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(Last Updated 8.25.2020)
Introduction Saint Francis University is committed to fulfilling our essential mission of providing a transformative face-to-face educational experience for students; and nourishing our community of faith and prayer. At the same time, we are committed to taking the necessary measures to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our campus community. The Catholic, Franciscan tradition of our Founding Friars created a learning environment within a resilient, faith-based community that can overcome adversity. Faith reimagined our University after fire destroyed the buildings. Faith healed us when our students were called to war. And while this virus is a different challenge from what we’ve faced before, our Community of Faith and Prayer is once again our strength. Purpose This document is designed to inform our community of the safety measures needed to return to on-campus operations this fall, and to provide guidelines for contingency planning for changing conditions. This is a living document and, as our knowledge of the COVID-19 virus spread continues to evolve, the information within will be updated as appropriate. We can assume that our operations must continue into the foreseeable future with a strong emphasis on public health measures such as wearing face coverings, hand hygiene, health monitoring, and physical distancing. We have put into place tracking and containment measures and other public health solutions to curb the risks inherent in the pandemic.
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Together, we are working to safeguard lives, safeguard Saint Francis University and continue to provide a quality Catholic, Franciscan in-person education that our students seek and deserve. Scope This Prevention and Response Plan pertains to spaces owned, occupied, and controlled by Saint Francis University, and it applies to all campus activity throughout the summer and into the Fall 2020 academic semester. This plan will last until such time as University leadership deems that COVID-19 is no longer a risk to our population. The plan is organized into the following sub-headings: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Return to Campus Teaching and Learning Prevention and Monitoring Containment of Illness Communications Contingency Planning Conclusion Appendices
Authorities and References Directives and guidance from public health professionals and local, state, and federal government authorities steers our planning for a gradual return to in-person campus operations. For example, Governor Wolf has outlined a three-phase plan for Pennsylvania that is instrumental to our plans to resocialize our campus. Guidance will likely change over time, due to changes in the spread of the virus, new positive tests for COVID-19 in the region, new hospitalizations and pressure on our local health system, along with other metrics. It is critically important that we remain open and adaptable to these changes. As we follow the guidance of our nation's experts, we will be resilient throughout this crisis. Local Partnerships Saint Francis University’s partnership with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) guides us as we develop our own contact tracing unit and protocols. Our partnership will enable complete
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transparency as well as unanimous collaboration between the University and our county department of public health agency as we seek to identify any close contacts of positive test results and implement plans for containment. Saint Francis University Pandemic Response Team To inform the leadership team of the university, the Saint Francis University Pandemic Response Team was formed to bring together cross functional members of our community. Members of this committee coordinate with local public health officials. The team is charged with continuously reviewing the guidance from federal, state, and local authorities, as well as the conditions on campus, in the local community, state, and nation. The team serves as an advisory board to the university’s leadership team on issues related to, but not limited to, the resumption and suspension of face-to-face instruction and residential living. The Pandemic Response Team reviews this plan frequently in relation to the latest virus developments, the latest guidance from all agencies, and the conditions on campus. It reserves the right to revise this plan on an on-going basis to ensure it is serving the most immediate needs of our campus community. The most up to date plan may be found at f rancis.edu/coronavirus Committee Members are comprised of staff from the following units: Academic Affairs Athletics Finance & Administration Human Resources Physical Plant Registrar Residence Life Risk Management School of Health Sciences & Education
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Student Development Student Health University Communications Mr. Zachary Burke (University Risk Manager) also fulfills the role of the institution’s official COVID-19 Pandemic Response Officer. Where mentioned in this plan, his role as Saint Francis University Risk Manager assumes his role as the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Officer for the institution.
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Saint Francis University has been instituting a phased return of our population since April 13, 2020 in a coordinated process as permitted by state and local regulations.
The University continues to closely monitor and assess the potential spread of the virus and reevaluates existing policies and procedures designed to mitigate it. If localized outbreaks emerge, we may need to return to tighter restrictions, reduced staffing, and move to remote instruction. By phasing in our operations with consideration and care, we are enabling a safe environment for the whole community. Each phase of returning sub-groups to campus has introduced a new population to the community. With each returning group, the university has evaluated what policies and protocols worked and make sense for our campus population. We have used our gained knowledge to develop this plan. We will continue to phase in sub-groups as we approach August 17, 2020, our first day of classes. Using Scenarios to Plan for What May Occur It is our intention to return to campus-based operations, including in-person instruction, for the fall 2020 semester. Scenario planning anchors our thinking in realistic possibilities and provides a framework by which we can meet our goals. Exploring all possible variables allows for new policies, communication strategies, and actions that we can take. In this effort, the Saint Francis University Pandemic Planning Team has been exploring four scenarios that may be evident in one form or another over the next 6-18 months. Though no single scenario is likely to play out exactly as imagined, there are components from which we can draw as needed or directed by government officials.
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The four scenarios we are planning for are:
Modified Face to Restricted Face Instruction Instruction
Essential Operations Only
Fully Remote
Instruction Residential Life Gatherings Recreation NCAA Athletics Dining
Face-to-face with some web enhanced instruction Residents in Campus Housing No large gatherings Recreation with extra protocols NCAA athletic practices and competitions operating with limitations Dining with limitations
On-line instruction only (Health & Allied Health Continue Face-to-face) Limited Residents in Campus Housing No large gatherings All recreation ceased NCAA athletic practices and competitions modified Dining modified/ delivered
On-line instruction only, except for Health Sciences Limited Residents in Campus Housing None All recreation ceased All NCAA athletic practices and competitions modified All dining ceased
Hybrid (online and in-person) instruction Residents in Campus Housing No large gatherings Most recreation ceased NCAA athletic practices and competitions modified Dining take-out only
International Student Requirements and Arrival 1. All students must self-quarantine for 14 days prior to leaving their country and arriving on campus. 2. Pack your face covering, personal thermometer for daily wellness checks and hand sanitizer, along with any preferred sanitizing products for personal use. 3. Students arriving between August 1 to August 7, will be placed into housing off-campus to self-quarantine. Details related to individual arrivals and subsequent plans are provided by Dr. Renee Bernard rbernard@francis.edu. 4. Students arriving between August 8 to August 16, will go directly to their room in their assigned residence hall and follow strict safety precautions for 14 days. Precautions will be supplied to each arriving student by Saint Francis University officials.
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5. COVID-19 testing may be required. Test results, after sent to the student, should be provided directly to the Student Health Center (MyHealth@School) by uploading the results onto the student health portal (navigate to my.francis.edu, current students tab, and student health portal). 6. All students must have up-to-date immunizations prior to moving into the residence halls. New students can access instructions in your “To Do” Folder in my.francis.edu. Immunization records must be translated into English. For a list of immunizations, please refer to https://www.francis.edu/International-Students/ and “Health and Immunization Requirements”. If you have any issues obtaining vaccinations, contact MyHealth@School at srea@francis.edu. 7. Login to www.getrave.com/login/francis. 8. Review Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Response Guide, including the Universal Face Coverings requirement and travel recommendations. Domestic Student Arrival Before your arrival on campus students should do the following: ● Login to www.getrave.com/login/francis ● Safely self-quarantine for 14 days prior to your arrival on campus. ● Review the P ennsylvania’s COVID-19 Response Guide, including the U niversal Face Coverings requirement and travel recommendations. ● Pack your face covering, personal thermometer for daily wellness checks and hand sanitizer, along with any preferred sanitizing products for personal use.
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Academic Instruction and Delivery
Saint Francis University offers higher education in an environment guided by Catholic values and teachings, and inspired by the example of our patron, Saint Francis of Assisi. In-person instruction is at the heart of the Saint Francis University experience. No matter what the circumstances are in the fall semester, providing meaningful educational experiences and high-quality instruction are crucial to fulfilling our mission and serving our students. Although we are proud of how successfully we moved online this spring and learned from that experience, we know that planned, intentional, and flexible instructional design and pedagogy are necessary for all courses. The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning is hard at work offering training and support for our faculty as they modify their courses to be flexible in meeting the challenges of the current learning environment. With that in mind, we value the face-to-face experiences that our students appreciate from the caring faculty at Saint Francis. We have taken several steps to consider student safety in returning to campus as well as to our classrooms. To ease the congestion created by move-in and to eliminate travel to and from campus over Fall Break and Thanksgiving, we have implemented the following changes to the academic schedule:
Calendar Modifications Fall 2020 Semester (earlier start and end dates) ● Move-in (by appointment) beginning August 1. Residence Life coordinates move-in details. Students will be able to place their personal items in their rooms over a 2 hour time block. ● New Student Check In- August 13 ● Returning Student Check-In- August 16 ● First Day of Classes for All Programs and Departments- August 17*
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● Outdoor Mass of the Holy Spirit- August 20 (compressed schedule) ● No Fall Break ● Last Day of Classes- November 20 ● Final Exams- November 21-25 (including Saturday and Sunday) *Please pay attention to all campus announcements related to the first day of classes. First day classroom locations may be modified. guidance will be provided.
Spring 2021 Semester ● Scheduled First Day of Classes- January 11 Francis Worldwide Schedule ● Module I August 17- October 11 ● Module II October 5- November 29
In addition to calendar modifications, the university is developing creative ideas and methods for teaching and learning. Each course is considered by individual faculty, their academic department and their Dean to determine the best way to offer it with priority focus on face-to-face learning. That being said, flexibility in mode of delivery is needed and is being determined based upon the level of course, the space needed, the objectives of the course, the type of course (lecture, lab, clinical experience) in order to offer the best learning experience and in a safe way. This being said, Saint Francis University offers courses in the following formats: ● Traditional face-to-face ● Web-Enhanced, meaning some elements of online learning are included, mostly facilitated through our course management system, Canvas; if a student has to miss class they can remain on track ● Hybrid, meaning more structured class time is offered online such as coming to class in person on Mondays and Wednesdays but online on Fridays, course has deliberate online activities ● Online, meaning all coursework is offered online
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These formats guide the design of course offerings in general and specifically for return to campus with additional considerations for providing a safe learning environment. Students will wear masks in the classroom and additional PPE will be provided for labs or other experiences that might require closer contact or space. If a student is registered for a high number of credits for the fall semester and is concerned about stress related to workload and being in school during the COVID-19 pandemic, we encourage you to reach out to your advisor to consider reducing your credit load.
Classroom Space Modifications The university began planning for reduced class sizes for the Fall 2020 semester in late Spring. With faculty input, each of the three schools at Saint Francis: Shields School of Business, the School of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math), and the School of Health Sciences and Education, developed contingency plans for fall that include: ● How to manage class sizes and number of sections while systematically maintaining the highest standards for education ● Offering the positive learning experience our students expect ● Following CDC and PA state guidelines. A university-wide classroom capacity for social distancing analysis was conducted by Physical Plant staff to determine how many students could safely fit into each classroom or space on campus. The summer allowed us to carry out our contingency plans on a smaller scale with OT, PT, PA, Nursing and Science labs (Biology and Chemistry) students, enabling better preparation for fall. Creative examples proposed by the faculty to reduce or limit the number of students in the classroom for the Fall 2020 semester include: 1. Acquire the largest classrooms for programs/courses with larger numbers of students
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2. Transition conference rooms or other typically non-academic areas as a second or third classroom to help space students out 3. Cap certain courses at lower numbers for incoming freshmen so they can be face-to-face but are better able to fit into a typical classroom with social distancing 4. Redesign some face-to-face courses as hybrid, with rotating face-to-face sessions and online work when not physically in the classroom 5. Offer exams in a larger room during the evenings or through virtual means 6. Transition select courses to fully online 7. Transition some courses to an extended virtual December-January Term 8. Encourage outside class or labs when weather allows and is educationally appropriate 9. Cancel courses with low enrollment to free up additional space for other course offerings All accommodations and modifications were made with student safety and the quality of the academic experience in mind. The University successfully returned students to in-person instruction earlier this summer.
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Clinical Rotations, Fieldwork, Internships, Student Teaching Experiences, Co-Curricular Activities Off-campus Each department on campus is working diligently with community partners to help ensure students are able to complete their degree requirements and valued experiences in a timely manner, to the extent possible. Each off-campus site has variable conditions under which a student may attend, and individual departments are working directly with students and partners to meet these requirements. It is important to know that this is a fluid situation and the SFU faculty and clinical coordinators are doing everything possible to place students in these important experiences while following all protocols and recommendations. Students should direct questions regarding these to their faculty supervisor, department chair or dean. Study Abroad Ambialet: Due to the European border restrictions, the 2020 fall Semester in France program is canceled. Decisions regarding spring semester in Ambialet will be reviewed November 1, 2020. International Excursions 2020 - 2021 Academic Year and Spring Break 2021: T here will be no international excursions during the winter break (Dec 2020/Jan 2021). We will aim to offer international experiences during the spring semester and next summer however, the final decisions on any programming depends on the global situation and will be made at the latest possible moment to assure the safety of our travelers. Also, education and learning trips held in the United States are on hold. Decisions regarding spring break trips will be reviewed November 1. 2021 - 2022: We plan to offer international and domestic learning experiences for Summer 2021, beginning May 2021. However, decisions regarding the 2021 summer study abroad programming will be made about 45 days out from the program start. If you have any questions regarding study abroad, please contact Juliana Horvath at studyabroad@francis.edu.
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Community Engagement All Saint Francis University community engagement and service (both academic and co-curricular) will be conducted entirely remote for fall 2020. Off-campus travel for community service projects and events, is not permitted. For remote service ideas for CE designated courses or co-curricular service, contact Julie Horvath jhorvath@francis.edu. Testing Center The Testing Center is open and available for pre-scheduled exams. In an effort to offer a safe environment the following protocols are occurring: ● Requiring all examinees and employees to wear masks throughout the testing center and waiting area (hallway). ● Limiting and staggering scheduled appointments, controlling traffic flow in the check-in and testing rooms, and arranging examinee seating to promote social distancing. ● Providing disposable ear plugs, pencils, tissues, and hand sanitizer. ● Deep-cleaning high-touch areas multiple times a day. ● Opening windows when possible to increase circulation of outside air throughout the testing center. Appointments should be scheduled in advance via email, Cranium Cafe chat and phone. Appointments are being staggered to reduce traffic flow. Additional details are located on the Center for Academic Success Testing Center homepage.
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Public Health Precautions and Standards
During a public health emergency, identification, prevention, education and communication are necessary for containment and safety. We are focusing on these broadly applied measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within our population. As a baseline, and in conjunction with other measures, the four public health pillars described below are essential for all operations until a vaccine is available. Life during a global pandemic necessitates a change in our behavior. As members of the Saint Francis University community, we rely on one another to create a safe environment and protect those who are most at-risk. These pillars are in effect for all work and common spaces on campus, regardless of intended use. Abiding by these standards are the personal responsibility of each individual on our campus to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus. To this end all members of the campus community must abide by and implement the Four Public Health Pillars. Four Public Health Pillars I.
Use a Face Covering
Face coverings may be homemade or commercially available; must be worn in motion on campus in building entrances, lobbies, hallways, classrooms, common areas, and in any and all locations where physical distancing of six feet cannot be maintained. While we will have face coverings available, there are many different types and fits of face coverings. We encourage you to find a face covering that fits you well and that you find comfortable.
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Have available and bring several of face coverings and keep them c lean. II.
Practice Social Distancing
Keep a minimum of six feet apart, or two arm's lengths, from others at all times to minimize the chance of breathing droplets from an infected individual.
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Practice Proper Hand Hygiene
Wash hands at least hourly with soap and warm water for at least 20 to 30 seconds. In between hand washings, use hand sanitizer. Dispensers are available throughout campus in common areas, lobbies, and on each floor of campus buildings. The whole community must take care to avoid handshakes, touching one's face, and touching common surfaces as much as possible.
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Monitor Your Health
Individuals on campus are expected to take an active role in protecting their health by: performing proper hand washing, covering your cough or sneeze, properly wearing and washing your cloth face covering, and staying at home when you are sick. In an emergency call 911.
All campus community members MUST participate in the RAVE Alert COVID Monitoring Program You must be enrolled in SFU RAVE ALERT (RAVE ALERT SIGN UP), participate in the program, and respond daily to the wellness texts. Follow the protocol accordingly as a result of your answers. You will receive a text message every morning at approximately 7:30 AM.
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If you do not have a cell phone, smartphone or are concerned about the cost of receiving texts, please contact Don Miles dmiles@francis.edu for alternate options for completion of the wellness check. You are expected to self-monitor daily, by taking your temperature and monitoring for symptoms. The symptoms of COVID-19 are a fever of 99.5 F or higher, dry cough, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or loss of taste or smell. EMPLOYEES (Faculty and staff) - If you are an employee and have a temperature reading of 99.5 or greater, and/or symptoms of COVID-19, do not report to work, instead please report to: 1. your supervisor 2. Zach Burke at (814) 472-3248 z burke@francis.edu. You will be advised from there. STUDENTS - If you are a student a nd have a temperature reading of 99.5 or greater and/or symptoms, contact S tudent Health Services at (814) 472-3008 for an evaluation and do not report to class or any other activities. After business hours, email mlasinsky@francis.edu. You may be directed to urgent care or a v irtual platform for evaluation. In addition, please notify Residence Life so that you can be properly quarantined. Decision trees ( APPENDIX C) guide university officials and campus community members (students and employees) in decision making relative to COVID-19 exposure. Additional Public Health Measures In conjunction with our four public health pillars, the university has developed new capabilities to contain and mitigate risks due to COVID-19 exposure, infection and potential spread. The measures
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include, but are not limited to testing, guest policies, contact tracing and temperature stations.
Testing At this time asymptomatic testing is not part of our reopening protocol per our medical affiliate UPMC as testing is not considered a best practice. We reserve the right to test under circumstances we determine as necessary and reserve the right to require testing at any time. If you are ordered by a medical professional to get tested students must notify MyHealth@School at (814) 472-3008. If you are ordered by a medical professional to get tested employees must notify Zachary Burke, Risk Manager at (814) 472-3248.
Guest Policies Campus guests, including prospective students and their families, alumni and friends, vendors, and consultants are asked to, whenever possible, make appointments to be on campus. Athletic spectators, visiting teams, visiting coaches, etc fall under N CAA guidelines and associated protocols. In advance of guest visits, visitors are asked to complete the COVID-19 Guest Screening Questionnaire ( APPENDIX A) and return it to their Saint Francis University host individual/office. Guests will be provided the questionnaire on the f rancis.edu/coronavirus website or may be sent to the guest in advance. It is the responsibility of the SFU host to ensure this questionnaire is returned 24 hours in advance of the scheduled visit. A private Google drive where guest screening questionnaires will be housed will be made available to select individuals for contact tracing purposes. In the event that a Saint Francis University employee is alerted by their guest that they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 after their visit, the employee must contact Zachary Burke zburke@francis.edu, Risk Management immediately.
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Guests are expected to follow the Saint Francis University Face Covering Policy ( APPENDIX B).
Contact Tracing As part of the contact tracing program, all members of the Saint Francis University community are expected to be enrolled in the SFU RAVE COVID Monitoring app (https://www.getrave.com/login/francis) and participate in Daily Wellness texts and follow the prompt received as a result of personal answers. Contact tracing is a valuable containment measure that all community members must uphold. Be aware of your daily routines and schedule so that if you are informed of possible exposure, you can help university officials identify areas or persons at risk. Temperature Stations Temperature stations will be utilized in various locations on campus to assist in the screening of individuals. Screening and health checks are not a replacement for other protective measures such as wearing a mask, social distancing and hourly hand washing. University Offices Each Saint Francis administrative office will be responsible for developing their own protocols for visitors and appointments based upon their location, physical space and frequency of contacts. These protocols will be posted on each department's webpage on my. francis. Please make sure that you visit the department’s website p rior to making appointments to be aware of requested protocols. The Immaculate Conception Chapel and Faith-based Activities The Immaculate Conception Chapel at Saint Francis University will operate in alignment with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona - Johnstown. The protocols and policies set forth by the Diocese will be utilized at the Immaculate Conception Chapel. Library & Learning Commons
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Providing an environment for students to continue their studies is critical. The Library & Learning Commons has adopted additional measures to accommodate campus community members use: ● Signage at entry and throughout the building to maintain social distance and to wear a mask ● Hand sanitizer in the lobby, at the entrance of the building and on all floors of the building ● Furniture has been arranged to maintain social distancing in study areas and classrooms ● Clorox wipes available for students to wipe down study areas ● Patrons must wear masks when entering and moving around the building. They can remove their masks when sitting and studying. ● Building is cleaned nightly: surfaces and bathrooms sanitized Fitness Center Individuals wanting to use the DiSepio Fitness Center are expected to follow designated protocols: ● To allow for social distancing, community members must sign up for a 45 minute workout period in advance. You can sign up here or scan the QR code at the fitness center entrances. Workout periods are slotted for 45 minutes to allow for 15 minute cleaning procedures each hour. Community members may sign up for back-to-back sessions, but you will need to leave and re-enter to accommodate the hourly cleaning. ● All student workers will be screened before entrance to the Fitness Center and will be required to wear a mask. ● Patrons are required to wear a mask upon entrance to the Fitness Center and use the hand sanitizer that is outside of the main doors. Once you enter, you will be asked a few questions and go through a temperature screening. After this, you will use your SFU ID card to swipe in. Once you are ready to begin exercising, you may remove your mask. Please remember to put it back on as you exit the building. ● Cardio equipment is clearly designated for use in order to maintain the 6 feet of social distance. Other equipment, such as dumbbells, kettlebells, and free weights are also available for use.
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● Wipe down ALL equipment with a Clorox wipe before AND after use. ● At this time, restrooms and hydration stations are available but locker rooms and water fountains are not. With that said, please remember to bring a water bottle to keep yourself hydrated. DiSepio Fitness Center has adopted enhanced cleaning procedures which may be found here D iSepio Fitness Center Cleaning Protocols Strategy for Residence Halls Residence Life is dedicated to their mission of cultivating responsible community members by developing inclusive living and learning environments that have positioned Residence Life to dynamically respond to the needs of students and staff. While the specific in-hall experience and living situations are still being determined in accordance with federal, state and local guidelines, Residence Life has modeled and prepared for a number of scenarios to ensure readiness for whatever shape the on-campus experience will take this fall. To ensure readiness for the on-campus experience this fall, staff have maintained flexibility and creativity regarding policies and procedures, allowing for advanced maintenance and cleaning schedules, a new fall move-in procedure, room assignment adjustments, in-depth staff training and preparedness, and revisions to the conduct policy regarding behavior and guests. Below are several FAQs that will help residents become familiar with what life might look like as a resident student: What can I expect for residential living this fall? We are working to make sure your residence life experience is still filled with the opportunities that make your college years the most impactful time in your life. However, your home away from home will be different. ● Rooms will be double occupancy ● HATP, suites, triple rooms will remain at their original capacity ● Common areas may have less furniture to accommodate social distancing
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● ● ● ●
Common kitchens will have restricted use Restroom capacity limits may be enforced Hall programming and gatherings will be altered Spaces will be taken offline to disinfect more frequently
We are following best practices, which means there will be various restrictions on the building at different times and during different phases. Both incoming and returning students will be required to attend their welcoming hall meetings virtually to be made aware of the differences in procedures. Saint Francis University operates using a F ace Covering Policy (APPENDIX B). Please review it prior to your arrival on campus. Face masks will be made available to students. While there will be hand sanitizer at various locations throughout the campus, we encourage you to bring your own as well as your own cleaning supplies for inside your room. We will have EPA approved cleaning supplies located throughout the building and available for meeting rooms, lounges, etc. Daily wellness checks will become part of your regular daily routine when you return to campus. All community members will receive a text message each day asking about your health and if you are healthy you will be permitted to go about your day. Temperatures will be taken at various times on campus through handheld contactless thermometers or at temperature kiosks installed at various locations. You should bring your own thermometer and take your temperature every morning before leaving your room. Respond to the RAVE alerts and respond accordingly. How do I convey my level of concern to the community? We have developed two mechanisms that allow you to convey a message to fellow community members that you have certain preferences or concerns.
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● “Masked Frankie” sticker: When displayed, the sticker communicates that all visitors to your room should be masked and respect acceptable social distance. ● Color coded bracelets: Green, yellow and red bracelets may be worn to serve as a visual cue to others of your own personal comfort level. ○ Red: If someone wears red, they are asking you to keep a safe distance from them, wear your mask, and don’t touch them or their personal belongings. ○ Yellow: If someone wears a yellow bracelet, this is an indicator that they are cautious or concerned, but would be okay with limited contact such as an elbow bump. ○ Green: If someone wears green, they are comfortable with reasonable contact. As committed professionals, the Residence Life staff will be in frequent communication with residents any time the university’s status changes to remind them of the expectations. Resident Assistants (RA) staff will be trained on the proper procedures for isolating students, addressing incidents during the pandemic, hosting programs, and making connections with residents in a safe manner as well as supporting the importance of checking on the mental health of their residents. On rounds of their building while on duty, the RAs will be expected to remind students not to congregate in large groups, to wear masks, and to maintain social distancing. If a student becomes ill, is suspected either because of close contact or symptoms, they will be moved to a quarantine or isolation room. They will be expected to stay in their room participating virtually in scheduled classes synchronously until they have recovered. The student who is ill will receive meals from Torvian delivered by the Resident Life Coordinator (RLC) on duty at set times. These meal deliveries may also serve as check-ins with the resident to discuss certain issues (mental health, academic progress, etc). The student who is ill will be expected to monitor their fever and symptoms and will be in contact with the Student Health Center
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regarding assigned steps once the student has been verified without fever or symptoms for the appropriate time. After hours: ● ● ● ●
In an emergency dial 911 Call campus police at (814) 472-3360 Visit a l ocal urgent care Utilize the UPMC AnyWhere Care app
Once the student has recovered and cleared by Student Health, they will be allowed to return to in-person classes and the dining hall. Dining Services Parkhurst Dining, our campus dining provider, follows all CDC and Department of Health recommendations. Frequent changes to policies and protocols are occurring to embed safety measures designed to keep patrons healthy and safe. Community members will recognize various changes to the dining areas including temperature checks upon entry, mandatory hand sanitizations, mask-wearing, and restricted capacity and controlled patterns of travel throughout venues. The following are details pertaining to campus dining locations and catering: ● All Guests will be required to wear a mask and sanitize their hands at all locations ● Serving procedures and protocols have been adjusted to minimize or eliminate any possibility of contact by multiple persons (dining hall staff serves all prepared food, pre-packaged food, etc) ● Dining Services Team members will have a daily temperature check and health screening before being able to start work ● Dining Services will follow all CDC/State/Local/Saint Francis policy and Procedures to ensure the safety of the students, faculty/staff, and team members
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Saint Francis University is building a pavilion for an additional seating behind Torvian. Torvian Dining Hall Patrons can expect the same high level of quality service they routinely experience in Torvian Dining Hall. We are striving for Torvian to remain as a gathering space where visitors can choose from a variety of options crafted with care. Changes to this facility include: ● Wrapped Silverware ○ Silverware will be handed out by checker ● All stations will be offered and attended by a team member (No Self-Serve). New offerings! ○ Salad by Design ○ Personal Pizzas ● Beverage stations are touchless and there are no refills ○ Required to get a new cup every time ● Plexiglass surrounding the checker station & all food pick up areas ● Dining Area will be zoned for improved seating and sanitizing ● Reduced seating occupancy ● Markers on each table (red & green) to ensure proper sanitation of tables C ampus Club Frankies The newly renovated Campus Club still continues to serve guests the fare our guests have grown to enjoy over the past year. Changes to this facility include: ● All stations will be offered and attended by a team member (No Self-Serve) ● Social distance marking and guidelines ● Plexiglass in front of cashier ● Reduced seating with additional seating in Upper J.F.K. ● Enhanced sanitizing program including all guest touch surfaces ● Using prepackaged silverware ● Use personal convenience condiments ○ Mongolian Grill sauces in 2oz PC cups ● Limit menu offering at the grill for faster service
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Adamucci/Padua The quick spots that our community members rely upon to grab their favorite coffee or snack are just as important as our larger dining facilities. Changes to the Grab And Go locations include: Social distance markings Install all signage for mask wearing-sanitizing Install Plexiglass in front of cashier Relocate and reduced seating Create and maintain an enhanced sanitizing program-including all guest touch surfaces ● Use prepackaged silverware kits ● Use personal convenience condiments for coffee drinks-Server will give to guest as needed ● Use personal convenience condiments for sandwiches etc.-Server will give to guest as needed Catering ● ● ● ● ●
Catering routinely occurs on-campus. Health and safety measures have been put in place to help such events occur successfully. Changes to Catering are as follows:
● Buffet ○ All buffets will be one sided ○ Catering service staff will be handling the food ○ All condiments will be set for individual guests ○ Social distancing will be marked near all buffets ○ Use disposable items as necessary ○ All beverages will be attended by Catering staff ● Served ○ All condiments will be preset for individual guests ○ Preset individual coffee pots
Division I Athletics All activities related to Saint Francis University Athletics are developed with guidance from NEC and NCAA. This includes practice, coaching, play, and spectators. Specific details related to Red Flash Athletics can be found at https://sfuathletics.com/index.aspx
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Occupancy and Gatherings Local and state governments continue to provide guidelines as to the number of people permitted in a space with physical distancing measures in effect. We are continuing to evaluate safe occupancy levels for our classrooms, office spaces, dining areas, and residence hall rooms. We expect to continue to receive guidance on how many people may gather outdoors in one space. As we return students in August we anticipate that events (like orientation, convocation, etc.) will be held in spaces that can safely accommodate attendance abiding by local and state government guidance. Where possible, we will utilize outdoor spaces (i.e.,Mass of the Holy Spirit held in the Mall, Orientation Welcome on DeGol field or Stokes gym). Please watch your email daily for notices about events and their location and their capacity. Spectators at athletic events are covered by the NCAA. Facilities Management Our Physical Plant professionals have a plan for enhancing building safety in many ways. As a member of the Saint Francis University community, you will notice small changes, such as water fountains being deactivated in favor of automatic bottle refill options, and you will notice more obvious changes, such as Plexiglass physical distancing shields placed in reception areas and in some classrooms. Hand sanitizer dispensers will be placed in numerous locations, including all lobbies and common areas; signage will be placed both indoors and outside to encourage adherence to public health measures; floor decals and markings will be placed throughout campus to help guide physical distancing and safe traffic flow. As a community member, you are expected to be attentive to these signs and indicators and follow the guidance provided. Physical Plant will monitor building ventilation accordingly. Templates of our COVID-19 signage package can be requested by emailing zburke@francis.edu for departmental use. Members of the Saint Francis University community can also refer to our detailed
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Building Safety and Cleaning and Disinfecting protocols. The most up-to-date plan may be found at f rancis.edu/coronavirus Enhanced cleaning and disinfection is a key feature of all protocols, and we are already using products that are effective against COVID-19. Whether you are in a building, classroom or fitness facility, there is a new enhanced standard for creating a healthy environment for our community. Saint Francis University continues to use enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures that meet all CDC guidelines. High touch surfaces will be routinely cleaned and disinfected using only EPA-approved products. Twin Oxide (EPA registration number 86054-1 and EPA EST No. 85158-BEL-001) will be used. Twin Oxide is a disinfectant, sanitizer and sterilizer. The product is eco-friendly and 100% safe for humans, pets, and the environment. When notified of a positive or probable COVID-19 case, enhanced cleaning of the affected space will occur. After notification of a positive case, any space that the individual occupied 48 hours prior to the notification will be cleaned and disinfected following CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines. Student Life Throughout the past several months and the return to campus of some programs in June, students have shared how much they value co-curricular experiences alongside their academic work and the benefits of an integrated life on campus. Students across the nation have made clear they have great appreciation for the engagement activities and developmental opportunities that result in lifelong bonds with their colleges and universities. While the inherent nature of a university is to bring students together to learn and grow alongside faculty, advisors, coaches, and mentors, the challenge of COVID-19 is that it dismantles the physical connections between students and their colleagues. Our mission is to find new ways to engage, develop, and retain students in the face of this challenge. While student life may not look or feel like it did prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, the meaningful relationships between students and their peers, faculty, the community, and all at the
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university whose mission it is to ensure their success remains our priority. Upon arrival on campus, university services, programs, and events will be offered both virtually and in person as health guidelines allow. Smaller cohorts of students, designed with intentionality, will create a sense of community and connection. In order to prioritize health and safety, the university is embracing innovative strategies to offer appealing and valuable activities to students and our efforts are bolstered by those of many external partners who have found that they too need to adapt their engagement efforts to accommodate small group and virtual experiences. While the University is working to create and promote student life and engagement activities and aims to provide students with an enriched experience of meaningful relationships, the ability to build and maintain this commitment requires mutual commitment to social responsibility in relationships and in engagement in activities. Together we will create and be able to continue a full semester on campus by each of us doing our part.
Transportation
We understand that there will be situations where students will need transportation for testing, treatment or to go home. In addition to the options already in place through Center For Student Engagement, we have agreements in place with Med Van and ride sharing. All full time students have also been enrolled as members of Cambria Alliance EMS, in the event emergency transportation is needed. Traveling To/From Campus:
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If you are coming from or have traveled to states where the Pennsylvania Department of Health has issued g uidance, you must adhere to the following Saint Francis University protocols. Guidance on travel changes frequently, therefore before you arrive on campus you must check the most up-to-date guidance as the listing of states changes. If you have no symptoms and have no reason to suspect that you have come in contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19: ● You may come to campus ● For two weeks after your return to campus, you must adhere to the practice of no close contact (adequate social distancing in common and personal areas, not attendance at events on or off-campus, etc) ● For two weeks after your return, you must wear a mask at all times and in all scenarios ● You must utilize full hygiene and cleaning protocols (cleaning every personal space and all spaces you have occupied immediately after use)
If you do have symptoms: ● Notify Student Health (814)472-3008 ● Based on the information gathered they will determine which of the following is the best course of action. Travel continues to be challenging during this time, however, we are continually assessing both international and domestic travel risk profiles to evaluate relevant restrictions while ensuring the safety of our population. The university monitors the D epartment of State site and follows all travel advisories accordingly. The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) advises international travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return and prior to visiting campus. Student-athletes should ensure they are reviewing all the Athletic policies and procedures related to travel. Self Quarantine
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Students are expected to self-quarantine for 14 days prior to arrival on campus. Providing safe and supportive on-campus housing for our students is a crucial part of our mission. Prior to arrival on campus (or prior to leaving your home), individuals are expected to self-quarantine for 14 days. This means you should pay particular attention to daily activities (limit travel, wear a mask, use good hygiene, monitor your temperature) and adhere to public health guidance. Review the C DC guidance to be sure you are following all measures. If you are sick, you are expected to self-quarantine. Students who are sick or symptomatic, should not come to campus unless cleared by Student Health (814) 472-3008. You will be asked to self-isolate. You should review the following guidelines for self-isolation provided by the CDC: ● Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately by calling 911 ● Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible ● Use a separate bathroom, if possible ● Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets ● Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils ● Wear a cloth face covering when around other people, if able
On-Campus Isolation and Quarantine Housing Those who test positive for COVID-19 in university operated housing will be separated from the population for up to a 14-day period. University officials are continuously monitoring housing capacity and available spaces for those individuals needing quarantined or isolated. When additional spaces are needed, the university will engage in acquiring necessary properties. At times, officials may request residents to return to their home. Those who cannot return home or stay with a family member will be placed into Isolation Housing. Isolation Housing is a separate house, wing, or area where the
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confirmed cases will be housed together. Meal delivery will be coordinated. Those who are symptomatic and who have been determined by a medical professional that they be tested will be placed in Quarantine Housing. Quarantine Housing is a room or housing unit where each individual lives alone with their own bathroom facility until test results return. Meal delivery will be coordinated. Those individuals placed in Isolation Housing or Quarantine Housing will receive regular guidance from on-campus health professionals. Those who have been in "close contact" (within six feet for more than 15 minutes without a mask) to someone infected with COVID-19 will need to self-quarantine for 14 days and will need to monitor their health for the emergence of symptoms. On-campus self-quarantine may be a range of restrictions depending on the details of the case and the level of exposure. If you become ill and are having mild symptoms, that will allow you to care for yourself in self-quarantine, during normal working hours MyHealth@School (Student Health) will be available for you as a resource. Call (814) 472-3008. The Counseling Center is available to students and eager to assist with those students needing mental health services. The Center may be reached at (814) 472-3211. If you become or suspect illness after hours, please follow these steps: ● ● ● ●
In an emergency dial 911 Call campus police at (814) 472-3360 Visit a l ocal urgent care Utilize the UPMC AnyWhere Care app
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COVID-19 Communications
External communication on behalf of the institution will be coordinated through the Office of University Communications. Saint Francis University will utilize the following mechanisms to communicate with the internal community regarding matters related to COVID-19: ● Email - All students are expected to routinely watch their university-issued email account for information related to new policies, guidelines, recommendations, education, and general community expectations. ● RAVE Alert - The RAVE Alert system will be used as a mechanism for contact tracing, monitoring health concerns, monitoring trends in cases, and issuing time-sensitive information. Register, sign up or make changes to your account at RAVE HEALTH AND SAFETY ALERTS ● The COVID-19 w ebsite ( f rancis.edu/coronavirus) will serve as a clearinghouse for the most up-to-date official university communication related to managing the pandemic. ● Signage - Signage, flyers, and postcards will be used across campus to assist with educational reminders, visual instruction and reminders, and external information sharing All of the above communications will involve the University Communications unit. Individual questions may be sent to covid19@francis.edu or the Google form link.
Notifications of Cases on Campus We continue to track any cases that community members report as suspected. The most up-to-date dashboard of COVID19 cases may be found on the Symptoms and Case Tracking page of the SFU Coronavirus site. When an individual on-campus that tests positive you can expect the following: 1. Notification to all individuals that have been in close contact with an individual who tested positive will occur. 2. Campus-wide notification of a positive case will NOT be sent. Anonymity for these individuals remains paramount. Please respect their privacy so they can focus completely on their own
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health. The University’s C oronavirus site will reflect the most current count of positive cases on campus.
HIPAA Notification Information regarding an individual's COVID testing status, name, work area, contact information, isolation status, and contact tracing information will be released to the necessary departments and personnel (including but not limited to Residence Life, Administration, Pandemic Committee, Clinical Coordinators, Clinical Sites, etc.). Due to the nature of the information, confidentiality will be maintained and restricted to only essential personnel.
Saint Francis University is working continuously to monitor the most up-to-date information relative to the COVID-19 pandemic and all associated guidance. As the landscape of the virus is ever-changing, the university understands that multiple scenarios must be designed.
Saint Francis University continues to monitor all resources and initiate portions of the Pandemic Response Plan as needed. We reserve the right to change educational delivery format and move students, faculty and staff off-campus if necessary. Contingency plans are a regular part of the Pandemic Response Team’s discussion and planning.
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Campus Community Pledge
Saint Francis University students, faculty and staff are asked to pledge that they acknowledge the responsibility each of us has in maintaining a healthy campus environment. Student-athletes will also sign a pledge provided by the Department of Athletics. While procedures and structure are essential elements of community health, the effectiveness of these changes depends on each member of the University community adopting behavioral changes designed to enhance campus community health. The pledge can be found in APPENDIX D. Commitment to Community Every single member of our community has the responsibility and the power to keep our community safe. As Saint Francis University community members, we will do our part to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors. While no measures are known to completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19 transmission, following the guidance provided in the SFU COVID-19 Prevention and Response Plan provides a multifaceted approach to keeping Saint Francis University as safe as possible. Where individuals fail to adhere to the standards communicated, the primary method of enforcement will be increased education on the importance of such adherence. However, reckless, willful or repeated violations of the policies and protocols communicated will be subject to the individual to disciplinary sanctions. To report an infraction, please contact Zachary Burke, Risk Manager zburke@francis.edu . Zachary will direct a ll reports accordingly. Be safe. Be positive. Become that someone.
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Appendix A Saint Francis University COVID-19 Guest Screening Questionnaire Campus guests, including prospective students and their families, alumni and friends, vendors, and consultants are asked to, whenever possible, make appointments to be on campus. In advance of your visit, we ask that you please complete the COVID-19 Guest Screening Questionnaire and return it to the Saint Francis University host individual/office 24 hours prior to your scheduled visit. This measure is in place to protect the health and safety of the Saint Francis University community. Name: ____________________________________________________________ Phone Number: _____________________________________________________ SFU Host Name and Office: _____________________________________________ Step 1) Please answer the self-screening questions below. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Do you have a cough? Do you have muscle aches/muscle pain? Do you have a sore throat? Do you have shortness of breath or difficulty breathing? Do you have chills? Do you have a new loss of taste or smell? Do you have nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea? Have you, or anyone you have been in close contact with, been diagnosed with COVID-19, or have you been placed in quarantine for possible contact with COVID-19 within the past 14 days?
Yes Yes Yes
No No No
Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No
Yes
No
If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of the above questions, we ask that you do not visit campus as a measure to mitigate the risk to our campus community. If you answered ‘No’ to all of the above questions, please proceed to Step 2 below. Step 2) Please take your temperature and answer the following questions. Temperature check: If the outdoor temperatures are very high or very low, it is suggested you wait a few minutes and take your temperature again. Is your temperature less than 99.50 F?
Yes
No
37 If no, please wait and recheck in 5 minutes. Is your rechecked temperature less than 99.5F?
Yes
No
If you have answered ‘Yes’ to both the above questions, we look forward to hosting you on campus. Please review the Saint Francis University Face Covering Policy prior to arriving on campus. If you have answered ‘No’ to both the above questions, you are asked to not visit campus at this time. Please contact your healthcare provider immediately.
APPENDIX B Face Covering Policy In accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Health Regulations - all faculty, staff, administration, students, visitors and vendors to Saint Francis University are required to wear face coverings while on campus. The only exemptions are children under the age of two or those with a health condition that prevents you from wearing a mask and documented by a physician on file with Human Resources. Human Resources will notify your Supervisor that you are exempt from wearing a mask, without revealing your medical conditions, however, you may be asked to wear a face shield. If you have symptoms, are suspected to be positive, have been sent for testing by a medical professional, were not cleared at the temperature and wellness check, or been advised that you potentially could have been exposed you may not be on campus until you are cleared. There may be situations where you are permitted to be on campus and be required to wear a face-covering AT ALL TIMES. Where face coverings must be worn: ● ● ●
any time you are in close proximity of (less than six feet) other employees or students inside all buildings including common areas, hallways, bathrooms, copier zones, stairwells, etc. any space outside where you are closer than 6 feet from other people
Where they can be temporarily removed: ● ● ● ●
outside with more than six feet of distance between individuals rooms where you are alone rooms or areas in which you are physically distanced with permission of the host and all parties attending seated to eat or drink if you are socially distanced (masks need to be worn moving to and from tables)
Letting people know that masks should be worn: If you want to indicate to everyone that your space or a particular area will always require a mask, you can request the masked Frankie sticker (email Zachary Burke zburke@francis.edu) that you can post.
38 When members of the community see this sign on your door, they will know that you are requesting they wear a mask, without having to share any personal medical information. What qualifies as a face covering: A face covering can be a mask made from various cloth materials that cover your mouth and nose, or it can be a face shield. High-risk members of the community and medical professionals should wear the best quality of masks they have access to. While many of you have brought your own, we do have some on campus to distribute if needed. Your supervisor may request them for your area by calling 814-472-3293. Both surgical style face masks and face shields are available. CDC Guidelines for care of your mask and proper wearing of a mask
Appendix C - Decision Trees (Student and Employee - Faculty/Staff) Student Decision Tree Related to Exposure Last updated July 21, 2020 This information and related resources are updated frequently during this evolving situation and is subject to change in accordance with guidelines provided by the CDC, DOH, UPMC, and The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Purpose: Use the information below to guide students in contacting the appropriate resources related to their health and well-being during this challenge of COVID-19.
Possible Exposure at School If a student has had an exposure from a COVID-19 infected individual at school, the student must call MyHealth@School at (814) 472-3008. If it is after hours or on the weekend please use the AnyWhereCare App (fee may be charged to students), or go to local urgent care. Email mlasinsky@francis.edu and d miles@francis.edu so that we may assist in follow up care and guidance.
Symptoms If a student has possible symptoms of COVID-19, they are to contact MyHealth@School at (814) 472-3008. If it is after hours or on the weekend they can go to Urgent Care OR utilize the UPMC AnywhereCare MyHealth@Work app (please refer to anywhere care brochure).
Return to School
Students need to call MyHealth@School (814) 472-3008 to be cleared to return to in the following situations: They were notified by a state or local health department or CDC to self-isolate/quarantine. They were instructed to isolate/quarantine by MyHealth@School. They had exposure to a COVID-19 infected individual. They are returning from a COVID-19 positive or highly suspect COVID illness. SFU does not require self-isolation on return from personal travel at this time, but students who are experiencing potential COVID-19 symptoms following personal travel should stay home and seek treatment through their primary care physician or UPMC AnywhereCare app AND notify
39 MyHealth@School. If the provider determines that a student needs to social distance or self-isolate, the student must notify Residence Life (dmiles@francis.edu) and MyHealth@School (814) 472-3008 or mlasinsky@francis.edu
Non-Urgent Questions For non-urgent questions, such as class arrangements and student resources you can contact or refer to the COVID-19 updates on https://www.francis.edu/coronavirus/
HIPPA notification Information regarding an individual's COVID testing status, name, housing, contact information, isolation status, and contact tracing information will be released to the necessary departments. Due to the nature of the information, confidentiality will be maintained and restricted to only essential personnel. Saint
Francis Student COVID-19 Recommendations Reference Guide
If an SFU Student …
Recommendations
Was notified by a state or local health department or CDC to self-isolate, or Had exposure to a positive COVID-19 case in the community.
Has someone living in their household who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Had contact with someone who is an asymptomatic contact of a positive COVID-19 person (contact of a contact). No direct contact with COVID-19 individual This would include if you are a roommate to someone who may have had contact with a positive COVID-19 patient. Had exposure to a positive COVID-19 individual at school.
Students must call MyHealth@School (814) 472-3008.. If it is after hours you can go to urgent care or utilize the AnywhereCare Virutal Urgent Care app (with a fee). Please Email MyHealth@School at mlasinsky@francis.edu Quarantine for 14 days. Student must notify MyHealth@School via phone (814) 472-3008 or email mlasinsky@francis.edu and Residence Life dmiles@francis.edu Quarantine for 14 days from after their last household exposure (the day the COVID-19 patient was released from isolation).
No restrictions – self-monitor
Student must notify MyHealth@School via phone (814) 472-3008 or email mlasinsky@francis.edu and Residence Life dmiles@francis.edu If confirmed exposure must stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days.
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Exposed to individual that is symptomatic (suspect for COVID-19) – test result is pending.
If an SFU Student … Exposed to someone, 48 hours before the person became symptomatic and the individual later tested positive for COVID-19 or was tested when asymptomatic and then developed symptoms after testing.
Student must notify MyHealth@School via phone (814) 472-3008 or email mlasinsky@francis.edu and Residence Life dmiles@francis.edu Those with exposure to a suspected COVID-19 person will need to stay quarantined until the test result is known.. Final status will be determined after the test result. If negative, can return with no restrictions. If positive result, quarantine for 14 days from date of last exposure.
Recommendations Student must notify MyHealth@School via phone (814) 472-3008 or email mlasinsky@francis.edu and Residence Life dmiles@francis.edu Transmission of illness may occur up to 48 hours before symptoms are present. Those with exposure to an individual during that timeframe should quarantine for 14 days
Student who walks by a COVID positive individual or who has no direct contact with the individual or their secretions/excretions (not sneezed or coughed on or secretions in eyes, face or mouth).
None
Being in the same indoor environment as an infected source for short periods of time; less than 15 minutes (e.g. walking by the person in the hall, or being briefly in the same room).
Recommendations to Return to School for an Ill or COVID-19 Tested Student If an SFU Student …
Recommendations
Is symptomatic, not suspected of COVID infection (other viral illness, no testing, or negative testing with no known exposure).
Must be fever free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication), then can return to school, should wear a face mask if sneezing or coughing. Students should not be coming to class/campus with a fever.
41 Is symptomatic (COVID-19 positive, or high likelihood of COVID-19 without test)
Students with COVID-19 quarantine/isolation may be released if without fever for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication) and after a minimum of 10 days isolation after symptom onset, and resolution of symptoms. Students out on rotations (i.e. health science students, education majors, public health, social work, etc.) must always wear face masks and be restricted from returning to rotations for 14 days after symptom onset.
Has household contact of positive COVID-19
Quarantine for 14 days from after their last household exposure (day COVID-19 household patient was released from isolation).
Has a positive COVID-19 test, but has not had any symptoms (asymptomatic).
Students with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who did not have any symptoms, should isolate at least 10 days since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test assuming they have not subsequently developed symptoms since their positive test.
Had a prior laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 positive test, was cleared to return to class, and subsequently is retested later and is positive but has remained without symptoms since return to school.
Students are allowed to return to class as long as they are without any symptoms. Tests can remain positive for a significant period of time.
Was COVID-19 tested, due to symptoms after an exposure, test result was negative
Student must wear facemask at all times and should be restricted from caring for severely immunocompromised patients for 14 days after the last positive test. Students should stay home and quarantine for 14 days from the date of last exposure even if negative test as a point in time.
Definitions Close contact prolonged exposure — Distance within 6 feet for a duration of 15 minutes or greater. Not considered close contact — Students who walk by an individual or who has no direct contact with the individual or with their secretions/excretions and no entry into the individual’s living/learning area. Being in the same indoor environment as an infected source for short periods of time (e.g. walking by the person in the hall or being briefly in the same room). Exposure is defined as having prolonged direct close contact (less than 6 feet for 15 minutes) starting 48 hours before symptom onset of a person who is COVID positive or who is later identified as COVID
42 positive person (tested and resulted later). Social Distancing — remaining out of congregate settings (settings such as shopping centers, movie theaters, stadiums, workplaces, and other settings where you cannot distance 6 feet), avoiding local public transportation (e.g., bus, subway, taxi, rideshare), and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others, as recommended by CDC. Self-monitoring — individuals should monitor themselves for fever by taking their temperature and remain alert for symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, sore throat). Self-isolation — isolate themselves from others. In a room by themselves would be best or if in a household separated off. Quarantine - separates and restricts the movement of people or individual who were/was exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.
Notification- Anyone self-monitoring with a temperature >99.5 and/or symptoms should contact MyHealth@School at (814) 472-3008 after hours please contact mlasinsky@francis.edu and Residence Life. Begin self-isolation until you are contacted with further directions.
Next Steps: If you have an emergency call 911 or campus police at (814) 472-3360 If you need treatment after hours: After hours students can go to urgent care, utilize the Anywhere care app , or call their primary care provider, to assist with the coordination of care. Notification- Anyone self-monitoring with a temperature >99.5 and/or symptoms should contact MyHealth@School at (814) 472-3008 after hours please contact mlasinsky@francis.edu and Residence Life, begin self-isolation. Follow up with care as instructed above, but also notify these two departments.
Additional Resources Institutes of Higher Education
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/colleges-universities/index.html Return From Home Isolation https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-in-home-patients.html Face Coverings
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html Saint Francis COVID-19 website
43 https://www.francis.edu/coronavirus/
Employee (Faculty and Staff) Decision Tree Related to Exposure Last updated July 21, 2020 This information and related resources are updated frequently during this evolving situation and is subject to change in accordance with guidelines provided by the CDC, DOH, and UPMC.
Purpose: Use the information below to guide employees in contacting the appropriate resources related to their health and well-being during this challenge of COVID-19.
Possible Exposure at Work If an employee has had an exposure from a COVID-19 infected individual at work, the employee must call Zachary Burke at (814) 472-3248.
Symptoms If an employee has possible symptoms of COVID-19, they are to contact their PCP OR UPMC AnywhereCare MyHealth@Work app, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. or AnywhereCare Virtual Urgent Care app after hours. The employee is to notify their supervisor AND Zachary Burke (814) 472-3248 or email zburke@francis.edu as well.
Return to Work Employees need to call their supervisor and PCP to be cleared to return to work in the following situations: They were notified by a state or local health department or CDC to self-isolate/quarantine. They were notified by MyHealth@School or Risk Management to quarantine/isolate. They had exposure to a COVID-19 infected individual. They are returning from a COVID positive or highly suspect COVID illness. SFU does not require self-isolation on return from personal travel at this time, but employees who are experiencing potential COVID-19 symptoms following personal travel should stay home and seek treatments through their primary care physician or UPMC AnyWhereCare app AND notify Zachary Burke. If the provider determines that an employee needs to social distance or self-isolate, the employee must notify their supervisor and Zachary Burke
Non-Urgent Questions For non-urgent questions, such as work arrangements and employee resources, employees can contact Human Resources (mbender@francis.edu ) or refer to the COVID-19 updates on Myfrancis.
HIPPA notification Information regarding an individual's COVID testing status, name, work area, contact information, isolation status, and contact tracing information will be released to the necessary departments. Due to the nature of the information, confidentiality will be maintained and restricted to only essential personnel.
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Saint Francis Employee (Faculty and Staff) COVID-19 Recommendations Reference Guide If an SFU Employee …
Recommendations
Was notified by a state or local health department or CDC to self-isolate, or Had exposure to a positive COVID-19 case in the community.
Has someone living in their household who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Had contact with someone who was an asymptomatic contact of a positive COVID-19 person (contact of a contact). No direct contact with COVID-19 individual Had exposure to a positive COVID-19 individual at work.
Exposed to individual that is symptomatic (suspect for COVID-19) – test result is pending.
Exposed to someone, 48 hours before the person became symptomatic and the individual later tested positive for COVID-19 or was tested when asymptomatic and then developed symptoms after testing.
If an SFU Employee …
Employee must call their PCP, notify their supervisor, and contact Zachary Burke at (814) 472-3248 or email at Zburke@francis.edu Self-isolate for 14 days. Employee must call notify their supervisor, and contact Zachary Burke at (814) 472-3248 or email at Zburke@francis.edu Stay home and social distance for 14 days from after their last household exposure (the day the COVID-19 patient was released from isolation).
No restrictions – self-monitor Employee must notify their supervisor, and contact Zachary Burke at (814) 472-3248 or email at Zburke@francis.edu Exposure case scenario is evaluated on circumstances. If confirmed exposure may be required to self-isolate for 14 days. Employee must notify their supervisor, and contact Zachary Burke at (814) 472-3248 or email at Zburke@francis.edu Those with exposure to suspected COVID-19 person will need to stay home and self-isolate until the test result is known. Final work status will be determined after the test result. If negative result, can work with no restrictions. If positive result, social distance for 14 days from date of last exposure. Employee must notify their supervisor, and contact Zachary Burke at (814) 472-3248 or email at Zburke@francis.edu Transmission of illness may occur up to 48 hours before symptoms are present. Those with exposure to an individual during that timeframe should stay home and social distance for 14 days
Recommendations
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Employee who walks by a COVID-19 positive individual or who has no direct contact with the individual or their secretions/excretions (not sneezed or coughed on or secretions in eyes, face or mouth).
None
Being in the same indoor environment (e.g. hospital waiting room, work area) as an infected source for short periods of time; less than 15 minutes (e.g. walking by the person in the hall, or being briefly in the same room).
Recommendations to Return to Work for an Ill or COVID-19 Positive Tested Employee If an SFU Employee …
Recommendations
Is symptomatic, not suspected of COVID-19 infection (other viral illness, no testing, or negative testing with no known exposure)
Must be fever free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication), then can return to work, should wear a face mask if sneezing or coughing. Employees should not be coming to work with a fever.
Is symptomatic (COVID-19 positive, or high likelihood of COVID19 without test)
Employees with COVID-19 quarantine/self-isolation may be released if without fever for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication) and after a minimum of 10 days isolation after symptom onset, and resolution of respiratory symptoms.
Has household contact of positive COVID-19
Stay home and social distance for 14 days from after their last household exposure (day COVID-19 household patient was released from isolation).
Has a positive COVID-19 test, but has not had any symptoms (asymptomatic).
Employee with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who did not have any symptoms, should quarantine/self-isolate at least 10 days since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test assuming they have not subsequently developed symptoms since their positive test.
Had a prior laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 positive test, was cleared to return to work, and subsequently is retested later and is positive but has remained without symptoms since return to work.
Individuals can come to work if they are without any symptoms. Tests can remain positive for a significant period of time after symptom recovery. Individuals should always wear a facemask for 14 days after the latest test.
46 Was COVID-19 tested, due to symptoms after an exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual, test result was negative
Employees should stay home and social distance for 14 days from the date of last exposure even if negative test as a point in time.
Definitions Close contact prolonged exposure — Distance within 6 feet for a duration of 15 minutes or greater. Not considered close contact — Employee who walks by an individual or who has no direct contact with the COVID positive individual or with their secretions/excretions. Being in the same indoor environment (e.g. work area) as an infected source for short periods of time (e.g. walking by the person in the hall or being briefly in the same room). Exposure is defined as having prolonged direct close contact (less than 6 feet for 15 minutes) 48 hours before symptom onset of a person who is COVID positive or who is later identified as COVID positive person (tested and resulted later). Social Distancing — remaining out of congregate settings (settings such as shopping centers, movie theaters, stadiums, workplaces, and schools and other classroom settings), avoiding local public transportation (e.g., bus, subway, taxi, rideshare), and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others, as recommended by CDC. Self-monitoring — individuals should monitor themselves for fever by taking their temperature twice a day (measured temperature >99.5oF) and remain alert for symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, sore throat).
Anyone self-monitoring should contact their PCP or utilize the Anywhere care app i f they develop fever or symptoms during the self- monitoring period to assist with the coordination of care. Please notify your supervisor and Zach Burke as well. Self-isolation — isolate themselves from others. In a room by themselves would be best or if in a household separated off.
Additional Resources Institutes of Higher Education https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/colleges-universities/index.html Return From Home Isolation https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-in-home-patients.html Department of Health https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/COVID-19/Pages/default.aspx
Next Steps
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Contact Human Resources if you know or anticipate your sick leave to extend past three days.
​https://www.francis.edu/human-resources/
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Appendix D - Pledge