Spring 2022 Update for Jan. 18 - Feb. 7, 2022
COVID-19 Vaccination Booster Requirement
All faculty, staff and students are required to get COVID-19 vaccine booster doses by January 18, or when first eligible (six months after second Pfizer/Moderna dose or two months after Johnson & Johnson/Janssen), unless otherwise exempted.
You will be notified by your faculty if any of your classes will be meeting in person prior to February 7. Unless otherwise noted, your classes will be conducted remotely from January 18-February 7.
Please see additional information on student services and housing below. Dorm residents and commuter students will receive additional information on “Things You Need to Know Before Returning to Campus” from the dean of students. Please be on the lookout for that email.
All faculty should plan to teach remotely from January 18-February 7, regardless of the current modality of your course. Any requests to teach in-person during the first three weeks of the semester must be individually approved through the Provost's Office using this form. Please do not use this form to request modality changes for the spring semester. Requests for accommodations or adjustments for the spring term should be made through HR. Please plan to teach your courses according to the modality listed in Peoplesoft starting February 7. Please be sure to include in your syllabi how you will teach courses remotely during the first three weeks of the semester (Zoom, collaborate, etc.) so students can plan accordingly.
During this critical time, ensuring continuity of services is paramount to campus operations. The campus will be open and offices are expected to maintain staffing levels consistent with the operations of their respective departments. Managers should have contingency plans in place should staffing levels be impacted as a result of COVID-19. Boosters, masking, social distancing, and teleworking arrangements (where applicable) are all important steps to reduce the impact of COVID-19 to our offices. During this time, consider the following:
- All meetings should be held via Zoom.
- Rotating staff between in-office and teleworking, where applicable, should be considered to ensure continuity of services.
- Customer service facing areas should schedule appointments when practical to reduce foot traffic.
Per an executive order of the governor, you are required to wear masks (surgical and paper) in all campus buildings.
In-person events and conferences will need to be postponed. Exceptions will be granted by the provost and director of Health Services if they contribute directly to students’ academic progress and have appropriate mitigations.
Faculty and students may seek approval for college-sponsored travel when the purpose of that travel is deemed to be necessary for academic progress and cannot reasonably be postponed or handled remotely (i.e., to conduct research, to present research at an academic conference, to participate in an internship or academic experience required for graduation, or for a similar educational or co-curricular experience, etc.). This is pending state and federal guidance. Please see: RIC Essential Academic Travel Request Form
From January 18-February 4, the Adams Library will offer lobby pickup (main entrance) Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; the library will be closed on weekends. Reference and research support consultations will be handled virtually Monday-Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m., and Thursday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. For questions regarding pick-up call 456-8126 or for reference call 456-8125. Please visit the library website for up to date information.
Donovan Dinning Center will be open to support the residential student population and staff working on campus. Mitigation protocols will remain in place, including social distancing, mobile app ordering and grab-and-go meals. Students will be encouraged not to congregate after meals.
Athletics will continue and abide by all mitigations required by the NCAA, the Little East Conference and the Rhode Island Department of Health. There will be no spectators at competitions.
During this three-week remote period, the Recreation Center will be open.
The Disability Services Center (DSC) works collaboratively with User Support Services, the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) and members of the faculty and staff to ensure that reasonable disability accommodations are met within online, hybrid, and in-person courses.
DSC’s Assistive Technology Coordinator works with eligible students to request their textbooks and course materials in other formats from publishers (e.g. Braille, e-text); secure adaptive equipment, learning and accessibility tools (like browser extensions and apps); and install reading software on their laptops.
Students seeking reasonable accommodations for a disability who have not yet registered with DSC should email dsc@ric.edu or call 401-456-2776 to request a virtual appointment.
Students who are already registered with DSC should contact DSC staff regarding any individual questions (401-456-2776, dsc@ric.edu). Someone from the team will respond. Additional information is also available on the Disability Services Center website.
All Professional Studies and Continuing Education programming will be delivered virtually until Rhode Island College’s return to in-person delivery on February 7. This includes all programming offered at the Workforce Development Hub in Central Falls. The Workforce Development Hub will remain open during this time and staff will be available by appointment only. Please call 401-868-3003 to schedule an appointment.
All other questions and inquiries can be directed to Jenifer Giroux, jgiroux@ric.edu.
Health and Well Being
Health Services provides free in-house primary care services and support for all enrolled RIC students, including part-time and graduate students. Health Services will be open by appointment only through February 7. Call to make an appointment with one of the nurses, nurse practitioners or physician at 401-456-8055.
The RIC Counseling Center cares about the mental and physical well-being of our students and college community. Counseling sessions will be remote only through February 7. Students are encouraged to contact 401-456-8094 to schedule an appointment. After business hours, students seeking to connect may contact the HOPE line at 401-456-HOPE (4673).
Housing
The residence halls will be open to spring residents beginning on Sunday, January 16. Additional move-in times will also be offered in early February. Residents should expect to receive a separate email with more specific information on how to sign up for move-in times. Limited on-campus housing remains available for spring. If interested, please contact housing@ric.edu or call 401-456-8240.
Academic Advising
Advising appointments may be conducted by email, phone, or video chat depending on instructions from the advisor. Students should check their RIC email frequently and follow the guidelines provided by their advisor.
Students can schedule a meeting by emailing their advisor. Students who do not know who their advisor is or do not see one listed can contact the department chair for their major.
Exploring majors should make their advising appointment with their academic advisor using Starfish. The advising team in OASIS is open for virtual appointments from now until February 7. Students who are part of the Academic Recovery Program (academic standing) should also make a virtual appointment with the advising team in OASIS using Starfish.
Should there be any questions or concerns about advising, students may contact Chris DaCosta, director of academic advising, at cdacosta@ric.edu or reach out to the advising team in OASIS at 401-456-8083 or oasis@ric.edu.
Learning and Tutorial Services
Until February 7, 2022, the Writing Center, Math Learning Center and Tutorial Services will offer virtual tutoring services to students for subject tutoring, study skills, math and writing. To make any tutoring appointment, students can log on to RIC’s WC Online. Students can also check Smarthinking for additional online tutoring options.
For additional questions, please contact the following:
Jayne Nightingale, Tutorial Services: jnightingale@ric.edu
Megan Di Bonaventura, Math Learning Center: mdibonaventura@ric.edu
Clarissa Walker, PhD, Writing Center: cwalker@ric.edu
Students may also call OASIS at 401-456-8083 for additional questions.
Career Development Center (student employment and career exploration)
Students are encouraged to apply for student employment on campus. All current job postings are available through the Handshake portal.
Students may work at their on-campus jobs during this period.
From now until February 7, students can schedule a virtual appointment with Career Development Center (CDC) through Handshake or Starfish. For any questions, please contact careerdevelopment@ric.edu or 401-456-8031.
Financial Aid
The Financial Aid Office is here to assist students with navigating the process of applying for need-based financial assistance from Rhode Island College, federal grants and loans, or the federal work study program. Students should complete the 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and any other documents required by the Financial Aid Office. Rhode Island College’s FAFSA code: 003407. For more information about financial assistance visit this webpage, or contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@ric.edu or 401-456-8033. Remote appointments are preferred.
Federal Work Study
Federal work study awards are offered as part of a student’s financial aid package based on eligibility. Federal work study awards are “work to earn” grants. There are many ways to earn your award both on-campus as well as off-campus. Visit the Career Development Center webpage or contact them directly at 401-456-8031 or careerdevelopment@ric.edu to learn more. Remote appointments are preferred.
Records
The Records Office is here to support students throughout the registration process, and with adding or dropping courses. Visit the Records Office online or contact them directly at records@ric.edu or 401-456-8213 for assistance. Remote appointments are preferred.
Bursar
Looking to access your student e-bill or make a tuition payment? The Bursar’s Office is here to assist students with payment options and billing deadlines. For more information, please visit the Bursar’s Office webpage or contact them directly at bursar@ric.edu or 401-456-8130. Remote appointments are preferred.