Spring 2022 COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines
Updated: January 18, 2022
These guidelines are based upon current CDC guidelines and subject to change.
Vaccination
- To enter any College location, all students, faculty, and staff must be fully vaccinated by January 1, 2022 and have provided proof of vaccination to the College. This means that you must receive your second or final (depending on whether you have received the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine) dose by January 1, 2022, to allow the two weeks needed for the vaccine to be fully effective before the start of the Spring semester. Beginning January 1, 2022, students, faculty, and staff who remain unvaccinated without an approved exemption will not be permitted on any College location.
- Delaware County Community College students and faculty taking/teaching classes offered at any College location or instructional location are also required to provide proof of vaccination. This includes credit and non-credit students and faculty except where the training is held at a non-College location.
- The vaccine requirement impacts all students who wish to access any College location, including dually enrolled high school students. Additionally, only vaccinated students or students with an approved exemption can access face-to-face student support services or activities. The College will provide reasonable online support services accommodations for students who are unable to access face-to-face student support services.
- Dual enrollment students taking college courses that are taught in high schools by high school instructors (concurrent adjunct faculty) are not subject to the vaccination requirement. Dual enrollment students taking college courses that are taught in college classrooms, by college faculty, in any of the three Chester County Intermediate Units (Brandywine, Phoenixville and Pennocks Bridge), the Delaware County Intermediate Unit or an off-site location (e.g., Bennet Homes Center) do need to be vaccinated under the provisions of this policy. Dual enrollment students are required to follow the COVID-19 health and safety guidelines of the individual site locations offering the courses.
- Students who are taking all courses online for the Spring 2022 semester are not subject to the vaccination requirement. However, if a fully online student wishes to come to any College location to use any in-person services (tutoring, advising, counseling, Learning Commons, bookstore), or attend events and activities, the student will need to provide proof of vaccination or have an approved medical/religious exemption and provide proof of a negative rapid COVID test taken within the last 72 hours. Students taking online only courses in the Spring 2022 semester are encouraged to upload proof of vaccination or apply for a medical/religious exemption in the event they may need to come to any College location for in-person services.
- Unvaccinated students, faculty, and staff with an approved medical and/or religious exemption are permitted on all College locations but must provide proof of a weekly negative rapid COVID test beginning January 3, 2022. Proof of a negative test will need to be electronically uploaded by 12:01 a.m. every Monday during the Spring 2022 semester. Please refer to the list of locations in Delaware County providing free rapid COVID testing and the resource for Chester County locations. Note: The College is requiring free rapid COVID testing for unvaccinated individuals with an approved exemption; the College is not requiring or paying for any other COVID testing.
Face Coverings
- Face masks are required for all students, faculty, staff and visitors to the College in all indoor, public spaces.
- All face masks should comply with the guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. More information on the CDC’s guidance on face coverings can be found at the CDC website.
- Face masks may be removed when eating and in private offices (if the employee is alone). No food or beverages are allowed in classrooms, computer/science labs or the Learning Commons.
- If a student or employee does not comply with wearing a mask, a member of the College community (Security, faculty member, or any other College staff member) will politely remind the individual of the requirement to always wear a mask while at any College location. If the student or employee agrees to wear a mask, they will be allowed to remain on site.
- If an individual refuses to wear a mask, Security will discreetly escort the individual off the College location. Students who do not comply will be referred to the College’s Office of Student Conduct; employees who do not comply will be referred to Human Resources by their supervisor.
- Students and employees with any questions pertaining to masks and/or are requesting an accommodation from wearing a mask must direct all COVID-19 face covering related questions and/or concerns to the Human Resources office at covid19@dccc.edu.
Sanitizing & Cleaning Protocols
- All students and employees should wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout all College locations.
- The College will continue with the enhanced cleaning protocols to include, but not limited to, the cleaning of classrooms, laboratories and computer labs.
Social Distancing
- Classrooms in all divisions will return to full capacity for the Spring 2022 semester.
- Students, faculty, staff are requested to be cognizant of social distancing procedures and recommended to practice them as possible.
Procedures for Possible Exposure to COVID-19
The CDC updated and shortened the recommended isolation and quarantine periods for the general population on December 27, 2021. Below are some highlights of the CDC’s updated guidelines.
If You Were Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine)
If you:
Have been 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…
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
- Test on day 5, if possible.
If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home.
If you:
Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted
or
Completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted
or
Are unvaccinated…
- Stay home for 5 days. After that, continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
- If you can’t quarantine, you must wear a mask for 10 days.
- Test on day 5 if possible.
If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home.
You quarantine when you might have been exposed to the virus and may or may not have been infected.
For additional information, please refer to the CDC’s December 27 press release.
Close contact is defined as anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period; for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes; or you provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19; or you had direct physical contact (i.e., hugging, kissing, sharing eating utensils) with someone who has COVID-19; or someone with COVID-19 coughed or sneezed on you or somehow got respiratory droplets on you. It is important to note that wearing a mask during the time of exposure does not change any of these definitions.
Fully vaccinated students and employees who do not quarantine should still watch for symptoms of COVID-19 following an exposure. If they experience symptoms, they should be clinically evaluated for COVID-19, including testing for COVID. Fully vaccinated students and staff should continue to follow current guidance to protect themselves and others, including wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, avoiding poorly ventilated spaces, washing hands often, follow CDC travel guidance, and following the College’s Health & Safety Plan guidance.
Students and employees are required to direct all COVID-19 related questions and/or concerns to the Human Resources office at covid19@dccc.edu.
Procedures for Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis
The CDC updated and shortened the recommended isolation and quarantine periods for the general population on December 27, 2021. Below are some highlights of the CDC’s updated guidelines.
If You Test Positive for COVID-19 (Isolate)
Everyone, regardless of vaccination status:
- Stay home for 5 days.
- If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house.
- Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.
For additional information, please refer to the CDC’s December 27 press release.
COVID-19 Positive Student
- A student with a positive COVID-19 test result must stay home and immediately notify faculty teaching any in-person/hybrid class the student is currently enrolled in.
- You isolate when you have been infected with the virus, even if you don't have symptoms.
- Faculty will immediately notify their dean (full-time faculty) or assistant dean (adjunct faculty).
- The dean or assistant dean will contact all the students in the class, copy the faculty member and notify the COVID-19 positive student to quarantine.
- Class will continue in the traditional classroom or hybrid modality for all other students. However, students should follow the CDC’s guidance for possible exposure to someone with COVID-19.
- The COVID-19 positive student should follow the CDC’s quarantine guidance and will continue attending class virtually through the quarantine period (if physically able).
- Faculty are encouraged to work with the COVID-19 positive student to ensure academic progress consistent with established practices for other typical student illnesses.
COVID-19 Positive Faculty and Staff
- Staff and faculty who are diagnosed with COVID-19 should immediately notify their supervisor or dean, who will contact the Human Resources office at covid19@dccc.edu to determine how best to assist the staff or faculty member. Adjunct faculty should notify their assistant dean to follow the same process.
When Have I Recovered from COVID-19?
If you have experienced COVID-19 related symptoms, have received a positive COVID-19 test result, or are waiting for test results, you should stay at home and self-isolate until:
- 24 hours without a fever (without medication); AND
- other symptoms have improved; AND
- 5 days have passed since symptoms first appeared
Mental Health & Well-Being
- The College has resources available to help support mental and emotional well-being. Students in need of assistance should contact the Career and Counseling Center. Employees in need of assistance should contact the College’s Employee Assistance Program.
- The College values the importance of student engagement and participation in clubs, activities, athletics, wellness programs, etc. Please encourage students to connect with the Offices of Campus Life and/or Wellness, Athletics, and Recreation to find out more about how to get involved and stay connected with the campus community.
