To: Students, Faculty and Staff
Date: December 6, 2021
Re: Campus Communication on Coronavirus

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

The health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff remain our top priority.  To that end, the Pandemic Assessment Team helps create a culture of preparedness in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.   We expect that every member of our community will be socially responsible, work together, and take care of one another in order to minimize the risk of COVID-19 spreading on campus.  With the recent emergence of the Omicron variant , health officials have advised the general public to remain vigilant in order to reduce potential exposure.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have emphasized the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine, acquiring a booster, and continuing prevention efforts.

Get Vaccinated
The COVID-19 vaccine is 100% free and available to all, regardless of one’s immigration status, health insurance, or ability to pay.  The College’s COVID-19 vaccine policy can be found here. NJ’s COVID-19 Information Hub has further information about where to obtain a vaccine and how the vaccine is administered to those with limited insurance. Vaccine hesitancy is a very real concern, particularly for those within historically excluded populations who have dealt with a history of systemic medical racism and discrimination. If you have any concerns or questions of your own about the College’s COVID-19 vaccine policy, we encourage you to reach out to the following campus resources:

• Health Services, call 201-684-7536, covidvaccine@ramapo.edu
• Human Resources, call 201-684-7507, rcnjcovidvax@ramapo.edu
• Counseling Services, call 201-684-7522 (24/7)
• Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Compliance, call 201-684-6693 or email diversity@ramapo.edu
• Office of Specialized Services, call 201-684-7514 or email oss@ramapo.edu

You may also search for vaccine and booster locations here, text your zip code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 888-720-7489).

Seek a Booster
The CDC strengthened its recommendation on booster doses. The CDC recommends that everyone aged 18 and older should get a booster shot either 6 months after their initial Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series or 2 months after their initial J&J vaccine.  The CDC guidance can be found here.  We recommend that you seek a booster.

Prevention 
Make it a point to review prevention information from the CDC  daily .  The guidance may change, so we encourage you to take responsibility for your health and stay informed. Below is a summary of prevention steps, but please access the CDC site for comprehensive information about prevention.

• Get vaccinated.  Authorized COVID-19 vaccines and boosters can help protect you from COVID-19;
• Follow the College’s Face Covering Policy;
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.  Unvaccinated individuals are required to maintain 6 feet of social distance from others when practical;
• Avoid crowds and poorly-ventilated spaces;
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.  If soap and water are not available, you can use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands;
• For students who are currently living on campus, as a reminder, the Guest and Visitation Policy can be found here.  Others are welcome to host visitors, but all visitors are required to wear face coverings;
• Stay home if you are sick (except to get medical care). Do not, under any circumstances, come to the campus if you are sick. Follow the College’s procedures for reporting COVID-19;
• Always cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue (and throw it away) or sneeze into the inside of your elbow.  Immediately wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water (or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol);
• Clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces; and
• Always monitor your daily health and be alert for symptoms of COVID-19.

Thank you for being reliable classmates, teammates, colleagues, and friends during a time when depending upon one another has never been more important.

Sincerely,

Melissa Van Der Wall
Dean of Students
Pandemic Assessment Team, chair

Debra Lukacsko, MSN, BA, RN, APN, C
Associate Director of Health Services
Pandemic Assessment Team, member