Overview and Guiding Principles
Through Rider’s Resolved and Ready Plan, the University remains committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees and all other community members as we support a more normal work and academic environment for the 2021-22 academic year. The Plan is consistent with CDC and New Jersey guidelines and requirements as they continue to evolve. All supervisors are expected to remain current with the Plan.
Rider’s optimistic vision to return to more normal operations for the 2021-22 academic year is supported by Governor Murphy’s Executive Orders 242 and 243 announced this past spring, which eliminate physical distancing and other requirements in college and university classrooms, residence halls, restrooms, offices and other areas across campus. This vision is also supported by Rider’s student vaccination requirement and the high percentage of employees who are vaccinated.
Important updates about:
August 1, 2021 Return to On-Campus Work
Beginning August 1, 2021, in support of Rider’s vision for the 2021-22 academic year, the University will return to traditional on-campus work as the default expectation for administrative and support functions (all non-faculty employees). Remote work arrangements after August 1, 2021, will be governed by the updated Flexible Work Policy (PDF).
We will continue to closely monitor and assess the potential spread of the virus, as well as existing policies and procedures to mitigate it. If localized outbreaks emerge, tighter restrictions and reduced on campus staffing may need to be implemented.
Revised Flexible Work Policy
During the past year, we all adjusted to more remote-based work and departments found new and creative ways to stay connected and remain as productive as possible in a remote environment. While there is certainly something lost when our community is dispersed, and the importance of returning to campus grows with the return of students to the classroom and to campus in general, lessons learned from our remote work experiences can be applied to the post-pandemic work experiences to which we all look forward.
The recently revised Flexible Work Policy, which significantly expands certain employees' options to work remotely from what existed prior to the pandemic, has been adopted in light of these lessons learned, and in recognition of the complex and varied obligations all employees have, with both their personal and professional lives.
Medical Accommodations
As we return to on-campus work, employees who have a diagnosed medical condition and resulting health concerns, even with a vaccine, are invited to consult with Human Resources about accommodations that may be available.
General Workplace Expectations
The following requirements are now in effect for faculty and staff. These may be subject to change at any time as CDC and New Jersey guidelines continue to evolve. Where that is the case, it will be communicated via email and the website.
- Complete daily symptom monitoring via Campus Clear before coming to campus and only come to campus if you are cleared accordingly. Supervisors have the authority to check employees’ Campus Clear results.
- Never come to campus if you are feeling ill without first contacting your primary healthcare provider. Please refer to the COVID testing and contact tracing section.
- Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should consider getting tested and stay home and away from others. Please contact both Human Resources and your supervisor to let them know if you will be out for a period of time as a result.
- Everyone who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, must isolate and not return to work until cleared by your primary healthcare provider.
- Fully vaccinated individuals who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be tested 3 to 5 days after exposure and wear a mask in public indoor settings (like Rider) for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result. Most fully vaccinated individuals with no COVID-like symptoms do not need to quarantine or be restricted from work following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 as long as they follow these testing and masking recommendations. Fully vaccinated individuals need to isolate if they test positive for COVID-19 in the prior 10 days or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
- Unvaccinated individuals who have been in close contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive must quarantine as per New Jersey Department of Health guidelines. Unvaccinated individuals can end quarantine after 10 days if they are tested for COVID-19 between days 5 and 7 of quarantine, test negative and are not symptomatic. Or they can end quarantine after 14 days with no testing and no symptoms. Please contact both Human Resources and your supervisor to let them know that you are quarantining.
- Physical distancing (6 feet) is NOT required outdoors nor in classrooms, residence halls, restrooms and other indoor public spaces (any space other than offices). Unvaccinated employees must still practice physical distancing in workspaces (offices).
- Effective August 16, 2021, all students, faculty, staff, guests and vendors are required to wear face coverings or masks when anywhere indoors on campus as per CDC and NJ Department of Health guidance. Masks are not required when outdoors regardless of vaccination status. Masks are required in buses, shuttles and other forms of transportation involving students.
Vaccinated employees are not required to wear masks when alone in their private offices. Cubicles are not considered private offices. Unvaccinated employees must wear masks at all times indoors even in their private offices except when eating and drinking. This guidance applies to student employees as well.
As per CDC guidance, face shields alone are not a substitute for masks. They can only be worn at Rider by faculty when they are teaching in the classroom. - Unvaccinated employees must participate in regular surveillance testing. Employees who do not show proof of vaccination to their supervisor or faculty who have not verified vaccination through the online certification process will be assumed to be unvaccinated.
- In-person meetings can be held as normal pre-pandemic. Unvaccinated employees must practice physical distancing (6 feet). Employees are welcome to continue to use virtual meeting technology (such as Zoom), even if all participants are on campus.
- Maintain healthy hygiene practices:
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and/or use hand sanitizer frequently. Additional hand sanitizer dispensers have been added throughout campus.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow.
- Regularly clean all high touch areas in your direct workspace.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
COVID-19 diagnostic testing and contacting Human Resources
Employees are responsible for securing their own COVID-19 tests as needed via their primary health care provider, testing site or other testing provider. Human Resources has a list of available testing sites to share with you.
Employees who are not cleared by CampusClear must not come to campus, should monitor their symptoms and contact their primary health care provider when appropriate. You may not return to campus until you are symptom free, including being fever-free, for at least 24 hours. We encourage you to contact your primary health care provider as appropriate as well as your dean, division head or supervisor if you expect to be out for a period of time.
COVID-19 symptoms overlap with those of other illnesses or conditions such as the common cold, flu, allergies, etc. Out of an abundance of caution, do not come to campus if you present any of the symptoms listed in CampusClear even if you are vaccinated. Also, do not come to campus if you are symptomatic and awaiting diagnostic COVID-19 test results. If you believe your symptoms are due to something other than COVID-19, please consult with your primary health care provider.
Employees who are symptomatic and awaiting physician recommended COVID-19 test results must not come to campus for any reason. If you test negative, you may return to campus only when you are no longer symptomatic and are fever-free for 24 hours. If you test positive, you must notify Human Resources which will, in turn, conduct contact tracing and inform your dean, division head and/or supervisor. You can not return to campus until cleared by your primary health care provider.
Employees who test positive for COVID-19 must contact Human Resources as soon as possible. You must not come to campus for any reason until you are cleared to do so by your primary health care provider. Human Resources will, in turn, conduct contact tracing as needed and inform your dean, division head or supervisor regarding quarantine or isolation requirements that will keep you from coming to campus for an extended time.
Employees are asked to contact Human Resources and their supervisor to indicate that they are cleared to return to campus by their primary health care provider upon completion of quarantine or isolation.
Fully vaccinated employees, as of July 27 CDC guidance, who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be tested 3 to 5 days after exposure and wear a mask in public indoor settings (like Rider) for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result. In such situations, fully vaccinated individuals need to isolate if they test positive for COVID-19 in the prior 10 days or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms following exposure. Most fully vaccinated individuals with no COVID-like symptoms do not need to quarantine or be restricted from work following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 as long as they follow these testing and masking recommendations.
Unvaccinated employees who are identified by a contact tracer as a close contact of someone who is COVID-19 positive must quarantine and not return to campus until cleared by their primary health care provider. Unvaccinated individuals can end quarantine after 10 days if they are tested for COVID-19 between days 5 and 7 of quarantine, test negative and are not symptomatic. Or they can end quarantine after 14 days with no testing and no symptoms. Contact Human Resources and your dean, division head or supervisor to let them know you will be out for an extended time.
Contact tracing
Rider continues to work closely with the Lawrence Township Health Department to provide contact tracing for faculty, staff and students who test positive for COVID-19 and/or who come in close contact, as defined by the CDC, with someone who tests positive or is symptomatic.
Employees who receive a call from one of Rider’s contact tracers are expected to cooperate with them as part of their obligation as a member of the Rider community. Contact tracers are trained by the Johns Hopkins Contact Tracing Program and conduct their work with confidentiality and sensitivity.
If you have any questions or concerns related to this information, please contact Human Resources at 609-480-9648.
Surveillance testing
Unvaccinated employees and students are required to participate in regular surveillance testing during the fall and spring semesters. Employees who do not show proof of vaccination to their supervisor or faculty who have not verified vaccination through the online certification process will be assumed to be unvaccinated. More information will be provided as the fall semester approaches.
Rider has engaged the services of an industrial hygienist, an architectural firm and a mechanical engineer to examine campus building cleaning protocols, room layouts and HVAC/ventilation, respectively.
Normal day to day cleaning and disinfecting remain in place. Extra disinfecting will continue and is focused primarily in restrooms and high traffic common areas. Housekeeping staff clean offices, classrooms, restrooms and residential spaces based on CDC guidelines for disinfection and Occupational and Environmental Safety Office (OESO) protocols. Facilities Management continues to maintain anti-bacterial soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, hand-sanitizer stations and sanitizing wipes throughout campus buildings and residence halls. University vehicles used for Athletics, Public Safety, Student Affairs, Science and Facilities are frequently sanitized.
Employees are responsible for wiping down commonly used surfaces before and after use with products that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against COVID-19 and are appropriate for the surface. This includes any shared-space locations or equipment (e.g., copiers, printers, computers, A/V and other electrical equipment, coffee makers, refrigerators and microwaves, desks and tables, light switches, door knobs, etc.). Employees can contact Facilities Management for appropriate products.
Mechanical and HVAC systems have been assessed and readied. Rider follows the recommendations outlined in the “American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Position Document on Infectious Aerosols” dated April 14, 2020. For most campus buildings and areas, HVAC systems operate under normal conditions. Where appropriate, additional ventilation and outdoor air have been increased. Filtration systems will be increased if possible, for each system. Additional ventilation has been implemented for all systems to their maximum capability.
During the academic year, UV lighting will be installed in the air handlers for all academic buildings and public gathering spaces. These lights are designed to sterilize the air and kill microbes as they pass through the system. Temperature and humidity control will be maintained as normal.
All employees are strongly encouraged to get the COVID vaccine as soon as possible. Doing so not only helps to protect each individual and their family members, but also our larger Rider community.
Employees must show proof of vaccination to their supervisor. Those who do not show proof of vaccination will be assumed to be unvaccinated.
Unvaccinated employees must participate in regular surveillance testing, information for which will be provided closer to the start of the semester.
Employees are no longer restricted from professional travel. We just ask that employees follow CDC and New Jersey travel guidance.
Fall 2021 meal plans and Bronc Bucks will activate beginning September 2, 2021.
Please check the Rider Dining Services website for the latest happenings. Dining Services will continue to monitor State and CDC COVID-19 guidelines and update its operations accordingly.
Retail Dining Locations
The following practices are in effect this fall:
- Masks are required to be worn when not eating or drinking.
- Please wash and sanitize your hands prior to eating.
- Rider Dining will continue to remain predominantly cashless. Students, employees and guests are encouraged to download the GrubHub app for seamless transactions. Cash will continue to be accepted at Daly Dining Hall, Starbucks and The Market within Cranberry’s.
What else you need to know
- The Faculty/Staff dining room is open Monday through Friday with the first day of service on September 8.
- Pub dining will offer Dine-In and ToGo options daily. The Pub bar service is available on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 5pm to 11pm.
- The Bronc Bites food truck will be available on Wednesdays in partnership with Rider’s “On Wednesdays We Wear Cranberry!” campaign.
- Sweigart will reopen with a student-run café called Saxbys later this fall.
- Be on the lookout for promotional events, limited time offers and pop-up events happening all semester long.
- Check the Rider Dining Services website for the latest happenings.
Daly Dining Hall
The following dining practices are in effect this fall:
- You must be cleared by Campus Clear before entering the facility.
- Masks are required for all individuals when not eating or drinking.
- Everyone is asked to wash and sanitize their hands prior to eating.
- Contactless scanning is now available at the entrance using your mobile ID via the GET App.
- Limited self-service options are available. Please follow the sanitizing protocols at each station. Self-service beverages are also available. Please use a new cup for each use.
- Individual condiment packets are available.
Daly's offers three dining options this semester:
DINE-IN
Dine-In will continue to be available for all-you-care-to-eat dining.
TAKE-OUT
Option 1: Order ahead with the use of the GrubHub App during lunch and dinner. The GrubHub Take-Out option will allow guests to pick meals from several menu options. This will offer students on meal plans the ability to order ahead and have their meal pre-packaged for contact free pick up.
Option 2: If you would like to take out additional menu items that may not be included in the GrubHub Take-Out menu, you may select the option to come into the dining hall and ask the dining hall attendants to package the meal for take-out.
What will change?
- We are optimistically planning to open the Teaching Kitchen this fall.
- We have added many new gluten-friendly and vegan options, including being able to order these on Grub Hub for take-out.
- Some food stations have moved around and we have added some new ones.