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Employee Return to Campus Plan

Summer 2023

Mask Requirements

Based upon the recent SUNY, New York State, and CDC guidance on masking in schools, the College maintains the following masking requirements.

Students and employees are not required to wear masks and face coverings in classrooms, common areas, and other College locations. Individuals who wish to wear a mask or face covering may do so at their own discretion. Unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear a mask or face covering.

Surgical style masks are provided at campus points of entry to all individuals wanting one. A supply of KN95 masks are also available at the security stations located at the Main entrance and Washington Avenue entrance of Elston Hall, the Center for Science and Technology, the School of Music, and at Center City.

All employees who test positive for COVID-19 must continue to report their infection status to the Office of Human Resources at humanresources@sunysccc.edu and to their supervisor, complete and submit the New York State Department of Health self-attestation form to the Office of Human Resources and follow isolation requirements. Asymptomatic individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, completed their appropriate isolation period, and are returning to campus must continue to wear a well-fitting KN95 or N95 face mask for an additional five days post-isolation as per CDC guidance.

The College’s plan was reviewed with the Schenectady County Department of Health. In consultation with the Schenectady County Department of Health, if the regional positivity and hospitalization rates increase to a “high” level per CDC guidelines, the campus may re-implement the masking mandate.

Campus/Building Access

All campus points of entry and exit will continue to be in use for students, employees, and visitors. Individuals entering campus buildings will be advised of the health and safety precautions and self-screening through posters at each entrance. Please remember, if you are not feeling well, do not come to campus.

Hand sanitizing stations are located at all points of entry/exit.

Surgical style masks are provided at campus points of entry to all individuals wanting one.

Testing

If you receive a COVID positive test result, in addition to emailing a picture of the test to Human Resources, you must also complete the New York State Department of Health self-attestation form. If you are subject to a qualifying event for NYS COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave, please contact your supervisor in addition to Human Resources for further direction.

Where to Get a FREE COVID Antigen Rapid at Home Test Kit: Employees may get a FREE COVID Antigen Rapid Test kit at any of the Campus Safety Stations located at the Casola and Washington Avenue entrances of Elston Hall, the Center for Science and Technology, the School of Music, Kindl Building, and at Center City. 

Isolation Guidance

If You Were in Close Contact with a COVID+ Individual

  • Wear a well-fitting mask (KN95 or N95) for ten days after last exposure. A self-test is recommended on the fifth day after last exposure.
  • This protocol is in place for all employees regardless of vaccination or booster status. 

If You Tested Positive for COVID:

  • Moderately to severely immunocompromised
    • Isolate for ten days with the date of the test specimen collection or date of symptom onset counted as day 0.
  • Not moderately to severely immunocompromised
    • Isolate for five days with the date of the test specimen collection or date of symptom onset counted as day 0.
      • With symptoms present and not resolving:
        • Remain in isolation until fever free for 24 hours and any other symptoms resolving
      • Asymptomatic or symptoms resolving at the end of day five
        • Return to work if able to wear a well-fitting mask (KN95 or N95). Wear a mask for an additional five days.
        • Remain isolated if not able to wear a well-fitting mask (KN95 or N95) for an additional five days.

Flowchart depicting what to do if you test positive for COVID-19.

Isolation Guidance

People with symptoms of COVID 19, including people who are awaiting test results or have not been tested must isolate. People with symptoms should isolate even if they do not know if they have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.

  • Do not travel during the five-day isolation period and avoid travel until a full ten-days after the first day of symptoms. If travel on days 6-10 cannot be avoided, wear a well-fitting mask (KN95 or N95)
  • Monitor yourself for symptoms; if you experience an emergency situation, seek medical care immediately
  • Stay in a separate room from other household members
  • Use a separate bathroom, if possible
  • Improve ventilation at home
  • Avoid contact with other members of your household
  • Wear a well-fitting mask when around other people
  • Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask until 10 days after testing or exposure to COVID and symptoms have improved
  • Testing to end isolation is not required

Updated - New York State COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave

Under legislation signed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo, workers in New York are guaranteed job protection and financial compensation while they are on a mandatory or precautionary quarantine order due to COVID-19. To be eligible for this benefit:

  • An employee must be under either a written “mandatory” or “precautionary” order of quarantine issued by the NYS Department of Health, local Board of Health or any government entity authorized to issue such order.

Important FAQs about the program:

    • As a public employer, 14 calendar days of COVID-19 paid sick leave are available to all SUNY Schenectady full- and part-time employees.
    • Employees are eligible if the employer requires an employee to quarantine from work subject to the qualification restrictions listed below.
    • Leave is provided separate from any individual leave accruals or other sick bank programs.
    • Employees who do not show symptoms and are approved to work from home during the quarantine period are not eligible for quarantine leave. Regular pay would be in effect.
    • Employees may qualify for COVID-19 leave for up to three orders of quarantine. The second or third orders of quarantine must be based on a positive COVID-19 test.

If you are subject to a qualifying event for NYS COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave, please contact both your supervisor and Human Resources for further direction. Your supervisor will work with you and Human Resources to determine if you are able to work from home. Any order of mandatory or precautionary quarantine for you must be sent to the Office of Human Resources at humanresources@sunysccc.edu.

The College does not have a Work from Home policy. Work from home is only an option with a COVID-19 qualifying event. The qualifying event is not extended to an employee’s spouse or dependents.

Work from Home Option only if you are subject to Quarantine:

    • If an employee tests positive they are to send an email to Human Resources at humanresources@sunysccc.edu, including proof of a positive test and complete the NYS Department of Health Attestation Form from the New York State health department.
      • Human Resources will inform the employee of how to complete their timesheet for the period of time while in quarantine.
      • If the employee is able to and does work from home, they mark the timesheet as a work day with no other notations.
      • If the employee is not able to work from home, they mark the applicable days as “out" and indicate “NYS COVID Leave” in the notes section of the timesheet for the day.
      • If an employee has exhausted the NYS COVID Paid Leave, is still out of work due to COVID, and is not able to work from home they must charge regular accruals.

All employees must stay home if not feeling well or exhibiting any COVID-related symptoms. Employees must charge their sick leave accruals for sickness not related to COVID-19.

Please contact human resources for further questions at humanresources@sunysccc.edu or 518-381-1218.

Vaccination

Search for a COVID-19 vaccination location.

Faculty and staff are not mandated to be vaccinated or boosted or to disclose their vaccination status. All employees are encouraged to get vaccinated, receive the booster(s) when eligible, and disclose their vaccination status to the Office of Human Resources. To disclose your vaccination/booster status, the employee is asked to provide Human Resources with a copy of their Vaccination Record or their Excelsior Pass. To do this, employees should email a copy of the document to humanresources@sunysccc.edu or bring a copy to the Human Resources Office in Elston Hall, Room 511.

NOTE: All copies received will be kept in a secure file separate from the Personnel Record.

Physical Spaces

It is possible that your work station and office have been reconfigured in adherence with social distancing protocols. Plexiglas shields and other barriers have been installed in critical locations to provide further protection.

Work Stations

Employees are responsible for daily disinfecting of all touch surfaces such as computer keyboards, door handles, light switches and desk surfaces.

If you require disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer for your work station, please send a request to Anthony Schwartz, Director of Facilities at schwaraj@sunysccc.edu and include your building/room number. 

Compliance

Employees who refuse to comply with these safety measures will be required to charge vacation or personal leave accruals or be in “leave without pay” status due to their absence from the workplace. The use of sick days for this purpose will not be allowed. Employees who refuse to comply with these safety measures will be subject to disciplinary measures.