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An unexpected challenge

Since March 2020, the conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic required Rutgers IT to change course towards new IT initiatives, while continuing to provide the technology needed for faculty, staff, and students to work and learn effectively in a very different world. This COVID-19 timeline highlights key milestones for both the pandemic and Rutgers IT.

Looking Back

Rutgers IT COVID-19 timeline

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January 23, 2020

University monitoring coronavirus

In a message to the university community, Rutgers health care leadership notes that “we are closely monitoring reports from national and regional health agencies concerning the coronavirus.”

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March 4, 2020

IT working group convenes

Following the creation of a COVID-19 Task Force under the Office of Emergency Management, an IT working group held its first meeting about IT steps and strategy related to the pandemic. The group would continue to meet in coming weeks and months, with subgroups charged with IT areas related to working from home, remote teaching and learning, and IT systems and tools.

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March 10, 2020

Classes canceled through spring break

Rutgers announced that classes would be canceled through the end of spring break and instruction would move remote for at least the first two weeks after spring break.

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March 16, 2020

OIT Help Desk goes remote

Shifting to a fully remote operational status, the OIT Help Desk stayed available for standard operating hours and after-hours support through its toll-free number (833-OIT-HELP) and email.

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March 16, 2020

Instructors make use of video tools

As instructors moved to videoconferencing for class sessions, the use of BigBlueButton—a service for videoconferencing within Rutgers learning tools—increased from an average of five concurrent sessions, pre-pandemic, to as many as 130 concurrent sessions. Capacity for BigBlueButton was increased to accommodate the surge in use.

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March 16, 2020

Training workshops, self-paced tutorials, and one-to-one sessions offered to help instructors

Remote teaching resources such as webinars, self-paced tutorials, and consultations were made available to faculty to ease the burden of moving to fully online instruction. Topics included instructional technologies, pedagogical best practices for teaching online, and individualized coaching for faculty.

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March 17, 2020

Free software for remote use

OIT secures licenses to temporarily provide members of the university community with free, remote access to a number of important software applications, including Maple, SAS, SPSS Statistics, and others.

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March 17, 2020

In-person instruction suspended for spring semester

President Barchi announced that all in-person classes and events at Rutgers would be suspended through the end of May.

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March 18, 2020

VPN capacity expanded

Faced with the prospect of greatly increased VPN usage from faculty and staff working remotely, OIT moved quickly to increase capacity for the Rutgers VPN more than tenfold.

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March 18, 2020

Providing guidance on key tools for remote work

IT staff provides essential guidance on when community members should use cloud-based tools (Box, Rutgers Connect, Webex) vs. the Rutgers VPN or Rutgers Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Gateway Service to “remote control” an office computer.

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March 19, 2020

Providing Wi-Fi to students

In order to make remote learning possible for all students, Rutgers puts into place a number of options and programs for students in need of internet access.

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March 19, 2020

Coordinating support with Slack

The sudden move to remote work created a surge in support requests as members of the Rutgers community grappled with the new world of remote work and learning. A special channel for IT staff on the Slack messaging service helped IT staff members across Rutgers route and resolve support requests efficiently.

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March 21, 2020

Computer labs closed

Due to changes in university operating status and the state “Stay at Home” order, all OIT-operated computer labs closed.

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March 21, 2020

Governor Murphy signs “Stay at Home” executive order

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order that banned social gatherings and closed establishments in the state for in-person service.

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March 30, 2020

Cyber threats and coronavirus

With a reported increase in cyber threats during the pandemic, OIT offered tips to avoid scams like unemployment fraud, phishing, social media exploits, and others.

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March 31, 2020

Free Adobe Creative Cloud

The university secures free software licenses for Adobe Creative Cloud for Rutgers students, faculty, and staff through May 31, 2020.

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April 1, 2020

Laptops procured for remote work

When the pandemic spurred the transition to remote work, many staff members needed laptops to work from home. Rutgers quickly procured and distributed more than 800 devices despite a global shortage.

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April 8, 2020

Cloud tools credited as key to smooth transition

The shift to cloud technologies and tools in recent years, for everything from videoconferencing to file storage and collaboration, played a considerable role in allowing the university to pivot to remote work so quickly.

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April 11, 2020

Computer lab PCs used to test COVID-19 treatments

With computers in on-campus computer labs and other locations left unused, IT staff members connected the devices to a research consortium testing potential COVID-19 treatments.

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April 18, 2020

Telemedicine comes to the forefront

Computers, smartphones, and tablets replaced the doctor’s office for many patients at Rutgers health care locations, as telemedicine is used as a way to keep patients at home.

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April 22, 2020

Use of videoconferencing increases dramatically

More than 36,000 participants used Webex on this day, at the height of the spring COVID-19 surge in New Jersey, whereas fewer than 1,000 used Webex on a comparable pre-pandemic day.

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May 18, 2020

New Jersey begins reopening plans

Governor Murphy unveiled a multi-stage coronavirus reopening plan and announced that the state was entering the initial stage, which relaxed restrictions on low-risk activities.

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May 20, 2020

Virtual computer labs launched

With computer labs closed under COVID-19 restrictions, OIT introduced virtual computer labs with access to lab software from anywhere, anytime.

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May 31, 2020

Class of 2020 celebrated virtually

A major effort to pivot from original in-person plans, completed in a matter of weeks, allowed Rutgers graduates to be celebrated with a virtual commencement.

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June 16, 2020

Putting the spotlight on remote resources

The Rutgers IT website showcases technology resources like web conferencing, cloud storage, and free software to provide an easily accessed spot to help with continued remote learning, instruction, and work.

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July 6, 2020

Rutgers announces mostly remote fall

President Holloway announced plans for most classes to be delivered remotely, with limited in-person instruction, for fall 2020.

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July 15, 2020

Launching Zoom at Rutgers

To many, Zoom is a central part of the pandemic experience, and Rutgers launched Zoom for the university community to provide free accounts to students, faculty, and staff.

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July 16, 2020

Wireless enhancements to support COVID testing

OIT upgraded wireless services in several locations and installed wireless services in outdoor campus locations and parking lots to facilitate COVID testing.

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August 12, 2020

iPad initiative connects far-flung students

In an effort to help first-year students with the challenges of largely remote learning, Rutgers–Newark and Rutgers–New Brunswick distributed more than 8,000 customized iPads.

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August 14, 2020

Canvas gets Webex and Zoom integrations

Webex and Zoom were integrated within Canvas to provide new options of synchronous meeting applications for Rutgers instructors.

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August 27, 2020

OIT Return to Rutgers plan introduced

A guide for repopulating OIT workspaces that complements the universitywide plan is introduced. The OIT Return to Rutgers plan covers a variety of issues, including enacting operational plans, controlling building access and circulation, and preparing staff.

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September 1, 2020

Curbside printing introduced

Curbside printing allows faculty, staff, and students to send documents remotely to print, with pickup available in select locations.

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September 14, 2020

Faculty provided tips for web conferencing disruptions

Instructors are offered resources and guidance for handling Zoombombing and other class disruptions.

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September 25, 2020

OIT develops mandatory COVID-related apps

In collaboration with the university’s medical experts, OIT created My Campus Pass and Rutgers Visitors Log to allow self-screening of health symptoms and to gather data for contact tracing of those on campus.

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November 17, 2020

Moderna announces vaccine is 94.5 percent effective

Moderna, which conducted some of its COVID-19 vaccine trials at New Jersey Medical School and University Hospital, said that early data indicates the vaccine is 94.5 percent effective. Pfizer also released data from COVID-19 vaccine trials a week earlier that suggest its vaccine is 90 percent effective.

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December 15, 2020

First COVID-19 vaccine issued in New Jersey

The Pfizer vaccine first became available for healthcare workers, while the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines would be issued shortly after.

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January 26, 2021

Rutgers computing resources play major role in search for COVID-19 treatments

Rutgers was instrumental in medical research group Folding@Home’s work in finding COVID treatments, providing processor power from student computer labs, an OARC supercomputer, and other departments.

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March 25, 2021

Rutgers requires COVID-19 vaccine for students

Rutgers University announced it will require the COVID-19 vaccine for students who are enrolled for the 2021 fall semester.

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April 12, 2021

Essential workers celebrated

Rutgers Today told the story of how the university’s essential workers, including some who work in IT, played a crucial role in keeping Rutgers running during the pandemic.

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May 5, 2021

Rutgers opens vaccination sites

Community members could receive the COVID-19 vaccine at clinics in Camden, Newark, and Piscataway.

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May 16, 2021

Rutgers hosts virtual commencement

The Class of 2021 was celebrated virtually, marking the second consecutive commencement that required a pivot from the usual in-person celebration.

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May 27, 2021

Faculty and staff return to campus date announced

President Holloway wrote a letter to the Rutgers community announcing plans for employees to start returning to in-person work on July 6 after more than a year of remote operations.

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June 24, 2021

Return to Rutgers tech checklist launched

To facilitate a return to in-person work, Rutgers IT provided a checklist that included important technology-related reminders and tips for employees to keep in mind when heading back to campus.

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October 25, 2021

Rutgers requires COVID-19 vaccine for faculty and staff

Rutgers University announced it will require the COVID-19 vaccine for all faculty and staff by January 4, 2022.

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December 17, 2021

COVID-19 testing update

The State of New Jersey and Vault Medical Services have partnered to offer at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for New Jersey residents at no cost.

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January 4, 2022

Rutgers announces starting Spring 2022 semester mostly remote

Due to the dramatic spread of the Omicron variant, Rutgers announced that most in-person classes will temporarily convert to remote until January 31, 2022.