By Allison Perrine
NEW JERSEY – When students and staff return to college campuses this year, things will look much different than they have in years past, said secretary of higher education Zakia Smith Ellis Wednesday in a press conference.
On the 100th day since the first death of COVID-19 in New Jersey, the state released guidelines for colleges and universities to reopen for in-person instruction this summer and fall, effective July 1. However, institutions will be required to develop restart plans and have them reviewed by the Department of Health at least 14 days before in-person instruction can resume.
“As we move forward in our restart and recovery, these institutions will play a huge role. They are where our future workforce is being created and where many advances in the life sciences and engineering and in other areas that will have a tremendous impact on our larger economy, are taking shape,” said Murphy Wednesday. “Their health and the health of everyone on campus is critical to the overall public health of our state.”
Individuals on campus will be required to wear face masks or coverings in indoor spaces and are recommended to do the same outdoors, especially when others are present. Institutions will be responsible for creating testing protocols and accommodating anyone with positive diagnoses or symptoms of the virus. Social distancing will be mandated and equipment must be sanitized regularly, Ellis said.
In-person instruction will be limited to in-person clinical, lab and hands-on programming. Instruction can also occur completely outdoors as long as they abide by outdoor occupancy restrictions established by the state.
Some students will be permitted to return to residential facilities, but there must be quarantine and isolation spaces on campus and common spaces must be closed. Campus dining will be adjusted to follow statewide restrictions in place currently, as will transportation and athletic operations. Career and training schools may also reopen July 1 in accordance with proper safety and health protocols.
“We know that many students prefer in-person learning, particularly those who are experiencing hardship,” or for those whose home environment isn’t favorable for educational purposes, said Ellis.
Earlier in the week, the Department of Education released guidelines for summer education programs to be conducted in-person, including extended school year (ESY), according to the governor’s office. It will take effect July 6.
“This is a crucial step that allows schools to plan summer learning programs and special education services that will provide assistance to those students who need it the most,” said Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet in a press release. “We’ve heard from countless parents and educators about the importance of summer learning and ESY, especially now that so many students and families have faced unexpected obstacles with remote learning over the past three months. We believe schools can provide the necessary summer instruction while ensuring the safety of students and teachers, and their families.”
All in-person programs must be conducted with proper health and safety protocols, according to the state, and remote learning may still proceed for students after July 6. Programs may include traditional summer school, ESY programming with appropriate instruction for special needs students, credit recovery programs and more.
As of Wednesday, June 16, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases state-wide reached 167,703, an increase of 330 overnight. Of that total, there have been 12,769 deaths, an increase of 47 overnight. In Monmouth County specifically, that includes Atlantic Highlands, 34; Colts Neck, 83; Fair Haven, 28; Highlands, 33; Holmdel, 305; Little Silver, 37; Middletown, 742; Monmouth Beach, 21; Ocean- port, 63; Red Bank, 236; Rumson, 40; Sea Bright, 12; Shrewsbury Borough, 54; and Tinton Falls, 216.
The article originally appeared in the June 18-24, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
