The pandemic has been challenging for all of us, but because of your efforts, NJIT has been able to hold in-person classes, fill our residence halls, and host on campus events. More than 11,000 individuals have been on campus each week since the second week of the semester, returning us to a vibrant and active community.

Please take time to enjoy your families, catch up on your work, and give thanks in a safe manner during the break. Take necessary precautions to protect the most vulnerable members of your family and friends and return to the NJIT campus healthy. As we return for the remaining few weeks of the fall 2021 semester, we provide the following updates:

MASKS REMAIN MANDATORY

Regardless of your vaccination status, masks are required for faculty, staff, students, and visitors whenever inside any NJIT facility. These masks must be form-fitting and exclude bandanas, face shields, and single-layer cloth gaiters. Cloth masks should have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric. Masks must completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against the side of your face, without gaps. Surgical style or KN95 masks should have a nose wire to help prevent air from escaping out of the top of the mask. Masks should not have exhalation valves.

Masks may be temporarily removed when actively eating or drinking. In addition, they are not required in private offices or workstations where physical barriers are present and 6’ of distance can be maintained. If someone enters your office or approaches your workstation, both parties should don a mask.

If you see an individual not properly wearing their mask inside buildings, you have the following options:
 

• Politely ask them to properly wear a mask per the NJIT policy;
• For students, contact the Dean of Students Office at 973-596-3466;
• For employees, contact Human Resources at 973-596-3140;
• If you prefer, contact Public Safety at the non-emergency number of 973-596-3120;
• As always, if an emergent situation exists, contact Public Safety by dialing 9-1-1 and stating your location as NJIT.

BOOSTER SHOTS

Booster shots are available to those 18 years of age or older based on recently updated guidance from the State of New Jersey, and scheduling information is available at the State’s COVID HUB. NJIT does not currently require booster shots but will continue to evaluate and consider the need to mandate them based upon public health data and governmental guidance.

If you have received a COVID booster, you may voluntarily submit a copy of your booster record by: 

• Taking a picture of your record and saving it to a file
• Logging into Medicat
• Choosing ‘Upload,’ then 
• Choosing ‘Covid booster Vaccine Record’ from the dropdown arrow
• Clicking on ‘Select File’ and 
• Clicking ‘Submit’

HEALTH PLEDGE

The NJIT health pledge will be removed from the system login process. The pledge will be replaced with information about what to do if you experience new symptoms or if you test positive for COVID-19. The new text will include a link to the frequently asked questions page on the NJIT Pandemic Recovery website.

We encourage anyone with questions or concerns to visit the Pandemic Recovery webpage. This dynamic site is updated as new information becomes available. The Pandemic Recovery Steering Committee will continue to rely on the three pillars of our Pandemic Recovery Plan — adherence to governmental mandates, reliance on guidance from health experts and agencies, and our own collective informed judgment — and will apply these principles to keep our community safe.

We wish you a happy Thanksgiving and a joyous holiday season.

Regards,

Fadi Deek
Provost and Senior Executive Vice President
Co-Chair, Pandemic Recovery Steering Committee

Andrew Christ
Senior Vice President, Real Estate Development and Capital Operations
Co-Chair, Pandemic Recovery Steering Committee

Deneen Scuderi, MSN, RN, CPHQ
Director, Campus Health Services