Here are the N.J. colleges requiring COVID boosters, and starting spring semester remotely – NJ.com

At least twelve colleges in New Jersey will require students, staff and faculty to show COVID booster proof in order to return to campus this spring.

Since the start of 2022, the list of public and private schools mandating the additional immunizations has only grown as the state faces the latest pandemic wave brought on by the omicron variant — which recently saw signs of slowing.

According to the latest CDC guidelines, boosters are recommended for those who received their second Pfizer or Moderna shots at least five months ago or at least two months for those who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

While not required, other schools are “strongly encouraging” vaccine boosters. Several colleges in the Garden State have also informed students that classes will be held online for the start of the spring term.

Here is the list of COVID policies by college:

Atlantic Cape Community College recently announced that its spring semester has been pushed ahead about a week to Jan. 24.

The change was made, “to ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff,” the school said in an update. “There will be no further changes to the calendar at this time.”

The school, which requires students to show vaccine proof or submit to weekly tests, has not mandated booster shots.

Bloomfield College has shifted the start of its spring semester online. Classes will be held remotely from Jan. 13 to Jan. 28, before resuming in-person Jan. 31.

“Reported cases and the prevalence of COVID-19 in local populations will be monitored and the in-person start date may be changed,” a school update said. “A small number of classes (such as lab and studio experiences, clinical experience) will have an in-person meeting component during this time, which may include hybrid delivery (a mix of in-person and virtual class meeting sessions).”

The school required resident students, student-athletes and nursing majors to have one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (fully vaccinated) or at least one dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine by Jan. 3. Moderna or Pfizer vaccinated students must be fully vaccinated within three to four weeks after Feb. 1. A booster shot is not currently required.

Following the same format from the fall, Brookdale Community College will provide coursework in a mix of in-person and online — depending on class and instructor — for the spring.

The spring semester runs from Jan. 19 to May 10.

“Brookdale Community College will require COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing for all students who are taking classes on campus, effective January 3, 2022. Likewise, all Brookdale employees must also provide proof of full vaccination or agree to weekly testing,” David Stout, president at Brookdale Community College said in a letter.

The college has not announced booster mandates.

Caldwell University, a Catholic school in northwestern Essex County, announced that a COVID booster mandate will go into effect.

In a spring 2022 semester campus update, Peter Ubertaccio, vice president for academic affairs, said the booster requirement will apply to all students, faculty and staff.

“(The mandate) will require faculty, staff and students to obtain their booster shots within two weeks of becoming eligible. The majority of us will be eligible by the end of January,” Ubertaccio said.

School officials said spring classes are expected to start on-time and in-person Jan. 18.

Ubertaccio noted that as of early January, over 91% of Caldwell University students and over 95% of staff are vaccinated — following a mandate put in place last summer.

He said additional information on the new booster mandate, as well as the spring face mask policy, will soon be released. The school also plans to host a mobile booster vaccine van on campus in January to provide access to shots for the campus community.

Centenary University in Hackettstown held the start of its spring semester online from Jan. 10 to Jan. 17. In-person classes are scheduled to resume Jan. 24.

“We encourage everyone to get vaccinated if you are not already, or to get your booster. We will be working to offer vaccinations and boosters on campus and this information will be sent to you when confirmed,” Centenary University President Bruce Murphy said in an email Dec. 27. “We are also working to offer COVID-19 testing on campus in January and will shared information as soon as dates are confirmed.”

The County College of Morris “strongly encourages all students and employees to receive their COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots to minimize the potential effects of the virus and its variants,” the school’s Jan. 5 pandemic response plan said.

While the spring term is scheduled to be held in-person, school officials said students and staff should be ready to pivot to virtual classes if it becomes necessary.

The full plan, which includes testing resource information, is available here.

Drew University will require all students, faculty and staff to get booster shots by March 31.

“We hope you use your break as a time to rest, relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect with family and friends. We also hope that you keep in mind these important measures that can help have a significant impact on the health and well-being of our campus in the spring…,” the Madison school said in a December announcement.

School officials said that the first three days of classes of the spring 2022 semester, which starts Jan. 19, will be held in a virtual format.

“All classes will meet remotely at their regularly scheduled times. Students will receive emails from their course instructors with instructions and Zoom links prior to the start of classes,” the school said in a new update.

In-person classes are expected to resume Jan. 24.

Fairleigh Dickinson University will shift the start of its spring term online, university president Christopher A. Capuano, announced.

The semester will start Jan. 24, with in-person classes set to kick off Jan. 31.

“Faculty will provide students with information on how to attend classes remotely during the first week of the spring semester,” Capuano said. “The one week of remote learning will help us gradually bring the community back to campus, beginning with the return of resident students (who are still scheduled to return Jan. 23).”

“This remote week also provides our community members with more opportunities to receive booster shots, which are becoming increasingly important as the effectiveness of the initial vaccination declines over time,” he said.

While the school is not mandating boosters, Capuano said they are strongly encouraged.

Felician University students, faculty and staff, who are eligible for new doses, were required to receive a booster by Jan. 10, officials announced earlier this month.

Anyone returning to campus must show proof of a booster and a negative PCR test beforehand, according to school officials.

The university has campuses in Lodi and Rutherford.

The spring semester, which begins Jan. 24, will be held remotely for the first two weeks. In-person classes are slated to resume Feb. 7.

School officials said students who report their booster vaccine proof or appropriate exemption will be entered to win an iPad.

Georgian Court University is requiring students to be fully vaccinated, but only highly recommending boosters as the spring term begins.

Amani Jennings, the school’s dean of students, said last week that the school would continue monitoring the latest guidance from the CDC and other health experts.

“Effective and properly worn face masks are required indoors. It is recommended that N95/KN95 or three-ply surgical masks be used,” according to an update on the school website.

Hudson County Community College will have a mix of online and in-person classes for its winter and spring 2022 semesters.

A lookup tool has been provided for students to check whether their class is fully online (meaning with no live course interaction) or remote, wherein students attend class virtually during regular class times. Another option will be a hybrid of in-person classes and online instruction.

School officials said all students and employees must be fully vaccinated. Boosters are not currently required.

While not required, “all members of the Kean community are strongly encouraged” to get a COVID booster shot, university officials said.

The university shifted to remote classes Dec. 23 during the end of its winter session. The spring semester, which will kick off Jan. 18, will remain online through Jan. 30.

“All student services will remain accessible both remotely and in person, and athletics, theatre and most other events will continue as planned,” school officials said online.

Mercer County Community College will be under a remote format until Jan. 24, the school recently announced.

“If you have not already done so, we urge you to get your vaccine without delay. If you are eligible for a booster shot and have not done so, please make time to get a booster shot,” Jianping Wang, president of the school said in an online statement — although she did not state boosters are currently mandated.

“Vaccinations remain the best way for us to protect the health of students, faculty, staff, friends, and visitors to our campuses,” Wang added.

The school’s spring semester is set to start Jan. 24.

The first two weeks of Middlesex College’s spring semester, which starts Jan. 24, will be held virtually.

“Classes will return to campus the week of Feb. 7 … Classes scheduled in online and remote live modes are not impacted by the change,” the school said in an update Wednesday. “Some classes in health professions (dental hygiene, nursing, radiography), art, theatre, and hospitality, culinary, and dietetics require hands-on activities and will be held on campus as originally scheduled.”

Middlesex College has partnered with the county to host vaccine clinics — encouraging the campus community to take advantage. However, the college is not currently requiring booster shots.

In a campus update, Monmouth University President Patrick F. Leahy said vaccine boosters will be required for all students, faculty and staff.

“The senior leadership team and I have been following closely the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, including frequent conversations with the Monmouth County Regional Health Commission,” Leahy said in the statement. “In consultation with our faculty, staff, and student leadership groups, we feel confident that we have developed reasonable plans, as noted in further detail below, to ensure a safe start to the spring semester and to protect the overall health of the University community.”

School officials said the spring term, which begins Jan. 18, will be held online through Jan. 24 — at which point in-person classes will resume.

Montclair State University announced recently that booster shot requirements will now be put in place for the campus.

The deadline for eligible students to submit booster proof is March 1, university officials said.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely, consult with our on-campus experts who serve on the Community Health Advisory Team, and make adjustments based on the most current data and our understanding of the guidelines of the CDC and New Jersey Department of Health,” Montclair State University President Jonathan Koppell said in a statement.

Classes are expected to go as planned and in-person for the spring semester, which starts Jan. 18.

New Jersey City University announced that its spring semester will begin remotely.

“From January 18 through January 30, all instruction and instruction-related activities will be conducted through distance-learning platforms,” Tamara Jhashi, provost and senior vice president, said in a campus message.

Jhashi said library services will be available online and essential services will remain open on campus.

“At this time, we plan to return to in-person teaching on Monday, January 31, and will update you as necessary. However, I also recommend to all instructors to plan now for instructional continuity in their courses through asynchronous resources should the need arise,” she said.

NJCU previously set an October deadline for students to be fully vaccinated.

While it has not announced a booster requirement, a recent campus update says, “the university urges everyone who is eligible for a booster to schedule one.”

New Jersey Institute of Technology will require eligible students, staff and faculty to receive boosters by Jan. 31, the Newark school announced Thursday evening.

Anyone not eligible, based on CDC guidelines, will have to receive a booster “no later than 2 weeks after their eligibility date,” according to a school update.

“The surge in COVID-19 cases, recent guidance from the CDC and the American College Health Association, and our steadfast commitment to the health of our campus community have required we consider some adjustments to our near-term planning,” school officials said Thursday in an announcement.

New Jersey Institute of Technology will also move the start of its spring semester online — from Jan. 18 through Jan. 30. Students will resume in-person classes Jan. 31.

Princeton University announced in December that all students, faculty, staff and researchers will be required to get a COVID booster by Jan. 31 or 30 days after becoming eligible.

The Ivy League school also moved the return to campus ahead a week to Jan. 14.

“Although all of us are exhausted and frustrated by the ongoing COVID pandemic, we must continue to do everything we can to protect the health and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. Thanks for doing your part,” Jill Dolan, the dean of the college, and W. Rochelle Calhoun, vice president for campus life, previously wrote in a memo.

Princeton undergraduates will return to campus on a staggered schedule between Jan. 14 and Jan. 23, the last day of the winter session. The spring semester, which starts Jan. 24, will be in-person, school officials said.

Ramapo College will require eligible students to acquire COVID boosters by Feb. 28, a university spokeswoman said.

The requirement is being put in place, “as an additional strategy to help mitigate the severity of COVID-19 and transmission of the virus in our community,” said Brittany Williams-Goldstein, chief of staff and liaison to the board of trustees. “We are hosting vaccination/booster clinics on our campus through a partnership with New Bridge Medical Center.”

The Mahwah school, which enrolls over 5,000 students and begins its spring term Jan. 18, will have a mix of in-person, online and hybrid for the upcoming semester.

“The majority of courses will be delivered in-person or hybrid, which means most students should expect the courses they take will hold face-to-face class meetings on campus,” the school said in an update.

More details are available here.

Rutgers University, the state’s largest school, said that boosters will be required by Jan. 31 for all students.

The school, with campuses in Newark, New Brunswick and Camden, will remain in remote instruction through January.

Tony Calcado, executive vice president and CEO at Rutgers said the “additional layers of protection” provided by boosters will help the university transition back to in-person classes for the remainder of the spring semester.

Rutgers’ spring semester, which starts Jan. 18 and ends in mid-May, will be remote until Jan. 31, Calcado said.

Rowan University officials recently announced that classes will be held in-person and on time.

“Students who are impacted by COVID may ask faculty for temporary special arrangements for remote instruction. Faculty are encouraged to offer such options where feasible and reasonable. Students will be advised as needed about options for situations where in-person experiential learning cannot be made up or replicated,” Tony Lowman provost, Terri Drye, vice president for human resources, and Kevin S. Koett, vice president for student life said in a statement.

In addition, booster vaccines — while not required — are strongly encouraged.

“During the current spike in virus cases, the university is temporarily expanding flex work opportunities for employees impacted by illness, exposure, or their children’s school closures. Employees must work with their direct supervisor to determine if remote work is possible for their position,” school officials added.

Saint Elizabeth University announced that all students and staff must receive a booster by Feb. 15.

“Mandating COVID-19 boosters is another way SEU is working to keep our community safe and healthy,” said Gary Crosby, president of Saint Elizabeth University in a statement. “This deadline is six months from when most faculty, staff and students were fully vaccinated, making most individuals, except for those with approved medical/religious exemptions, eligible for the booster by February 15.”

Crosby added that the school will work directly with anyone who does not fall within the eligibility window.

The school will start its spring semester remotely from Jan. 10 to Jan. 21. School officials said in-person classes are scheduled to return Jan. 24.

Seton Hall University announced that part of its spring semester will transition to a remote format.

All three of the university’s campuses in South Orange, Newark and Nutley/Clifton will have online classes between Jan. 19 and Jan. 30. The spring term is then scheduled to return to in-person classes from Jan. 31 to mid-May.

“We emphasize what we have said before: If you are not vaccinated, get vaccinated. If you received your initial vaccination, get boosted. Beyond the health benefits, boosted individuals who are close contacts are exempt from certain quarantine protocols,” school officials said in a campus update.

Seton Hall University has not mandated booster shots.

Saint Peter’s University announced in December that all students and staff must receive a COVID-19 booster by March 1.

The booster shot requirement at the Jersey City school does not extend to online students and professors, who do not visit the campus, school officials said.

“I continue to rely on each and every one of you to help us keep our in-person operations a success as we all do our part in working to minimize the spread of COVID-19,” St. Peter’s University President Eugene Cornacchia previously said in an email to the campus community.

A St. Peter’s spokeswoman said classes for the spring semester, which starts Jan. 19, will be held in-person.

The deadline for Stevens Institute of Technology students to provide proof of booster shots is Jan. 31, officials at the Hoboken university announced.

“The booster vaccine is important as public health experts are beginning to see reduced protection from the initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. Experts are confident that booster shots will increase immune response and provide further protection against the virus, preventing severe illness and hospitalizations,” Stevens Institute of Technology President Nariman Farvardin said in a campus-wide message.

The university will start its spring semester remotely from Jan. 18. to Jan. 30. In-person classes are expected to resume Jan. 31.

Stockton University plans to have a “predominantly face-to-face” spring 2022 term, according to the latest school update.

“If you have not already done so, I strongly encourage you to get a booster shot when you become eligible. Vaccine clinics are being offered on campus this month to assist with this important health step,” Harvey Kesselman, president at Stockton University, said in a new campus message.

More information is available here.

Sussex County Community College recently said its spring term will be held remotely for two weeks starting Jan. 24.

“In-person instruction of courses will resume on February 7, 2022. All in-person classes will still meet remotely on the same day and time,” according to a new update.

The school has not mandated boosters but, “strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated.”

The College of New Jersey will begin its spring semester Jan. 24 in an all-remote format, Kathryn Foster, university president said in an email to the campus.

After a week of virtual instruction, classes are scheduled to shift back to in-person Jan. 31.

“With the emergence in late fall of the highly transmissible, if potentially less serious, Omicron variant, we are resigned to the reality that the early weeks of 2022 will not bring the hoped-for respite from the pandemic,” Foster said in the email. “Fortunately, 97% of our students, faculty and staff are vaccinated and many boosted, and we are grateful for greater preparation and capability on campus than ever before.”

The move-in date for students housing on campus will remain Jan. 23, she added.

School officials said that while boosters are not currently required, “TCNJ strongly recommends that students, staff and faculty receive a booster vaccination when eligible … The college will hold booster clinics through the semester on the following dates: Feb. 3, March 4, and April 8.”

William Paterson University announced that the school’s spring semester will begin online due to the spike of COVID-19 omicron cases.

Remote classes will run from Jan. 24 to Jan. 31, before resuming in-person, officials said.

“While COVID vaccine boosters are not being required at this time, they are strongly encouraged for everyone who is eligible to receive them. As the pandemic continues to evolve, the one constant since vaccines first became available is that people who are fully vaccinated fare best in terms of avoiding the disease and, should they contract it,” the university said in a new campus update.

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Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @stevenrodasnj.