Safe Campus Initiative

Athletic programs:

• The NCAA and American Rivers Conference have authorized intercollegiate competition, and the college is prepared to implement protocols to allow student-athletes (SAs) to participate in sports and club activities.
• All college policies apply to SAs, however in addition, SAs will need to be both symptom and fever free for 48 hours prior to returning to athletics.
• SAs will be asked to register their vaccination information to Coe College and our Athletic Administration. Students are not required to register vaccination information; however, any college, NCAA or American Rivers policies that apply to individuals who are not up to date on COVID vaccinations will be applied to students or athletic administration members who choose not to register their vaccination documentation with the college.
• The Coe College Athletic Department will adhere to guidelines set forth by the NCAA and the American Rivers Conference (or other sport-specific governing bodies) for all policies/procedures related to positive cases, contact tracing and testing.
  • The conference will resume normal athletic competition and practices (see Athletics website) beginning Fall 2021.
• Spectator attendance at Coe athletic home events will be allowed without restriction beginning Fall 2021. Athletic Administration will continue to evaluate spectator participation and capacity throughout the term with reference to campus leadership, as well as local and state health guidelines.
• Athletes will be expected to report to their coach and/or administration if they aren’t feeling well prior to any practice and/or competition.
• Each team will work with the director of athletics to develop a transportation plan for the return back to campus of an SA who is showing potential COVID-19 symptoms during an off-campus competition.
  • Documentation, reporting and a referral to health services will take place upon arrival back to campus.

Any student, faculty or staff member who contracts COVID-19 will still be required to report their positive test for the entirety of the 2023 spring semester by emailing covid@allseasonsgiftbasket.com.

Starting Monday, March 6th, 2023 our COVID-19 Response Team is no longer conducting contact tracing and the responsibility of contact tracing has transitioned to the individual community member. Our COVID-19 Response Team will continue to be available to answer any questions and provide resources necessary for Coe community members to conduct their own contact tracing, but will no longer be monitoring or enforcing any contact tracing/close contact protocols.

We encourage our Coe community members to develop their own COVID-19 plans, assess their level of individual risk, and treat all other community members with respect.

Notification of health officials

In accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, Coe will notify health officials at Linn County Public Health immediately of any case of COVID-19 among faculty, staff and students while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and FERPA.

At this time, mask optional will be the default approach in all campus spaces and for Coe-sponsored travel for the 2022-2023 academic year (unless isolation/exposure protocols apply). Faculty and staff may request, but not require, masks to be worn in classrooms, labs, rehearsal halls and offices. As always, the COVID Leadership Team will be monitoring pandemic trends and a mask mandate may be enacted if deemed necessary at any point in the future. In the meantime, those who wish to continue masking should do so and we expect that all other Coe community members will respect requests to wear masks. Those who would like to print a Masks Encouraged sign for their space on campus are more than welcome to do so.

Community members who need a medical accommodation for the outlined face covering expectations should contact Student Life or Human Resources to discuss alternatives.

Faculty and staff should work with their treating health provider to determine any health needs that may impact work and contact their supervisor, the Provost’s Office (faculty) or a staff member in Human Resources (staff) to discuss accommodation needs.

Student employees should plan to work with their assigned departments regarding work schedules and can discuss any alternative scheduling or accommodation needs with their supervisor or Human Resources.

Students who need academic accommodations should reach out to the Learning Commons, and students who need residential accommodations should contact the Student Life Office at dos@allseasonsgiftbasket.com for assistance.

Coe has returned to offering events and conferences on campus and welcomes visitors. Visitors to campus should be informed of the current masking policy, and facility rental agreements should include a copy of the COVID-19 policies for reference. Groups who contract space on Coe’s campus are responsible for their own contact tracing and any quarantine or isolation requirements.

Faculty, staff or students who have tested positive for COVID-19, or who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive and have developed symptoms, should follow the protocols described below.

Vaccination status and isolation

Community members are not required to provide COVID-19 vaccination information to the college. However, any college policies that apply to individuals not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations will be applied to community members who choose not to provide documentation to support their up to date vaccination status.

Due to the serious implications of spreading the virus, the following actions may be subject to disciplinary action:

• Failure to report a known COVID-19 diagnosis when a community member has physically been on campus or has come into close contact with another Coe community member.
• Intentionally coming into close contact with other community members after learning of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
• Leaving isolation housing outside explicit guidelines (approved testing, dining or medical care) prior to release from isolation by a COVID-19 response team member.
• Intentionally misrepresenting vaccination status to Coe College administration.

Isolation

Isolation is used to separate people who have tested positive for the virus from people who are not infected. People should stay in isolation until released by the college or public health officials.

Students who test positive for COVID-19:

• Will be required to notify the college by contacting covid@allseasonsgiftbasket.com immediately.
• Students will then be required to isolate for 5 days following the onset of symptoms or the date of their positive test, whichever occurred first (where day 0 is your first day of symptoms or a positive viral test and day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed or your test specimen was collected). Students can leave isolation after 5 full days if they are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and their symptoms are improving. Students will be required to continue precautions through day 10 which includes wearing a well-fitting mask any time they are around others indoors/in public. Location for isolation will be determined on an individual basis as outlined below:
  
  1. All students will be asked to isolate at home, off-campus if they are able. Specifically, those who have a permanent address within a 100 mile radius of campus, will be strongly encouraged to isolate at home, off-campus (When isolating at-home or off-campus, transportation and meals will be the student's responsibility).
  2. Those who are unable to return home for any reason (ie. severely symptomatic, immunocompromised family members at home, no transportation, etc.) will be housed on campus. Based on the student’s on-campus housing situation, their level of symptoms/risk, and the availability of Coe-provided isolation housing, students may be asked to isolate in place (If isolating in place, meals will be provided free of charge and students will be assigned a meal pick-up location on-campus).
  3. Those who are unable to return home to isolate and are also unable to isolate in place in their on-campus residence will be provided alternative housing. These spaces are extremely limited so we will use them only as necessary (If isolating in Coe provided housing, meals will be provided and delivered to the student’s door free of charge.)
• Should follow the health directives from the treating health provider and public health agency to monitor temperature, record symptoms and access medical care if needed.
• Will need to utilize dining services pick-up/delivery options and follow instructions regarding accessing basic necessities. Dining services will be available to all isolated students either through a meal plan or discounted pricing.

Students should isolate until after these three things have happened:

1. They have had no fever for at least 24 hours (that is one full day of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers) AND
2. Their other symptoms have improved (for example, when cough or shortness of breath has improved) AND
3. At least five days have passed since their symptoms first appeared.

Other isolation information:

• Resources for COVID-19 testing and treatment are available here, and students also may contact covid@allseasonsgiftbasket.com or o-healthservices@allseasonsgiftbasket.com for additional information or resources.
• Students, faculty and staff should contact a health care provider for treatment of illness or symptoms. Testing and treatment resources are available here. Seek emergency treatment for severe symptoms.
• Community members should get emergency medical care by calling 911 immediately for the below symptoms. When possible, notify the operator your symptoms may be related to COVID-19.
  • Symptoms include but are not limited to trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face.
• Upon completion of quarantine or isolation requirements, students, faculty and staff may return to campus activities or classes, once released by the COVID-19 response team or HR staff.

Faculty, staff and students who have tested positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate from others and should review the contact-tracing policies outlined in this information. Students who will miss class should contact Health Services at o-healthservices@allseasonsgiftbasket.com or covid@allseasonsgiftbasket.com to report illness so the Learning Commons can be notified for academic accommodations.

If a faculty or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they will notify covid@allseasonsgiftbasket.com immediately. A COVID response team member will advise staff of their return-to-work date and refer to Human Resources staff for information related to leave and health care options. Faculty and staff will work with a medical professional to care for their health and isolation in their home and will not return to work until cleared by a qualified health professional or public health official. COVID-19 testing and in-patient treatment is covered at no cost on Coe’s health insurance plan.

Vaccination information can be reported through the vaccination self report form that is available through Health Services.

• Students, faculty and staff may be required to comply with additional relevant testing as required by the NCAA or American Rivers Conference. Community members are required to comply with any testing directives.

Symptomatic or close contact testing: There are many resources for testing both on campus and in Cedar Rapids, and students can find updated testing resources here or in the Health Services Clinic on campus.

Vaccination

The single most important thing all of us can do to protect ourselves and each other is to become vaccinated and obtain a booster if eligible. Community members are highly encouraged to consider vaccination, but it is not a requirement.

Vaccination status definition

Community members are not required to provide vaccination information to the college. However, any college policies that apply to individuals not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations will be applied to community members who choose not to provide documentation to support their up to date vaccination status.

Community members

Students should register their vaccine documentation with Health Services, and faculty and staff should register their vaccine documentation with Human Resources to be exempt from any policies pertaining to the status of not up to date on vaccination.