Important COVID-19 information for students and employees

Rider University provides the following information regarding COVID-19 for students, faculty and staff in order to minimize the risk of severe illness and to mitigate the spread of this highly contagious respiratory illness.

It is the responsibility of students, faculty and staff, as members of the broader Rider community, to be familiar with this information, monitor their symptoms and exercise their best judgment to help minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection and spread.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus strain first detected in late fall 2019. There are many types of human coronaviruses, including some that cause mild upper-respiratory illnesses. COVID-19 is a new disease not previously seen in humans. Most of those who contract COVID-19 have relatively mild symptoms and can care for themselves at home. Others may require hospitalization if symptoms worsen. It is incumbent on each of us to take steps to minimize the spread of the virus to others (NJ Department of Health and CDC links below for further information).

Common signs of infection include:

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

Monitoring your symptoms

Given the contagious nature of COVID-19, it is important that we all help mitigate the spread of the virus by monitoring our symptoms daily and NOT coming to campus or class when we are symptomatic, whether or not we tested positive for COVID-19.  Students are asked to reach out right away to the Student Health Center or their healthcare provider if they experience any of the above symptoms and employees are asked to contact their primary healthcare provider when needed.  Minimizing contact with others and not coming to campus or class until your symptoms are improving or have subsided, in accordance with NJ Department of Health guidance will help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 along with a host of other illnesses such as flu, strep throat, etc.

"I don't feel well. What should I do?"

As of the 2022-23 academic year, Rider University is no longer facilitating COVID-19 contact tracing or case management.  It is up to each of us to contact the Student Health Center (students) or your healthcare provider (employees) as well as NJ Department of Health and CDC guidance for what to do if you test positive for COVID-19 or if suspect you may have COVID-19.

Guidance for students:

If you feel unwell, contact the Student Health Center at 609-896-5060 or [email protected] for an appointment to be seen.  Avoid contact with others by not coming to campus or class until you have been seen at the Student Health Center.  The Student Health Center will provide testing and information and answer questions you may have.

If you test positive off campus (via an at-home test or through a healthcare provider), you are not required to report this to Rider.  Please follow NJ Department of Health COVID-19 isolation guidelines.

If you have to miss assignments or class due to illness, report your absence to your professor and  to the Dean of Students (609-896-5101 or [email protected]) who will issue standard class absence emails to your faculty.  Remember that you are responsible for reaching out to your faculty to make up any missed work.

Guidance for employees:

If you feel unwell, avoid contact with others by not coming to campus until your symptoms have subsided or are improving as per NJ Department of Health guidance.   You may also consider reaching out to your primary healthcare provider with any questions.  Also, reach out to your supervisor to inform them of your absence.  There is no need to report your illness to Human Resources as was required during the height of the pandemic.

How you can take care of yourself:

  • Get plenty of rest
  • Drink plenty of fluids
  • Take Tylenol or Motrin for fever or muscle aches (Read and follow the instructions on the label)
  • Wash hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing
  • Wear a cloth face covering when you are around others
  • Monitor for any new or worsening symptoms. Students should contact the Student Health Center. Employees should contact their primary healthcare provider.

COVID-19 vaccination

Rider requires all students who are not enrolled in fully online degree programs to be COVID-19 vaccinated (one dose of a single series or two doses of a two-dose series) prior to the start of classes in any given semester.  Boosters are not required but are highly encouraged. 

View additional information regarding Rider’s student COVID-19 and other immunization requirements: 

Additional resources

For updated information about COVID-19 cases in New Jersey, visit the New Jersey Department of Health’s website.

For information on quarantine and isolation guidelines, please access the following external websites: