NJ To Issue Back-To-School Rules As Full College Plan Released

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy said he's nearly ready to provide a list of rules and guidelines that would allow New Jersey students to return to school in the fall. He provided a glimpse into what the future may hold when he released a roadmap for reopening colleges this week.

Murphy said he will release the rules for returning to school by next week – "early to mid-week," to be exact – as New Jersey continues to reopen parts of its society and economy. Read more: Gov. Murphy: 'Hard Dates' In NJ Coronavirus Reopening Blueprint

Murphy said the new rules will be "in many respects in the same spirit" of the higher-education guidelines released by Zakiya Smith Ellis, New Jersey's secretary of higher education, on Wednesday and Thursday (see rules below).

"The overwhelming exception is that there is residency associated with a lot of higher education that is not associated with most of pre-K through 12," Murphy said (see the list of higher-education rules below).

Still, the list of rules and guidelines the Murphy administration provided for higher education on Thursday will likely mirror what pre-K-through-8th-grade schools will do, such as requiring face coverings, maintaining sanitization practices, reducing the capacity of classrooms and having rules for dining.

Those college rules are also structured in stages. Here's how New Jersey has structured the guidelines:

STAGE 1 (right now):

• All in-person instruction, including labs, clinical rotations and all other curricular activity is prohibited, unless a waiver supported by a compelling rationale is obtained from the Secretary of Higher Education.
• No students are allowed to reside in on-campus residential facilities, except for those enrolled in courses/programs with an in-person approved waiver or in narrowly-defined extenuating circumstances who are already present on campus.
• Computer laboratories and libraries remain closed. Institutions should explore potential alternatives, such as providing each student with a laptop and internet access. Returned items should be sanitized wherever possible.
• In-person dining facilities are closed. Takeout, “grab-and-go,” and/or delivery may be available to those who must continue to reside on campus.

STAGE 2 (effective beginning July 1):

• Most in-person instruction remains limited to instances where a waiver is obtained from the secretary of higher education. However, in-person instruction of curricula that require labs, technical, clinical or hands-on instruction and therefore cannot be readily taught other than through in-person instruction can resume with adherence to strict health and safety protocols.
• A limited number of students (based on capacity restrictions) can return to on-campus residential facilities. Full occupancy of buildings is not acceptable for restart plans. Institutions must reduce density of residential living spaces to the extent practicable.
• Institutions should be mindful of students for whom residential housing is necessary for an equitable education.
• Common areas are closed, and outside visitors to residence halls must be limited to those present for delivery, maintenance or an emergency.
• Computer laboratories remain closed. Curbside pickup or delivery of remotely-requested printed materials is available. This should be done by appointment.
• Libraries may open in a limited fashion in accordance with the applicable state health and safety requirements.
• Dining: Takeout or “grab and go” options should remain available. Outdoor dining only is allowed pursuant to statewide occupancy, health, and safety requirements.

STAGE 3 (date to be determined):

• Most in-person classroom instruction, labs and other curricular activity are permitted in accordance with state-established occupancy restrictions and health and safety restrictions.
• Institutions may continue to operate on-campus residential facilities at reduced capacity. Full occupancy of buildings is not acceptable for restart plans. Institutions must reduce density of residential living spaces to the extent practicable.
• Students with greatest need are prioritized for housing, given the reduced capacity.
• Common areas may open if the layout allows for social distancing and adherence to any state occupancy guidelines at that time.
• Computer laboratories and libraries may open in a limited fashion in accordance with applicable state occupancy, health, and safety restrictions. Curbside pickup or delivery remains available.
• In-person indoor dining facilities may open with a limited occupancy based on state guidelines in place at the time. Institutions must adhere to all CDC and DOH protocols.
• Takeout or “grab and go” options should remain available. Outside dining may continue pursuant to strict health and safety guidelines.

Here are the Murphy administration's specific rules that require colleges to provide for the following beginning on July 1 (the rules also have been divided into categories such as dining, athletics and residence halls):

• Students, faculty and staff will be trained regarding COVID-19 sanitization and social distancing practices and protocols as a condition of resuming in-person classes
• Face coverings will be required for indoor settings, unless it impacts the person's health
• Face coverings will be strongly recommended for outdoor settings, unless it impacts the person's health.
• Frequent cleaning and sanitization of classrooms, residences, restrooms, high-touch areas and equipment and shared surfaces will be required
• Maintenance of adequate supplies, such as personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies, will be required
• Continued remote instruction for faculty and/or students who are unable to participate in in-person instruction will be allowed
• Social distancing in classrooms, residence halls, restrooms and other areas across campus will be required
• Limitations on the number of students who may return to residence halls and restricted access to residential common areas will be implemented
• Designation of space(s) for separation of people residing on campus who display symptoms consistent with or have a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 will be required

The colleges also should:

• Adjust entryways and exits in buildings to control flow of pedestrian traffic
• Remove or restrict access to high-touch areas and shared surfaces that cannot be cleaned regularly
• Mark 6-foot intervals in high traffic areas to help students, faculty, staff, and any other person who may be on campus visualize appropriate social distancing
• Maintain documentation of date/time/location of cleaning of high-traffic areas
• For any campus elevators, take steps to minimize traffic, such as limiting the number of people permitted on the elevator at one time or designating pathways in one direction.
• Elevator buttons should be frequently cleaned, and users should be encouraged to wash/disinfect hands upon leaving an elevator, which could be done by placing hand sanitizer stations outside of elevators
• The use of water fountains should be discontinued and water fountains should be converted to water bottle fill stations where possible
• Institutions should encourage, through orientations, signage, and other communications, frequent hand-washing by all employees and students

For residence halls, colleges should:

• Set aside a reasonable percentage of designated single rooms with private bathrooms for isolating residents who display symptoms or have a positive diagnosis of COVID-19.
• Not require a student to live on-campus
• Promote social distancing measures within residential facilities, including limiting gatherings of residents
• Implement a system for frequent self-monitoring by residents for any symptoms of COVID-19
• Have move-in/move-out days to occur in scheduled shifts to reduce the number of people on campus and inside of a given building
• Prior to move-in, implement a system for self-screening for symptoms by residents and those helping with move-in. This system should include a mandatory reschedule of move-in times for any people experiencing symptoms of COVID-19
• Institute increased sanitization measures, including regular cleaning of all common or high-touch areas, including elevators and stairwells
• Prevent residents from keeping personal items in the bathroom and instruct them not to place personal items directly on bathroom surfaces but instead utilize a shower caddy or basket
• Post prominent signs in bathrooms to notify residents of high-risk areas, such as sinks and shower areas, with suggested best practices to prevent infection.
• Empty trash cans regularly, and the person emptying trash should utilize gloves when carrying out this task.
• Clean the bathroom regularly (a minimum of twice daily)
• Develop protocols for continuous student screening measures for when students return to campus after weekends off campus and after holiday breaks.
• Develop clear compliance standards for students around proper safeguarding activities like social distancing, wearing face coverings, and congregating in communal areas or visiting other students’ rooms to minimize the possible spread of COVID-19.
• For shared bathrooms, consider utilizing automated hand dryers, toilets, faucets, and doors where possible to eliminate high-touch surfaces.
• Rearrange furniture to promote social distancing.
• Implement staggered shifts for bathroom use for personal hygiene.
• Install signage about risk of transmission in communal bathrooms (particularly near sink and shower areas)
• Develop protocols for staff responsible for cleaning and disinfecting high-traffic surfaces within buildings, such as delivery/receiving areas, mailrooms, or loading docks attached to residence halls.
• Utilize single occupancy rooms to the maximum extent possible, as they present a smaller risk of transmission than a multiple occupancy dwelling

For computer labs, colleges should:

• Limit students’ use of computer laboratories to alternating days in order to have fewer students in the lab at one time.
• Implement precautions and safeguards that limit the number of students entering and exiting the laboratory at one time. This could include establishing an appointment system for entry into the computer laboratories
• Rearrange the layouts of computer laboratories, such as physically distancing computers from one another or alternating which computers may be used
• Schedule of computer laboratory access to accommodate students who lack Internet or broadband access at home, those who may not have access to adequate technology at home, or those who otherwise have greater material need for services of the computer laboratory
• Provide protective equipment coverings, such as disposable keyboard covers
• Offer expanded laptop access and increase the number of wireless hotspots on campus, particularly for students who do not otherwise have access to technology or Internet
• Place physical barriers (e.g. movable partitions) between computer terminals in cases where social distancing is not possible.

For libraries, colleges should:

• Implement staggered schedules to allow for fewer students in the library at one time.
• Establish service hours that accommodate the needs of vulnerable populations, such as creating an earlier opening for immunocompromised students/faculty only.
• Expand online access to publications and other remote services.
• Create more decentralized spaces for individual and group study throughout campus and rearrange furniture where possible to promote social distancing.
• Post signage encouraging students and employees to recognize symptoms of COVID-19.
• Provide easy-to-access sanitation stations (e.g. handwashing or hand sanitizer stations) at entrances and around the library.
• Implement a virtual or self-checkout system where possible to limit person-to-person exchange of materials.
• Explore screen-sharing software as a possibility for providing assistance by librarians while maintaining social distance.

For transportation services, colleges should:

• Rotate vehicles to allow for more frequent disinfecting between routes
• Any shared vehicles (campus police, car rentals, security shuttles) should be cleaned regularly with a thorough disinfectant between shifts. Where possible, a person should try to consistently utilize the same vehicle to help prevent spread
• Address any institutional ridesharing programs (such as for bicycles) and provide cleaning wipes for shared bikes before/after use
• Adjust schedules/routes or increase the number of shuttles running during peak times to help limit capacity
• Encourage contactless boarding of buses/shuttle to prevent person-to-person spread
• Implement campaigns at stations/stops on routes to encourage passengers to monitor for symptoms and not to board if they have any common symptoms of COVID-19
• If vehicle allows, open windows to increase ventilation.

For dining, colleges should:

• Rearranging or reducing the number of tables and seats in the dining facility to allow for proper social distancing between diners (6 feet apart)
• Monitoring entrance/exit of facilities to control flow/capacity of dining facilities. For example, once the maximum number of patrons enters, a patron may only enter once another patron leaves
• Clearly marking 6 feet of distance in check-out lines on floor with tape or signage to help patrons visualize appropriate social distancing
• Adding physical barriers (such as moveable barriers) between dining workers and customers, particularly at registers
• Implement timed dining once statewide occupancy capacity is increased to help reduce capacity and allow for additional cleaning in between dining shifts
• Explore additional space on campus for dining to allow for social distancing
• Post signage throughout dining facility to notify students of COVID-19 symptoms and other safeguarding guidance.
• Use disposable food service items (utensils, dishes). If disposable items are not feasible, institutions will need to ensure that all non-disposable food service items are handled with gloves and that proper cleaning protocol is implemented.
• Reduce or eliminate physical transfer of institution IDs/credit/debit cards at cash registers. Institutions may want to consider virtual payment and/or student ID lookup options.

For athletics, colleges should:

• Develop a protocol mandating frequent screening and testing for coaching staff and student-athletes and those in close contact with student athletes, particularly in advance of any games
• Develop written protocols and conduct student-athlete and staff orientation/trainings regarding the transmission of COVID-19 and the handling of high-touch items, such as shared sports equipment, water bottles, etc. Institutions should limit any equipment sharing whenever possible, which includes the elimination of team water coolers
• Hold team meetings virtually whenever possible. If meetings cannot be remote, they must be socially distanced with general safeguarding protocols in place
• Restricting team huddles, high-fives, handshakes and spitting
• Ensure that staff wear face coverings. Athletes are encouraged to wear face coverings during down-time or when not in play. However, it is not recommended that face coverings be worn during physical activity.
• Establish a quarantine/isolation protocol for student-athletes who have tested positive for COVID-19, came into contact with those who have tested positive, or who have developed symptoms.
• Limit any nonessential visitors, staff, volunteers, vendors, and media as much as possible.
• Educate athletes and athletic staff on the policies and protocols in their program preparation plan prior to arrival on campus.
• Follow state guidance and limit mass gatherings of spectators at sports competitions and follow state occupancy restrictions regarding indoor/outdoor venues. This includes concession stands, which must meet the requirements for outdoor dining.
• Address protocols for traveling for games, and hosting teams in competition. These protocols should include appropriate pre- and post- travel testing, and the potential for rearranging team schedules in the event of unsafe conditions for travel.
• As athletes return to campus for the start of the school year, have athletes self-isolate for two weeks prior to start of any practices
• Adopt a culture that encourages athletes and staff who exhibit symptoms to stay home and refrain from any athletic participation
• Stagger use of shared facilities between different sports teams to reduce capacity and allow for sanitization of facilities in between use
• Encourage outdoor practice
• Assign equipment to student-athletes to reduce sharing or engagement in person-to-person exchange of sports equipment in order to limit potential exposure.
• Divide larger teams into smaller groups for practices. These groups should be kept consistent and where possible, stagger the practice schedules and practice days.

The New Jersey Department of Education also released guidance for school districts to conduct summer educational programming in-person, including the Extended School Year program, that could also mirror what the fall will look like.

Those guidance documents – Summer Learning Resource Guide and Guidance on the Delivery of Extended School Year Services – are available on the Department of Education’s website.

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