Resuming a Vibrant Campus Community – 50% milestone

As NJIT moves toward a resumption of normal campus activities in Fall 2021, it is essential to do so within a framework that promotes a vibrant community while ensuring a safe and meaningful on-campus experience for all. At each milestone, the Pandemic Recovery Steering Committee will provide expectations and guidelines for the resumption of different aspects of our working lives, guiding our return to campus. We will rely on the three pillars of Pandemic Recovery, Plan--adherence to governmental mandates, reliance on guidance of health experts and agencies, and our own collective informed judgment, and apply these principles to safely bring our community back together. The guidance for our initial Return to Campus milestone of 50% minimum expected presence on campus is outlined below:

Develop and communicate guidance for in-person interactions on campus

• Social distancing should be maintained, to the extent possible, with continued rotation of adjacent workstations and shared offices

• Indoor gatherings are permitted within the State of New Jersey Indoor Gathering Guidelines

• Masks remain required in all open and common spaces, even outdoors

  • Exception to the mask rule is available if all participants in a small indoor gathering voluntarily disclose that they are fully vaccinated per updated CDC guidelines

Provide for the needs of the larger in-person campus community

• The following dining facilities will be open beginning May 31, 2021:

  • Village Market (take out only)

  • Forte Pizza 

  • University Club (starting July 6)

  • Online ordering is also available through the GDS app

  • Off campus dining is available through:

    • Giordano’s pizza (Central Ave)

    • Subway (Lock Street)

    • YaYa Tea (Lock Street)

    • Playa Bowls (Bleeker Street)

    • McGovern’s Pub (Bleeker and University Ave)

    • Robert’s Pizza (University Ave)

• WEC Fitness Center is scheduled to open for employees on or about June 1, in the late afternoon or early evening to facilitate workouts without the need for locker room use. Locker rooms will remain closed.

• Common area furniture will continue to promote social distancing and discourage large group gatherings

• Break out rooms will be open but occupancy will remain limited to maintain social distancing, to the extent possible

• Lavatories will remain at reduced capacity

• Water fountains will remain closed until flushing and testing is completed

Offer guidance and logistical support for in-person work activities

• Small, in person meetings are encouraged to use larger rooms to maintain social distancing

• All conference rooms have been outfitted with social distancing diagrams

• Virtual meetings are encouraged between employees working remotely and those on campus

  • A limited number of classrooms with converged technology will be available for hybrid meetings 

• Campus Planning and Design is available to analyze workspaces to assist in understanding social distancing and rotational schedules

Promote in-person social activities to jumpstart a vibrant educational community

• A staff “Welcome Back Social” will be planned at University Club using the Eberhardt Patio

• Encourage attendance at on campus events, such as Warren Street Residence Hall groundbreaking ceremony on June 10, 2021

Identify innovations developed during the pandemic that promote the educational community

• Library services continue in a hybrid mode with curbside pickup

• Counseling services will continue to provide a virtual option

• Research labs will continue to operate at reduced occupancy and/or with enhanced PPE per their approved plans

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the members of the Pandemic Recovery Steering Committee for additional information based on the area of responsibility. 

Sincerely,

Andrew P. Christ, PE
Senior Vice President
Real Estate Development and Capital Operations