Montclair State University has announced that its campus will be open in full for in-person learning this fall. On Wednesday, March 24, the university announced its plans to offer a “full range” of in-person classes, student services, and events. Read on to learn more about MSU students returning for in-person classes in the fall.
A message was sent to students on March 24th announcing that the university is working on a plan to give students “a new normal” when they return to campus.
“We will be working to make your fall 2021 semester very different from what we have experienced over the past year,” the message said.
Through the past academic year, some classes were hosted in-person, and a limited number of students were allowed to live in on-campus housing. Social distancing and face coverings are required for students to be on campus.
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MSU reports low infection rates and no documented cases of virus transmission from classroom or laboratory interactions. The university credits its success to students’ widespread adherence to its safety protocols, its extensive testing program, and on-campus contact tracing.
In July, the university announced its “Red Hawk Restart,” a plan that provides safety measures for students, faculty, and staff that were returning to campus, which aligned with Gov. Phil Murphy’s statewide plan for reopening.
The plan outlined the university’s goals for reopening as “provide students with a rigorous and meaningful education and the opportunity to make good progress toward earning their degrees,” and “Be sensitive to the health and safety of every member of the campus community.”
MSU’s update comes after Rutgers University announced on Thursday, March 25, that students will be required, with some exceptions, to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to return to campus in Fall 2021. Its announcement also strongly encouraged all Rutgers faculty and staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at their earliest opportunity. Rutgers is among the first U.S. universities to require vaccinations against COVID-19 in order to return to campus.
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Montclair State has not yet announced any similar requirements for its students for the fall semester. But it is encouraging students, staff, and faculty to get vaccinated as soon as they are able.
“The focus on safety will continue in the fall. Montclair State will follow all applicable state and federal guidelines and rely on the recommendations of its on-campus experts, just as it has done for the past year,” the university said in a statement.
For the remainder of the school year, the university said the campus community should continue to wear masks, utilize its “Hawk Check” self-reported COVID-19 symptom reporting system, and stay home when sick.
We will keep you updated as more details unfold.
