RIC COVID Response Update - Spring 2022
- All students are required to be fully vaccinated prior to coming to campus, or have an approved medical or religious exemption. This information must be uploaded into the MediCat portal. New students for the spring will have no greater than four weeks to be fully vaccinated from the start of spring semester. One shot must have been received prior to January 18.
- Religious and medical exemptions are available, these forms must be downloaded and re-uploaded through the Medicat portal for consideration. No in-person or hybrid course attendance will be allowed until vaccinated/exempted status is approved.
- Students who are not fully or partially vaccinated and do not have an approved exemption will receive a Center for Health & Wellness hold "CHW" and cannot report to campus.
- These students will be informed that they may not attend in-person or hybrid classes and may not participate in any events on campus (with the exception of vaccination clinics).
- They may, however, enroll in fully remote classes.
All staff and faculty are required to get vaccinated and strongly encouraged to receive a booster for the spring semester. There remains an exception for select employees to this requirement. Please contact human resources for more information.
- All students with vaccination exemptions, students residing in the dormitories, all athletes and all Music, Theater and Dance students are required to have proof of a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to returning to campus for the spring. Rapid test results will be accepted. All other students are strongly encouraged to have a COVID-19 test before returning to campus.
- Unvaccinated students are required to participate in weekly asymptomatic COVID-19 testing.
- Vaccinated students may be required to participate in COVID-19 surveillance testing.
- COVID-19 testing will be done in Sweet Hall in the spring. COVID-19 testing on campus will be provided Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., no appointment necessary.
- THIS IS AN ASYMPTOMATIC CLINIC- anyone with symptoms or have been exposed to someone who is positive for symptoms cannot be tested at Sweet Hall.
- Faculty and staff, regardless of vaccination status, are encouraged to participate in surveillance testing.
- COVID Testing will be done in Sweet Hall dorm in the spring. COVID-19 testing on campus will be provided Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., no appointment necessary.
- THIS IS AN ASYMPTOMATIC CLINIC-anyone with symptoms or have been exposed to someone who is positive for symptoms cannot be tested at Sweet Hall.
- Any employee or student who is experiencing illness or any symptoms related to COVID-19, including cough, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache, nausea or vomiting, runny nose, fatigue, recent loss of taste or smell and/or poor appetite, even if fully vaccinated, is asked to remain home.
- Faculty and staff experiencing any of these symptoms should inform their supervisor and contact the Office of Human Resources for further guidance.
- Students should call Health Services for COVID-19 testing and follow additional protocols that their specific academic programs may require, such as students in the Onanian School of Nursing.
Consistent with guidance from the CDC, state and local officials, RIC has implemented a tool for faculty and staff to report students with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. Should a faculty or staff member learn of a student with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, they must complete the Student Report Form so that Health Services/COVID Team may be notified and follow up, as appropriate, with the student.
As we begin the semester in High Risk, masks are required in all building on campus. This will be revisited as appropriate.
- Faculty and staff may hold meetings in person and/or remotely and follow the protocols regarding mask wearing and/or physical distancing. Individuals who have concerns should consult with their department chairs or supervisors.
- Staff who have approved teleworking arrangements may continue to participate remotely. If an in-person meeting is required, the supervisor will inform the employee in advance.
- There may be situations in which employees participate in meetings remotely due to quarantine requirements and/or flexible/asynchronous work schedules. It is the responsibility of supervisors/department managers to accommodate teleworking meeting participants whenever necessary and/or possible.
The role of Health Services has continued to expand during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Health Services often adding testing, contact tracing and case management to its responsibilities. Health Services will continue to provide medical and public health expertise to the campus community and deliver current, sound, evidence-informed recommendations, while maintaining essential services to students.
- The following steps will be taken to improve access to mental health services to support the needs of students returning to campus:
- Renew the HOPE LINE for another year.
- Continue to provide options for drop-in crisis counseling.
- Continue to provide options for virtual and in person same-day urgent appointments.
- Increase/bolster communication to students about the availability of Counseling Center services through text messaging and social media.
- Designate peer-based outreach and peer-based support groups either virtually or in- person.
- Improve the coordination of medical and counseling services to increase access to MH services/care.
- Develop clear pathways for intervention/referral for behavioral health issues.
- Offer additional resources, which may be found at zencare.com
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – During these unprecedented times of crisis many of our colleagues’ mental and behavioral health have been negatively impacted. Employees seeking mental health and/or stress management support are encouraged to contact the EAP. The EAP is a completely free and confidential benefit available to all RIC employees and their immediate family members. The EAP is administered in conjunction with Beacon Health Options (Beacon), using their “Beacon Well-being” platform. For additional information, please visit the EAP website.
The college is committed to taking steps consistent with appropriate guidance to create a safe environment for the entire campus community as it reopens and transitions to standard operations. In order to achieve its dual goals of creating a safe campus as well as returning to an on-campus experience the college will provide, in certain circumstances, accommodations to working conditions through the ADA process, and/or adjustments to employment requirements. Decisions on adjustments will be largely guided by RIDOH who has identified high-risk as employees with immunosuppressing conditions or employees having a household member with such a condition, and employees over the age of 65. The Office of Human Resources will be providing detailed information to all faculty and staff to make them aware of these additional mitigations. Similarly, the Disability Services Center will inform students of their opportunity to request reasonable accommodations under the ADA.
- RIC will continue to follow the RIDOH’s guidelines regarding employees who have COVID-19 symptoms and update as needed. Effective immediately, fully vaccinated employees are no longer required to quarantine following a known COVID-19 exposure; however, employees are encouraged to continue to self-monitor for symptoms.
- Fully vaccinated employees and those who are not vaccinated or exempted who experience COVID-19 symptoms may not report to work or must leave the workplace if symptoms develop while at work. Employees must continue to contact their supervisor/ department chair and inform them of their situation. Employees must also follow up with the Office of Human Resources for further guidance and/or approval to return to work.
- Employees will discharge sick time for this purpose. Any COVID-19 exposure at work that results in an employee being sent home by the Office of Human Resources to quarantine will continue to be paid administrative leave.
- Exempted faculty and unvaccinated staff who are in-person on campus at least one-half day each week are strongly encouraged to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing. Fully vaccinated faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in random surveillance testing. Campus testing is available.
- Employees who request a leave of absence due to a personal illness or family illness will follow the applicable collective bargaining unit policy/procedures, the Department of Administration policy/procedures, the Postsecondary Council personnel policies/procedures or state and federal regulations/procedures when applying for leave.
For spring, events and meetings will be allowed to maintain three-foot distancing, as opposed to six-foot, if admission is limited to persons who can verify that they have been vaccinated upon entry (e.g., show vaccination card, picture of vaccination card, state approved ap, etc.), or submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within prior 72 hours.
- As we begin the semester in High Risk, RIC will maintain the fall COVID travel policies. Of note, student study abroad will not be approved for countries in orange or red level transmission rates, and international faculty led student trips will not be approved under the current pandemic levels.
- Faculty and students may seek approval for college-sponsored travel when the purpose of that travel is deemed to be necessary for academic progress and cannot reasonably be postponed or handled remotely (i.e., to conduct research, to present research at an academic conference, to participate in an internship or academic experience required for graduation, or for a similar educational or co-curricular experience, etc.).
Please see appendix A for more details and the approval process.
These supplemental travel policies shall be in effect while RIC is in Moderate, Substantial or High risk due to COVID-19.
Students
Students taking part in RIC-sponsored out-of-state travel, must be fully vaccinated, and proof of their vaccination must be accepted in MediCat.
Student Athletes:
- For athletes, pending additional information from the NCAA and the Little East conference, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated student-athletes will be allowed to practice on campus but be masked at all times, and must complete three tests a week on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule.
- At this time these student-athletes will be prohibited from competition at home or away.
- Off campus travel will be restricted until further notice to no overnight travel, no restaurants, with take-out food being the option on the road.
- All student-athletes will be required to test under the guise of the Department of Athletics within 24 hours of competition whether home or away.
- All spectators as well as officials, indoors as well as out, will be required to wear masks and retain recommended social distancing.
- Face coverings must be worn by all student-athletes and Tier 1 members (i.e., coaches, trainers, etc., this pertains to Tier I members of visiting teams as well) at practice and competition, inside and out, unless they are engaged in physical activity.
- Regardless of vaccination status, and per NCAA policy, all student-athletes will be masked when on college-sponsored transportation.
- Practices will be conducted within stable groups not to exceed 26 per RIDOH recommendations.
- These policies are in effect until October 1st, at which time they will be reviewed in conjunction with the latest updates from both local and national authorities.
Student Groups:
- Student groups requesting to travel off-campus must receive permission from the Dean of Students and the Director of Student Health Services to ensure the proposed trip is aligned with local, state and federal public health guidelines and regulations.
- Please allow two (2) weeks for approval. Students and student groups requesting to participate in college-sponsored travel should not book travel arrangements until travel has been approved.
Study Abroad:
- Students seeking to study abroad must receive permission from the Director of Study Abroad and the Director of Student Health Services to ensure the proposed trip is aligned with local, state and federal public health guidelines and regulations, and are not allowed to travel to countries experiencing orange or red-level transmission rates of COVID-19.
In addition, all host partners must provide COVID-19 contingency plans. Students traveling must also sign the Rhode Island College Study Abroad COVID-19 Acknowledgement Form.
Employees
- All employees taking part in college-sponsored travel out of state — or employees leading college-sponsored travel off campus for students or colleagues — must be fully vaccinated, and proof of their vaccination must be provided to Human Resources, who will hold this information in confidence.
- All travelers must also adhere to any visitor guidelines specified by the location or institution they are visiting.
- Travel will only be allowed if it is deemed essential (see definitions below), including being mission critical and/or needed for tenure/promotion purposes for full-time tenure-track faculty members.
- Faculty requests for essential travel must be reviewed by the Dean and approved by the Office of the Provost. Please allow two weeks for approval and do not book travel until approved.
- Staff travel must be pre-approved by the employee’s vice president, have vaccination status confirmed by Human Resources and be approved by the Director of Student Health Services. Please allow two (2) weeks for the approval
What is essential academic travel for faculty and students?
- Faculty and students may travel when the purpose of that travel is deemed to be necessary for academic progress and cannot reasonably be postponed or handled remotely (i.e., to conduct research, to present research at an academic conference, to participate in an internship or academic experience required for graduation, or for a similar educational or co-curricular experience, etc.).
- Academic Scholarship:
- Travel required for a professional purpose that is necessary and cannot reasonably be postponed or handled remotely.
- Is necessary to preserve the safety/well-being of research subjects and/or participants.
- Preserves the continuity of research that cannot reasonably be repeated, replaced or performed remotely.
- Is deemed necessary and time-sensitive for tenure and promotion of faculty.
- Advances critical research in the national or global interest.
- College Business
- Travel that is mission-critical to and necessary for the core educational and business functions of the college presently or for the continuation of those core functions in the future, such as recruiting, performance on grant and contract deliverables, or participation in vital partner/inter-institutional consortium/organizational meetings, etc.
RIC Essential Academic Travel Request Form
- Faculty and students must complete the RIC Essential Academic Travel Request Form