COVID-19 Update: Resilient and ready

Dear Rowan Community,

It’s been a difficult few weeks with news about COVID-19 affecting virtually everything around us. Each new development requires careful, decisive action to protect health and safety. Each tough decision brings changes to the life of our University community that we would prefer not to make.

However, the novel coronavirus poses threats that we can’t ignore. This is unsettling for everyone. We deeply appreciate the patience and cooperation of everyone in the Rowan family. We assure you that while some measures we are taking may seem drastic, concern for the health and safety of our students continues to drive every decision.

We don’t believe any of us — students, faculty, leadership, partners — would have foreseen such a challenge.

We do believe that we have an opportunity to prove again Rowan’s agility and competence at every turn of this crisis and every level of our organization.

Furthermore, we are confident that we once again can prove our community’s compassion and creativity in meeting needs and responding effectively to unforeseen challenges. 

After lengthy consultation with Academic Affairs and other leadership, we write to announce the following transitions and recommendations. Please read carefully and refer to rowan.edu/virusinfo for more information:

• When classes resume on March 30 after the extended spring break, all in-person instruction will move online and through remote learning platforms for the remainder of the semester. Over the next two weeks, students will receive more information from each of their faculty members on how their courses will be completed.
  
  
• All NCAA activities have been cancelled through the end of the semester, as have many intercollegiate programs nationally. Student-athletes will return from their spring break trips shortly.
  
  
• The University will remain open and continue with routine operations so we can accommodate students who choose to remain on campus and need dining and other resources or support for their educational needs.
  
  
• The medical schools’ coursework will transition to online platforms. Experiential learning and rotations will continue. Please note that as professional schools with specific curricular and accreditation requirements, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine may have different policies or procedures. Please refer to communication from Dean Annette Reboli and Dean Tom Cavalieri, their designees or information on their websites.
  
  
• We strongly discourage all non-essential business-related travel — by air, rail, mass transit and in personal vehicles. Even travel previously approved by division heads must be re-evaluated at the division level.
  
  
• Whenever possible, remote technology should be used for meetings. On-campus events are strongly discouraged.
  
  
• Everyone should make alternate plans for off-campus meetings and other events, participating online or using other remote means.

After students’ health and safety are addressed, our students’ academic progress is the next priority. We will use the next two weeks of extended spring break to expand, strengthen and fine-tune our information and communication infrastructure to support online and alternative methods for instruction. We have been evaluating our readiness carefully and we are confident we are prepared. While we know there will be problems to resolve, we will be vigilant to monitor and respond effectively.

We assure you that we share your disappointments and frustrations about everything related to this international public health crisis and its effects on the Rowan community. No one returned to campus in January expecting in March to leave classrooms and labs and have our lives disrupted. None of us know what lies ahead and the uncertainties can seem overwhelming.

Amid all of this, we do know:

• Our academic corps — faculty, leadership, advisors and support staff — are remarkable professionals and colleagues. We appreciate your commitment to students and how you’re exhibiting it at each step in this detour with helpful suggestions and decisive actions.
  
  
• Our students continue to impress and inspire the best in all of us. From first-year, first-gen to post-grad and professionals, we offer our praise for your fortitude and flexibility — along with our regrets for the disappointments COVID-19 has brought to your academic experience and life at Rowan.
  
  
• Our larger Rowan family — the nearly 4,000 employees throughout the institution who face this situation in person — is modeling character and service in extraordinary times. You make us proud to work with you to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible.

We will continue to provide updates as things change. Please visit rowan.edu/virusinfo to take advantage of a frequently updated FAQ organized for students, employees and visitors. If you still have questions, please call or e-mail:

Faculty: Office of the Provost, 856-256-4108 or officeoftheprovost@rowan.edu

Students: Dean of Students, 856-256-4283 or deanofstudents@rowan.edu
CMSRU, 856-361-2800
SOM and GSBS, 856-566-6996

Students who are studying abroad: Gokhan Alkanat, director of the International Center, 856-256-5191 or alkanat@rowan.edu

Wellness Center: 856-256-4333 or wellnesscenter@rowan.edu

We are in this together. We will emerge stronger, more capable and equipped with the invaluable experience and enlightened perspective that often only difficulty can bring.

Thank you.

Very truly yours,

Ali A. Houshmand, Ph.D.
President

Tony Lowman, Ph.D.
Provost

 

FAQs - updated March 12

Can I stay in my residence hall for the rest of the semester?
Yes. The University remains open and operations will continue as usual, including through spring break. Students who plan to remain on campus through spring break, however, should alert the Office of Residential Learning & University Housing (RLUH) if they have not done so already.

If I live on campus and choose to leave for the rest of the semester, can I receive a refund for housing and meals?
No. The campus will remain open. Residential students can remain in their on-campus housing. Dining and other facilities will remain open. 

Can I check out of my on-campus housing for the semester?
Students who elect to leave for the semester must check out of their on-campus housing using the established Residential Learning & University Housing protocol, including final housing inspection and the return of your key.

If I already left campus, can I check out at a later date?
Yes. Students who already left for spring break or who wish to leave later in the semester can coordinate a check-out time with Residential Learning & University Housing staff. 

If I stay, will there be meals and activities?
Yes, food venues will be open. As per CDC guidelines, the University will reevaluate campus events, however. Other resources, such as the Student Recreation Center and Campbell Library, will remain open.

Can we get more supplies (e.g. wipes) from the University?
Residential Learning & University Housing will provide students with additional cleaning supplies. Students can contact their Resident Assistants for more information.

How are you keeping the residence halls and dining areas clean?
Housekeeping and Gourmet Dining staff have increased their sanitizing efforts. All academic and administrative buildings have hand-sanitizing units at entrances. Individual offices are cleaning on a regular basis, as well. 

Will the University provide training or support for faculty who have not taught online before?
Yes. Information Resources & Technology, the Faculty Center and Rowan Online will be hosting two Webex sessions next week for employees who have questions about tools and resources for teaching and working remotely. The sessions will be held on Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18, from noon to 1 p.m. Additional training sessions for faculty will be added during the week of March 23.

• Join Tuesday’s Webex session
• Join Wednesday’s Webex session

We will be accepting questions via chat during the sessions. We will also be recording both sessions, so employees who are unable to tune in for the live sessions can watch on their own time.