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Guidance for Higher Education
Housing
Prevention
- Social distancing
- Regular cleaning
- Desk cleaning between classes
- Avoid large gatherings/group activities
- Handwashing stations/sanitizer stations in buildings
- Virtual learning where possible
Planning
- Prepare for increased absences
- Administrators and instructors should plan to monitor and respond to absenteeism.
- Prepare for virtual learning options.
- Provide students/staff with social distancing guidelines before leaving for spring break.
- Check the CDC’s Traveler Health Notices for latest guidance and travel recommendations.
- Provide students/staff with guidance of circumstances in which they should avoid returning to campus until they have received medical care (ie: exposure; symptoms).
- Set up notification process for if/when students/staff is diagnosed while away from campus.
- Consider planning for a quarantine and/or isolation wing for students living on campus.
- Administrators and instructors should plan to monitor and respond to absenteeism.
What to do if you have a confirmed case
- Consider virtual learning options
- Possible stand-up of quarantine and/or isolation wing
- When to cancel classes and/or close campus
Classrooms
Prevention
- Social distancing
- Emphasize respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene
- Provide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by everyone.
- Instruct staff and students to clean their hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 to 95% alcohol, or wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
- Regular cleaning
- Desk cleaning between classes
- Avoid large gatherings/group activities
- Handwashing stations/sanitizer stations in buildings
- Virtual learning where possible
- Actively encourage sick employees and students to stay home and away from others
Planning
- Prepare for increased absences
- Administrators and instructors should plan to monitor and respond to absenteeism.
- Prepare for virtual learning options
- Develop flexible attendance and sick lave policies. Do not require a healthcare provider’s note for staff or students who are sick with acute respiratory illness.
- Maintain flexible policies that permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member.
- Provide students/staff with social distancing guidelines
- Develop communication methods for immediate contact with students to ensure they are aware of cancellations or alterations in schedules and events
- Administrators and instructors should plan to monitor and respond to absenteeism.
What to do if you have a confirmed case
- Consider virtual learning options
- Evaluate when to cancel classes and/or close campus