Seton Hall University updated its students and other members of the university community on its fall reopening plans, which it had initially detailed in May. The South Orange school said it will reopen its campuses for the semester in line with Stage 2 of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan, which allows for only limited in-person teaching.
The school said in a news release that it has met or exceeded Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for higher education institutions, but is limited by the state’s prohibitions — which allow in-person instruction only in labs, clinical and certain technical and hands-on instructional courses, it said.
“I know beginning the semester with mostly remote instruction is a disappointment to everyone, myself included,” President Joseph Nyre said in a prepared statement. “Yet, our months of multivariate planning have prepared the university well for this moment.”
Seton Hall said it “remains in a state of readiness” to begin regular, in-person instruction at any point before or during the academic year, once Gov. Phil Murphy moves the state into Stage 3 of its reopening plan.
“We are equally prepared to pivot to in-person instruction when it is possible to do so,” Nyre said.
In the meantime, the school administration is in the process of confirming which classes are eligible for in-person instruction under the state’s criteria.
The school said that, aside from the delay in on-campus teaching, the other aspects of its restarting plan remain in place, including its return-to-campus timetable, with move-in Aug. 16 and classes starting Aug. 24.
Other aspects of the plan:
- Food service and dining will be provided, consistent with state health protocols;
- Student life activities will be allowed under state limitations on indoor gatherings;
- Masks will be required in all public spaces;
- Free COVID-19 testing of all residential students will be provided;
- Students coming from states on New Jersey’s quarantine list will be provided with rooms for the voluntary 14-day self-quarantine.
