|
Dear Chargers:
As we return to campus, the safety of our employees and students will always be the top priority. As the guidance for higher education and businesses across California continues to change, finding the correct balance between safety and access will continue to be an ongoing discussion in collaboration with our COVID-19 Taskforce, our faculty and staff, and our District. The following update is to help you know what you can expect as we continue to prepare for a safe return to campus.
| |
Safe Reopening Protocols
As the state continues to update its guidelines, we will continue to rely on the most current Guidelines in Orange County. This means we will continue to align with all policies required by state, county, and local authorities, but also reserve the right to apply a more stringent enforcement in order to ensure the protection of our employees and students. We will update you as regulations change.
| |
Face Coverings and VaccinationsHere are the current masking guidelines for California as of June 15, 2021.
As of June 15, vaccinated persons are no longer required to wear a face covering in indoor spaces. Face coverings are required in indoor spaces for persons who are not fully vaccinated with exceptions outlined by the California Department of Public Health. All employees are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated prior to returning to campus for your safety and the welfare of your colleagues and students, and to wear a mask when you are not able to physically distance from one another. Those still at risk for contracting the coronavirus, especially the most recent Delta variant, are employees who are not vaccinated.
In order to assist you with your vaccination, Cypress College will be hosting a community vaccination site on campus with Memorial Care Hospital. Please encourage your students and colleagues to attend! Details on scheduling your appointment will be forthcoming.
Dates:
- Tuesday, August 10 (1st dose)
- Tuesday, August 31 (1st and 2nd doses)
- Note: We will offer 2nd-dose appointments for those who receive their 1st doses on August 10, but will also provide MyTurn information to schedule 2nd doses at your convenience.
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. each date
Target Population: Cypress College students, faculty, staff, and the general public
Vaccine Type: Pfizer
Location: Lot 4 of the Cypress College campus near the NOCE Cypress Center
All employees and students who receive a vaccination will have the opportunity to enter a raffle on August 10 and August 31, and there will be a food truck offering free lunch for all students and employees who are on campus on August 10.
| |
FacilitiesTemperature kiosks, wellness check forms, and campus sign-in logs will no longer be required to access the campus except where mandated by accreditation or external agencies.
All Cypress College facilities are in compliance with CDC and CDPH guidelines. Buildings will be open to students and the public beginning August 2 for walk-ins and appointments, and signage will direct all visitors to enter, exit, and adhere to the appropriate protocols and maintain distancing in each space.
For your own safety, each classroom and office workspace has been designed to maximize physical distancing, so no matter what new guidelines come our way, we can accommodate the classes and services already identified for the fall semester. No additional classrooms will be added to the current schedule, but you may discuss distancing alternatives with your IMS where it makes sense, where we can maintain appropriate safety precautions, and where you can still be flexible should greater distancing become necessary as the semester progresses.
Safety measures include:
- Seats and workstations will be marked at 3-6-foot distances, and extra chairs will be removed or obstructed to encourage distancing.
- Plexiglass partitions have been installed in areas where there is less than 3 feet between workstations or office spaces, and by individual request.
- Entry, exit, and traffic flow signage will be clearly designated to avoid congestion.
- Air filtration systems have been updated to MERV 13 filters or higher.
- Signage and floor markings at service areas for waiting students will be posted.
- All student and academic support services, such as counseling, admissions and records services, financial aid, tutoring, library services and group study spaces, will be available in limited hours and days in person, but will also continue to be accessible via Zoom.
If you have questions or special needs involving your specific classroom, workspace, or lab, please consult with your IMS for guidance.
| |
StaffingMany area staff in Academic Computing, Campus Safety, L/LRC, and M&O have already returned to campus (or never left!). Staff in student services will return the week of July 26 in order to prepare for the student reopening. Study spaces and computer labs in the L/LRC have been open for the summer session and will continue to be open in the fall.
We will welcome all other classified personnel and managers to campus the week of August 2. Staggered shifts for all staff and faculty will be established in order to reduce the number of employees in an area at any given time. Online “virtual counter” services will continue and be encouraged. Please check with your IMS for your specific on-campus schedule and what to expect in your area.
| |
Student CommunicationsThe college will reopen for campus services on August 2. We will be informing students of what to expect throughout the enrollment period, as well as providing information to all qualified students regarding our free laptop, textbook, and food programs. Here is the most recent communication sent to students. Please feel free to share any and all updates with your students.
Our Food Services will be open this fall to provide free grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches to students who qualify, and staff may preorder from a limited menu of food options in advance for quick service and pick-up. If you learn of students who could benefit from this program, please refer them to Dr. Paul de Dios for guidance and support.
The Bookstore, Student Services building, Library/Learning Resource Center, and division offices will also be open each day. Please check the website for hours, which will vary by area.
| |
Quick Things to Remember When on CampusDO
- Wear a mask while in indoor spaces when you are unable to socially distance, even if you’re vaccinated.
- Wear a mask if you’re unvaccinated in indoor and outdoor spaces when you cannot be six feet away from others.
- Wash your hands and wipe down surfaces after use.
- Follow safety rules and check with your IMS for permission to hold larger outdoor gatherings.
- Get tested if you have COVID-like symptoms and report this immediately to your IMS.
DON'T
- Expect others to be ready to shake hands or hug.
- Assume everyone is vaccinate.
- Expect all COVID-19 rules to be lifted everywhere.
- Forget to bring your mask with you when you are on campus.
- Forget to be patient with your colleagues as we return to working in the same spaces once again.
- Travel or come to campus if you have a fever, cough, or other COVID-like symptoms.
| |
Thank you for understanding that these guidelines may continue to change up to the start of, and even during, the fall semester. We have attempted to plan your workspaces for maximum flexibility while keeping you safe and continuing to serve our students. Specialized areas such as the Dental Clinic, Health Center, Athletics areas, Library/LRC, and others, may have their own requirements, which we will communicate to employees and students entering these areas.
Please send your questions via this Qualtrics form and we will continue to include responses in our regular updates and training videos for fall.
We look forward to welcoming you and our students back to our beautiful and renovated campus in a few short weeks!
Buen Cypress!
| |
|
JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. President, Cypress College
| |
| |
|
|
|