Pandemic Recovery Update - September 14, 2021

Good morning, Highlanders!

Our campus is once again vibrant and bustling with students, faculty, and staff - a very welcomed sight! However, COVID-19 remains a significant challenge and will be with us for the foreseeable future. NJIT has developed and deployed protocols that will enable us to continue delivering in-person instruction in a safe manner going forward.

Below is a reminder of some COVID-19 protocols that are in place:

MASKS ARE MANDATORY

Regardless of your vaccination status, masks are required for students, faculty, staff, and visitors whenever inside any NJIT facility. These masks must be form fitting and exclude bandanas, face shields, and 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 are not required 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;
• Contact Public Safety at the non-emergency number of 973-596-3120;
• For students, contact the Dean of Students Office at 973-596-3466;
• For employees, contact Human Resources at 973.596.3140
• As always, if an emergent situation exists, contact Public Safety by dialing 9-1-1 and stating your location as NJIT.

VACCINATION STATUS

NJIT mandated vaccination for students, faculty, and staff, and the response of our community should be lauded. To date, approximately 97% of employees and approximately 94% of students have been vaccinated. Individuals who joined NJIT without the opportunity to be vaccinated prior to their arrival are now in the process of becoming fully vaccinated. Members of the community who have received approved medical or religious exemptions from the vaccine are required to undergo testing twice per week . Testing compliance will be monitored, and individuals who do not comply will be subject to significant consequences, up to and including termination of employment and/or deregistration from classes.

Contact tracing continues. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 outside of the NJIT campus, or who come into close contact with someone who has tested positive are to send notification to covid.notify@njit.edu. Guidance on what actions need to be taken will be provided by Campus Health Services.  CDC guidelines are followed for quarantine and isolation procedures. 

NJIT is monitoring guidance from federal and state authorities with regard to booster shots. Currently, only the Pfizer vaccine is authorized for a booster dose. Once additional information is available, the university will determine the policy on boosters. We strongly encourage those who are eligible, such as the immunocompromised, to get a booster when available.

CLEANING, SANITIZING, AND HAND HYGIENE

NJIT continues to clean and sanitize high touch surfaces around campus. Based on CDC guidance, transmission of COVID-19 on surfaces is very rare. Since we have returned to regularly scheduled in person classes, we are no longer able to clean desks between every other class. They are cleaned early in the morning before classes begin and during the day as permitted by the class schedule.

Good hand hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from surfaces, which includes washing your hands before eating food, after using the bathroom, or if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy. Hand sanitizer can be an effective interim substitute for hand washing, but should not replace washing. Refrain from touching your mouth and face with unwashed hands.

We encourage anyone with additional questions or concerns to visit the Pandemic Recovery webpage. This dynamic site is updated as new information becomes available. Our FAQs are available to help answer the most common questions. Please use this resource in between our regular updates to the NJIT community.

Regards,

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