Campus Health & Safety Protocols

Effective: April 4, 2022

At Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors are our highest priority. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the College has been actively dedicated to keeping our students, faculty and staff healthy and safe in accordance with the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). As we return to more normal face-to-face classes and services on our campuses, we have developed these campus health safety protocols in an attempt to maintain a healthy environment where risk of catching COVID-19 disease is minimized.

In response to the current community level in both counties in our service area being in the “low” category, the College will be implementing updated COVID-19 health and safety protocols effective April 4, 2022.

Students, faculty and staff should follow the following practices so that we can keep our community level low:

• Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to wear masks
• Stay home if you’re sick
• Wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer
• If you have been exposed or tested positive for COVID-19:
  • Students should fill out the Student COVID-19 Reporting Form
  • Employees should fill out the Employee COVID-19 Reporting Form

Use of the College’s Facilities

• Campus spaces will begin returning to normal capacity and the campus will be open to external events following the normal room rental request process.
• There is no restriction on the capacity for outdoor gatherings.
• The College reserves the right to refuse any event or cancel a reservation with a full refund when there is a facility, health or safety issue that requires us to do so.
• The President will have sole discretion as to which activities are allowed to occur at the College’s facilities, or under sponsorship of the College.

Indicators for Change

• College administrators will continue to be in frequent close consultation with local and state authorities and health care providers and will implement recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NC DHHS, and the North Carolina Community College System and will revise protocols as needed.
• The President and Cabinet will continue to monitor COVID-19 case metric data points of our local and regional service areas to determine necessary changes to COVID-19 protocols.
• The College’s leadership will rely on CDC data on community levels as a key indicator for change.

Exposure Protocols

The College requires all students, faculty, and staff to follow CDC guidelines related to isolation and quarantine protocols. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the College is implementing these required exposure protocols that must be followed by anyone attending classes or working at the College, or attending off-site college events and activities, stay away from College premises and inform the College as follows:

Students

Students should complete the following Student COVID-19 Reporting Form to notify the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Division of Student Success of a positive COVID-19 test or known exposure (close contact) to COVID-19. Students will be contacted by Division of Student Success staff and provided with support and return to campus instructions.

If Student Tests Positive for COVID-19:

• Complete the Student COVID-19 Reporting Form.
• Stay (Isolate) at home for 5 days.
• If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you may return to campus.
• Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
• If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.

If Student Has Known Exposure to COVID-19 Positive Case AND is Fully Vaccinated*:

• Complete the Student COVID-19 Reporting Form.
• Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
• COVID-19 Test on day 5, if possible.
• If you develop symptoms, get a COVID-19 Test and stay home.

If Student Has Known Exposure to COVID-19 Positive Case AND NOT Fully Vaccinated*:

• Complete the Student COVID-19 Reporting Form.
• Stay (Quarantine) at home for 5 days. After that, continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
• COVID-19 Test on day 5 if possible.
• If you develop symptoms, get a COVID-19 Test and stay home.

College Student Support Resources:

• Student Wellness Center offers resources related to mental health, financial hardship, food insecurity and other areas of need. Contact studentwellness@rccc.edu for more information.
• Student Assistance Program-Counseling Services (SAP): Call 800-633-3353 for more information.
• Students who are experiencing a financial hardship should fill out the Student Assistance Form.

Students should contact Executive Director of Student Success, Jonathan Rowe, for any student COVID-19 or assistance questions.

*Note: Per CDC, fully vaccinated is defined as boosted OR completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months OR completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months.

Employees

Employees should complete the following Employee COVID-19 Reporting Form to notify the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Division of Human Resources of a positive COVID-19 test or known exposure (close contact) to COVID-19. Employees will be contacted by Human Resources staff and provided with support and return to campus instructions.

Required Actions:

• An employee must notify their supervisor if they have tested positive for COVID-19 disease, suspect they may have contracted the disease (through exhibiting symptoms), or have been in close contact with someone with the disease. They should also inform their supervisor if they are self-isolating and are unable to attend work on-campus and/or feel so ill that they are unable to complete virtual work. When permission to return to campus is received, they should notify their supervisor in writing of their plan to return to campus.
• A supervisor or faculty member who is informed of an infection or exposure by their subordinate must fill out and submit a Employee COVID-19 Reporting Form, communicating the information provided to them to Human Resources. There is no discretion regarding the obligation to report.
• Upon receipt of the COVID-19 Reporting Form, Human Resources will:
  • Solicit information from the employee that will assist in the mitigation of any campus spread (their vaccination status, their infection status, when were they last on campus, what classes they attended face-to-face, where did they attend class, who were they in prolonged contact with).
  • From information received from the infected or exposed employee, analyze the potential impact to others, and, using the guidelines in the CDC’s Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) see Quarantine and Isolation and other local mandates.
  • Send information (email) to the employee and supervisor outlining next steps in the COVID-19 protocols.
  • If needed, send information (email) to notify Facilities Services to implement disinfection protocols.
  • If needed, notify Student Success Services of possible exposure of any students at the College.

Return-to-Campus:

• Employees who have been exposed or have been quarantined are encouraged to test for COVID-19 especially if they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, however a negative test isn’t required to return to campus.
• Employees who have tested positive or have been in isolation are encouraged to test for COVID-19 especially if they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. A negative test is required for employees who have tested positive or have been in isolation prior to their return to campus.

Discretionary Actions:

• The employee may reach out to Human Resources to inform them of their COVID-19 impact and solicit information and support. The HR point of contact for all employee infections is Karen Isenhour.
• The Chief Human Resources Officer may enact interim measures to mitigate potential exposures that include having individuals temporarily stay away from campus while sufficient information is gathered to make a decision for an employee to return to campus.

Human Resources is designated as the lead division on issues surrounding employee COVID-19 infections and exposures. Employees should contact Human Resources Associate, Karen Isenhour, for any employee COVID-19 or assistance questions.

Emergency Notifications

If a cluster occurs (five related cases of illness onset within fourteen days that have a plausible epidemiological linkage), a College-wide emergency notification will be broadcast to students, faculty, and staff, providing information on the nature of the outbreak, and recommended personal actions for those who recognize a possible exposure or illness.

Medical Care

Because the College does not provide medical services, and is not a covered entity under HIPAA, anyone reporting a positive test for COVID-19, experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or believed to have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, should be counseled to contact their physician and/or the county health department for medical advice or treatment.

Testing

• Free weekly testing and vaccinations will no longer be available on campus, however anyone who needs a COVID-19 test can access one by identifying a local testing location through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
• Weekly testing will no longer be required for unvaccinated employees and employees will no longer need to submit test results into the ReturnSafe app after April 4.
• Employees are still encouraged to submit their COVID-19 vaccination information by emailing askhr@rccc.edu.

Confidentiality Notice

• Communication of details of an individual’s positive test results or presumed infection will be on a need-to-know basis, following the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other Federal and State guidelines to the greatest extent possible, while maintaining the health and safety of those associated with the College.
• Submission of medical documentation associated with COVID-19 is not required. If this information is provided, it shall remain confidential to the greatest extent possible, while maintaining the health and safety of those associated with the College.

Campus Operations

• The efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic require that everyone attending classes or working on campus recognize that they must behave responsibly and understand the potential implications of their actions.
• It should be understood by anyone choosing to come to campus that by being on-campus there is a certain amount of risk of exposure to the virus, as there is in any public place. Understanding this risk is particularly important for those who are unvaccinated.
• Face coverings are now recommended on Rowan-Cabarrus Community College campuses but are not required.
• You are strongly encouraged to wear a mask if you are at high risk for complications, are unvaccinated or have family members who are not vaccinated.
• Though masks are now recommended and not required, faculty, staff, students and campus visitors are encouraged to wear masks when they are in close proximity to others or in confined spaces such as elevators.
• Everyone must honestly self-evaluate for symptoms and/or health concerns. If you think you may have one of the following, do not come to campus:
  • Infected with COVID-19;
  • Have come in direct contact with an infected person for a prolonged period of time (15 minutes) within the last 14 days;
  • Have been tested for COVID-19 (because of close contact or display of symptoms), but are awaiting test results;
  • Have an underlying health condition that makes you particularly vulnerable to catching COVID-19 disease, or being critically affected by it.

Health Screenings

Individuals should conduct an honest self-evaluation each day before they decide to come to one of the College’s campuses. If you are sick for any reason, please stay home! Supervisors will work with employees to allow maximum flexibility in work assignments when the employee reports they are ill. Instructors will work with students to make up any missed work.

Do not come to campus if you experience any COVID-19 or other symptoms including but not limited to the following:

• A body temperature of over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit;
• Unexplained cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing;
• Vomiting or diarrhea;
• Loss of sense of smell

While You Are on Campus

• Face coverings are recommended on Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s campuses.
• Everyone on campus should frequently wash and/or disinfect their hands.
• Practice good infection control:
  • Cover your coughs or sneezes.
  • If you cough or sneeze, please cover your mouth with a tissue, then discard the tissue and wash your hands thoroughly.
  • Individuals should not touch your face after touching surfaces.

Cleaning and Sanitation

The College will:

• Implement enhanced daily cleaning and disinfecting of occupied spaces.
• Strategically place disinfecting stations at key building entries and keep them supplied with disinfectant.
• Provide disinfectants and cleaning supplies in every building to be utilized by students and faculty in those spaces for voluntary supplemental cleaning/disinfecting of desks and classroom equipment.
• Make disinfectant and cleaning supplies available for faculty and staff to perform voluntary supplemental cleaning/disinfecting their spaces, workstations and equipment.
• Periodic UV Light disinfection of heavily utilized spaces.
• Periodic cleaning and disinfecting of high touch surfaces (doorknobs, elevator buttons, water fountains, vending machines, etc.).
• Increased levels of ventilation in campus facilities.

Classrooms, Labs, and Other Instructional Spaces

• Campus spaces will begin returning to normal capacity and the campus will be open to external events following the normal request for use process.
• There is no restriction on the capacity for outdoor gatherings.

Common Spaces

• Libraries are open and normal operating hours will be posted online and at each location.
• The North Campus Beacon’s Nest Spirit Store is open and a schedule of operating hours will be posted.
• Food services at cafeterias will remain closed. Cafeteria spaces are available for use by students, faculty, and staff.
• Vending machines and water fountains are open for use.
• Exercise rooms are open.

Contractors and Vendors

• Contractors and their employees working on outdoor projects on campus shall not interact with students or faculty. Workers on these sites will follow the Contractors safety requirements, which may differ from those of the College.
• Face masks are recommended for contractors and vendors working within occupied buildings on-campus.
• Reports of infection or exposure by a Contractor or Vendor should be made by their College Point of Contact, who should then report it as any other infection through the COVID-19 Reporting Form.

Exceptions from these requirements

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Any student who believes they have a justifiable medical reason that will not allow compliance with the safety measures put in place should submit a request for reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to Student Success Services, Office of Accessibility.
  • Employees requiring an accommodation should contact the 504 ADA Coordinator/Human Resources representative and submit an Employee Accommodation Request Form. The request must be supported by medical, psychological, and other appropriate documentation (as provided by a licensed, medical professional currently treating the employee).
  • All requests under ADA must be submitted with sufficient time for review and action before returning to campus.
• Any employee of the College who believes that they or their subordinates or students will perform a task that precludes following any of these requirements, must submit a Request for Exception to COVID-19 Protocols through their chain-of-command to their Vice President or Chief Officer, and must receive written approval of the requested exception from that Vice President or Chief Officer.

Sanctions

• Students who fail to comply with campus safety protocols will be in violation of the Campus Code of Conduct and may be sanctioned accordingly.
• Employees who fail to comply with campus protocols will be in violation of Personnel Actions for Violation of Employment Standards and may be subject to formal disciplinary action.

Updated: March 29, 2022