Free PCR testing is once again available to members of the Rowan University community who are asymptomatic for COVID-19.

Testing began on the Glassboro campus on Sept. 15, 2021, and consists of a self-administered shallow nasal swab. It's offered every Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Owl’s Nest on the first floor of the Chamberlain Student Center.

The asymptomatic testing program is completely voluntary. Employees and students are welcome and encouraged to make the tests part of their regular routines regardless of whether or not they have had possible exposure to the virus. Asymptomatic students and employees can undergo testing as often as they wish.

Getting tested
Prior to the first test, participants must register for an account with JCM (a registration web site). To register, go to the website, click on “forgot password,” enter your Rowan email and follow instructions to complete registration. The QR code necessary to get tested and check out can be found in the registration card tab.

According to current CDC guidance, for the most accurate results, anyone who is asymptomatic but concerned that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should be tested five days after possible exposure.

Results from the test will be posted on the JCM site usually within 24-48 hours.

Students who submit a declination form are expected to wear a mask and will be required to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing protocols starting Sept. 1, 2021. 

Testing will be done in the Owl’s Nest (Chamberlain Student Center). The Office of the Dean of Students will manage the tracking and scheduling of testing.

Students who do not comply with testing will be held accountable through removal from in-person classes, revocation of housing and dismissal from the University.

All students must submit proof of vaccination or must fill out a declination form that states they are opting out from taking the vaccine due to medical or religious reasons.Students who are unvaccinated must complete weekly COVID-19 testing and follow mask-wearing protocols. The Office of the Dean of Students will coordinate tracking and testing.

Yes. On the Glassboro campus, vaccination clinics for the Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines are held every Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Owl’s Nest.

Additional vaccination sites are available near Rowan's campuses through Rowan Medicine.

No, but they will need to mask in all indoor public settings. According to CDC guidelines, if you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you should get tested 3-5 days after your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. You also should wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative. You should isolate for 10 days if your test result is positive. Please contact the Wellness Center, 856-256-4333, for additional information.

As of Aug. 23, Rowan University is no longer accepting personal declinations. Students who chose the personal declination option have until Sept. 1 to submit a declination form demonstrating a valid religious or medical exemption or until Sept. 7 to submit proof of their first dose. Students who receive the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines must show proof of their second dose by Oct. 7.

The deadline to receive vaccination incentives is Sept. 1. Full-time students may receive a $500 credit to their accounts (plus $500 for residential students) after submitting proof of their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or proof of receiving the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Part-time students are eligible to receive a prorated incentive depending on course load. Visit the Vaccination Incentive Program section of the Wellness Center homepage for instructions.

Students with a medical condition or disability that prevents in-person class attendance can contact the Office of Disability Resources for information and assistance. Students are not to contact individual instructors to request this accommodation; all requests must be directed to Disability Resources.

That will be determined by the type of activity and where it will happen.

If a positive case is identified and the affected student attended a class within two days prior to onset of symptoms, the students identified as close contacts and professor will be notified that they were in a classroom with a known positive case. But present CDC guidance does not call for further action.

Classes are not required to quarantine and should continue to meet as scheduled in the classroom.

The contact tracing process evaluates all positive cases and determines the appropriate course of action. If conditions warrant a change in our protocols, we will be sure to update the instructions immediately.

Faculty will receive a list of students in their in-person classes who have either not submitted proof of vaccination or completed a declination form. Faculty should ask those students to leave class and submit required documentation to the Wellness Center. Faculty will be notified once a student has completed their required documentation.

When information about vaccination compliance is shared with faculty members, the Dean of Students also will provide faculty with guidance on how to handle situations with students who have not submited proper vaccination documentation.

Prior to the start of class, all students will have been repeatedly notified by the Dean of Students that they are ineligible to attend class, live on campus or participate in activities because they have not submitted their documentation.

Students, faculty and staff have access to dining options University wide. Gourmet Dining has implemented operational changes that follow current NJ State and Board of Health guidelines with regard to food service, physical distancing and group gatherings. Although subject to change based upon real-time conditions and data, the following is a general outline for dining options.

In an effort to best meet the needs of the community, mobile ordering (Grubhub) has been expanded to incorporate all current dining locations, including the addition of advance order/to-go offerings from Glassworks Eatery at Holly Pointe Commons. Additional preventative measures designed to protect the community include the conversion of all self-serve dining options to full service and the temporary exclusion of reusable to-go containers and mugs.

Gourmet Dining continues to operate within the NJ State guidelines of safe food service at Glassworks Eatery at Holly Pointe Commons, The Market Place, Rogo and Prof’s Place. Glassworks Eatery is open for both take out and dine-in services daily.

Student organizations can resume in-person meetings. Virtual meeting technology remains available for hybrid meetings to accommodate both in-person and online students who are also encouraged to join clubs. Sport clubs have resumed practices and intercollegiate play.

Guidelines for in-person meetings on campus: If an entire club or organization is meeting indoors, everyone needs to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. If a handful of group members meet in a room that allows for social distancing and everyone is vaccinated, no masks are required. However, if anyone in a group is unvaccinated, everyone needs to wear a mask.

Student programming can be viewed on ProfLink.

In the Rec Center, gyms and fitness classes, masks may be required in some circumstances. There are mask exceptions in place for activities that a reasonable person would conclude a mask is impractical and/or a danger.

Please follow the policies posted at each facility. Additionally, visit the Campus Recreation website for information on what to expect at the Fitness Center on Victoria Street and the Student Recreation Center. 

Deployed students receive support with enrollment and course completion options. Military students should speak with representatives in the Military Services Office for issues related to training absences, post-deployment quarantining, etc.

Employees should contact their supervisors and Human Resources for any accommodations. The University will continue to review and adjust policies as needed.

In June, the Governor rescinded the COVID accommodation providing for remote work when operationally possible. Therefore, all accommodation requests are processed in accordance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA requires medical certification and an interactive process for consideration of accommodation requests. The ADA provides that an accommodation should be considered if it allows a person with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without undue hardship to the institution. The medical certification is required so that a fair and consistent process can be followed.

The process involves several different steps, including seeking clarification from the doctor, working with the supervisor and engaging the employee. No decision is made without the interaction of many parties. An appeal for reconsideration can be submitted to HR. The appeal process will depend upon the circumstances and who made the original decision.

Rowan has been proactive in developing a flexible work policy. There are universities in New Jersey that have either decided not offer it or are only studying the option at this time. The flex work policy provides for remote work in a manner that still provides for appropriate coverage for student and patient services.

Employees with a coronavirus-related issue or concern should contact the Wellness Center and Human Resources by completing this form. Rowan students with COVID-19 issues or concerns should submit a Wellness Center Student COVID-19 Form and then contact The Wellness Center for guidance. Call 856-256-4333 before coming in. The center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.

Students who opt to see their own physician or obtain testing off campus should also notify The Wellness Center, so we can track cases and conduct contact tracing, if necessary.

Classrooms and public spaces are being cleaned and sanitized daily. Rowan’s Facilities team installed plexiglass where necessary as well as sanitizer stations, wipes and spray. These products will be available so when a student leaves or enters a room they can wipe down their space. And, of course, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to wash their hands often throughout the day.

Our plans are flexible and designed to accommodate a variety of needs based upon individual circumstances. When a student tests positive, we will connect with the student to gather important information related to isolation and/or treatment protocol. 

Some students may elect to return home to see their family physician and get support from loved ones. Some will only need monitoring and their living arrangement may not require a change. Others may need to relocate to Triad for a period of time.

Triad Hall, a 218-bed hall on the main campus, has been designated for quarantining. Arrangements have been made with Rowan’s dining vendor to provide food to anyone in isolation. Further, Rowan provides medical services, student services and virtual instruction to students in self-isolation.

As is always the case in emergent medical situations, Rowan will notify individuals that students list as emergency contacts if they become seriously ill. Cases will be handled individually and with the utmost respect for students’ wishes.

If a positive case is identified and the affected student attended a classroom within three days prior to onset of symptoms, the students and professor will be notified that they were in a classroom with a known positive case, but present guidance does not call for further action.

If students have life circumstances that prevent them from completing their coursework, they should communicate with their professors and Dean of Students Kevin Koett, deanofstudents@rowan.edu. The University will work with the students to support them in their academic work until they can resume normal activities.

The University has instituted a Daily Screening application to collect baseline information on wellness. Students and employees using Rowan networks are prompted to fill out a brief survey upon logging on each day.

Yes. Visit The Wellness Center online to find resources or to make an appointment. The center offers therapy and support groups, workshops, pet therapy and “Chill and Chat” sessions.

In public health, we must protect the public while also protecting confidentiality.

After we learn about a confirmed case, we do an immediate investigation with that individual. We conduct a thorough assessment to find out who that person has been in contact with, including at meetings, labs or activities, as well as the individual’s partners or friends, and any other risk factors that may contribute to the spread of the disease. Close contacts are individuals who are within 6 feet of the positive case for more than 10 minutes. 

When a close contact is identified, that person is contacted and a phone investigation is done with that person, as well. 

If a student has attended a class, the professor is notified that the student will be out due to isolation or quarantine -- the faculty member will not get specific information regarding an infection. If the professor is considered a close contact, the instructor is notified as such and given information and guidance on what to do. 

If, after the investigation with the contact, there's a risk we cannot quantify or we are uncertain if others may be exposed, we will make a broader notification including the time and specific location where it may have occurred. But that will not be a regular occurrence.

You can track confirmed positive cases on campus on the Return to Rowan web site.

If you are a student, contact Student Success Programs. 

If you are a Rowan employee, contact the Office of Employee Equity for more information.

No. They may, however, require masks to be worn properly over the nose and mouth. Face shields are not acceptable by themselves.

The CDC recommends masks that have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric; completely cover the nose and mouth; fit snugly against the sides of the face and don't have gaps; and have a nose wire to prevent air from leaking out of the top.

Yes, in some circumstances. Please follow the policies posted at each facility. 

Note, there are mask exceptions in place for activities that a reasonable person would conclude a mask is impractical and/or a danger. Physical activity is one of those exceptions. As an example, a person who is swimming would not be expected to wear a mask. Similarly, a person running on a treadmill may not be wearing a mask. Instead, we will work to ensure that machines are a reasonable distance from each other as a risk-reduction measure. Furthermore, participation in recreation in Rowan facilities is a personal choice (as opposed to a required activity). As a result, we will post signs and information that will share that certain activities may preclude people from masking.

Yes. With the semester now underway, we have experienced a variety of scenarios involving COVID-19 exposures and infection, leading to many questions about how to manage them, particularly in the classroom. 

Below are answers to commonly asked questions. The guidelines and protocols described may change, of course, as CDC and state guidelines shift and as the University continues to carefully monitor infection rates across our campus locations, in our host communities and in surrounding counties.

Guidelines and protocols for classroom management
(This document is on the Faculty Center’s website for future reference.)

Sept. 16, 2021

What happens when The Wellness Center or the Dean of Students Office identifies a student as testing positive for COVID-19?
If a positive case is identified and the affected student attended a class within two days prior to the onset of symptoms, the student’s professors will receive an email from the Dean of Students Office specifying that the student cannot attend class in person. Students identified as close contacts will also be notified that they were in a classroom with a known positive case and will be given instructions based on the specific scenario. 

Vaccinated close contacts can still attend class, but should be tested three to five days after exposure, according to CDC and state guidelines. Unvaccinated close contacts must quarantine for 10 consecutive  days. The contact-tracing process evaluates all positive cases and determines the appropriate course of action. Students who have not received notification of a positive case should assume they are not considered close contacts. 

Should I promote social distancing in the classroom?
Faculty should continue to manage their classrooms as they see fit. According to CDC and state guidelines, social distancing is not required as long as individuals have at least one layer of protection, such as masks and/or vaccination.

Should I announce to the class that a student(s) recently tested positive?
It’s at the faculty member’s discretion. However, the individual cannot be identified. Faculty can tell the class that a student has been diagnosed with COVID-19, and that close contacts have been notified as well. Anyone who is anxious about the situation should be encouraged to take part in Rowan’s voluntary asymptomatic testing program, held on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Owl’s Nest. The faculty member can also offer a remote attendance option. 

Can I continue to teach my course remotely if I test positive, but I am asymptomatic or able to do so?
If you are in quarantine or isolation and able to continue to teach your class remotely, please do. The University has worked with the AFT to develop an emergency remote instruction policy, whether a faculty member is ill or needs to stay home to care for a sick family member. That policy will be coming out shortly. 

What should I do if a student notifies me of a positive test, but I have not received notice from the University?
Please notify the Dean of Students Office immediately by completing the COVID Positive or Exposure Report. Faculty are not breaking any confidentiality rules by filing this report. 

Can I offer a remote attendance option to students?
The University has adopted the following policy in an effort to give faculty and students the flexibility needed. 

Remote attendance option for students in the event of a positive COVID case
In the event that a student has attended an in-person class within two days of symptoms or a positive test, the instructor is notified by email. If the class was a typical forward-facing class in which masks were worn consistently, no others in attendance are considered close contacts and are not required to quarantine or test, and the class can continue to meet normally. 

Instructors are provided with this message from The Wellness Center via email:

This a notice that a student was in your class [title] on [date/time] within two days of symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test. There were no close contacts reported by the individual. Mask-wearing was reported at all times. If, during this class, there were small-group discussions or face-to-face interactions that lasted more than 15 minutes, please respond with the names of the individuals who participated in those activities. Otherwise, no action needs to be taken on your part. Thank you for continuing to support a healthy campus through masking and following our Return to Rowan protocols. 

Under some circumstances, attendance in class by a COVID-positive student or instructor could result in the need for additional public health measures as identified through the contact-tracing process. In such an event, the instructor will be provided with alternate instructions. In most cases, it is likely that the actual close contacts of an infected student can be identified and appropriate public health intervention can be provided to those specific students. However, at the discretion of the instructor, any class with a COVID-positive student can implement an optional remote attendance policy for the students for a period of 10 consecutive calendar days following the last date a COVID-positive student attended the class. During this optional remote attendance period, students may attend that class in person or remotely, following notification to the department head/chair and dean of the college or school housing the course, especially when one or more of the parameters below are not met:

• If masks were not worn
• If there are multiple cases in a single classroom within a two-week time frame
• If the class session was not a traditional forward-facing arrangement and students interacted in face-to-face close proximity for 15 or more minutes

Instructors and students are reminded of the importance of consistent wearing of well-fitting masks in class to reduce infection risk and to prevent disruptions to in-person attendance. Additionally, students are encouraged to note the names of those with whom they work in face-to-face groups to facilitate contact tracing in the event of a positive test. 

Admissions is offering limited on-campus tours. We are also developing a self-guided tour on Spotify and students may watch a virtual tour on YouTube or sign up for Virtual Events throughout the semester.

Rowan developed an Acknowledgment of Responsibility that students must complete after receiving educational materials related to COVID-19. Compliance expectations have been included in the Student Code of Conduct.

We care about our students and we want them to be successful. We are also committed to holding students accountable. If students don’t comply with those standards, they may be asked to leave the Rowan community.

Residential students both on and off campus are receiving personal visits from our Dean of Students to remind them of our expectations. We’re also working closely with Glassboro and Gloucester County law enforcement officials.

We’re reporting the number of confirmed cases we’ve identified here.

After we learn about a confirmed case, we do an immediate investigation with that individual. We conduct a thorough assessment to find out who that person has been in contact with, including at meetings, labs or activities, as well as the individual’s partners or friends, and any other risk factors that may contribute to the spread of the disease. Close contacts are individuals who are within 6 feet of the positive case for more than 10 minutes.

When a close contact is identified, that person is contacted and a phone investigation is done with that person, as well.

If, after the investigation with the contact, there's a risk we cannot quantify or we are uncertain if others may be exposed, we will make a broader notification including the time and specific location where it may have occurred. But that will not be a regular occurrence.