TAP No. 60: On Campus COVID-19 Rules
Scope
This policy applies to all University faculty, staff, and students.
Purpose
The health and safety of the University community is paramount, and accordingly, the University has made and will continue to make operational adjustments and implement requirements related to COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses. As members of the University community, employees and students are responsible for participating in these efforts undertaken by the University. In the future, this policy may be expanded and/or revised to include other communicable illnesses.
I. Policy
Employees must comply with the following health and safety rules when on campus. While these rules are intended to mitigate health and safety risks, COVID-19 continues to present risks of a unique and uncertain nature, and the University cannot guarantee that an employee who is working on campus will not contract COVID-19. In working on campus, employees assume responsibility for compliance with the health and safety rules described herein for their personal protection and the protection of the University community and assume the risk of exposure to COVID-19, which risk is being mitigated by the University's operational adjustments and employee compliance with health and safety rules, but which risk cannot be totally eliminated.
The rules set forth below are subject to change based on university needs while considering guidance from relevant federal, state, and local entities. Given the dynamic nature of communicable respiratory diseases, all employees are required to adhere to any additional requirements or changes as announced by the University that are not incorporated below.
II. Health and Safety Responsibilities, Expectations and Obligations
- All employees-full-time and part-time, including adjunct faculty-are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 must promptly inform their supervisor
related to illness requiring an adjustment of duties or time off from work.
- While there are currently no isolation requirements, students and employees who test positive for COVID-19 and do not have a fever may return to class/work while practicing preventative measures such as good hand hygiene and/or masking when indoors and around others.
- If a student/employee does have a fever of 100.2 or higher, they should stay home until they do not have a fever for 24 hours without the use of antipyretic medications (e.g. Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen).
- Any employee who becomes aware that they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should monitor for a fever over 100.2 and seek testing if symptoms arise. The University does not require employees to quarantine after exposure. If the employee develops symptoms, they should contact their health care provider and follow their instructions, and contact their supervisor.
- Employees who participate in higher risk environments (e.g. faculty participating in clinical rotations) may have additional monitoring and assessment requirements imposed through their program or Department.
- Employees are responsible for keeping their supervisor aware of any health-related absences to ensure that their work can be covered by another individual. Faculty must notify their Program Director, Department Chair and/or Dean of potential absences to ensure that courses can be covered and students can be notified. Faculty should not cancel classes without notifying their department chair and/or dean of their absence
III. Violations
Violations of this policy will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Employees are subject to formal disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
IV. History
Adopted: June, 2020.
Amended: October, 2024
V. Ownership
EHS, Human Resources and Risk Management.