Annual Review 2020-2021
Did you know?
From expanded telehealth programs to kiosks with loaner laptops, technology’s impact reaches every aspect of university life.
Technology in the service of patient care
2.8 million
annual patient visits to Rutgers health practices, assisted by electronic health records and IT professionals
Free access to Altice (Optimum) Wi-Fi hotspots for Rutgers students
Rutgers students were able to take advantage of Altice (Optimum) Wi-Fi hot spots in many areas of New Jersey through an agreement between Altice and Rutgers. In conjunction with Comcast opening all of its hot spots, most students without home internet were able to successfully access their courses remotely during the pandemic.
RU-Camden virtual mic amplifies masked students’ voices
A virtual microphone solution developed by RU–Camden IT allows masked students to use their smartphones as a mic in class to amplify their voices.
Students could log in to RUWireless Secure before class, and then faculty would bring up a special webpage on the classroom computer, which connected to the classroom audio. Students would then scan a displayed QR code with their smartphone. The QR code would take them to a webpage with a push-to-talk button that turns their phone into a walkie-talkie-like device. Once they were “on,” the webpage showed their name whenever they held the button to talk in class.
iPads for new students
As part of a student iPad initiative, 8,600 iPads were shipped to new students in New Brunswick and Newark, including the pharmacy and nursing schools, to help connect students to Rutgers regardless of where they were during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kiosks to borrow laptops in Newark
Rutgers–Newark deployed three laptop kiosks on campus to provide students with the opportunity to borrow a laptop for the day. Each automated kiosk has a touch interface that allows any Rutgers University community member with a valid Rutgers ID card to borrow a laptop. All three kiosks provide access to 12 Dell laptops with pre-installed software.
telehealth visits performed by NJMS providers at both New Jersey Medical School and University Hospital practices
Remote care via telehealth
Physicians at New Jersey Medical School provide medical visits to patients through a web-based platform that saves time and reduces COVID-19 spread. Patients can use a browser on a computer, tablet, smartphone, or even just a plain old landline, and all data is encrypted and HIPAA-compliant.
Improving Rutgers websites
A Drupal-based design system available universitywide, the Rutgers Core Component Library (RCCL) continues to transform web development and the user experience at the university. Units and departments, working with a website developer, benefit from using the RCCL’s cohesive website framework that requires minimal training for editors, meets accessibility guidelines, and is mobile-friendly for website visitors.
During FY21, 10 websites began using the RCCL, sites representing a broad range of units from the Office of Career Exploration and Success and University Finance and Administration to Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. The RCCL was developed as a partnership with several university units, is managed by University Communications and Marketing, and is supported through the collaborative effort of the Component Library Working Group. To learn more about the RCCL, visit the Rutgers Communications website.