Fall 2020 Reopening Guidelines

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College

Fall 2020

August 16, 2020

Our Fall 2020 semester kicks off tomorrow! Ahead of the first day, we have a special message to students from Guy Lowes, our Interim Chief Academic Officer:

“We are excited to begin another school year with you! While this year looks different and will be like no other year yet, we will work hard and get through this together. Southern is your home, and we want you to be successful.

“Because this semester is already very different, it is vital that you check your Southern emails and pay attention to your instructor’s class details. Each instructor will be sending out specific information about how each class will be meeting.

Additional criteria in regards to the COVID-19 crisis:

If you have any of the COVID-19 symptoms you should stay home and continue to monitor for 48 hours.

If an employee travels to a “hot spot” region of the country, you should discuss with your supervisor and self-quarantine for 14 days. If a student travels to a “hot spot” region, you should discuss with your instructors about making up work and self-quarantine for 14 days.

Any student who self-quarantines, needs to report the situation to the Director of Campus Operations at your appropriate campus.

Appropriate mask are to be worn in all public places in buildings, such as entrances, hallways, restrooms and all common areas. You may remove your mask when alone in your office.

If a student does not cooperate in wearing a mask, they would be considered disrupting class and will be ask to leave.

The traffic flow in each building has been laid out to keep social distancing practices in place such as walk on right side of hallways, stairwells are directional (either up or down), only one or two people are allowed on elevators at a time, and limitations have been put on the number of people that are allowed in a restroom at one time.

Signage will be placed to give instructions on traffic flow as mentioned above.

Students and non-employees must have an appointment to enter any Southern building in the interim. An area will be set up on each campus for Student Services staff to deal one on one with students. An eight (8) foot table will be set up and a chair at each end to discuss student matters.

When students return all “Common Areas” will be adjusted to provide Social Distancing.

The President, Vice Presidents and Supervisors can discuss and make decisions on employees who may need to continue working from home due to underlining health issues.

The President will continue to hold Town Hall Meetings to keep staff advised with updates regarding policies and changes that may be made as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.

Employees will be asked to contact trace anyone they may come in contact at all times in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.

These guidelines could change at any time and you may contact your Campus Director or Supervisor if you have any questions or concerns.

Summer 2020 Reopening Guidelines

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College

Summer 2020

July 1, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve rapidly and Southern has been and will continue to evaluate and plan for numerous “what if” scenarios.  These guidelines are based on the information that is known today.  We will continue having open dialogue opportunities to reassure students and employees that their health and safety are our number one priority.

Employees will begin transitioning from remote to campus-based work in phases beginning July 20, 2020.  By August 3, 2020, we anticipate the majority of employees will have returned to campus.  Supervisors will communicate specific schedules to increase social distancing where appropriate.

It is the responsibility of the Southern community to monitor their daily health for their own benefit and the safety of others.  Anyone with any COVID-19 symptom will be required to contact their supervisor and with consultation with Human Resources to determine if remote work is appropriate.

If any employee or student tests positive for COVID-19, the College will work with the local health department in accordance with all regulatory guidance and applicable laws to ensure contact tracing occurs. Contact tracing warns contacts of exposure in order to stop the chains of transmission.  The campus(s) affected will close until the facilities can be decontaminated and cleaned by a professional cleaning service.

Face masks or face coverings must be worn by all employees and students in all interior spaces including classrooms, hallways, restrooms, etc.  The College will provide all employees and students with washable face masks, however, everyone is encouraged to have additional face masks/coverings for use.  Each campus will have a limited supply of disposable masks if you happen to forget yours.

Exceptions for employees are private offices except when occupied by more than one person. When not wearing a mask, office doors should be closed to discourage others entering into to your work area and you becoming unprotected.

Instructors may use face shields in classrooms to better facilitate communications.  The Office of Disability Services will work with students who may need appropriate accommodations and Human Resources will work with faculty and staff.

Hand hygiene supplies will be readily available throughout the campuses.

Work related travel will continue to be restricted for the fall.  Required business travel for accreditation and other essential travel will be reviewed and may require you to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return.

Employees should avoid office gatherings, break rooms, and unnecessary in-person meetings and socializing in the workplace. Work spaces will be configured and managed to allow for 6 feet distances. Similarly, students should avoid congregating in groups. Employees and students should wear masks or face coverings in all public spaces and spaces used by multiple people. Meetings should be conducted electronically, even when working on campus. If meetings cannot be conducted virtually, participation should be limited to ten (10) participants while maintaining appropriate physical distancing and wearing of masks or face coverings.  The largest available meeting location should be used.

High touch items have been removed from common areas.  These include magazines, common pens, etc. Community supplies of paper plates, cups and utensils will be discontinued.  Employees and students should keep a supply for their private use only in their offices.

Classroom, computer labs, and common area doors will be open to maximize traffic flow and minimize the need to touch handles.  Elevators will be marked for maximum occupancy.  Only those with physical need should use the elevators.  The College will continue to utilize virtual advising sessions, online tutoring to promote health and safety.

Hand hygiene supplies are available on all campuses and in each building. All common areas will be cleaned daily. Surfaces frequently touched by multiple people, such as door handles, bathroom surfaces, and handrails, will be cleaned with soap and water or another detergent at least daily when facilities are in use. Supplies will be available so that certain high-use surfaces and objects in public spaces, such as telephones, common printers and copiers, and point of sale keypads, can be cleaned and disinfected before each use. If you notice that sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer, or other supplies have been depleted, please request additional supplies through the appropriate Director of Campus Operations and they will be replenished. While cleaning alone does not kill germs, it reduces the number of germs on a surface. Wipes or disinfect spray and cleaning rags will be available in all classrooms. Faculty and students are strongly encouraged to wipe the surface areas of their desks, chairs, podiums, etc. upon classroom arrival.

NOTE: At this time cleaning wipes are not available due to high demand.

This plan has been communicated to all Southern employees and students via email and is posted on the Southern Corona Virus web page. Virtual Town Hall meetings for students and families will be held prior to the start of the fall semester and when appropriate after the start of the fall semester. Virtual Town Hall meetings for employees will continue to be held as appropriate.  The date, time, and access information for all Virtual Town Hall meetings will be distributed via email. Southern will provide regular update, reminder, and myth-rumor busting communications throughout the fall semester via email and on our COVID-19 web page.

Signage using Centers for Disease Control guidelines and materials will be posted throughout campuses. Southern uses an emergency messaging system, Southern Alerts (https://southernwv.bbcportal.com/).  All emergency alerts will automatically be sent to  every Southern provided email address (@southernwv.edu), every Southern office or classroom phone, Southern’s website, Southern’s Facebook page, Southern’s Twitter feed, a pop-up window on every Southern owned desktop/laptop computer on the Southern network. In addition, you may also sign up to have alerts delivered via email to any personal email address, text messages sent to any cell phone numbers you provide, and voice calls made to any voice phone number you provide.

Access to College locations is restricted to students, faculty and staff who will be required to follow a daily check-in process. Visitors will not be permitted to enter without College approval. Non-essential visitors will be discouraged.  Access to buildings will be restricted to one entrance, but exit can take place through all doors.

Additional criteria in regards to the COVID-19 crisis:

If you have any of the COVID-19 symptoms you should stay home and continue to monitor for 48 hours.

If an employee travels to a “hot spot” region of the country, you should discuss with your supervisor and self-quarantine for 14 days. If a student travels to a “hot spot” region, you should discuss with your instructors about making up work and self-quarantine for 14 days.

Any student who self-quarantines, needs to report the situation to the Director of Campus Operations at your appropriate campus.

Appropriate mask are to be worn in all public places in buildings, such as entrances, hallways, restrooms and all common areas. You may remove your mask when alone in your office.

If a student does not cooperate in wearing a mask, they would be considered disrupting class and will be ask to leave.

The traffic flow in each building has been laid out to keep social distancing practices in place such as walk on right side of hallways, stairwells are directional (either up or down), only one or two people are allowed on elevators at a time, and limitations have been put on the number of people that are allowed in a restroom at one time.

Signage will be placed to give instructions on traffic flow as mentioned above.

Students and non-employees must have an appointment to enter any Southern building in the interim. An area will be set up on each campus for Student Services staff to deal one on one with students. An eight (8) foot table will be set up and a chair at each end to discuss student matters.

When students return all “Common Areas” will be adjusted to provide Social Distancing.

The President, Vice Presidents and Supervisors can discuss and make decisions on employees who may need to continue working from home due to underlining health issues.

The President will continue to hold Town Hall Meetings to keep staff advised with updates regarding policies and changes that may be made as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.

Employees will be asked to contact trace anyone they may come in contact at all times in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.

These guidelines could change at any time and you may contact your Campus Director or Supervisor if you have any questions or concerns.