Procedures for Returning to Campus

[Editor’s note:  The following message from Janet Hazelton was sent on January 29 to faculty offering in-person courses. You should find and consult that email for the Facilities and Sanitation plan.  In meetings with faculty, Dean Proulx emphasized the following:

• There are no directions for entering buildings or moving in hallways except wearing masks and social distancing;
• Students and faculty are required to wear masks and socially distance in the classroom;
• Available desks and chairs for students are marked in the classroom to assure social distancing.  Students must sit in designated seats, and the furniture must not be moved.
• All students will carry a passport that indicates that they have had their first negative test and have signed the Spartan Pledge; faculty should require passports for entry into the class and should dismiss students without passports;
• Materials are available for faculty and students to clean their desks and seating areas before and after class; this is not a requirement; rooms will be cleaned and sanitized once daily.
• For more details, you can consult the Protocols for In-Person Teaching published last week.]

From Janet Hazelton:

Welcome back!  For those of you who were not on campus last semester, we have a few new protocols in place.

As part of the State’s re-opening process,  employers are required to screen employees prior to the start of their shift.  Therefore, we are now requiring all employees working on campus to review the “Employee COVID-19 Screening Tool” and certify compliance with the criteria.  I have attached a copy of the screening tool as well the sign in sheet for your review.  We have stations set up in twelve campus buildings which include a folder with the screening tool and sign-in sheet, a thermometer, and disinfecting wipes.  Please review the screening tool daily and then sign in certifying you have reviewed the Employee COVID-19 Screening Tool and meet the criteria to work on campus.  Below are the twelve sites.

1. Academic Support Center – Reception Desk
2. Admissions – Front Desk
3. Athletics – Athletic Office
4. Campus Center – Student Life Office
5. Facilities – Front Desk
6. Fine Arts Center – Outside of the Box Office
7. Hoff Hall – Main Office Area
8. Jeffords – First Floor Employee Mail Room
9. Leavenworth – Main Entrance by Pam Alexander’s Office
10. Public Safety – Front Desk
11. Stafford – Mail Room in Education Department
12. Woodruff – Main Floor Copier Room

Also, as part of Governor Scott’s April 24 expansion of the phased restart of Vermont’s economy, the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration (VOSHA) and the Vermont Department of Health released a training to help employers meet the new requirement.  The training is required for all employees as they return to work.  It takes about 15 minutes to complete, and there are no tests involved.  Below is the link to access this training.  Following the completion of the training, there is a link that will take you to a fillable Certificate.  Please complete the certificate and email it to me for tracking purposes.  (You can ignore this if you have previously sent me evidence of completion.)

https://labor.vermont.gov/document/protecting-safety-and-health-workers-vosha

We have also implemented a mask policy as outlined below:

1. When walking inside Castleton buildings employees should always be wearing a mask.
2. When walking outside on campus employees should be carrying a mask and wear it when social distancing cannot be accomplished.
3. No mask is required when working alone, such as if you are in your office.   When meeting face-to-face a mask should be worn.
4. Face-to-Face meetings should be minimal, meeting virtually is still the expected norm.
5. Discuss with your supervisor if adjustments regarding mask use are needed.