Ramapo College Prepares For Expanded Campus Operations

MAHWAH, NJ — Ramapo College officials are preparing for a fall semester which features more in-person classes and a broader range of on-campus experiences for students.

Officials are optimistic that as more vaccines become available, the likelihood of a return to normal increases as well.

"I believe there are reasons to be sanguine about the fall semester and the year ahead," said President Peter Mercer.

"With broader access to testing, increasing availability of vaccines, and an incremental loosening of some public health restrictions, the senior team and I are optimistic that we can begin to prepare for a fall semester that safely brings with it an increased number of courses that will hold face-to-face class meetings on campus as well as a broadened range of on-campus student experiences."

Still, the college hasn't declared outright any concrete plans, continuing to hedge against a pandemic that's only consistency is inconsistency.

"We are also actively planning for Fall 2021 while grounding ourselves in the reality of the status of this pandemic day to day," said Mercer.

Dr. Susan Gaulden, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, recently shared what the college is taking into consideration as their plan develops.

"The College leadership team is preparing our preliminary Fall 2021 operations plan mindful that adjustments will likely be necessary due to State mandates, as well as guidance and directives from our partners in the State of New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (NJ OSHE), the N.W. Bergen Regional Health Commission, the NCAA and the New Jersey Athletics Conference, and the CDC," Gaulden said.

Gaulden added that college officials expect some restrictions and safeguards to be lifted as the state crawls closer to herd immunity, and pandemic conditions improve.

Still, there are some things we do know about what the college is planning.

At least 50 percent of courses are planning to hold "some" face-to-face class meetings, and the college plans to offer six different instructional delivery modes in the fall of 2021. They include online courses, in-person courses and a collection of hybrid courses (for more on that, click here).

Ramapo's current situation is similar to that of universities across the state. Many are offering cautious optimism about a return, while also recommending — but not yet mandating — vaccinations. Read more: Questions Remain As NJ Universities Plan For A Return To Campus

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