Health and Safety

Hygiene and Cleaning

Handwashing

You should wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, or touching your face. If soap and water are not readily available, you should use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. When using hand sanitizer, you should cover your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

Soap dispensers are readily available in all campus bathroom facilities.

Hand sanitizer will be placed around campus in strategic locations, but students are advised to bring a personal supply when returning to York College for the 2020–21 academic year.

Touching Face

You should avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, with unwashed hands. You should wash their hands before or after touching your face.

Gloves

According to the CDC, gloves are not necessary for general use in the COVID-19 pandemic and do not replace frequent and thorough handwashing. Those individuals working in health care or in high-risk areas should use gloves while working. Gloves and other personal protective equipment may be required in certain labs or other areas. Based on CDC recommendation and due to forecasted shortages of glove supplies they will only be dispensed for approved tasks.

Coughing/Sneezing Hygiene

When in a private setting and not wearing a face mask or covering, you should always cover your mouth and nose with tissues when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. All tissues should be thrown in the trash. You should immediately wash their hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer 

Enhanced Cleaning

There will be increased cleaning across campus by our custodial services team. The frequency and type of cleaning for each space will be determined by its purpose and volume of use. Many academic spaces will be cleaned once per day, and residential common spaces will be cleaned twice per day. Designated high-traffic areas, such as high-volume elevator lobbies, high-volume restrooms, and other similar areas will be cleaned multiple times per day. High touch surfaces will be cleaned throughout the day. Cleaning and disinfection protocols specified by public health authorities will be implemented. York College cleaning protocols will be adjusted as the CDC and PA Department of Health make changes to their recommendations.

Even with the increased cleaning protocols and staff, there are reasonable limits to cleaning protocols. Doorknobs will not be disinfected after one person touches it, restrooms will not be cleaned after each use, chairs in individual classrooms will not be wiped down by staff between each class meeting. All YCP community members should use good judgment in the things they use and touch. The practice of washing/sanitizing your hands when entering the building and when entering/leaving a classroom will help reduce the risk.

Face Coverings

Face Coverings

The Center of Disease Control recommends that people wear face coverings that cover their mouth and nose to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Pennsylvania has taken the further step of mandating that people wear face coverings in all but a few very specific situations. Even people with no symptoms can be contagious. That is why it’s important for us to protect each other by keeping our respiratory droplets to ourselves.  

For this reason, all students, faculty, staff, and visitors must wear face coverings in all public shared spaces on campus. This information will be available in many different places including flyers, posters, social media posts, and the social contract. Students, faculty, and staff must wear face coverings in classrooms. However, there may be rare times when a faculty member or student may temporarily remove a face covering to adequately communicate with the class. In such rare instances, everyone must practice social distancing. 

YCP community members will be provided with two face coverings free of charge. Additional masks will also be available in the Bookstore at affordable prices. Every student, faculty, and staff member is responsible for taking care of their own cloth face coverings. It is important to handle them carefully and wash them often. Find more information on safe face-covering use and cleaning here. People may need to wear different or additional protective gear in laboratory and clinical settings. Lab or clinic instructors or staff will explain these requirements.

Accommodations for the face coverings policy

Students, faculty, and staff who cannot wear a face-covering due to a documented disability or medical condition MUST APPLY for an accommodation using the Face Covering Accommodations survey. Please make sure to upload a copy of your documentation from your physician describing why you cannot wear a face covering. Student Accessibility Services will review student requests, and the Human Resources Office/Provost’s Office will review staff and faculty requests. After this prompt review, the College will make a decision about an appropriate and reasonable accommodation for each applicant. They will report the decision to applicants via email.

Social Distancing

Maintaining physical distance from other people is one way to help slow down the spread of COVID-19. The CDC recommends that people stay 6 feet away from each other because at this distance, people are less likely to share respiratory droplets and germs. 

Therefore, we will be asking all students, faculty, staff, and visitors must stay at least 6 feet away from other people at all times. Also, people should avoid large gatherings and follow the most up-to-date public health guidelines. These may change as experts learn more about COVID-19 and how it spreads.  

To support physical distancing YCP has made a significant number of changes. For example, we 

• Updated the Residence Visitation Policy for the 2020-2021 school year to help keep the community safe. 
• Reduced the number of people allowed to use common areas, like residence bathrooms.
• Placed fewer tables, farther apart, in the dining halls
• Have To-go meals available at satellite locations. 
• Created new furniture arrangements in spaces like the Schmidt Library to maintain physical distancing.
• Allow fewer people in communal spaces.
• Re-arranged classrooms and other academic spaces to fit fewer students. 
• Modified classroom assignments and class schedules.
• Made all classes available via Zoom.
• Reduced class sizes so that all students will not attend in-person at the same time.
• Updated the Attendance Policy for the 2020-2021 school year.

Monitoring Travel

If a student will travel to YCP from an area identified by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as a COVID-19 advisory location, the student must self-quarantine at home for 14 days before coming/ returning to campus, and complete a daily self-monitoring health questionnaire designed to closely monitor their health.  During the self-quarantine period, if the student begins to experience any of these symptoms:

• Fever/chills,
• Dry cough,
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing,
• Fatigue,
• Muscle or body aches,
• Headaches,
• New loss of taste or smell,
• Sore throat,
• Congestion or runny nose,
• Nausea or vomiting,
• Diarrhea

They must immediately notify the Health Center and their primary care physician. Before they are permitted to return to campus activities (in-person instruction, dining hall, etc.), they will need to test negative for COVID-19.

Screening for Symptoms

Personal Symptom Monitoring and Reporting

YCP’s plan to monitor the spread of COVID-19 has three prongs - including daily-self monitoring of symptoms, temperature checks at higher capacity areas, and a decision-making tool for monitoring the overall ability of the campus to handle positive cases. 

Self-monitoring of symptoms

All members of the campus will be asked to perform a daily review of their overall health by checking for the CDC’s Covid-19 symptoms before visiting public areas of the campus. If fever or other COVID-19 symptoms are present, then students must immediately contact the Health Center or their personal physician for further guidance, but they may not leave their residence hall room (for commuters) or visit campus (for commuters).

Temperature checks at higher capacity areas

Students will have their temperature checked upon entry to all large gathering facilities such as the dining halls, library, and Grumbacher athletic facilities. A designated staff member will assess the temperature of each person before they are permitted to enter the facility. If a fever or other COVID-19 symptoms are present, then students must immediately contact the Health Center or their personal physician for further guidance.

Campus Alert-Level Monitoring 

While the state and county official will be monitoring their respective domains for the ability to deal with COVID-19 cases, we will also have a monitoring document that weighs several key variables as we decide to move from more (orange or red) or less restrictive measures (green). This document will be assessed on a regular basis so senior leadership can determine if we have to make changes to the types of instruction, numbers of people allowed to gather in certain spaces, as well as the overall viability of keeping campus open.

There are two procedures to guide students who test positive for COVID-19 (Isolation Policy) and students who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 (Quarantine Policy). NOTE: Students who feel ill or who have symptoms of COVID-19 (1) should not go to work, classes or any public places and, (2) should immediately contact the Health Center for further instruction.

Isolation Policy

This policy applies to students who have tested positive for COVID-19. Isolation is designed to reduce the chance of spreading illness by keeping people who test positive for COVID-19 away from others. Students who test positive for COVID-19 are expected to leave campus as soon as possible and stay at their permanent address for 10 days or until they are cleared to return by their healthcare provider. If a student cannot travel home due to extenuating circumstances, the student will be temporarily housed in a designated residence hall on campus and will not be permitted to enter any other campus buildings. 

If you are isolating from others this means you must: 

• avoid contact with others (except health care providers),
• stay home in a separate room away from other people in the home
• if possible, use a separate bathroom from others
• stay away from seniors and people with chronic medical conditions

Students will remain in isolation for 10 days from when their symptoms began.  The first day that symptoms begin is Day #0. To return to campus, following isolation you students must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Test-based Strategy

• No fever for at least 72 hours (3 full days) without fever-reducing medication
• Two consecutive negative PCR tests separated by at least 24 hours. If PCR tests are given by a healthcare provider from outside YCP, students must show proof of negative tests to return to campus.

2. Symptom Based Strategy

• Must remain fever free for 72 hours (3 full days) without fever-reducing medication
• Even asymptomatic students, who show no symptoms, must stay in isolation for 10 days from the positive test results day. Day of positive test is day #0.

Quarantine Policy: 

Quarantine is designed to reduce the chance of spreading illness by keeping people who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. This policy applies to students who have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, even if they are asymptomatic. A close contact is someone who has been within six feet of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes. The YCP Health Center will notify students who are close contacts of someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Quarantining close contacts is important because people who have COVID-19 can spread it before they know they have it. 

Students identified as close contacts must separate themselves from others for a minimum of 14 days. Students are expected to leave campus as soon as possible and stay at their permanent address during the quarantine period. If a student cannot travel home due to extenuating circumstances, the student will be temporarily housed in a designated residence hall on campus.   

Quarantining students must IMMEDIATELY notify their instructors to set up remote instruction so they can continue their coursework. They may not go to work, class, clinicals, extracurricular activities. They may not visit any campus buildings or attend any campus events. 

While under quarantine, students must self-evaluate their health two times a day, including taking their temperature and possible symptoms. If they run a fever or begin to have symptoms, they must immediately contact the YCP Health Center. 

If you are in quarantine this means you must: 

• avoid contact with others (except health care providers),
• stay home in a separate room away from other people in the home
• if possible, use a separate bathroom from others
• stay away from seniors and people with chronic medical conditions

Students who do not run a fever or develop other COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days may return to campus.

Students who do not comply with the expectations set forth in this policy can be referred to the Student Conduct process.

Mental Health Resources

The global pandemic can easily lead to increased stress and anxiety from changes, challenges, and uncertainty. During this time, it is important to take extra steps to monitor and respond to changes in everyone’s mental health as we work to take care of our physical health. The YCP Counseling Center is prepared to help students manage their mental health in this very stressful time. 

Appointments will be offered every day of the week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by means of remote services, i.e., teletherapy, as well as in-person sessions. To minimize the spread of COVID-19, any students who are seeking treatment via Counseling Services will be directed to call Counseling Services in order to schedule an appointment instead of stopping by the office. 

Outreach programs and events to address stress management and COVID-19 -- how to deal with one’s well-being in the midst of the “new normal,” and ways to take care of relationships (family, friends, romantic) while dealing with social distancing -- will be provided. 

To make sure that they are knowledgeable of the latest information pertaining to COVID-19, Counseling Services staff will participate in weekly staff meetings to review protocols and receive training in the newest practices related to COVID-19.

Student Pledge

York College of Pennsylvania is excited to welcome you back for the 2020-2021 academic year. We have been working hard to create practices and policies to help protect all members of the YCP community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, we can make an in-person educational experience as safe as possible. Our success depends on all of us working together to reduce the community's potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus. 

The York College of Pennsylvania Student Pledge is outlined below. All students have been emailed a direct link where they can electronically acknowledge that they understand and agree to the Pledge.

RESIDENT STUDENT PLEDGE

There is currently no vaccine to protect against contracting COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus by following the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). I will reduce this risk by taking these measures:      

• Maintaining social distancing guidelines of at least 6 feet.
• Scheduling an appointment with the Health Center or my Primary Care Provider, as necessary.
• Wearing a face covering in ALL public spaces on campus including classrooms and while traversing campus. Face coverings must meet the CDC’s face coverings recommendations and cannot contain symbols, words or objects that violate any College policies.
• Washing my hands and/or using hand sanitizer regularly.
• Disinfecting personal electronic devices.
• Following posted occupancy guidelines for restrooms, elevators, meeting spaces, lounges, study rooms, etc.
• Monitoring my health for COVID-19 symptoms (Cough, Shortness of breath, Fever, Chills, Muscle pain, Sore throat, New loss of taste or smell, etc.).
• Staying home if I am sick and notifying my instructors, employers, and our campus health office, and anyone else who would need to know my whereabouts. 

If I show any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, (e.g., Cough, Shortness of breath, Fever, Chills, Muscle pain, Sore throat, New loss of taste or smell, etc.), or if I have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, I will immediately:     

1. Contact the York College Health Center or my medical provider.     
2. Quarantine until a diagnosis is made. This means NO in-person human contact with ANYONE. For example, I will stay away from people, attend classes remotely, and not go out. Even if I have no symptoms, I can spread the virus and put others at risk.   

I agree to follow CDC and York College of Pennsylvania behavioral guidelines designed to reduce the chance of spreading COVID-19, including wearing a face covering in all public spaces, maintaining physical distance of six feet or more from others, practicing good hygiene, and monitoring my daily health for COVID-19 symptoms.

I have a responsibility to protect myself, my roommate(s), neighbors, classmates, faculty, staff, and the greater York community by following social distancing guidelines as set forth by the CDC, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the College.

As I enter or exit any College facility, I may have to have my temperature taken and answer questions about my health regarding COVID-19 symptoms or exposure.    

If I test positive for COVID-19, I agree to share a list of my recent contacts (anyone who was within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes in the last 48 hours before symptom onset/diagnosis) as part of my public service to protect my fellow YCP community members.

If I test positive for COVID-19, I must isolate at my off-campus home: meaning permanent address. If extenuating circumstances prevent me from returning to my permanent residence, I will be housed at another location designated by Residence Life.

If I am a close contact of a person with COVID-19, I must quarantine at my off-campus home: meaning permanent address. If extenuating circumstances prevent me from returning to my permanent residence, I will be housed at another location designated by Residence Life.

I may be required to move to another room, hall, or location [designated by Residence Life] in the event of quarantine or isolation management.

If I test negative for COVID-19 and I have followed all isolation/quarantine protocols, I may be approved to return to my assigned housing facility.

In the event of a medical emergency, I will call 911. I will notify the operator if I have, or think I might have, COVID-19. If possible, I will put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guest and Visitation Policy has been changed to address the health and safety of the College community. 

I have been informed that campus housing for the 2020-2021 academic year will consist of double and single occupancy rooms in traditional residence halls, suites, apartments, and small houses. I understand that there are risks involved in residing in campus housing, including illness and personal injury. Despite these risks, I have voluntarily decided to return to York College of Pennsylvania for the 2020-2021 academic year and accept all risks to my health associated with COVID-19 that may result.       

To maintain the health and safety of the campus, I will avoid all unnecessary travel. If I travel to any of the states on the travel advisory list or any other COVID-19 hot spot for any reason, I will quarantine for 14 days upon my return.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing and fluid situation, York College of Pennsylvania may update or add specific policies or procedures to protect the health and safety of students. 

I will make sure that my personal information and my emergency contact list is complete and up-to-date.

Violations of this pledge will be handled by the Office of Student Conduct and should it be determined that my behavior jeopardized the health and safety of others in the YCP community, I could be directed to refrain from participating in any on-campus activities (while permitted to continue my academic program remotely), and my access to campus buildings could be restricted. I further agree that egregious violations of this pledge could also be grounds for additional disciplinary review and action.

I agree to honor these policies and guidelines. I acknowledge that York College of Pennsylvania cannot eliminate the risk of illness during a global pandemic. I voluntarily accept the risks associated with in-person, on-campus study at this time. 

COMMUTER STUDENT PLEDGE

There is currently no vaccine to protect against contracting COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus by following the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). I will reduce this risk by taking these measures:      

• Maintaining social distancing guidelines of at least 6 feet.
• Scheduling an appointment with the Health Center or my Primary Care Provider, as necessary.
• Wearing a face covering in ALL public spaces on campus including classrooms and while traversing campus. Face coverings must meet the CDC’s face coverings recommendations and cannot contain symbols, words or objects that violate any College policies.
• Washing my hands and/or using hand sanitizer regularly.
• Disinfecting personal electronic devices.
• Following posted occupancy guidelines for restrooms, elevators, meeting spaces, lounges, study rooms, etc.
• Monitoring my health for COVID-19 symptoms (Cough, Shortness of breath, Fever, Chills, Muscle pain, Sore throat, New loss of taste or smell, etc.).
• Staying home if I am sick and notifying my instructors, employers, and our campus health office, and anyone else who would need to know my whereabouts. 

If I show any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, (e.g., Cough, Shortness of breath, Fever, Chills, Muscle pain, Sore throat, New loss of taste or smell, etc.), or if I have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, I will immediately:     

1. Contact the York College Health Center or my medical provider.     
2. Quarantine until diagnosis is made. This means NO in-person human contact with ANYONE. For example, I will stay away from people, attend classes remotely, and not go out. Even if I have no symptoms, I can spread the virus and put others at risk.  

I agree to follow CDC and York College of Pennsylvania behavioral guidelines designed to reduce the chance of spreading COVID-19, including wearing a face covering in all public spaces, maintaining physical distance of six feet or more from others, practicing good hygiene, and monitoring my daily health for COVID-19 symptoms.

I have a responsibility to protect myself, classmates, faculty, staff, and the greater York community by following social distancing guidelines as set forth by the CDC, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the College.   

As I enter or exit any College facility, I may have to have my temperature taken and answer questions about my health in regards to COVID-19 symptoms or exposure.    

If I test positive for COVID-19, I will be required to isolate at my home off-campus . If I live with other York College students off campus, I will return to my permanent home address for isolation. 

If I test positive for COVID-19, I agree to share a list of my recent contacts (anyone who was within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes in the last 48 hours before symptom onset/diagnosis) as part of my public service to protect my fellow YCP community members.

If my family member or someone else with whom I reside with tests positive for COVID-19, I could be required to quarantine in my home.

If I test negative for COVID-19, then I will be allowed to return to campus once all quarantine protocols established by the College have been achieved. These protocols could require quarantine for a period of time to be designated by York College of Pennsylvania.  

In the event of a medical emergency, I will call 911. I will notify the operator if I have, or think I might have, COVID-19. If possible, I will put on a face covering before medical help arrives.

I have been informed that campus for the 2020-2021 academic year will have unique and purposeful policies related to COVID-19.  I understand that there are risks involved in being present on campus, including illness and personal injury. Despite these risks, I have voluntarily decided to return to York College of Pennsylvania for the 2020-2021 academic year and accept all risks to my health associated with COVID-19 that may result.

To maintain the health and safety of the campus, I will avoid all unnecessary travel. If I travel to any of the states on the travel advisory list or any other COVID-19 hot spot for any reason, I will quarantine for 14 days upon my return.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing and fluid situation, York College of Pennsylvania may update or add specific policies or procedures to protect the health and safety of students. 

I will make sure that my personal information and my emergency contact list is complete and up-to-date.

Violations of this pledge will be handled by the Office of Student Conduct and should it be determined that my behavior jeopardized the health and safety of others in the YCP community, I could be directed to refrain from participating in any on-campus activities (while permitted to continue my academic program remotely), and my access to campus buildings could be restricted. I further agree that egregious violations of this pledge could also be grounds for additional disciplinary review and action.

I agree to honor these policies and guidelines. I acknowledge that York College of Pennsylvania cannot eliminate the risk of illness during a global pandemic. I voluntarily accept the risks associated with in-person, on-campus study at this time.