2020–2021 Student Handbook Policies, Procedures and Services Cumberland Campus 3322 College Drive, Vineland, NJ 08360 Gloucester Campus 1400 Tanyard Road, Sewell, NJ 08080 RCSJ.edu Premier Partnership easy transfer credits. The Rowan University Center (RUC) assists students on their pathway from Rowan College to Rowan University by providing a variety of services, such as, advisement and application assistance, to students and alumni. From their very first day of classes, Rowan College students are conditionally admitted to Rowan University with the understanding that all program prerequisite coursework and GPA requirements Rowan College of South Jersey and Rowan must be satisfied. Students pay the community University have formed an innovative, premier college tuition and fee rates while attending RCSJ, partnership to make higher education more saving them substantial time and money. Students affordable to South Jersey residents by providing can choose from any of the following pathways to a direct, cohesive route to a bachelor's degree with obtain their bachelor’s degree: 3+1 Earn a four-year degree at a reduced price: less than $30,000 for a bachelor’s degree. Students remain at Rowan College for an additional year to complete 3years+ their junior level courses while paying Rowan College tuition and fees. Only 1year available to select majors. Rowan Partnerships Online Earn your Bachelor’s degree fully online from one the nation’s top universities and NJ’s number one community college. Save thousands on your education without sacrificing convenience or quality. Only available to select majors. Degree Completion Graduates of Rowan College have the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s degree at a discounted rate from Rowan University. Students complete their final two years online via Rowan Global. Only available to select majors. Rowan Choice Live on Rowan University’s campus and earn up to 60 credits through Rowan College. Courses are taught by Rowan College professors at both RCSJ and Rowan University. Available to all majors. Traditional Transfer Complete your associate degree at Rowan College and transfer to Rowan University for your bachelor’s degree. Available to all majors. Office of University Partnerships For additional information visit: Contact the Rowan University Center Gloucester campus: 856-464-5232 • Cumberland campus: 856-200-4719 RCSJ.edu/RU Welcome to Rowan College of South Jersey Here at Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ), student success — your success — has always been at the core of our mission. There are many individual components that contribute to success, and it was with all of those components in mind that we made the difficult decision to safeguard the health of our College community by offering most courses in a fully online format. Some of you have expressed an overarching peace of mind at the opportunity to continue pursuing your education while prioritizing your health; others have conveyed an uncertainty regarding their ability to stay on track in a remote environment. RCSJ has heard your concerns and has worked to customize the tool of online education to your learning style. • Live Online — An option for those who flourish under the discipline of a set schedule and do their best work in a cooperative, social environment. Live Online courses will never meet on campus but have regularly scheduled class times during which students and their instructor will meet in real-time via Zoom and students are provided with multiple options for class participation. • Online — An option for students who value flexibility and do their best work in an independent environment. Students will watch videos and pre-recorded lectures, complete assignments and activities and interact with their instructor and classmates through eLearning/Blackboard. Online courses allow students to work towards their education on their own schedule, while being mindful of assignment deadlines. • Hybrid — An option for specific courses and programs that require a laboratory which cannot be completed with an at-home lab kit, a clinical/internship component, or for which hands-on work is necessary for accreditation purposes, licensing requirements or for success in a particular field of study. Hybrid courses will feature a combination of both in-person and online class meetings. RCSJ’s full array of student and academic support services have also been made available to you from the safety and comfort of your home. Virtual Frederick Keating, Ed.D. academic advising, one-on-one Zoom meetings with instructors and a range of online tutoring services help you master any subject, while RCSJ’s laptop President program, fully online technical support services and drive-up computing locations ensure you are equipped to succeed in a virtual environment. Life comes with many challenges, though few are as formidable and universal as COVID-19. The pandemic has caused our world to change, but that does not mean you must sit on the sidelines waiting for a return to normal. RCSJ is confident that its fall virtual campus will provide everything you need to keep making progress towards your educational and career goals — at one of the lowest tuition rates in the state. Frederick Keating, Ed.D. President visit us online at RCSJ.edu 1 College Coronavirus Response Coronavirus Response Months of development went into RCSJ’s fall 2020 semester and students were provided with more options within the constraints On Monday, March 16, 2020, as Rowan College of South Jersey of virtual education. In addition to traditional online courses which (RCSJ) students began an extended spring break, College faculty, allow students to progress towards course deadlines on their own staff and administration were embroiled in discussion surrounding schedule, the College introduced Live Online courses featuring a virtual conclusion to the semester as they monitored CDC and real-time lectures and class discussions hosted via Zoom. A small State updates on the coronavirus pandemic. When Governor selection of Hybrid courses involving in-person laboratory, clinical/ Murphy delivered Executive Order No. 107 later that week internship or other hands-on work were offered where necessary, instructing all residents to stay at home until further notice, RCSJ with strict COVID-19 safety procedures in place for on-campus closed its physical campuses and began to put online education interaction – including mask and temperature check policies for plans into immediate action. Students returned to classes on employees and students, smaller classes arranged for social March 30 and began to navigate this new collective reality of distancing, and increased cleaning schedules for classrooms virtual education with the full support of the College at their backs. and high-traffic areas. Athletes returned to campus under similar Susan Hall, Ed.D, MSN, RN, longtime dean of Nursing and safety guidelines for small-group training activities, although Health Professions and respected authority on public health, there would be no intercollegiate athletic competitions that fall. assumed the role of Campus Medical Director to help guide RCSJ’s The fall 2020 semester began on September 1; campus decisions. Faculty worked to educate and engage students across libraries were reopened that same day under COVID-19 guidelines online learning platforms and establish virtual office hours for those — restoring student access to a portion of RCSJ’s on-campus who required one-on-one support. Staff members transitioned vital computers. In-person delivery of student services also resumed student services including tutoring, advising, financial aid and on RCSJ’s campuses, although students were encouraged to scholarship support, mental health support, student life and more utilize a range of no-contact service options whenever practical. to an accessible online format. Drive-up, socially distanced An expansion of the College’s Flex Start program provided the computing areas were added to RCSJ’s campuses to provide option to choose a later semester start date, with a wide range increased access to Wi-Fi and policies were reexamined in light of courses beginning well into October. of COVID-19 to provide additional time to withdrawal from classes On October 14, in a Town Hall hosted by the RCSJ’s President, and the option to take an Incomplete grade for students who felt Frederick Keating, Ed.D., an announcement was made that the unsuited to online learning. College would continue to offer most courses in a online format Over the summer of 2020, courses continued to be delivered throughout the spring 2021 semester. As of the date of publication, online as RCSJ’s campuses remained closed, and in June the further details were not yet available. Changes will continue to take Board of Trustees unanimously voted to freeze tuition for the place as RCSJ works to follow New Jersey State guidelines and 2020-2021 academic year to ease the financial strain on students. CDC recommendations, and updates will be communicated to On July 6, the College announced its decision to offer approximately students in a timely manner. 95 percent of fall semester courses online, except for select classes requiring a hands-on component. RCSJ also moved to retool its payment plans in the interest of affordability by eliminating setup fees and deferring initial payment. Over the remaining summer months, the institution began a gradual process of safely bringing staff members back to its campuses that would continue throughout the fall semester