Student Health and Wellness

The following requirements are in effect for students as per Rider’s Resolved and Ready Plan: 

• Complete daily symptom monitoring, including temperature taking, via CampusClear before coming to campus. Commuter students must do so each day before attending class or coming to campus for any other reason.  Resident students must do so each day before attending class or before noon if you do not have an in-person class. Only come to campus if you are cleared by the app to do so.
  
  CampusClear is a free mobile application available for iPhone and Android devices and the web. 
  
  Faculty are authorized to check that students have completed their CampusClear requirements and are cleared to come to campus that day before allowing them to attend in-person classes. Students who do not cooperate will not be allowed to attend their in-person classes and run the risk of violating the Student Code of Social Conduct.
  
  Staff will check that students have completed CampusClear and are cleared to be on campus before entering Daly Dining Hall, the SRC Schimek Family Fitness Center and the Student Health Center.  All students, regardless of vaccination status, will also be required to wear a face covering when seeking services at the Student Health Center.
• Do NOT come to campus if you are feeling ill or have been in close contact with someone who is diagnosed with COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptomatic. Remain off campus or in your residence hall room, do not attend class or any activities and contact the Student Health Center as soon as possible for further instructions. You can reach the Student Health Center at 609-896-5060 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Weeknights and weekends, contact Public Safety at 609-896-5029.
• 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 should also be worn while engaged in campus-related transportation. Masks are not required when outdoors regardless of vaccination status. 
  
  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. Students can reach out to the Student Accessibility and Support Services office if they wish to seek an accommodation for wearing a face shield instead of a mask.
• Maintain other healthy practices:     
  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer frequently. Hand sanitizer dispensers are located across campus.  
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow. 
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

Know the symptoms of COVID-19

COVID-19 symptoms include the following:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fever or chills (100.4 or above)
• Muscle or body aches 
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• New loss of taste or smell 
• Congestion or runny nose 
• Nausea or vomiting 
• Diarrhea 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, do NOT come to campus or leave your residence hall room before contacting the Student Health Center as soon as possible at 609-896-5060. Weeknights and weekends, contact Public Safety at 609-896-5029.

In the classroom

Students are required to complete Campus Clear before coming to class.  Faculty are authorized to check that students have completed their Campus Clear requirements and are cleared to come to campus that day. 

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.  This includes classrooms. 

As per CDC guidance, face shields are not a substitute for masks.  They can only be worn at Rider by faculty when they are teaching in the classroom.  Students can reach out to the Student Accessibility and Support Services office if they wish to seek an accommodation for wearing a face shield instead of a mask.

Students who do not abide by these requirements are not allowed to attend in-person classes or activities/events and run the risk of violating the Student Code of Social Conduct.

Classrooms are cleaned more frequently as per CDC and NJ Department of Health guidelines for disinfection and Occupational and Environmental Safety Office (OESO) protocols.

Students who fail to adhere to Rider’s COVID-19 guidelines will be referred to the Office of Community Standards for a violation of the Student Code of Social Conduct, specifically, 4.12 Failure to adhere to campus-wide pandemic/emergency directives. Potential sanctions could include loss of housing and suspension, among others.

Testing

Diagnostic testing

The Student Health Center provides diagnostic COVID-19 testing for students who present COVID-19 symptoms.  Contact the Student Health Center at 609-896-5060.

Advance testing

No advance testing is required prior to the start of the spring 2022 semester.

Surveillance testing

Unvaccinated students, including those who are granted COVID-19 vaccination exemptions, are required to participate in weekly surveillance testing.  Students who do not cooperate run the risk of violating the Student Code of Social Conduct including removal from housing and suspension.  Students who are awaiting surveillance test results and who do not present COVID-19 symptoms can attend in-person classes and on-campus activities.

Surveillance testing during spring 2022 is extended to include vaccinated students on a voluntary basis.  Students will be chosen randomly the week before and will be notified via [email protected]. 

Reporting requirements

Students who test positive somewhere other than the Student Health Center or who have been identified by a contact tracer as a close contact of someone who is COVID-19 positive MUST report their situation to the Student Health Center as soon as possible to receive further instructions. You can contact the Student Health Center at 609-896-5060. Weeknights and weekends, contact Public Safety at 609-896-5029.

Contact tracing

Rider works closely with the Lawrence Township Health Department and New Jersey Department of Health to provide contact tracing for 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. Rider’s team of contact tracers work closely with the Student Health Center.

A close contact is someone who has been within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, with or without a mask, of someone who is COVID-19 positive.

Contact tracers are trained and conduct their work with confidentiality and sensitivity.  They will provide information to students and check on them periodically.

Students who receive a call from one of Rider’s contact tracers are expected to cooperate with them as part of the student responsibility pledge and their obligation as a member of the Rider University community.  Failure to do so is a violation of the Student Code of Social Conduct.

Rider follows CDC and New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) guidance regarding quarantine and isolation.  Resident and commuting students who are quarantined or isolated may not attend in-person classes or on-campus activities for any reason for the duration of their quarantine or isolation.

Students who fail to adhere to Rider’s COVID-19 guidelines will be referred to the Office of Community Standards for a violation of the Student Code of Social Conduct, specifically, 4.12 Failure to adhere to campus-wide pandemic/emergency directives. Potential sanctions could include loss of housing and suspension, among others.

Close contacts

A close contact is someone who has been within 6 feet of someone who is COVID-19 positive for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, with or without a mask.

Unvaccinated and unboosted students: Unvaccinated and unboosted students who come in close contact with someone with COVID-19 require to be quarantined.  Residential students who require quarantine and who live further than 2 hours away from campus or who have other extenuating circumstances are housed in on-campus quarantine space separate from their assigned residence hall space. Otherwise, they must quarantine at home. They are not allowed to attend in-person classes, activities or events until cleared to do so by the Student Health Center.  That clearance may or may not involve testing.

• Quarantine lasts at least 5 full days (date of exposure is considered day 0).  
• Quarantine can end assuming the student is asymptomatic or tests negative. 
• Those released from quarantine must wear a mask around others for another 5 days.

Vaccinated/boosted students: Fully vaccinated/boosted students who come into close contact with someone who is  COVID-19 positive do NOT need to quarantine but must wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days and get tested at least 5 days after the last close contact. They can attend classes and activities as long as they are asymptomatic and follow these testing and masking guidelines.   

Students who have had confirmed COVID in the last 90 days:  Students who had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days who come into close contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive do NOT need to quarantine but must wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days. They are not required to get tested. They can attend classes and activities as long as they are asymptomatic and follow these testing and masking guidelines.  

Symptomatic students: Quarantine is also required for unvaccinated and vaccinated students who are symptomatic and awaiting diagnostic COVID-19 test results.  Depending on the circumstances, students may quarantine in place within their assigned residence hall room or be housed in space separate from their assigned room.  They are not allowed to attend in-person classes, activities or events until cleared to do so by the Student Health Center.  Students who quarantine in place can order and pick up food from Dalys.  

Fully vaccinated students who live in a household with someone who is immunosuppressed, at increased risk of severe disease, or unvaccinated (including children <12 years of age) could also consider masking at home for 14 days following a known exposure 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 classes, work or activities following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 if they follow the testing and masking recommendation above.  Fully vaccinated students should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days following an exposure.

Close contacts with ongoing exposure

Ongoing exposure refers to individuals who live in the same household with someone who is COVID-19 positive.  This does not refer to residential students.  It can refer to students who live at home or who share an off-campus residence with other students.

Unvaccinated students: Unvaccinated students with ongoing exposure are required to get tested immediately when they are identified as a close contact.  They must quarantine immediately and throughout the isolation period of the person with COVID-19.  They must continue to quarantine for an additional 14 days starting the day after the end of the isolation for the COVID-19 positive individual.  They are required to test again 5 to 7 days after the end of the isolation of the infected household member.  They must also wear a mask when in contact with the person with COVID-19 throughout the person’s isolation period and with any other people in the home until quarantine ends.  

Vaccinated students: Vaccinated students with ongoing exposure are required to get tested 5 to 7 days after their first exposure. A person with COVID-19 is considered infectious starting 2 days before they develop symptoms, or 2 days before the date of their positive test if they do not have symptoms.  They are required to get tested again 5 to 7 days after the end of isolation for the person with COVID-19.  They must wear a mask when in contact with the person with COVID-19 throughout the infected person’s isolation period.  They must also wear a mask indoors on campus until 14 days after the infected person’s isolation period ends or until they receive their final test result.

Isolation

Isolation is required when someone tests positive for COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status. Isolated students can not attend in-person classes, activities or events.

Resident students who live more than 2 hours away from campus or who have extenuating circumstances and who test positive for COVID-19 are isolated in on-campus space separate from their assigned residence hall.  Otherwise, they are required to return home to isolate.  Commuting students who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate in their own off-campus location as per instructions from the Student Health Center or contact tracers.  

Students must isolate for at least 5 full days if they test positive for COVID-19. 

• Calculating isolation: Day 0 is the first day of your symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms began or the day you took your COVID-19 test.  
• Isolation can end as long as the student is fever-free for 24 hours and other symptoms are improving. They must continue isolation if fever or symptoms persist.  
• Students who have questions regarding when to end isolation should contact the Student Health Center (609-896-5060) or their primary healthcare provider. 
• Students must wear a well-fitted mask when around others through day 10.  That includes while at home around others. 
• Students should avoid activities where they cannot wear a mask. 

If students test positive but have no symptoms, they can end isolation after 5 full days of their positive test (day 1).  If symptoms develop within one week of the positive test, the 5-day isolation period starts over with day 0 being the first day of symptoms. They must then follow recommendations for ending isolation for persons who have COVID-19 symptoms.

What to expect with quarantine or isolation

The Student Health Center and Rider contact tracers provide assistance to students in quarantine and isolation, checking on them and providing information regarding symptoms, resources, length of stay, behavioral expectations, etc. Residential students who quarantine/isolate will also be assisted in their move to quarantine/ isolation housing and receive information regarding dining services and what to bring with them.

Students receive an initial call or email from either the Student Health Center or a Rider contact tracer. More detailed information follows via email. Students in quarantine or isolation are also provided the cellphone number and email address of the contact tracer for any questions or concerns.

The contact tracer sends faculty the standard class absence notice via email when a student requires isolation or quarantine. Students should also contact their faculty to discuss course requirements, etc.

Behavioral expectations while in quarantine and isolation

Residential students who are assigned quarantine or isolation housing separate from their assigned room cannot leave the building, have guests or interact with anyone.

Exceptions include the following:

• Using the bathroom and laundry room
• Getting your meals and deliveries
• Accessing the pantry for snacks and drinks

Students who fail to adhere to these guidelines will be referred to the Office of Community Standards for a potential violation of the Student Code of Social Conduct, specifically, 4.12 Failure to adhere to campus-wide pandemic/emergency directives. Potential sanctions could include loss of housing and suspension, among others.

Residential students who are instructed to quarantine in place can leave their room to use the bathroom and laundry room and to pick up ordered food from Daly Dining Hall. They can not otherwise leave their room.  

Rider University requires all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled this fall to receive a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or World Health Organization (WHO). This applies to all students who are enrolled or will otherwise be present on campus for any reason. Students enrolled in fully online degree programs who do not physically come to campus will not require vaccination, although it is strongly encouraged. Students can find helpful information by visiting New Jersey’s vaccination site, Pennsylvania’s vaccination site or by searching for vaccination information in your home state outside of these locations.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination (completion of the two-dose vaccine or one dose for single-dose vaccine) must be submitted via the Healthy Broncs portal. Students who do not submit proof of completed vaccination or one dose of a two-dose series prior to the start of the semester are not allowed to attend in-person classes, live in the residence halls or otherwise access campus unless granted an exemption (discussed below).

COVID boosters are not required but are highly encouraged.  Students are asked to submit proof of their booster via the Healthy Broncs portal to facilitate contact tracing during the semester. 

Please note for new students: You are also required to submit proof of several other vaccinations as well via the Healthy Broncs portal. Please visit the Student Health Center website for more information.

Information is available on the Student Health Center website regarding medical and religious exemptions. The deadline for exemption requests for new and returning students was July 23, 2021. Any questions regarding exemptions can be directed to the Student Health Center.  

For those students granted exemptions, certain on-campus participation is not guaranteed and will be limited in response to the course of the pandemic, vaccination rates and efficacy, and State and CDC guidance.  Unvaccinated students require masks anywhere indoors on campus and must participate in weekly surveillance testing among potential other precautions.

Promoting the overall health and well-being of students is a priority.  Direct services for physical and mental health will primarily be in-person. When appropriate to meet the clinical needs of students, telehealth appointments will be available. The regularly offered education outreach on well-being will include specific emotional issues related to the pandemic and their educational situation.

We will continue to support students in need as they navigate difficult personal and home situations. Supports will include review of student cases by our student welfare committee, referrals to the Rider Resource Pantry, promoting student access to technology required for learning, access to books, and availability of emergency funding.

For information regarding a variety of other resources available to students this semester, please visit the Resolved and Ready resources page.

Daly Dining Hall

The following dining practices are in effect:

• 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.
• 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.

Retail dining locations (e.g. Crans, Pub, Saxbys, Starbucks)

The following practices are in effect:

• 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

• 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 has reopened with a student-run café called Saxbys 
• 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.

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.

Housekeeping staff clean offices, classrooms, restrooms and residential spaces based on CDC guidelines for disinfection and Occupational and Environmental Safety Office (OESO) protocols. There are increased nightshift deep cleanings and more frequent classroom cleaning. 

Facilities Management is also maintaining antibacterial soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, hand-sanitizer stations and sanitizing wipes throughout campus buildings and residence halls. All University vehicles for Athletics, Public Safety, Student Life, Science and Facilities are frequently sanitized.

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.  

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. 

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