Princeton University is implementing a series of policies in response to COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus. The University is enacting new policies and practices based on the concept of social distancing.
The goal is to decrease the number of situations that require community members to gather in large groups and to minimize the time spent in close proximity with each other.
When off campus, faculty, staff, and students are free to do as they wish, though they should keep health and safety in mind.
Most answers to your questions can be found on Princeton’s COVID-19 website. Please use that site as your official source of information, as other websites, media outlets, and social media pages may not have the most accurate or up-to-date information from the University.
University FAQs:
Below are FAQs that are WWS-specific.
If you have any questions, contact Elisabeth Donahue, Associate Dean of Public Affairs and Communications, at edonahue@princeton.edu or 609.258.5988.
Building Access and Operations:
Q. Will access to Robertson Hall or Green Hall be restricted?
All buildings on the Princeton campus—including Bendheim, Corwin, Green and Robertson—are locked and may be accessed by graduate students, faculty, and staff only by PU ID, from 7 a.m. to midnight. Undergraduate students may not access academic buildings other than Frist. The University is strongly discouraging non-essential employees from visiting campus. If you must visit campus to pick up materials or perform essential work, please coordinate your visit with your supervisor and associate dean Todd Bristol. While on campus, please wear a face covering, practice social distancing, and thoroughly and frequently wash your hands. For additional information pertaining to COVID-19, please visit: https://www.princeton.edu/content/covid-19-coronavirus-faqs-staff
Q. What if I need to come to campus to pick up newly ordered computing equipment?
To reduce on campus interactions and safeguard employee health, pick-ups for equipment ordered and configured by the WWS Computing Services office will be scheduled on Wednesdays. While on campus, please wear a face covering, practice social distancing, and thoroughly and frequently wash your hands. Due to the limited staff on campus, office deliveries are not possible. If you have an urgent need, please contact the WWS Facilities and Operations group at wwsbus@princeton.edu.
New Guidance on the Use of Face Coverings
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)at Princeton has issued the following guidance for the use of face coverings. This guidance is based on information published by the New Jersey Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of April 27, 2020.
New Policy/Procedures for Ordering Office Materials and Offsite Delivery:
With people working remotely, there are new policy and procedures for ordering and delivery of office materials and supplies. Visit here for details.
Use this new system only for necessary items not incidental products.
Examples of necessary items are included here. Home office furnishings are not to be purchased with University funds. Generic office items should be ordered from the University-preferred office supplier W.B. Mason using the Prime portal. When having items shipped to a home or other new address not already in the system, you must provide Finance & Treasury (F&T) with the recipient’s name and address where the items are to be shipped. This may be accomplished by emailing the information to finance@princeton.edu.
Graduate Students:
Q. Will access to Robertson Hall or Green Hall be restricted?
All buildings on the Princeton campus—including Bendheim, Corwin, Green and Robertson—are locked and may be accessed by graduate students, faculty, and staff only by PU ID, from 7 a.m. to midnight. The graduate lounge is closed. Computer clusters are also closed, with the exception of the Robertson Hall computer cluster in room 046, which is accessible for printing purposes only. The University is strongly discouraging gatherings, however, so going to the building should only be done when absolutely essential and not in groups. Also, while in campus buildings, please wear a face covering, practice social distancing, and thoroughly and frequently wash your hands.
Q. Where can I find the latest information from the Graduate School?
The Graduate School has sent out a series of targeted announcements specifically for graduate students regarding COVID-19. This list will be updated as further communications are sent.
Q. Will I be able to stay on campus until the end of the semester?
Yes; and if this is the decision you make because it is in your best interest, you should not feel guilty about it! That said, as you know, the University and the WWS are strongly encouraging anyone who is able to leave without endangering themselves or their loved ones to do so. Fewer people on campus means that the students, staff, and faculty who must be here are further protected. We would like to keep track of who is staying and who is leaving, so please update your plans at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/66G59JN.
Graduate students who elect to leave campus and complete the spring semester remotely will be allowed to cancel their housing contracts immediately. Provided you continue to make reasonable academic progress, your funding will not be impacted.
Q. I am moving off campus for the time being. How do I set up mail forwarding?
If you lived at the Graduate College, complete this form on the Graduate School’s website upon move-out and/or on the day that your housing contract ends. If you lived at the Lakeside or Lawrence Apartments, the Graduate School recommends setting up mail forwarding through the United States Postal Service.
Q. Are we permitted to use Robertson Hall's computer clusters or student lounge?
The graduate student lounge is closed. With the exception of the Robertson Hall computer cluster in room 046, computer clusters are closed. Room 046 is accessible for printing purposes only with your PU ID from 7 a.m. to midnight. Graduate students should not be in academic buildings or labs unless they have received prior approval through the continuity of research plans as essential personnel or unless your teaching crucially relies on equipment that you cannot access or replicate from home.
Q. I have a question about my University health insurance. What do I do?
Contact Student Health Plan Office at 609.258.3138 or shpo@princeton.edu.
Q. I am experiencing anxiety and stress; where can I find support?
Graduate students who are facing financial hardship as a result of the situation should reach out to the student life team at the Graduate School. Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), which offers telehealth videoconferencing and guidelines for taking care of your mental health, can be reached at 609.258.3141. Students also are encouraged to reach out to campus life centers and to the Office of Religious Life.
Q. If I stay on campus and have an eating plan, will l still have access to dining services?
Dining halls and retail locations will continue to serve the campus community according to a revised schedule. Check the Dining Services website for up-to-date information.
Q. Can the University offer temporary storage solutions until the fall semester?
If you still need storage, two moving/storage vendors, Campus Storage and Storage Squad can provide you with information online.
Q. Will students continue to have access to the library?
Princeton University Library services are available online only. Onsite services in physical locations have ceased operations until further notice. Students can access many collections virtually and receive support from Library staff (Elana Broch at ebroch@princeton.edu). Find details on the Princeton University Library website.
Q. What changes will there be to TigerTransit?
The latest information can be found on the Princeton Transportation & Parking Services website.
Undergraduate Students:
Q. Are there implications for the WWS undergraduate senior thesis and junior policy task force paper?
The due date for the WWS senior thesis has been extended until Monday, April 27. Students are strongly encouraged to continue consulting with their thesis advisors. The junior policy task force paper is due Friday, May 15. Students may contact Paul Lipton or Monica Ruscil with questions.
Q. I am experiencing anxiety and stress; where can I find support?
Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), which offers telehealth videoconferencing and guidelines for taking care of your mental health, can be reached at 609.258.3141. Virtual CPS counseling sessions are being offered as well. Students also are encouraged to reach out to campus life centers and to the Office of Religious Life.
Q. If I stay on campus and have an eating plan, will l still have access to dining services?
Dining halls and retail locations will continue to serve the campus community according to a revised schedule. Check the Dining Services website for up-to-date information.
Q. Can the University offer temporary storage solutions until the fall semester?
If you still need storage, two moving/storage vendors, Campus Storage and Storage Squad can provide you with information online.
Q. Will students continue to have access to the library?
Princeton University Library services are available online only. Onsite services in physical locations have ceased operations until further notice. Students can access many collections virtually and receive support from Library staff (Elana Broch at ebroch@princeton.edu). Find details on the Princeton University Library website.
Q. Will access to Robertson Hall or Green Hall be restricted?
With the exception of Frist, academic buildings on campus may not be accessed by undergraduate students.
Q. What changes will there be to TigerTransit?
The latest information can be found on the Princeton Transportation & Parking Services website.
Faculty and Classes:
Q. Will access to Robertson Hall or Green Hall be restricted?
All buildings on the Princeton campus—including Bendheim, Corwin, Green and Robertson—are locked and may be accessed by graduate students, faculty, and staff only by PU ID, from 7 a.m. to midnight. The University is strongly discouraging non-essential employees from visiting campus. If you must visit campus to pick up materials or perform essential work, please coordinate your visit with associate dean Todd Bristol. While on campus, please wear a face covering, practice social distancing, and thoroughly and frequently wash your hands. For additional information pertaining to COVID-19, please visit: https://www.princeton.edu/content/covid-19-coronavirus-faqs-staff
Q. Will faculty be provided guidance on how to handle timing of classes for different time zones?
Each instructor will decide the best format for their course. Instructors have been reminded that they may be teaching to students in different time zones. Faculty are aware that recorded rather than live options may be necessary for some students for a variety of reasons, including unexpected childcare obligations and time zone differences.
Q. I am an instructor; how can I conduct my classes online?
In response to COVID-19, the Teaching Continuity website provides guidance for teaching undergraduate and graduate courses virtually. Faculty may need to select alternative instructional methods. Faculty may also need to adjust the course content itself, depending on the circumstances.
Q. Will there be training to use Zoom and Blackboard?
WWS has already conducted two Zoom drop-in sessions for faculty and staff who required hands-on training or had specific questions related to Zoom. If additional trainings are warranted we will send out a communication.
Online resources:
Events and Meetings:
Q. Will leadership guests still visit campus?
All remaining leadership guests scheduled to visit during the spring semester have been postponed until next year. All public talks hosted by WWS’ Office of Public Affairs and Communications for the remainder of this semester have been cancelled or postponed.
Q. Should I continue to conduct meetings with students, faculty, and staff?
In-person meetings are strongly, strongly discouraged. Meeting organizers should use remote technology whenever possible, including substituting conference calls, video-conferencing, and phone conversations for in-person meetings. Meetings that must take place should adhere to social distancing best practices.
Q. Are public events hosted by the WWS and its Centers/Programs being cancelled?
All public events hosted by the University (including its schools, departments or units, and student-sponsored events) have been cancelled or postponed for now. Some events may be held virtually; check the WWS website calendar for information about specific events.
Miscellaneous:
Q. How do I handle New Equipment Orders and Delivery?
WWS Computing Services continues to place orders via Princeton Prime but please be advised that due to manufacturing supply and shipping constraints caused by the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic, there is no guarantee for equipment availability. Additionally, when equipment is available, shipments may be delayed. Until the crisis is under control, expect longer wait times for equipment to arrive.
Q. How will COVID-19 affect the "Reimagining Robertson" construction project?
We do not know whether COVID-19 will affect the construction schedule for Robertson Hall. As with all things related to this global crisis, we are making decisions based on the information we have at any given time. At this time, it is unknown how long this crisis will go on and what the ripple effects will be.
Q. What is the travel advisory for WWS-sponsored business travel?
All University travel is encouraged to be booked through World Travel, the University’s contracted travel agent. They will manage ticket refunds in the event of cancelled travel and apply refunds towards future travel. Please work with them on this.
If booking online through Concur, you will receive messages as to whether travel to your destination is allowed or if it’s recommended that you reconsider travel to that area. However, there’s the possibility that due to frequent Department of State/University updates that Concur notices may be lagging, so it’s best to check with World Travel.
All University-sponsored international travel is prohibited and non-essential University-sponsored domestic travel should be postponed or cancelled.
WWS has been informed that airlines are gradually waiving cancellation and change fees due to the current situation. Inquire about this with your travel reservationist or airline representative.
If you, your department, or visitor have cancelled business travel due to the coronavirus and did not book through World Travel, the WWS will reimburse for either the cancellation fee or change fee with proof of making such payment. This fee is to be charged to the original funding source to which the ticket would have been charged.
The WWS Financial Management Office reserves the right to disallow travel expenses that are deemed to be outside of University directives in effect at the time the ticket was purchased.
For additional guidance visit the websites below. However, final determination as to allowability is governed by University-issued directives.
Additional information: