Coronavirus Updates
Fairleigh Dickinson University continues to take measures to reduce the risks concerning COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus. We are planning in line with recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of State and the State of New Jersey Department of Health, as well as Canadian federal and British Columbia health authorities for our Vancouver Campus, and the Department of Health and Social Care in the United Kingdom for Wroxton College.
The University’s notifications regarding the coronavirus will be posted here in reverse chronological order so that all messages are available and the most recent appear first. Related information for reference is also provided as links shown on this page. Members of the University community who are feeling ill or who are aware of someone who is feeling ill should review the Student, Faculty and Staff Health sections of Coronavirus Information from HR.
June 10, 2021
President’s Update – Return to Campus
Dear Faculty and Staff,
As you know, Governor Murphy has recently issued a series of Executive Orders that have relaxed many of the restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. And in fact, on June 4, the Governor issued an order terminating the Public Health Emergency for COVID-19. That doesn’t mean the virus has gone away, but it does mean the vaccinations are doing a very effective job of curtailing the spread of the virus and that we can begin resuming many normal activities.
This is truly a wonderful development, and I am excited to welcome back all faculty and staff to our New Jersey campuses as soon as possible. It is time for us to once again convene together as a community, transition back to our on-campus activities, and demonstrate to students that we are there for them in person.
Therefore, effective Monday, June 21, we will begin a phased return of employees to both New Jersey campuses, in order to achieve a full resumption of on-campus operations in keeping with pre-COVID 19 schedules by Tuesday, July 6.
Your supervisors/direct reports will have detailed return plans shortly and will be communicating these to you. Specific return dates for employees will take into account the readiness of buildings and offices for occupancy. Faculty will return depending on their course schedules.
As always, limited exceptions will apply, such as for those employees who have medical conditions, or other special circumstances requiring an accommodation. Those who need a medical accommodation should confer with Rose D’Ambrosio, Vice President for Human Resources, and other requests for accommodations should be directed to your supervisor/direct report.
In addition, we recognize that earlier, the Office of Human Resources provided supervisors planning documents for the resumption of on-campus operations. If you and your supervisor made plans predicated on those initial return dates, please speak to your supervisor who may be able to be flexible.
Our goal is to resume full on-campus operations as soon as reasonably practical, consistent with individualized special circumstances.
To facilitate the return to campus, there are some policies and protocols that are changing and that you need to follow. One thing that has not changed is the fact that we strongly urge everyone to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible. Recent surveys we took indicate that the overwhelming majority of faculty and staff are either vaccinated or plan to become so soon. This is outstanding and enables us to proceed with confidence. We hope to encourage the remaining few to also get vaccinated as soon as possible. Those who are vaccinated will need to show proof by uploading their documentation to a secure website portal. Instructions for this and other information will be sent by the Office of Human Resources shortly. Please do not provide information regarding your vaccination status to your supervisors/direct report or other administrators, as Human Resources will be coordinating handling of this information.
Further, as previously announced, face coverings are no longer required while outdoors on the campuses. And now we can announce that if you’re fully vaccinated, you are no longer required to wear a face mask indoors. For the time being, however, face masks and social distancing are required in classrooms where instruction is taking place.
Those persons who are not vaccinated must continue to wear masks indoors, except when alone inside a walled office or when eating or drinking in a manner that maintains at least six-feet social distancing. Non-vaccinated persons should also practice social distancing and other precautions in accordance with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Many of us will choose to continue to wear face masks in various settings, even if we have been fully vaccinated. Wearing or not wearing a mask is not an indication of vaccination status. In no event should anyone be ostracized or criticized if they choose to wear a face mask even when not compelled to do so.
Other safeguards to help mitigate the possible spread of COVID-19 will continue, including cleaning and sanitizing of high-touch areas in accordance with New Jersey Department of Health guidelines. Also, for the time being, please continue to use the Campus Clear application on a daily basis to monitor your health before coming to work. Persons who have symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses (whether or not they are vaccinated) should follow routine practices about sick time and should not report to work.
As noted above, at least during the summer, masks will continue to be required, as will social distancing, in all classrooms. We will keep you updated as protocols change, and more direction for the fall will follow. And, again, the Office of Human Resources will shortly send out more detailed information concerning the return to campus.
This guidance applies to the summer only. We will be issuing updated protocols for the fall. And, as always, all our practices will be amended as may be appropriate to accord with evolving guidance from state and federal agencies.
As I’ve communicated on many occasions, and want to emphasize again, I am incredibly proud and appreciative of the dedication that FDU employees have demonstrated throughout the pandemic in meeting the needs of our students and our great institution. I am confident we will make a smooth transition back to campus, and I look forward to seeing everyone here.
Yours in FDU,
Christopher A. Capuano, Ph.D.
President
Links to Updates
June 10: President’s Update – Return to Campus
May 27: Mask Policy Update
May 27: President’s Update – A Year We Will Never Forget
May 17: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
May 12: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
May 5: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
April 28: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
April 21: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
April 15: President’s Update – Fall 2021 Semester
April 14: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
April 7: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
March 31: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
March 24: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
March 23: President’s Update – Planning for Fall 2021
March 17: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
March 10: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
March 3: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
February 24: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
February 17: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
February 15: President’s Update – Start of In-Person Classes
February 10: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
February 3: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
January 27: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
January 7, 2021: President’s Update – Start of Spring 2021 Term
November 25: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
November 25: President’s Update – Giving Thanks
November 18: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
November 11: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
November 4: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
October 28: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
October 21: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
October 16: President’s Update – Spring 2021 Semester
October 14: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
October 7: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
September 30: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
September 23: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
September 21: Study Abroad and Wroxton College
September 16: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
September 9: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
September 2: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update
September 1: President’s Update – United for Our Students
August 17: President’s Update – Welcome to Fall 2020
August 10: President’s Update – Fall 2020 Semester
July 31: President’s Update – Returning to Campus
July 20: President’s Update – Fall 2020 Semester Reopening Plan
July 7: President’s Update – Preparing for Fall 2020 Semester
June 12: President’s Update – Supporting Our Students
June 4: Task Force for Campus Re-occupancy and Operations.
May 29: President’s Update – The Fall 2020 Semester.
May 8: President’s Update – Planning for the Fall 2020 Semester.
April 20: President’s Update – Important Cost-Saving Measures.
April 9: President’s Update – A Note of Appreciation.
April 9: Deadline Extension for Student Withdrawal from Classes.
April 7: All Summer Sessions for 2020.
April 3: Update on Pass/Fail Option for Spring Semester 2020.
April 2: Graduate Summer Sessions 2020.
March 30: Undergraduate Summer Sessions 2020.
March 25: President’s Update – Commencement.
March 25: Pass/Fail Option for Undergraduate Students for Spring Semester 2020.
March 20: President’s Update – Remote Learning Extended for Remainder of Spring Semester.
March 20: Pass/Fail Option for Undergraduate Students for Spring Semester 2020.
March 15: President’s Update – Latest Actions Related to COVID-19 Pandemic.
March 13: Wroxton College Students to Return Home.
March 10: President’s Update on Moving to Remote Learning.
March 9: Working together as a community and an update on potential self-isolation.
March 6: Update on travel restrictions and recommendations, and a travel registry for faculty and staff.
March 2: Update on University-sponsored international trips as well as more travel-related news.
February 28: Update on international travel, study abroad, our international campuses and necessary precautions.