Concerns For The Fall 2021 Semester

By Davaughnia Wilson | Published by April 30, 2021

The university is planning to re-open its doors fully to the Kean community for the Fall 2021 semester and has scheduled all classes for in-person instruction, with the exception of Kean Online courses. 

In an email to the Kean community, President Lamont Repollet said Kean is currently making preparations to ensure that students return to a safe campus.

“This is the message I’ve been looking forward to sending for months,” the email said. “I am pleased to announce that Kean University plans to fully return to in-person instruction, research, residential life, and activities in Fall 2021.” 

The email did not state exactly what students should expect for the Fall 2021 semester. 

President Repollet stated that the university is expecting to offer COVID-19 vaccines on campus for members of the Kean community who are not yet vaccinated and intends to follow the guidelines and protocols from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the New Jersey Department of Health. 

“With millions of additional vaccines becoming available this spring and summer, we have every confidence that Kean will be able to bring our students, faculty, and staff back to campus safely,” the email stated. 

Through its partnership with the County of Union in its COVID-19 response, the university has conducted testing for resident students and athletes this academic year along with making vaccines available to employees, said Margaret McCorry, associate vice president for University Relations. 

In March, Rutgers University was among the first in the country to announce it will require students to be fully vaccinated to attend classes. Kean has not made any announcement on requiring vaccines. 

Annie Dreitser, a sophomore majoring in Elementary Education K-8 and lead ambassador for tours in the Office of Admissions, said she was vaccinated. “As someone who is fully vaccinated I do feel safer but I am concerned for those who are unable to get vaccinated,” she said. “Since there are students who are unable to get vaccinated there should be online options for them.”

Dreitser said Kean is giving tours to prospective students, however, they follow very strict guidelines to ensure that all parties involved are safe and are socially distanced. 

Dreitser explained that during tours, prospective students and their parents raised concerns regarding protocols for the Fall 2021 semester. She explains that she always reiterates the information that was provided to her department by the president, notifying them that classes are scheduled to be in person. 

“We have received concerned phone calls and emails from parents but at the end of the day, the only information we can give them is what we have been told. Everything is so uncertain and all we want is more answers,” Dreitser said. 

McCorry said as the university develops its plans for the Fall 2021 semester, the wellbeing and safety of the campus community is their top priority. 

“Kean is monitoring state and federal health and safety guidance, which continues to evolve, and will continue to follow all recommendations carefully, including those covering building and classroom capacity, social distancing and testing,”  McCorry said.

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