Union College Reopening Plan

July 1, 2020 (updated August 25, 2020)

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to outline a guiding plan to facilitate the reopening of our campus and implement campus-wide policies that attempt to mitigate an outbreak of COVID-19 while still fulfilling our mission and vision. With this understanding, we will maintain our priorities in this plan:

• Classes taught on campus
• Reduce and prevent an outbreak on campus
• Continue to effectively recruit for the future
• Building a community that promotes the spirit of Union College while reducing our risk of illness

Scope

This plan applies to the physical campus of Union College, staff, faculty, students, and visitors as well as those who go out representing Union College. This plan is recommended by the COVID-19 Taskforce and approved by PC (President’s Council). The plan will be implemented starting with our campus reopening on July 6, 2020, and will continue through the 2020-2021 Academic year, unless altered by PC.

Situation overview

In March 2020, Union College assessed the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and took action to transition its physical campus to an online campus after an extended spring break. This continued through the summer session. As local and regional cases continue to decrease, Union College has made the decision to reopen its campus on July 6, 2020, and to transition to a “Open Distanced” campus for the fall semester. As some predictions have suggested a resurgence of the virus in the late fall of 2020, Union College has also made the decision to adjust its campus schedule to start classes on August 10, 2020 and end the fall semester on November 24, 2020.

Assumptions

The assumptions within this document include the following:

• Some individuals will be infected but not become ill. Infected individuals with minimal or no symptoms can still transmit the virus to others.
• Rates of illness, hospitalizations, and deaths will follow the trends seen in the spring of 2020 and will have the same proportions related to age, gender, and preexisting comorbidities.
• An effective vaccine will not be immediately available. It may take several months to years after onset of a pandemic to develop and produce a vaccine.
• Vaccine supplies will initially be limited requiring prioritization of vaccine recipients.
• Antiviral medications may not be effective or may be in limited supply requiring prioritization of who will receive medication.
• Nonpharmaceutical interventions may be the only means of limiting pandemic spread prior to the distribution of an effective vaccine. But the effectiveness of these interventions in limiting the spread of a pandemic will likely be limited.
• Timing will be crucial in the decision to cancel classes or close the college. Premature implementation may lead to unnecessary disruption while late implementation may render such actions ineffective in managing the spread of illness.
• This plan is campus wide and operating under the expectation that all employees, students and visitors take responsibility for following regulations set forth by the plan.
• That the COVID-19 Taskforce will continue to monitor the spread of the virus and will recommend modifications to this document as needed.

How long the policies in the document will be in effect

Union will regularly assess the threat level from the COVID-19 pandemic in conjunction with local health officials and other colleges in the area. The college will base the current campus status on the Lincoln COVID-19 Spread Risk Meter. See Appendix A for a complete list of campus status levels.

Exceptions

The COVID-19 Core Team will review and approve any exceptions to the overall campus COVID-19 plan. Requests for exceptions go to the chair of the COVID Core Team.

Overall expectations of Union College

The plan detailed in this document is to provide guidance to all Union College employees and students on the campus of Union College in consultation with documentation from the Centers for Disease Control as well as from American College Health Association's (ACHA). In order to limit the spread of COVID-19, the entire campus will follow these basic principles as closely as possible:

• Everyone will maintain six feet of physical distance from other individuals while on campus. This includes incorporating directional travel where appropriate and spacing of seating throughout the campus.
• Facemask requirements:

• Everyone on the Union College campus will be required to wear a facemask covering the mouth and nose while in any indoor public area, in offices when more than one person is present, and outdoors when six feet of physical distancing isn't possible.
• Exceptions when masks will not be required:

• When eating in the dining hall as long as physical distancing is being observed.
• When in the residence halls—residence hall rules will be in effect.
• For children under two years old.
• When an alternative is necessary as indicated by a medical professional (see medical exception below).
• When doing heavy construction, building repair, or outside grounds work.

• The campus will re-evaluate the mask policy every 30 days. The mask requirement will end when the Lincoln COVID-19 Spread Risk Meter is green.

• Systematic cleaning and sanitization of campus is being performed—especially in high traffic areas. Details will be laid out for specific areas in the following sections.
• Regular hand washing is required for all employees, students, and visitors to our campus. This will include washing for at least 20 seconds with soap and running water. When hand washing is not possible, use hand sanitizer from stations provided around campus.
• We will follow county and state health directives regarding gathering sizes. Current county health directive limits group sizes to 50 people for indoor gatherings provided that physical distancing can be maintained.
• Every person will be required to be screened at a health check station each day before entering any campus building. See Appendix C for the full scope of the daily health check plan.

• Check station location and hours will be published on building door signs and on the Union College website.

When not on the campus of Union College, but at an event sponsored by or with Union College, employees and students will follow the above guidelines unless altered by the hosting location. (Clinical sites requirements, Project Impact site requirements, hosting athletic teams, etc.)

Exceptions for those who can’t wear masks

If any student or employee is unable to wear a facemask indoors, they must request an exception through the Campus Health office. Visitors must provide adequate medical documentation to the Campus Health office to be allowed in buildings without wearing a mask.

Academics

Managing classroom spaces

• Instead of assigning specific capacities to a classroom, Union requires that all regular seating arrangements in classrooms must allow all occupants to be at least six feet apart.
• Each classroom will have a sanitization station with disinfectant spray and/or disinfectant wipes. After each class period, the instructor and students will be responsible for cleaning their tables, chairs, keyboards and other things they touched using the wipes and spray provided. In addition, the instructor, or a designee, will be responsible for wiping down the door handle to the classroom before leaving.
• Where possible, hallways and classroom entrances will be designated for one-way traffic flow with appropriate signage to improve traffic flow and decrease the likelihood of bottlenecked clusters of people. Staircases will be designated as one-directional when possible.

Class schedule

• The major events calendar is available on the website https://ucollege.edu/academics/schedules
• Classes begin August 10, 2020 and end November 24, 2020 for fall semester. Classes will be taught on our campus, while some will also have online options (see special considerations below).
• Union College will be offering a limited number of optional online courses that run from November 30, 2020 to December 18, 2020.

Course offerings

• Many courses will be offered as a hybrid online and in-person option for fall as indicated in the official class schedule. [This option is available for students who may need to be isolated for two weeks at some point during the semester or have other health factors.]
• There is a limited selection of courses from August 10 to November 24 that will be offered online only. This will be indicated by an ONS (online synchronous) or an ONA (online asynchronous) acronym in front of the course listing. [This option is available for students who cannot attend in person this fall, or for students who would prefer this option.]
• There will be an online offering of a limited number of intensive courses that run from November 30, 2020 to December 18, 2020. This will be indicated by an ONS (online synchronous) or an ONA (online asynchronous) acronym in front of the course listing.

Accommodations

Union College is committed to providing educational opportunities and an inclusive environment for students with disabilities by honoring Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and as amended in 2008, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap against persons in programs or activities benefiting from federal assistance.

An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. https://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm 

In a post-secondary setting, federal regulations mandate reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, which are designed to provide equal access for people with disabilities.

Reasonable accommodations are made on an individual basis and determined in consultation between the student and the Director of Disability Services in the Student Success Center. Determining appropriate accommodations is not meant to be an obstacle course for the student with a disability; rather, it is intended to support the student. The process for determining individual accommodations may depend on three of the following: an interview with the student, observation of such disability and documentation. Every student’s situation is different and therefore the lack of documentation will not prevent a student from meeting with the Director.

Reasonable accommodations will also be provided for employees upon request. Faculty can submit a request to teach remotely to Dr. Frankie Rose in Academic Administration, and staff can contact Lisa Forbes in Human Resources.

Residential Life

Residence halls

Please see the full residence hall policy here. Here is a summary:

Move in

• New students will be required to reserve a three-hour block of time to move into the residence halls on either August 5 or August 6.
• Returning students will be required to reserve a move-in time with the residence hall dean starting on August 2.
• Only two additional helpers per student will be allowed in the residence hall during move in.
• All guests helping students move in will be required to complete the college’s health assessment. Anyone with symptoms will not be allowed on campus.
• Any student moving into the residence hall who has traveled internationally in the previous 14 days will be required to complete a 14-day quarantine before being allowed to attend class.

Other regulations

• The residence halls will be closed to public access during the semester, so only residents are allowed in buildings. Outside cleaning crew, maintenance, campus health and all others will need to sign in at the front desk.
• Increased cleaning plans will be implemented in shared spaces and high traffic areas.
• Residential life activities programming will incorporate physical distancing and virtual check-ins as needed to reduce group sizes and promote physical distancing.

Campus housing (non-residence hall)

• Campus owned housing, which includes Cooper Place Apartments, will be the responsibility of the residents who are contracted to live there. Union College will not be providing cleaning services for residents.
• Campus housing residents will need to quarantine if they suspect exposure or isolate in their apartment/home if they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who has. Each campus housing apartment or house would be considered a "family unit" and would require all members to quarantine if one person tests positive.The quarantine team will conduct daily checks on the residents if requested by the residents.
• All service personnel will be asked to wear a face covering when entering a private residence to provide maintenance or service requests.

Campus Health

Health monitoring

A vital part of recognizing the presence of this virus is for all who visit the campus to perform a self assessment every day to check for and monitor symptoms, and if present, report them to Campus Health. Several campus departments will be utilizing instant laser thermometers as part of their protocols for assessing health.

Testing

The Union College president, in collaboration with the presidents of other Nebraska universities, is currently working with the Governor of Nebraska’s office to determine if test kits will be available to test all students and employees at the start of the academic year to establish a baseline for our campus population as students return from all across the world.

Suspected case/confirmed case for a residential student

The full Campus Health plan document is located here. Here is a summary:

• If our health monitoring identifies individuals who identify as having one or more COVID-19 symptoms, follow up will occur by Campus Health and/or a designated individual. They will be moved to an isolation room until testing can be arranged and results are returned.
• Faculty are requested to be gracious in attendance policies for students who must miss class because of illness or exposure to COVID-19.
• If a student is identified as presumed or confirmed positive, the county health department will be notified and they will handle the contact tracing of that specific individual.
• If arrangements can be made for the student to go home, that is the preferred arrangement. If not, the designated quarantine/isolation space will be utilized and the quarantine team will be notified, and food, laundry, and daily health check-ins will be provided to the student.
• The student will stay in quarantine for 14 days after their last contact with a person who has COVID-19.

• Even if a student tests negative for COVID-19 or feels healthy, they must quarantine the full 14 days since symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
• However, anyone who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and who:

• developed COVID-19 illness within the previous 3 months and has recovered and
• remains without COVID-19 symptoms (for example, cough, shortness of breath)
• does not need to quarantine.

• Isolation precautions can be discontinued 10 days after symptom onset and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of other symptoms.
• Employees will be asked to stay home and self monitor if they live with an individual who is confirmed positive.

Quarantine Procedures

The student has the option to go home during their time in quarantine.

If a student is required to quarantine for non-symptom reasons, and staying on campus, they must follow the following procedures:

• The student must stay in their room at all times, except for restroom needs

• Roommates must also quarantine.
• Suitemates may also need to quarantine.

• The student will stay in quarantine for 14 days after their last contact with a person who has COVID-19.

• Even if a student tests negative for COVID-19 or feels healthy, they must quarantine the full 14 days since symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

• If living in a residence hall with community restrooms, one toilet, sink and shower must be designated with signage indicating “Private Use Only.”
• A facemask must be worn to and from the restroom.
• Food will be delivered to the quarantined student three times a day.
• Laundry service will be provided once per week.
• Transportation to doctor appointments and urgent care will be arranged as needed.
• Campus Health or Student Life will connect with the student’s instructors and work supervisors to identify them as excused. It will be expected that the student will communicate individually with each instructor in order to learn expectations for continuation of classwork.
• Instructors will provide online course materials and assignments so that the student can keep up with classwork.

Isolation procedures

The student has the option to go home during their time in isolation.

If a student tests positive for COVID-19 and is choosing to stay on campus, they must be placed in isolation with an isolated room and restroom.

Students in isolation will receive the same food, laundry, health check and transportation services provided to those in quarantine as listed above.

The following rooms have been designated as isolation rooms:

• Prescott Hall Guest Rooms: 4
• Rees Hall Guest Rooms = 2
• Campus House = 1
• Cooper Place Apartment = 1
  

• Overflow|Additional Areas:

• One floor in Prescott Hall will be a backup isolation area for men.
• The Ortner Center guest rooms will be a backup isolation area for women.
  

Failure to comply with quarantine and/or isolation may result in disciplinary actions determined by the Behavior Intervention Team.

Campuswide regulations

Visitors

Visitors are defined as any individuals who are not considered employees or students of Union College. This can include individuals such as family members of students, prospective students, and/or contracted services on campus. While visitors are vital to the function, recruitment and growth of our college, some caution is recommended in large gatherings of visitors to campus. All visitors to campus must abide by the following:

• All visitors to our campus conduct a self assessment prior to arrival. If positive for any symptoms, the visit will be rescheduled.
• All gatherings must follow state and county health directives for size limitations. Any larger group must be approved by PC.
• Large Preview weekends should be distributed into more frequent but smaller gatherings throughout the semester.
• Visitors will not be housed in current students’ rooms.
• If a visitor becomes symptomatic, care will not be provided through Union College. Each visitor (or guardian or sponsor) will be responsible for their care.

Athletics

Home games and spectator involvement will be based on the Lincoln COVID-19 Spread Risk Meter.

• Red: No games on campus.
• Orange: Individual sports or activities that can be executed in a physically distant manner may be allowed. No spectators.
• Yellow: Athletic activities may resume with testing and screening protocols for participants. Union College spectators only.
• Green: All athletic activities may resume without restriction. All spectators will be allowed.

Athletic facility usage

• The Thunderdome may only be used by Union College groups.

Dining services

Dining services will follow the local health department guidelines and state of Nebraska guidelines for restaurants and food service. Current guidelines (expiring July 31, 2020) require:

• Food service employees must wear a mask.
• There will be an increase in prepackaged, take-out food available.
• Servers with appropriate PPE (gloves, masks) will serve all hot food provided.
• Diners will not be required to wear facemasks while seated in the dining area to eat, but six foot physical distancing must be maintained.
• Dining areas are restricted to the rated maximum occupancy as established by the City of Lincoln building and safety department while providing six feet of separation between groups. No one group larger than 8 individuals together.
• In lieu of six feet of separation a solid barrier will suffice between groups.

Serving and eating food on campus

• All foods served at events must be pre-packaged either from the manufacturer or by a licensed food service provider (such as a restaurant or Union Market). Buffet, family style, self-serve, or meal-or-snack-prep-on-location are not considered safe in a COVID environment.
• Ensure counter service staff adhere to physical distancing directives, wear masks and gloves, and place food/beverages on counters or tables for contactless service.
• Utilize partitions, when available for indoor events, to create appropriate spacing between employees and patrons.  
• Food provided to students should be "single-serve" and all utensils need to be single-wrapped, one-time use.
• Use condiments that are single-use packaging.  
• Provide separate entry and exit pathways to and from food service areas.
• Provide alcohol-based sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) in food serving areas.  
• Event setup should minimize the proximity of food to the flow of pedestrian traffic to avoid congested areas and long lines.
• Eating food is not allowed in classrooms. Briefly removing your mask to drink beverages is allowed.
• Food should only be consumed in the cafeteria, or outdoors, in private living spaces or offices, and always with physical distancing.

Larson Lifestyle Center

The Larson Lifestyle Center will reopen to Union College students, employees and members on July 13, 2020. This will be a multi-phased reopening. Their comprehensive plan is available here.

Events

All event planners will be expected to vet plans and preparations with their supervisor or a VP. All event plans must be flexible to adapt quickly to evolving campus, local, and federal requirements, which are subject to change during the event and planning stage.

An “event” shall be defined as any gathering of 20 or more people (faculty, staff, students, or external constituents) who are gathering on college property, or on college-affiliated properties such as the church, for purposes that include but are not limited to: social, programmatic, organizational operation, or training-based needs. This does not include study groups of ten or less, directly related pieces to the academic experience (i.e. labs, studio practices, etc.) or such things as athletic practices, or academic group tutoring.

General Event Guidance

(applies to any on-campus event planned by a department with over 20 people participating)

• Limit attendance to no more than 1/3 of seating capacity allowed in the facility/venue until further notice.
• Require mask-wearing, whether the event is indoors or outdoors.
• Adhere to physical distancing measures (minimally 6 feet of distance between individuals). This includes the presenters on stage.
• When applicable, have plans for entering the venue to minimize close contact and large crowds in lobbies, foyer areas, at exits, and on stairways (such as one-way doors and hallways).
• Face coverings and temperature checks should be required of all staff managing events. Gloves must be worn if public touchpoints are needed.  
• All high touch areas, including restrooms, must be sanitized thoroughly both prior to and after the event.
• Handwashing and/or sanitizer stations must be visible, easily accessible, and fully stocked during the entire event.  
• Avoid employee and attendee physical contact and adopt alternate options (avoid handshaking,hugging, etc.).
• Limit the duration of the event, i.e. meet no longer than the time needed to complete the task/purpose of the event.
• If the event includes group singing, leaders may remove masks if they maintain at least six feet between them and other song leaders and at least 15 feet between them and the audience.
• Minimize the need for touching surfaces as much as possible. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Providing electronic check-in vs. paper/pen sign-ins.  
• Wiping down technical equipment between programs if it is being shared by presenters.
• Avoiding shared microphones if at all possible; disinfecting between usage if not.  
• Minimizing handouts or other material distributions and moving to digital formats for information distribution.
• Keeping doors open when fire code permits.

• Student-hosted events have all the same requirements as general events, and must be approved by the COVID Core Team using the Event Request Form. Forms are reviewed every Tuesday morning.
• Recurring events can be submitted for approval for the remainder of the semester as long as event circumstances remain consistent.

School-Sponsored Events Off Campus

When the Lincoln COVID-19 risk dial is in orange or red, any school-sponsored off-campus event or trip involving more than 20 must be approved through the event request process through the COVID Core Team.

Faculty taking students home to serve a meal

Faculty and staff may invite students home to a gathering not to exceed 20 people. Masks must be worn when not eating, and physical distancing must be practiced in the home. Serving food outside is a great alternative option.

Sanitation 

In order to keep the campus safe for everyone, all employees and students will work together to help ensure all areas stay properly sanitized.

• Each area/department/program will be given both a folder and a digital copy of specific instructions to keep their area cleaned and sanitized. Folders will be delivered by July 15. Each area manager will be responsible for ordering the specified cleaning supplies from Custodial Services as needed.
• Hand sanitizer stations are provided in each building.
• Each department or area can request floor stickers, signage (produced by Integrated Marketing Communications), acrylic shields, and hand sanitizer stations as needed or laid out in the area cleaning instructions. These items should be requested through the Risk Management office.
• Predesignated floor captains will monitor high traffic spaces in their area of responsibility to ensure they are regularly and properly cleaned—including door handles, rails, faucets, etc.
• Floor captains, in conjunction with office managers, Campus Safety and Custodial Services will ensure that cleaning supplies are available in classes and shared work/study spaces.
• Custodial Services will be responsible for cleaning entrances and common areas in the Everett Dick Administration Building, Krueger Center, Atrium, Student Center and Woods Auditorium.
• Each student, employee and visitor will be required to sanitize the area they used (table, keyboards, etc) with the supplied cleaning and sanitizing materials before leaving an area.

College-sponsored travel

College-sponsored travel includes, but is not limited to, field trips, club events, athletic contests, mission trips, or off-campus programming. Each of these circumstances presents its own risks and feasible solutions. Each trip will need to be preplanned and consider the inherent risks to team members and realistic interventions. Prior to each trip, a trip plan must be submitted to the program director, the dean of the applicable school, and then to PC for approval. A post-trip plan must be submitted of any alterations from original plan as well as any potential exposures.

Off campus class, group, and activity trips are not advised if the Lincoln COVID risk meter is orange or red. Exceptions might be made if COVID testing and quarantining can be a part of the plan. See exceptions section below.

Day trips

Day trips will have increased safety protocols as risk of exposure must be mitigated. However, quarantine will not be required prior to or after the trip (based on risk of exposure). Trip plans must include:

• Realistic trip member maximums to maintain physical distancing during travel and at the destination.

• 12 passenger van max capacity to eight including driver.
• Minivan max capacity six including driver.
• Car max capacity four including driver.

• Plans to provide hand sanitizer dispensers
• Plans to provide disinfecting wipe dispensers
• Sanitizing of vehicles before and after use
• Masks to be worn by trip members when within 6 feet of other individuals  
• Use of hand sanitizer before entering and exiting vehicles
• Methods to minimize exposure from people outside the trip member pool

Trips within the United States

Trips within the United States, but longer than a day, will have differing expectations than trips limited to a few hours, although there is overlap. Trip members will be spending extended periods of time together and expected to share sleeping quarters. This unavoidable proximity will lead to decreased interventions. Quarantine will not be required prior to or after the trip (based on risk of exposure). Trip plans should include:

• Realistic trip member maximums to maintain physical distancing during travel and at the destination
• In addition the trip waiver must inform trip members of risks regarding COVID-19 and having them take individual responsibility
• A plan for trip member insurance.
• Trip members must choose a partner of the same gender with whom to share sleeping quarters. These partners will be allowed in proximity without masks. Partners cannot change during a trip.
• Plans to provide hand sanitizer dispensers
• Plans to provide disinfecting wipe dispensers
• Sanitizing of vehicles before and after use
• Masks to be worn by trip members when within six feet of each other (if trip is shorter than a week)
• Masks to be worn by trip members when within six feet of non-trip members
• Use of hand sanitizer before entering and exiting vehicles
• Methods to minimize exposure from people outside the trip member pool
• Plans to encourage regular hand washing
• Plans for regular cleaning and sanitization of living and working spaces
• Safe food and drinking provisions
• Plans for testing and quarantine should trip members show COVID symptoms during trip
• Plans for testing and quarantining all trip members should any member show COVID symptoms until tested/ cleared

For trips lasting longer than one week

• Plans to educate trip members on risks and mitigation strategies for COVID exposure
• Sanitizing after risk of exposure (entering/ exiting vehicles, buildings, and physical contact with non-team members)  
• Plans for regular cleaning and sanitization of living and working spaces
• Plans for testing and quarantining all trip members should any member show COVID symptoms until tested/ cleared

International trips

Trips outside the United States will have differing expectations than trips limited to a few hours or within U.S. borders, although there is overlap. Trip members will be spending extended periods of time together and expected to share sleeping, living, and working spaces. This unavoidable proximity will lead to decreased interventions. Due to the extended nature of these trips and increased risk of exposure from flights and international travel, a 14-day quarantine will be required upon return to Union College campus. Trip plans should include:

• Realistic trip member maximums to maintain physical distancing during travel and on the training site(s)
• In addition the trip waiver must inform trip members of risks regarding COVID-19 and having them take individual responsibility
• A plan for trip member insurance
• Plans to educate trip members on risks and mitigation strategies for COVID exposure
• Plans to provide hand sanitizer dispensers
• Plans to provide immune system supplements
• Plans to provide disinfecting wipe dispensers
• Sanitizing after risk of exposure (entering/ exiting vehicles, buildings, and physical contact with non-team members)  
• Masks to be worn by trip members when within 6 feet of non-trip members
• Methods to minimize exposure from non-trip members
• Plans for regular cleaning and sanitization of living and working spaces
• Encourage regular hand washing
• Safe food and drinking provisions
• Plans for testing, quarantine, and treatment should trip members show COVID symptoms
• Plans for repatriation for COVID positive trip members
• Plans for testing and quarantining all trip members should any member show COVID symptoms until tested/cleared

Employee specific regulations 

Working status

All 12-month employees and summer student workers will be required to return to regular hours on campus starting July 6. Remote check-in for students and employees on the timeclock will be discontinued at this time.

Exceptions can be made for faculty and full-time staff in a high-risk category. To receive an exception, please contact your vice president who will coordinate with the Human Resources Office.

When to stay home

All individuals working on the Union College campus must conduct a personal health check each day prior to arriving on campus. If an employee shows any COVID-19 symptoms, they should stay home and immediately notify their work supervisor and the Campus Health office.

Employees who have traveled internationally or experienced a sustained exposure (more than 15 minutes without appropriate PPE or physical distancing) to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two weeks will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

Day care and school closings

When the college is open but an employee who is a parent (or guardian) is required to stay home with a child (as defined in the FMLA) because of the closure of a day care facility or a public or private school, the employee may, with approval of the supervisor in consultation with Human Resources, be allowed to work at home or elect to:

• use vacation leave
• use sick leave
• use compensatory leave
• take leave without pay
• take paid leave to be made up within 12 months. If the time is not made up within 12 months, appropriate leave will be deducted or the appropriate amount of pay shall be deducted from the employee’s paycheck.

These provisions also apply for eldercare. The college has the right to request appropriate documentation to substantiate need.

Communication

The broad scope and pertinent details of this plan will be communicated to employees, students and other audiences using the following methods.

• Union College official website—specifically the COVID-19 update section including specific FAQs for employees, faculty and students.
• Email communication to employees, returning students and parents, incoming students and parents, and alumni.
• Appropriate signage to remind all of physical distancing, handwashing, sanitation, mask usage, and traffic flow standards and guidelines.

Enforcement

Any visitor who refuses to abide by the policies in the document will be asked to leave campus and may not be allowed to return. Students or employees who knowingly and repeatedly refuse to follow the regulations in this document may be subject to disciplinary action.

Appendix A - Campus Status Operation Plan

Open: 

• Local Status Green: The Lancaster County Threat Level Meter indicates a “Low” risk for COVID-19 transmission in our community.
• There are no confirmed cases on campus.
• Campus open to the public, Fully operational
• Academics-All classes meeting and operating.
• Dorms-Open to all eligible students.
• Dining-Fully operational.
• Masks recommended, but not required.
• Events continue with no additional restrictions/guidelines

Open Distanced: 

• Local Status Yellow: The Lancaster County Threat Level Meter indicates a “Low-Moderate” risk for COVID-19 transmission in our community.
• Campus open to the public. Physical distancing is in place. Including increased signage, markings on floors, directional travel in buildings (eg. upward stairwell/downward stairwell in DB)
• Academics-Classes offered as optional online/in-person. In-person Classes limited/duplicated to approved physical distancing for max occupancy (needs to be determined)
• Dorms-Open to students if they choose to stay on campus, increased ability for off-campus housing for 1 year, students spread out across dorms.
• Dining-Open with adjusted capacity of dining areas.
• Events are limited capacity following county/local recommendations and the event section of this policy.
• Masks required, with exceptions.

Open Limited:

• Local Status Orange: The Lancaster County Threat Level Meter indicates a “Moderate-High” risk for COVID-19 transmission in our community.
• Transitioning to fully remote in person learning is highly advised by state and local government officials
• Enough students have been infected with COVID-19 and require isolation that fill the designated isolation areas.
• Campus closed to the public, open to all employees, students and essential visitors (deliveries, etc.). Remote work may be authorized by VP.
• Academics-Online, consider postponing/altering skills/practical classes, but continue as needed.
• Dorms-Open only to students required by academics (skills practical classes or need for internet access) or work to stay, must complete a request form.
• Dining-Open with limited hours, all meals served or boxed, no self-service available.
• Events are limited to on-campus.
• No overnight travel.
• Masks required, with exceptions.

Open Essential:

• Local Status Red: The Lancaster County Threat Level Meter indicates a “Severe” risk for COVID-19 transmission in our community.
• Transiting to fully remote learning is highly advised by state and local government officials
• Working from home is highly advised by state and local government officials
• Campus closed to the public, non-essential students, and non-essential employees. Employees work at home unless defined as an essential on-site employee (Send letter notifying employees of status as essential).
• Academics-Online otherwise canceled or postponed skills/practical classes.
• Dorms-Closed except to students who are unable to go home. Must complete a petition.
• Dining-Essential personnel, only box meals available.
• No campus events.
• Masks required, with exceptions.

Closed:

• Local Status Red: The Lancaster County Threat Level Meter indicates a “Severe” risk for COVID-19 transmission in our community.
• Directed by government health officials.
• Academics-classes canceled or postponed.
• Dorms-Closed.
• Dining-Closed.

President’s Council reserves the right to adjust Union’s operating procedure as the need arises.

Appendix B - Terms

Physical distance—This term is interchangeable with “social distance” and refers to staying at least six feet away from other people.

Campus status—This refers to the campus operational status that is changed in reaction to factors caused by the pandemic. See Appendix A for more information.

Campuswide—This refers to all students, employees, and visitors as well as college-owned buildings, property, and vehicles.

Quarantine—A person who has traveled internationally or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 must stay in their living space and not have contact with others. Persons in quarantine have not exhibited any symptoms of illness and can stay in their residence hall room while using a reserved sink, shower and toilet in the community bathroom.

Isolation—A person who has exhibited symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 must move to a designated isolation room with a separate bathroom.

Appendix C - Daily Health Check Plan

Assumptions

• Union College takes the health, well-being, and safety of our community seriously.
• Union College cares about each student, staff, faculty, and administrator, and genuinely wants to facilitate a safe environment for all.
• Union College relies on medical and public health experts in the decision-making process including expertise both internally as well as externally from local health experts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, and other advisory groups.
• Union College understands the importance of rapid identification and rapid response on the minimization of the possibility of escalation of positive cases on the Union College campus enabling the college to provide our students with on-campus education for as long as safely possible.
• Union College understands that layering best practices in public health such as frequent hand-washing, physical distancing, facemasks, and daily health checks is an evidence-based methodology to prioritize the health and safety of the students and employees in our care.

Policy & Process

• Expectation: All employees, students, and guests (not including vendors on campus for less than 15 minutes) will be expected to stop at a health check station prior to or immediately upon entering a Union College building daily. The health check station will include hand sanitizer, a body temperature check, and a review of symptoms and risk factors associated with COVID-19.
• Staffing: To facilitate a quick process, health check stations will be staffed primarily by student workers supported by Union College employees. Using this method rather than each individual taking their own temperature, the equipment will not need to be cleaned between each individual as the thermometer will only be touched by the student worker which will save time.

• Student workers facilitating the health check stations will wear a mask as well as eye protection (if preferred) due to the need to be closer than six feet from others. Plexiglass shields may be utilized to further minimize risk. Student workers will be asked if they are willing to serve in this capacity and their utilization has been approved by the college attorney without the requirement of a waiver.
• Individuals will be responsible for practicing safe physical distancing while waiting in line for the health check station similar to the expectation in place for Union Market or waiting for class.
• It is our belief that individuals will quickly identify the most strategic health check station for their daily schedules and adjustments can be made to this plan following an assessment of the traffic at each station.

• Daily Health Check Screen: 

• Body temperatures will be taken using an infrared no-touch thermometer with an expected temperature of 99.4 degrees F or below. No-touch thermometers typically read approximately 1 degree lower than oral thermometers hence the 99.4 degrees F requirement. The current CDC recommendation is 100.4 degrees F for the fever cut off.
• Temperatures above 99.4 degrees F will be retaken after at least two minutes have passed. If the temperature is still above 99.4 degrees F on the second check, the student, employee, or guest will not be allowed to stay in the building or leave the building (in case of the residence halls) and will be asked to return home (on or off campus).
• Additionally, a symptom self-assessment will be completed by each individual. A sign will be posted at each health check station with symptom information and each individual will be asked if they are currently experiencing any of the symptoms and a verbal response of symptoms absence will be expected. A question regarding international travel will also be asked. An individual who is currently experiencing any of the following symptoms associated with COVID-19 (cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, fever or chills, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste/smell) or international travel (in the past 14 days) will not be allowed to stay in the building or leave the building (in the case of the residence halls). They will be asked to contact Tammy Adams, Campus Health Nurse. The list of symptoms will be reviewed and updated as new data is shared by the CDC.
• Individuals will also be asked if they have had contact with a person being tested or confirmed to have COVID-19 in the last 14 days. If they answer yes, they will be asked to return home and contact Tammy Adams.
• The health check process will be reviewed and updated to reflect best practices in public health as new data is available.

• Logistics starting August 3:

• Screening locations will be listed on building doors and on the Union College Covid-19 webpage.
• NOTE: Only individuals entering Union College campus buildings will be screened. Individuals exiting Union College campus buildings are not required to be screened as they leave (i.e. to go to an off-campus job or church), but they will be required to be screened upon re-entry.

• Health Check Tracking:

• A UGroups event will be created for each day by Student Life. The event will be accompanied by a QR code that will be printed and scanned by each individual at the health check station. This scan will create a list of individuals who have completed the health check requirement for each day. The QR scan indicates that the individual checked in at the station. The event automatically generates a report that will be accessible by those who are given access including, but not limited to, Tammy Adams, residence hall deans, administrators, etc.

• Student Life will provide packets to employee leads on Thursday afternoons including the QR codes for the following week, stickers, any updates to the standard operating procedure for screeners, and log sheets (to track individuals who do not have smartphones).

• In addition to the QR code tracking, each individual who “passes” the screen (including temperature check and questions regarding travel, symptoms, and exposure) will be given a sticker for quick visual identification that they have completed the expected process. This sticker will be the “ticket” that we will all expect others to have if they are in Union College buildings (not including their own dorm room).

• Each employee will be an advocate and ambassador of this process by encouraging and observing those around them for compliance. For example, at the beginning of a class, the professor can do a quick visual scan for a bright sticker on the clavicle area of each student as the student’s “ticket to class.” Or, a work supervisor, can make sure that their student workers or employees understand this expectation. Students can encourage and remind their classmates of this expectation as well. Similar to the wearing of masks, we’ll need to encourage each other to make this a public health and safety priority for our campus family.

• If an individual does not “pass” any one component of the screen (temperature check or questions regarding travel, symptoms, and exposure), they will be asked to go back to their dorm room or return home. The health check student worker will notify the Union College employee lead in their area and the employee lead will email Roxanne Force in Student Life. Roxanne will go into the UGroups spreadsheet for that day and enter a comment for that individual “did not pass.” This will trigger an automated email to Tammy Adams (and others as deemed necessary). For employees, this will also include communication from Roxanne to Lisa Forbes in Human Resources.

• Students/employees will be encouraged to contact Campus Health via phone at 402.486.2554, and they will be given one of Tammy’s business cards by the screener. Employees will also be encouraged to contact their supervisor and Human Resources as needed.
• Tammy will follow up with the individual regarding next steps according to the previously developed processes.

• If an individual has completed the health check station for the day, but loses their sticker, they can go to Student Life for a replacement or go to a health check station and recheck.