Rider University Announces Campus Mask Mandate

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Rider University has joined a growing list of New Jersey colleges requiring students and staff to be masked while indoors.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 16, all faculty, staff, students, vendors, and visitors will have to wear a mask anywhere indoors on campus, regardless of vaccination status, the university announced. Exceptions to the requirement include when eating and drinking.

The University’s decision came in response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases across the state. COVID-19's highly transmissible Delta variant now accounts for 90 percent of positive cases in the state, according to recent data.

According to the mandate, vaccinated employees are not required to wear masks when alone in their private offices. “Cubicles are not considered private offices,” the University said. However, unvaccinated employees must wear masks at all times indoors even in their private offices.

Masks are also required in buses, shuttles, and other forms of student transportation.

For students living on campus, roommates and suitemates do not need to wear masks in their own residential hall rooms or suites unless guests are present, “in which case everyone must be masked.” Masks are also required in the residence hallways, restrooms, and other common areas.

Earlier this year, Rider said it required proof of COVID-19 vaccination for students, faculty, and staff for the fall semester.

Read More Here: Rider University Will Require COVID Vaccination For Students

Faculty and staff need to show proof of vaccination to their supervisors no later than Friday, Aug. 20, whereas students were required to submit proof of full vaccination via the university portal no later than Aug. 1.

Rider said it will release more information on COVID-19 testing “as the semester approaches.”

Rider joins Princeton University, St. Elizabeth University, Stockton University, and Monmouth University among others to institute a mask mandate.

The Centers for Disease Control recently recommended that New Jersey residents wear masks in indoor, public settings.

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.