2020 Fall Guidelines: Phase 2.1 Transition for Returning to Standard College Operations

2020 Fall Guidelines: Phase 2.1 Transition for Returning to Standard College Operations

The College implemented Phase 2.1, effective August 3, with the intent of continuing operations under this phase until the College closes for Winter Break on December 23. The start and end dates are subject to change. The College reserves the right to lift or to place greater restrictions based on federal, state, and local decisions as well as modifications to current orders.

The information below includes Durham Tech’s comprehensive strategies for transitioning college operations back to all campuses. Additional protocols as outlined in What to Expect When Returning to Campus (PDF) will complement and further detail these strategies for individuals visiting campus, participating in instructional programs, or accessing department-specific services.

Overall Recommendation

The opening up of the College must be phased, modular, and tightly controlled. While each property presents unique challenges and opportunities, there must be a base level of compliance with environmental health and safety protocols.

Restrictions

Individuals who have symptoms consistent with or who have been recently exposed to COVID-19 may not participate in a Durham Tech class, meeting, or activity that involves direct person-to-person contact or takes place inside a campus facility.

Social Distancing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Face masks/coverings (e.g. disposable mask, cloth face covering, face shield/guard) must be worn by all individuals while on campus, both indoors and outdoors. The face covering must cover the nose and mouth and be secured under the chin. If you are working in an office or workspace and you are alone, you may remove your mask. Once another person enters the space, facial coverings are required. Following each visit from someone not assigned to that office/work space, the space should be cleaned prior to another person entering the space. Individuals should provide their own face covering unless otherwise provided based upon the PPE requirements of their course or work assignment.

• All individuals will maintain 6 feet of separation whenever possible and comply with messaging indicated on signs, posters, or markings on floor.
   

• Individuals must comply with the use of limited door entry points unless there is an ADA compliance accommodation necessary to alter that entry.
   

Cleaning and Disinfecting

• Facility Services will arrange for daily cleaning of high-touch surfaces in public spaces multiple times daily and before/after shifts. Appropriate cleaning sprays or other materials will be provided by Facility Services for use as needed.
   
• Facility Services will arrange for disinfecting all open locations via full-site disinfection by professional cleaners on a set and routine schedule.
   
• College leadership will promote increased hand washing and use of sanitizer stations.
   
• Facilities Services will maintain hand sanitizing stations (all campuses).
   
• Housekeeping Services will monitor and respond to specific locations that need extensive cleaning and sanitation.
   

Campus Capacities and Arrivals

• The College will increase capacity for the number of individuals (employees and/or students) visiting at each campus to accommodate fall courses as well as limited student support operations.

  During this phase, any individual who is participating (enrolled or teaching) in a course that occurs on campus is authorized to be present when the class is scheduled as well as reasonable amount of time before and after the class. Any individual who is participating in instructional activities that support a fall course is authorized to visit campus when that activity is scheduled as well as a reasonable amount of time before and after that activity. Similarly, any individual who is participating in a scheduled student support services appointment is authorized to be on campus when that on-campus appointment is scheduled as well as a reasonable amount of time before and after that appointment. A reasonable amount of time will be defined as approximately one hour before and after the scheduled class, learning activity, or appointment unless more time is required by the individual for transportation or accessibility needs.
   

• In addition to the authorized visits for classes or support appointments, the College will allow limited access to critical support services on the College’s Main Campus on a walk-in basis. Those who wish to access the campus as a walk-in must check in using campus protocols as outlined in What to Expect When Returning to Campus (PDF).

Student Access

• Students who are enrolled in a hybrid or seated course that meets on campus may access the campus where the course is scheduled, during the specific times that the class meets on campus, in the specific location for the class, and a reasonable amount of time before or after the class. Students enrolled in these courses should not visit campus at other times unless specifically requested by the instructor.
   
• Students who need to participate in instructional activities that support a fall course on campus are authorized to visit the campus where that activity is scheduled, when it is scheduled, in the location assigned to that activity, as well as a reasonable amount of time before and after that activity. Students should not visit campus at other times unless specifically requested by the instructor.
   
• Student support services will continue to provide most services remotely, but the College will provide individual student appointment access to Main Campus to resolve student support issues that cannot be resolved in a remote environment. Students who have scheduled appointments are authorized to be on the campus and at the location where the appointment is scheduled, when the appointment is scheduled to occur, as well as a reasonable amount of time before or after the appointment.
   
• A “reasonable amount of time” will be defined as approximately one hour before and after the scheduled class, learning activity, or appointment unless more time is required by the individual for transportation or accessibility needs. If more than one hour of time is needed before or after, students should communicate these needs to their instructor if the time extension is related to a class or to the employee with whom the appointment is made if the time extension is related to an appointment.
   
• The College will identify and communicate locations across campus where students may access wi-fi and wait for classes or activities during the reasonable time before and after these activities.
   
• Main Campus will be open, without appointment, to a limited number of individuals at posted hours. Students or visitors who are not enrolled in a course or have an appointment must use the access protocols outlined in What to Expect When Returning to Campus (PDF).
   
• All activities and meetings for student clubs and organizations will take place virtually. There will be no on-campus or in-person student activities during the fall term.
   
• Students must adhere to all social distance and personal protective equipment rules established by the College and/or individual academic program requirements during on-campus visits.
   

Work-Based Learning/Clinicals/Fieldwork

The College will allow students to resume clinical, work-based learning, and/or fieldwork as allowed by the clinical, work-based learning, or fieldwork site at off-campus sites. Students will follow guidelines established by the work site. Students may be required to refresh their clinical or work-based learning skills at on-campus facilities (as part of student limit per day listed previously) prior to going to clinical. Durham Tech will make available guidelines, training and other materials to faculty and students to ensure safe return to clinical or the work site. Each faculty member and student will document completion of review of those recommendations. Students will indicate that they have read and understand the clinical or worksite guidelines and agree to go to clinical or the worksite. Students will provide their own face coverings for casual use at home and transition from parking lot to clinical site. If required by the clinical/fieldwork site, Durham Tech will provide additional PPE as specified by the clinical site for use during clinicals or work-based learning. We will follow use guidelines as established by the workforce partner (e.g. 5 shift rule at hospitals). Students needing N95 masks (as required by clinical sites) will receive fit testing prior to being sent to clinicals or to other sites.

Employee Access

• The College will continue to encourage employees to telework whenever possible.
   
• The College will grant access to all campuses for any employee authorized by their supervisor to work from campus when needed. Employees should limit campus visits to those times when they are engaged in essential work requiring on-campus resources, teaching courses, or providing on-campus services for students or visitors.
   
• During this phase, high-risk individuals should continue to telework while the College continues operating under the State of Emergency Working Arrangements (Telework) policy.
   
• Employees who work on campus are encouraged to remain in their offices or pre-arranged work spaces. No more than 10 employees can congregate in the same space at one time.
   
• All Employee Meetings as well as council, committee, and task force meetings will take place virtually.
   
• Employees must abide by all standard operational protocols as outlined.
   
• College leadership will stagger shift start times / breaks, utilizing physical barriers, and minimizing less-than-6-ft contact.
   
• The College will continue operating under the State of Emergency Work Arrangements policy and limit in-person meetings. Remote or virtual meetings will continue to be encouraged whenever possible.
   
• College leadership will provide required inventory of PPE (masks, wipes, hand sanitizer, etc.) based upon the employee’s work assignment.
   

Policy and Management

• The Incident Command Chart establishes the roles and authority for management.
   
• The COVID-19 Response Team will meet daily to discuss and develop strategies to address current issues.
   
• The President will exercise the authority to adopt temporary policies or to amend or suspend existing policies for the duration of the emergent event.
   
• The President will report the exercise of this authority to the Board of Trustees within five (5) business days of the action.
   
• The Response Team will continually assess, including review of current floor plans, ongoing changes or limitations to capacity and needs for additional phases.
   

Communication/Education/Training

• College leadership will promote campus-level training and Q&A on all protocols, including hand washing, hygiene, how to use personal protective equipment.
   
• Marketing and Communications will create and update campus posters communicating general information, physical distancing, safety measures to take at home, etc. Facilities Services will install and maintain at appropriate locations across all campuses.
   
• The COVID-19 Response Team will provide regular updates to employees using multiple communication channels.
   
• The COVID-19 Response Team will meet daily to answer questions and debrief.
   

Case Management and Response

• The College’s Compliance Safety Advisor (CSA) will provide guidelines for reporting symptoms, exposure to COVID-19, and suspected cases.
   
• The CSA or designee will provide response requirements if an individual reports symptoms while checking into campus, at work, or indicates that they have tested positive to COVID-19.
   
• The CSA or designee will provide employees with clearance to return to work when appropriate.
   

Shipping and Receiving

• Shipping and Receiving will be open for all deliveries to the college during the normal operating hours. Deliveries will take place Monday through Thursday according to the following schedule: Monday – White, Collins, Building 6; Tuesday – Phillips, ERC, Building 8, Wynn; Wednesday – Building 20, Newton, Tech; and Thursday – Satellite Campus locations. Packages will be delivered to the standard, appropriate mail location or office within each building. Understanding that signatures for delivery are not currently feasible, package recipients will be sent an email with a picture of the package as proof of delivery. If a package needs to be delivered outside of the schedule, please email Norb Golebiewski or Kieran Gunnigle.

Related links:

• What to Expect When Returning to Campus (PDF)
• CDC High Disease Risk Groups