Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs
Last updated: March 8, 2022
Health FAQ • General FAQ • First Year and New Transfer Students • Returning Students • Tuition and Financial Aid • Faculty and Staff
For FAQs relating to the University’s policy requiring all students, faculty, and staff who plan on being on campus for the 2021-22 academic year to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and receive their boosters, click here.
The COVID-19 Dashboard will be updated regularly to reflect the number of positive cases on campus, as well as other information.
You will need to isolate for a designated period, which at this time is a minimum of five days (five days have passed since the onset of symptoms or positive test; you have had no fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications; and your symptoms are mostly resolved). You will be moved to an isolation space on campus. All students in isolation will receive instructions and support such as meal delivery and health check-ins.
Notify the Health Service right away so the contact tracing process can begin and you can be moved to an isolation space on campus. If it is after hours and the Health Service is closed, notify the RA on duty and they will assist with moving you to an isolation space. All students in isolation will receive instructions and support such as meal delivery and health check-ins.
Notify the Health Service as soon as possible. You should not come to campus until you have completed isolation protocols.
Notify your direct supervisor and Human Resources. If you have been on campus, HR will ask you questions to determine if you came into contact with anyone on campus during the period you could have been contagious. They will also review sick time and return to work policies.
If you were identified as a close contact, you will be contacted by Health Service staff or a member of the contact tracing team.
Individuals who are fully vaccinated and boosted and are close contacts will not need to quarantine if exposed to COVID-19. They must wear a mask for 10 days and test for COVID-19 five days after their exposure. Students can test in the Health Center and employees can test off campus at the most convenient location to them. Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days of exposure and remain without symptoms do not have to quarantine or get tested; however, they should wear a mask for 10 days after the date of exposure.
Individuals identified as close contacts who are not fully vaccinated and boosted must quarantine for five days and test five days after their exposure.
It is important to respond to any calls from the Health Department or the Health Service so we can provide instructions and guidance about how to keep you healthy. Quarantine housing will be available on campus, in addition to other services and support.
Individuals who are fully vaccinated and boosted and are close contacts will not need to quarantine if exposed to COVID-19. They must wear a mask for 10 days and test for COVID-19 five days after their exposure. Students can test in the Health Center and employees can test off campus at the most convenient location to them. Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days of exposure and remain without symptoms do not have to quarantine or get tested; however, they should wear a mask for 10 days after the date of exposure.
Individuals identified as close contacts who are not fully vaccinated and boosted must quarantine for five days and test five days after their exposure.
If you were identified as a close contact of an infected individual as the result of contact tracing, you will be notified directly and will be given instructions as to what you should do. Note that details and any identifying information about the infected individual will not be disclosed. If you have not been contacted directly, you do not need to take any special action. Remember to continue to follow all of the required health and safety precautions.
Not necessarily. If you are fully vaccinated and boosted, you do not need to quarantine.
In the instance outlined in this question, you would be considered a “contact of a contact” and would not have to quarantine. You should continue to wear your face covering, practice physical distancing, and wash your hands frequently.
Both isolation and quarantine are public health measures that involve separating people from one another in order to prevent the spread of illness. Isolation is separating those who are sick (they either have symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19) from others who are not sick to prevent it from spreading. Quarantine separates and restricts movement of those who were exposed to someone with COVID-19, to see if they become sick.
According to the CDC, the following counts as close contact:
First, you should isolate yourself from others as much as possible. Do not go to in-person class, the Commons, the gym, or other public places where you could expose others to illness. Next, contact the Health Service to discuss your symptoms with a provider. You might be scheduled for a telehealth visit or an in-person visit. Depending on your symptoms, a COVID-19 test or other testing may be recommended.
COVID-19 testing is available at the Health Service for students on campus who have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. Call the Health Service to schedule an appointment. You can also visit the NJ Department of Health website for other locations. If you are a student and get tested outside of Drew and the result is positive, notify the Health Service. If you are an employee and get tested outside of Drew and the result is positive, notify your supervisor and HR.
As with any illness, you should follow standard precautions to prevent spreading infection to others. This includes staying out of class and in-person activities until you are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and washing your hands frequently. Always follow the advice of a healthcare professional if you consult with one. Individuals experiencing any symptoms of a respiratory illness are strongly encouraged to wear a mask.
All visitors to campus, including event attendees, must comply with campus guidelines regarding masks. The current policy, announced March 8, 2022, does not require masks other than when visiting the Health Service, when following isolation and quarantine protocols, or at the request of a convener of a class, lab, gathering or meeting.
Drew students and employees were required to be vaccinated for COVID-19, and receive a booster by March 31, 2022, in an effort to keep everyone healthy. While visitors and event attendees will not be required to provide proof of vaccination unless they are overnight guests in a residence hall, we strongly encourage anyone visiting campus or attending an on-campus event to be fully vaccinated.
The University is fully in-person for the spring 2022.
Absolutely! Dedicated and engaged faculty members worked diligently to prepare for virtual learning and mentoring activities for remote and in-person instruction. This included professional development activities associated with online teaching and investment in technology and software that will enhance our ability to continue to offer the rigorous, personalized academic experience you expect from a Drew education. Faculty members will continue to offer engaging virtual experiences in the spring and are excited to include in-person courses and opportunities where possible. We will continue to take full advantage of remote learning through expanded opportunities available to students to make connections with professionals and other mentors and experts who wouldn’t otherwise be able to visit campus to connect with Drew students. Faculty will continue to be available to students through virtual office hours and, in some cases, in-person meetings. Departmentally-sponsored speakers and events, academic support services, library materials and support will all continue to be accessible virtually and, where possible, in person.
It is possible that there could be a point where we have to transition entirely to virtual instruction for a period of time during the fall semester should there be a mandate by state and local government, or the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE); or a significant rises in new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, positivity rates, and transmission rates not just on campus, but also in our region. Please be prepared for decisions that could affect both instruction and on-campus living.
Testing protocols mirrored fall 2021 operation through March 7—all exempt, unvaccinated students were tested weekly and fully vaccinated students did not have to enter surveillance testing protocols. On March 8, 2022, the University announced that unvaccinated students would no longer be required to participate in weekly surveillance testing.
As of March 8, 2022, masks are not required on campus in most instances, with the following exceptions:
While masks are no longer a requirement, the University wholeheartedly supports anyone who continues to wear a mask for any reason. We are instituting this policy change with the expectation that all members of the Drew community will be understanding of individual situations and choices.
All academic support services offered through the Center for Academic Excellence (subject tutoring, writing support, academic coaching) will be available both online and on campus. Details and instructions for making appointments can be found at drew.mywconline.com. Please direct any questions to cae@drew.edu.
All services offered through the Center for Internships & Professional Development (individual career advisement, internship application and course programming for INTC 200 & 201, employment search and support, employer and professional development) will be available both online and face-to-face. Details and instructions for making appointments can be found here. Please direct any question of services to career@drew.edu or to the Director, Christopher Carbone, at ccarbone3@drew.edu.
Tutoring for Theological School and Caspersen School ESOL students will be available both online and face-to-face. Please direct questions to Prof. Katherine Brown, kgbrown@drew.edu.
Students who are registered with the Office of Accessibility Resources will have access to approved accommodations. Testing accommodations will be offered on campus for in-person classes. Please direct any questions to the Director, Dana Giroux, dgiroux@drew.edu.
Counseling Services and the Center for Academic Excellence offer support in these areas.
Behavioral signage is posted around campus with guidelines on the use of face-coverings, physical distancing, and other safety protocols. Please visit the Communications Toolkit for the full list of signs. If you need additional signage in your area, a blank template and digital versions of each sign are available for your custom signage needs.
Commuter students, CLA seniors and juniors and Graduate and Theological residential students are allowed to bring a car to campus. As is policy, you will need to apply for a parking permit.
At this time, we have not changed the parking pass policy to include sophomores and first-year students.
You can email helpdesk@drew.edu; call 973-408-3971; visit uknow.drew.edu/techdocs; or look at the resources available at this website.
When a student attending an in-person course is required to quarantine or isolate, the student should notify their professor immediately. Faculty will work directly with the student to determine what type of accommodations work best for that course.
Spring 2022 nycTRECs will be conducted in person and in New York. Adherence to Drew’s vaccination policy is particularly important for our nycTREC participants, as many of our on-site partners in New York may mandate fully vaccinated visitors. We will continue to monitor the situation per Drew’s health and safety guidelines, as well as all the other resources we use to track conditions in New York. We are prepared to adapt if the conditions on campus or in the city require that we do so.
Please contact the Center for Global Education at globaled@drew.edu with any questions.
Drew University has distributed all initial CARES Act funding to qualified students who have applied. We are in the process of implementing a plan for the distribution of additional funds. Our focus will be to distribute the funds in the best way possible to serve the needs of our students affected by COVID-19. Information will be sent via Drew email and posted here as soon as it is available.
Need based financial aid is awarded to students as a result of their actual costs in attending Drew. All need-based awards for the fall term will be reviewed and adjusted accordingly.
Merit awards are honored for students who defer enrollment. Need-based aid for the spring 2021 term will be honored as well. For students deferring enrollment until fall 2021, need-based aid will be re-evaluated, as it is with all students, once we receive the 2021–2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Merit awards are honored for students who take a leave of absence. Need-based aid for the spring 2021 term will be honored as well. For students returning from a leave in Fall 2021, Need-based aid will be re-evaluated, as it is with all students, once we receive the 2021–2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Students should review and assess their individual needs for insurance. Drew has a partnership with a third party servicer, Grad Guard, in order to offer a Tuition Protection Plan to interested students/families. Students must be enrolled in this plan before the first day of the term to qualify. Refer to their website for more information, including frequently asked questions, including coverage regarding COVID-19.
Students should contact the Office of Financial Assistance for information on how being enrolled in fewer than 12 credits may affect their financial aid award.
Employees will be notified if their designation as Virtual (V) or Campus Access (C) changes. If an employee is designated as C, but believes they should not be on campus, they may apply for an accommodation. If you are an employee who wishes to request an accommodation to work entirely virtually for age or health reasons, you may do so by voluntarily notifying the Office of Human Resources through the COVID-19 faculty/staff accommodation request form
Health and safety protocols can be found here.
Drew is following federal health and safety guidelines as well as guidance from our state and local governments to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. The University remains committed to upholding community standards for health and safety, instructional quality, and interpersonal support for others, while flexibly balancing the community’s collective needs. We are individually and collectively responsible for supporting and achieving these standards.
If you are experiencing severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, or any type of medical emergency, call 9-1-1. Otherwise:
If you are told you have (or may have) COVID-19:
Please notify HR at humres@drew.edu and your supervisor if you have tested positive for COVID-19.
The University also is committed to supporting employees who are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. For those employees who are designated as “C” for campus access and believe they may be at higher risk and are unable to work on campus, the University will make every effort to consider a flexible solution on an evolving basis. The general categories associated with higher risk include, but are not limited to, persons 65 or older and persons of all ages with underlying medical conditions. For a complete list, you may review the CDC guidelines. If you are an employee who wishes to identify as a person with a disability or medical condition, in order to request an accommodation, you may do so by voluntarily notifying the Office of Human Resources through the COVID-19 faculty/staff accommodation request form. As noted on the form, information related to accommodation requests is confidential and will not be placed in your employee record or shared with supervisors without your approval.
If a current employee is unable to work because they need to care for their child(dren) and/or a family member diagnosed with COVID-19, the employee can use leave benefits available through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). For more information, please contact Human Resources.
Mail delivery has resumed. If your office remains virtual, please contact Kevin Healy at khealy@drew.edu.
Common areas and bathrooms in all buildings are cleaned at least one every work day. Cleaning of individual offices—which includes vacuuming, surface wiping, and high dusting—will take place once per month. The office cleaning schedule can be found here.
The University will continue to rely on employees to manage their own trash and recycling by depositing the discarded materials from your individual offices into lined bins in common areas, which are emptied daily.
Please contact Facilities if there is a problem in your office that requires additional cleaning, or if your office needs common area trash bins.
First ask your supervisor if you may take equipment home. Then email UT@drew.edu to notify them that you intend to remove any tech equipment. They will follow up with you regarding details such as cables, network connectivity, etc. Please take pictures of the computer and cables prior to unplugging anything. For those who have Windows desktops, while still on campus, you should turn on the desktop, login, and open all Microsoft Office products you intend to use (e.g. Word, Excel). This will ensure that all updates are installed and that a 180-day “clock” starts with a fresh 180 days for Office to continue to work. Once those steps are followed, you may proceed with taking the equipment home. As a reminder, Drew technology is to be used exclusively by the employee, not anyone else. Additional questions can be directed to helpdesk@drew.edu.
Ask your supervisor if you may purchase the supplies. The supervisor will be responsible for ensuring budget funds are available. Once approval is received, submit your order using the online methods available for ordering. Procurement Services has implemented an online ordering tool for Staples and Amazon to facilitate the purchase of routine supplies. Information can be found on the Procurement website under the “How To” guides.
Dial *67 before you dial the phone number. That will block your phone number from appearing on Caller ID.
Shared University vehicles and golf carts must be cleaned and disinfected after each use or regularly between shifts. When possible, employees will utilize the same vehicle throughout the working shift, and the vehicle will not contain more than one individual. In the event two individuals (at a maximum) need to share the vehicle, windows will be opened to increase ventilation, and face coverings must be worn.
As always, You can email helpdesk@drew.edu; call 973-408-3971; or fill out a support request at help.drew.edu. Additionally, faculty are invited to review this resource page and staff are invited to review this resource page.