Q: If a family member of an instructor is required to quarantine due to potential exposure, does the instructor need to quarantine as well? (August 30, 2021)
A: Please refer to the university’s COVID-19 FAQs page for the most up-to-date information. If you are unable to come to campus due to a family member’s quarantine status, you must make accommodations to cover your on-campus teaching responsibilities as you would normally do because of illness or other reasons that prevent you from being able to work on campus.
Q: If an instructor cannot come to campus due to positive exposure, children quarantine, etc., are they allowed to conduct their classes online for that period? What are the reporting requirements for instructors who do this? (August 30, 2021)
A: If you are unable to come to campus due to illness or other reasons, you must make arrangements for your teaching to be covered during that period. This may include using recorded lectures and/or conducting the class session over Zoom. Instructors must notify their department chair, program director, or dean in these cases. Instructors must also notify students as soon as possible of the change.
Q: If a student is absent from class due to quarantining or other illness and asks to attend the class virtually, is this allowed? If not, are instructors required to record classes and post them online for anyone not able to attend? (August 30, 2021)
A: If a student cannot attend class due to illness or other reasons, the instructor should work with the student to accommodate, as appropriate, for the missed course material. This may include recording the lecture, if possible; assigning readings to the student or reviewing the course material with the student virtually; and/or having the student connect with his/her classmates.
Q: If a student self-discloses a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, what are the reporting requirements? If the student requests accommodation for their illness, is there an official process for this? (August 30, 2021)
A: If an instructor hears about a positive case directly from a student, he/she should contact Student Health Services immediately and recommend that the student do so in case it has not already been done. If a student requires an accommodation, the student should work with the Office of Disability Services.
Q: May instructors ask students to leave classrooms if unmasked? (August 30, 2021)
A: Yes, all faculty and staff may ask any member of the Stevens community to leave a classroom or public space if they are not masked. Should our masking requirement change, this will change as well. All faculty and staff may also ask any member of the Stevens community to wear a mask properly (i.e. covered nose and mouth) as appropriate. Should offices need disposable masks, please submit a work order to Facilities and Campus Operations.
Q: Will there be supplies of masks for instructors to distribute to maskless students? (August 30, 2021)
A: Should offices need disposable masks, please submit a work order to Facilities and Campus Operations.
Q: What are the protocols should a student or instructor test positive? (August 30, 2021)
A: All positive cases from faculty and staff must be reported to the Student Health Services immediately.
Q: Will the class shift online to quarantine in the event of a positive case? (August 30, 2021)
A: If the whole class was found to be in close contact with a positive case that requires quarantining, the class session may be moved online. However, at this time, per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if you are fully vaccinated and you were exposed to someone who tests positive, you may need to wear a mask for 14 days in public indoor settings and get tested 3-5 days after exposure but do not need to quarantine. Please refer to the latest guidance on the Stevens website and follow specific guidance from your healthcare provider and Student Health Services regarding quarantine or isolation protocols.
Q: Will instructors be informed of positive cases in the classes? (Updated September 2, 2021)
A: Instructors will be informed of positive cases either as a minimal risk notification, if they were not in close contact with the individual who tests positive, or through a contact-tracing notification, if they were in close contact with the individual who tests positive .
Q: Are there any COVID testing regimes, even if everyone is vaccinated? Will testing be available on campus this semester? If yes, under what conditions? (August 30, 2021)
A: Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend surveillance testing of vaccinated persons. If you are vaccinated and wish to be tested for COVID-19, there are many local testing options close to campus which are listed on the COVID-19 Testing website. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please see your health care provider and contact Student Health Services. Please refer to the Stevens website for the latest information on testing. Testing will be available on-campus only for those individuals with an approved vaccination exemption.
Q: Will accommodations be provided to instructors who are immunocompromised and/or have unvaccinated (not eligible for vaccination) children at home to hold their classes online? (August 30, 2021)
A: All non-WebCampus and non-StevensOnline courses will be taught in person this semester. Therefore, if an instructor is assigned to teach an on-campus course, he/she will be required to be on campus. If an instructor believes an accommodation is needed, he/she should contact the Division of Human Resources.
Q: Some graduate international students cannot join in-person classes until after their quarantine period and/or the vaccination period. How can these students be accommodated during the quarantine period without an online provision in the courses? (August 30, 2021)
A: Instructors should work with the student to accommodate, as appropriate, for the missed course material. This may include recording the lecture, if possible; assigning readings to the student or reviewing the course material with the student virtually; and/or having the student connect with his/her classmates.
Q: Why are we not requiring social distancing in classrooms? (August 30, 2021)
A: Per guidance from the State of New Jersey and other local health officials, social distancing is not required, especially on campuses where the COVID-19 vaccine is mandatory. Additionally, with the mask mandate and Health Honor Code, there are additional layers of protection.
