Friday, Aug 14, 2020
Dear Rider University Community,
For the past several months, a team of dedicated professionals at Rider University have collaborated to create Resolved and Ready, a comprehensive plan to safely reopen our campus once New Jersey moved to Stage 3 of its multi-phase reopening plan. Earlier this week, Governor Murphy issued an executive order, effective immediately, which lifts many restrictions for higher education institutions currently in place under the state’s Stage 2 guidelines. The order allows for in-person instruction and indoor dining on campus, but did not move the entire state to Stage 3.
We view this executive order as good news for our community, as it allows us to implement the Resolved and Ready plan as it was intended.
However, as you know, this week, not more than 48 hours prior to the Governor’s formal announcement, we had communicated that Rider University would undertake the fall semester remotely.
Many of you have expressed your personal hopes for how you would like Rider to operate this fall. We have heard from those who want to return to campus, live in residence halls, and take in-person classes. We have also heard from those who have expressed a need to remain entirely remote. I have personally read your sentiments and want to acknowledge to our entire University community what is abundantly clear - there is simply no one decision that is right for everyone.
First and foremost, we must keep the health and safety of our community as a priority, while also staying true to our academic mission. We also must be as flexible as possible while COVID-19 remains part of our everyday lives.
Therefore, today we announce the following changes for the fall 2020 semester:
- All classes will be held remotely when the semester begins on Monday, August 31 for a period of three weeks.
- Beginning Monday, September 21 through Wednesday, November 25, all classes will transition to their original format under the Resolved and Ready plan. This represents a blend of in-person, hybrid or remote instruction, as indicated in the Enhanced Course Roster, viewable for each student via myRider. Greater than 80% of our remote courses will be offered either fully synchronously or as a blend of synchronous or asynchronous delivery. In person or heavy hybrid (a blend of in person and remote delivery) courses represent approximately 20% of our fall offerings.
- After the Thanksgiving break through the end of the semester (November 30 - December 4), all classes will be held only remotely, followed by a one-week remote final exam period.
- Students who have chosen to take only remote classes for the entire fall semester may continue to do so.
In regards to student housing:
- Students who have an active application will receive communication from Residence Life on Wednesday, August 19 confirming their fall assignment and providing access to schedule appointments for a socially distanced move-in. No new action is necessary.
- Students who no longer wish to live on campus this fall will need to cancel their housing assignment by 5 p.m. on Monday, August 17 to avoid a $500 late cancelation fee. Detailed instructions regarding housing are available online.
- Students who had previously applied for housing, but canceled within the past week and now want to live on campus, need to reapply on myRider. There is no need to pay an additional housing deposit. To accommodate all housing requests, new applications should be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, August 17. We will do our best to honor the previously held housing assignment.
- We will not process new housing applications for fall at this time, but will communicate about this option after evaluating campus occupancy.
- Students who live on campus in the fall may continue their assignments into the spring semester. We will communicate information about new requests for spring housing by early November.
Additionally, the Governor’s executive order allows for indoor dining on campus, with capacity and social distancing guidelines to be enforced. This allows us to open Daly Dining Hall, Cranberry’s, Starbucks, Wendy’s, and other on-campus dining facilities for in-person, pickup and delivery options for the start of the semester. We will continue to also maintain outdoor dining spaces, under tents, for the remainder of the semester.
Performance based classes (music, theatre and dance) will be offered only remotely for the entire semester. Science labs will continue to be offered in a mix of on-ground and remote, as reflected in the Enhanced Course Roster.
Moore Library will be open with capacity and social distancing guidelines for the academic semester, with curbside pickup also available. Librarians will provide research and reference assistance virtually. Computer labs on campus will also be open.
An update on guidelines for campus meetings and events will be shared next week.
We are committed to creating the safest possible environment for students, faculty and staff. All members of the Rider community must commit to following all rules and guidelines, use their best judgment and exercise extreme care to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection. This is a shared responsibility required for the health and safety of all members of the Rider community.
This new information may feel like yet another change in a period of uncertainty. I’m sure you have come to realize that this pandemic has been and continues to be a very fluid situation, which requires all of us to be flexible. The variables and guidance that promote community health are constantly changing, and we are trying our best at Rider to accommodate these changes and the unique interests of all members of our community. We believe that this path provides students the flexibility to choose what’s best for them and affords us all a three-week period to adjust to these changes.
I know our community can rise to this challenge to help create a successful fall semester. At Rider, we are always better together.
Sincerely,
Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D.