Last updated: August 2, 2022

Drew University continues to actively monitor the COVID-19 situation. The University’s Status of Campus Operations Committee meets regularly. Our goal remains the same: to provide an authentic and meaningful experience for our students while prioritizing everyone’s health and safety.

Starting in fall 2021, the University has gone back to fully in-person learning and campus operations. This includes a more traditional on-campus experience, complete with robust, in-person academic, research, living, and learning opportunities.

Recent updates

February 2023: The University announced it would no longer require new students to be vaccinated against COVID-19, starting in the fall 2023 semester. The University will also no longer require proof of vaccination of current students or existing or new employees effective immediately. The University will continue to strong encourage all members of the Drew community to remain up to date with all vaccinations and boosters. All other active health and safety protocols remain in place for the remainder of the spring 2023 semester.

August 2022: The University announced an in-person fall 2022 semester. There will be no mandatory pre-arrival or arrival testing nor surveillance testing throughout the semester, regardless of vaccination status. Symptomatic testing will continue through the Health Service. The vaccine and booster mandates remain in effect for students and employees. Masks will not be required on campus other than at the Health Service, though faculty, staff, and student conveners may require masks to be worn at their discretion in their classroom, lab, office, or event location.

March 2022: The University announced individuals will no longer be required to wear masks in most on-campus locations. Masks will continue to be required in the Health Service and as part of quarantine and isolation protocols, including by those who are identified as close contacts. The official convener of an individual class, lab, gathering, or meeting—whether it be a faculty or staff member—will be able to require that participants wear a mask. Students who are convening gatherings or student meetings may also require participants to wear a mask.

Unvaccinated students and employees will no longer be required to take part in weekly surveillance testing. Vaccination and booster policies remain in effect.

Read the full announcement here.

January 2022: The first three days of classes of the spring 2022 semester—Wednesday, January 19, through Friday, January 21—met in a virtual format for all three schools. CLA classes and some Caspersen classes will be in-person starting Monday, January 24. Other Caspersen classes and all Theo classes will be virtual until February 7, 2022, when they will return to in-person learning.

All returning residential students, regardless of vaccination and booster status, were required to take a COVID-19 test upon arriving to campus. Campus operations and health and safety measures, including surveillance and symptomatic testing, mask requirements, and dining, will follow fall 2021 protocols. Read the full announcement here.

December 2021: Due to the increased transmission of COVID-19 in the region; the continued spread of the Delta and Omicron variants across the globe; and the CDC having approved COVID-19 booster shots for everyone ages 16 and older, Drew University has decided to require all students, faculty, staff, and contract workers to receive a COVID-19 booster as soon as possible, and no later than March 31, 2022. Read the announcement here.

July 2021: Following updated CDC COVID-19 guidance in July 2021 in response to the spread of the Delta variant, Drew confirmed health and safety policies in effect on campus through at least September 30, 2021. The updated policies and protocols, including those on vaccine requirements, masks, testing, and more, can be found here. These policies were extended until further notice on September 22, 2021.

April 2021: The University announced a policy requiring all students planning to be on campus for the 2021–22 academic year to be vaccinated for COVID-19. This includes undergraduate and graduate students; students participating in our joint and collaborative programs with other institutions; and visiting, exchange, non-matriculated, and special-program students. Read more about the policy, including answers to frequently asked questions here. On August 25, the University announced a policy requiring all employees to be vaccinated as well. Read the announcement here.