FINAL COPY GUIDANCE FOR THE RETURN TO CAMPUS FOR ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ICCB’S RETURN TO CAMPUS COMMITTEE 1 FINAL COPY TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................3 GUIDING PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................................4 COMMITTEE CHARGE ............................................................................................................4 WORKING ASSUMPTIONS .....................................................................................................5 RESTORE ILLINOIS: A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO SAFELY REOPEN OUR STATE........................................................................................................................................5 HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS .........................................................................5 Health and Safety Considerations for Instruction in Phase 2, 3 and 4 .................................................... 8 INSTRUCTION IN PHASE 2 .....................................................................................................9 Face-to-Face Instruction: ..................................................................................................................... 9 Face-to-Face Instruction in Key Areas: ................................................................................................ 9 Clinical Experience in Health Care: ..................................................................................................... 9 Apprenticeships, On-the-Job Training, and Internships: ....................................................................... 9 INSTRUCTION IN PHASE 3 ...................................................................................................10 Phase 3: Finishing Up Student Credentials ........................................................................................ 10 INSTRUCTION IN PHASE 4 ...................................................................................................11 STUDENT SERVICES – PHASE 3 AND PHASE 4.................................................................11 AUXILIARY SERVICES .........................................................................................................12 RETURN TO CAMPUS MEMBERSHIP .................................................................................13 2 FINAL COPY INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the community college system in a variety of ways. All 48 community colleges made substantial changes by implementing work-from-home policies during the pandemic and moved instruction to an alternative, remote or online modality. In order to resume a semblance of normal operations, approval of reconvening plans by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is necessary. To this end, the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) is committed to providing “Return to Campus” guidance and support to all 48 community colleges throughout the state. In an effort to engage the system, the ICCB formed a taskforce of community college constituents representing multiple sectors of the community college system to develop guidance for the safe return of students, staff and faculty to campus instruction and services, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This guidance is developed using the recommendations of the committee as well as the guidance provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Governor’s Office. In addition, the guidance incorporates components of the Illinois Board of Higher Educations (IBHE) Fall Reopening Committee. The intent of this guidance is to assist all community colleges in the development of plans that ensure the health, safety and support of our students while continuing to provide high quality instruction. All colleges are committed to returning to campus in the fall of 2020, if the phases of the Restore Illinois plan allow the gradual return to campus. Colleges recognize that social distancing may limit the number of students in a space, on campus, or receiving face-to-face instruction. At a minimum, alternative, remote or online learning will remain the default approach as return plans are developed or considered. This guidance is based upon the best information available now from the IDPH and Center for Disease Control (CDC). Furthermore, this guidance does not represent a mandate to return to campus in the fall if individual institutional decisions deem an alternative or more cautious approach. The final decisions are the prerogative of the colleges. Community colleges are local units of government. As such, they are free to make plans beyond those approved by IDPH and to determine locally their stance on reopening once they are in an appropriate phase to do so (Phase 4 or Phase 5). Community colleges should note that this guidance remains subject to change pursuant to updated public health guidance and changing public health conditions. Colleges should remain alert for any future updates. In the event of a resurgence of the virus, or second wave in the fall, colleges should be prepared to return to full remote learning if conditions necessitate it. 3 FINAL COPY GUIDING PRINCIPLES RESTORE ILLINOIS. Community Colleges are committed to following Restore Illinois: A Public Health Approach To Safely Reopen Our State, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Center for Disease Control (CDC), and other state-issued industry guidance, as appropriate. HEALTH AND SAFETY. Community colleges are committed to making appropriate sciencebased decisions that accurately reflect their collective commitments to the health and safety of faculty, staff and students. All community colleges are committed to fully engaging with their local health departments and local medical providers as they make decisions about returning to campus. COMMITMENT TO EQUITY. All Community Colleges will place equity at the forefront of planning and decision-making to ensure students' and employees' needs are addressed, recognizing that remote learning and working present additional challenges and potential barriers. In addition, those in special populations should be reasonably accommodated as plans are developed to return to campus. TRANSPARENCY IS ESSENTIAL. All community colleges will make decisions with the utmost transparency, ensuring all communications related to the return to campus are thoughtful and enable understanding by their stakeholders. This document does not negate the collective bargaining agreements that are in place between the employer and the exclusive representative of the employees. To accomplish the goals and principles of this document, the employer and the exclusive representative of the employees should bargain in good faith with respect to wages, terms, and conditions of employment that may be affected. For those groups that are not represented by collective bargaining agreements, campuses should meet with those groups in the same spirit of transparency as they develop return to campus policies. COMMITMENT TO QUALITY INSTRUCTION. Colleges recognize the importance of ensuring quality education and are committed to faculty development that supports curricular adjustments and effective instructional delivery to ensure students are meeting essential learning outcomes across a diversity of modes including, but not limited to, alternative, remote or online instruction in the COVID-19 context. COMMITMENT TO STUDENT SUCCESS. All Community Colleges will endeavor to deliver quality instruction and inclusive student services to foster student engagement and support student success. COMMITTEE CHARGE In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this committee will consider the appropriate questions, provide guidance and guiding principles and connect to the work of the IBHE Fall Reopening Committee to ensure consistency across Illinois’ higher education institutions, where appropriate, as Illinois’ 48 community colleges consider how to safely reconvene on campuses across the state. 4 FINAL COPY WORKING ASSUMPTIONS • • • Every community college in Illinois is already engaged in their own local planning. Though every institution is unique and exercises its own individual autonomy, the system acknowledges that collective planning and learning lead to better decision-making and more consistency across the system. The work of this committee will not supersede any requirements or state and federal guidelines. RESTORE ILLINOIS: A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO SAFELY REOPEN OUR STATE. Restore Illinois is the plan released by Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to move Illinois forward toward reopening in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan lays out five phases. The guidance addressed in this plan focuses specifically on Phase 2 – 5, with most attention paid to Phases 3 and 4. Figure 1 below provides a graphic of the five phases. To Review the full document go here: Restore Illinois. Figure 1: The Five Phases of the Restore Illinois Plan See: Office of the Governor, J.B. Pritzker (May 5, 2020). Retrieved June 1, 2020 from https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/sfc/servlet.shepherd/document/download/069t000000BadS0AAJ?operationContext= S1 HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS Community Colleges should develop comprehensive plans for maintaining the health and safety of faculty, staff, and students. Plans should include, but not be limited to: 5 FINAL COPY • Testing and Contact Tracing: Community Colleges should connect with their local public health department, hospital, or other medical providers, and maintain regular communication with public health as best practices evolve over time. Community colleges should work collaboratively with local health departments and other medical providers in the event that surveillance testing during any of the Restore Illinois phases becomes necessary. • Health Screenings: Community Colleges should conduct health screenings safely and respectfully, in accordance with IDPH Guidelines available at: https://dceocovid19resources.com/assets/RestoreIllinois/checklists3/screening.pdf o If conducting daily temperature checks, an employee, student or visitor who presents a temperature greater than 100.4 should not be allowed admittance to the facility and should be encouraged to seek medical care. Colleges should consider their obligations as it relates to compliance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). o If automated or self-monitoring is implemented, there should be a mechanism for notification of symptoms and the need for action. • Vulnerable Employee Populations: During Phase 3 and Phase 4, community colleges should consider reasonable and appropriate accommodations for remote work wherever possible for faculty and staff who are medically unable to return to campus or who are at a higher risk or more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to underlying conditions, referencing existing contracts and collective bargaining agreements where appropriate. Colleges should be aware of extended provisions of the federal Family Medical Leave Act related to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Vulnerable Student Populations: During Phase 3 and Phase 4, community colleges should consider reasonable and appropriate accommodations for remote learning for students who are medically unable to return to campus, are at a higher risk, or are more vulnerable to COVID19 due to underlying conditions. • Quarantine and Isolation: Community Colleges should continuously monitor CDC, OSHA, and IDPH guidelines, as well as stay in close contact with local public health departments / health care providers for the latest information related to quarantine and isolation measures. Wide-scale absences of faculty, staff, or students should be noted and brought to the attention of the local public health department. • Isolation of COVID-19 Positive Employees: Community colleges should have plans in place following IDPH and CDC guidelines for requiring employees who test positive for COVID19 to self-isolate away from campus. Employees should not return to campus until they have recovered as defined by IDPH and CDC guidelines. 6 FINAL COPY • Isolation of COVID-19 Positive Students: Community colleges should have plans in place following IDPH and CDC guidelines for requiring students who test positive to self-isolate away from campus. Students should not return to campus until they have recovered as defined by IDPH and CDC guidelines. • Remote Learning / Work Options: Community colleges should support and develop options for remote learning for students, and remote work for employees (including coverage of classes if appropriate), for those who are not able to come to campus because of isolation, COVID-19 infection, or quarantine. • Traffic Flow: Community Colleges should develop plans to manage pedestrian traffic flow in and out of buildings, dining centers, classrooms, labs, and studios, as well as spacing of students, faculty and staff to be consistent with IDPH and CDC guidelines. Considerations might also be given to staggered scheduling, as appropriate. • Social Distancing Considerations: Community colleges should take additional measures to ensure social distancing and safety as determined by the features of spaces, learning methods, and other factors (e.g. floor markings, staggered furniture arrangements, Plexiglas dividers, etc.). a. Institutions should consider enacting policies requiring faculty, staff, and students to maintain a distance of at least six feet from others whenever possible, use face coverings, and practice hand hygiene consistent with CDC guidelines. In addition: i. Personnel should be scheduled to enable social distancing. ii. Personnel on campus should adhere to the use of face coverings and physical distancing. Personnel working in individual office spaces can remove face coverings but should don them when leaving their individual office space. iii. In spaces such as labs where specialized furniture and equipment are fixed, the use of face coverings and additional scheduling considerations should be employed. iv. Where possible, cleaning should be completed between each group of personnel and their work shifts on campus. • Cleaning of Facilities: Community Colleges should follow protocols for cleaning as outlined by the CDC, IDPH, and other expert organizations. • Cleaning of Spaces used by Positive COVID-19 individuals: Community Colleges should follow CDC guidance and IDPH guidance regarding cleaning of spaces used by individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. • Campus Access and Visitors: Community colleges should develop plans to manage and limit general pedestrian traffic flow to the campus and in campus buildings, including student activities and athletic events. 7 FINAL COPY • o Phase 3. Community Colleges should limit campus visitors. Visitors who must be on campus should adhere to CDC and IDPH health guidelines, including hand hygiene, face coverings, and social distancing, wherever possible. Colleges should limit community groups, camps, and other external activities that use institutional facilities. o Phase 4. Campus visitors are permitted on campus following CDC and IDPH health guidelines. Events meeting the Restore Illinois guidelines for gatherings (currently 50 people or fewer), may occur on campus, using current CDC and IDPH guidance and while following all social distancing and health practices as otherwise outlined in this document. Athletics: In Phase 3 and Phase 4, institutions may return certain student athletes to campus, in alignment with NCJAA (or other appropriate organization) and conference guidelines, while following all social distancing and health practices as otherwise outlined in this document. Health and Safety Considerations for Instruction in Phase 2, 3 and 4 • 1) Consistent with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Guidelines, institutions shall: a. Provide employees with appropriate face coverings. b. Require students to wear appropriate face coverings. c. Ensure students and faculty comply with social distancing requirements pursuant to IDPH Guidelines, including by maintaining six-foot social distancing at and convening in groups of 10 or fewer in Phase 3 and 50 or fewer in Phase 4. d. Designate six-foot distances in areas where lines are formed, or employees / students are required to gather. Designate with signage, tape, or by other means, six-foot spacing for employees and students in order to promote compliance with social distancing guidelines. e. Have hand sanitizer and sanitizing products readily available for employees and students. Students and employees must practice hand hygiene prior to using any common spaces or materials and again after completion of their work. f. Insofar as possible, separate on campus service hours should be implemented for students at high risk of contracting COVID-19. g. Provide sanitizing wipes or cleaners in all common high-touch areas and for materials that are touched by faculty, staff and students. h. Follow all appropriate IDPH and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines to minimize in-person interaction and maximize safety protocols. i. All approved accommodations and services per Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) still apply. In settings such as classrooms/auditoriums and other spaces where it is possible to socially distance, the following safety guidance applies: o Faculty, staff, and students should maintain a distance of at least six feet from others, and when six feet cannot be maintained, use face coverings and practice hand hygiene consistent with CDC guidelines. 8 FINAL COPY o Ensure students and faculty comply with social distancing requirements pursuant to IDPH Guidelines, including by maintaining six-foot social distancing and convening in groups of 10 or fewer in Phase 3 and 50 or fewer in Phase 4. INSTRUCTION IN PHASE 2 Phase 2. Education and childcare: Remote learning in P-12 schools and higher education; Child care in groups of 10 or fewer for essential workers • • • Educational institutions, including community colleges, are considered Essential Businesses for the purpose of facilitating distance learning. Community colleges should continue to provide alternative, remote or online instruction during Phase 2. Face-to-face instruction must be discontinued with very limited exceptions, during Phase 2. Face-to-Face Instruction: • For those disciplines where online, remote, or alternative instruction is impossible, colleges should consider options for these students including, but not limited to, delaying the completion of instruction, issuing incompletes (or equivalent), etc. Considerations must account for the possibility that the requirement to provide alternative, remote or online instruction will continue for a significant length of time. Face-to-Face Instruction in Key Areas: • • • Training Programs may be continued for Emergency Medical Technicians, Police, and Firefighters during Phase 2, provided appropriate safety protocols are observed, consistent with IDPH guidance. No students should be required to attend these trainings if they are uncomfortable doing so. For those students who opt out of training, a plan should be developed to extend their training window once the college’s region enters into Phase 3. No faculty or staff should be required to provide trainings in a face-to-face format if he or she is medically unable to do so, consistent with locally- developed contracts, collective bargaining agreements, and other MOUs. For those trainings, the institution may need to seek alternative training personnel as appropriate. Clinical Experience in Health Care: • • If hospitals and health care facilities choose to continue onsite clinical instruction, institutions may opt to continue these, assuming they are offsite endeavors. Students who choose not to participate should be afforded the opportunity to complete their clinical instruction at a later date. Apprenticeships, On-the-Job Training, and Internships: • Institutions may opt to continue other instructional arrangements in industries and businesses that remain open under the designation as Essential Businesses and Operations. 9 FINAL COPY • • Apprenticeships, on-the-job trainings, or internships may be continued if such instruction is occurring in critical business sectors, as identified in any disaster proclamation, executive order, Restore Illinois-, or by the IDPH. Students who choose not to participate should be afforded the opportunity to complete their apprenticeship / instruction later. If employers are unable to accommodate, the student and the college should work together to seek a viable alternative. INSTRUCTION IN PHASE 3 Phase 3. Education and childcare: Remote learning in P-12 schools and higher education; Limited child care and summer programs open with IDPH approved safety guidance • • • Educational institutions, including community colleges, are considered Essential Businesses for the purpose of facilitating distance learning. Community colleges should continue to provide alternative, remote or online instruction during Phase 3. Limited in-person instruction is allowable in those cases when there is no other way for the student to meet the competencies of the course through alternative, remote, or online instruction. Several principles are key in the implementation of this provision: o As much content as possible must be delivered in an alternative, remote, or online format, with in-person instruction limited to the essential competencies that can only be demonstrated while meeting in-person / onsite. o Any required in-person components should be completed as soon as possible. o Students should not be enrolling in CTE courses that require core competencies to be completed via hands-on or face-to-face interaction during Phase 3 unless they intend to meet these requirements. It is critical that students are advised with the utmost transparency to ensure that these decisions are made with all the relevant information.  Phase Transitions: If a region were to transition from Phase 3, back to Phase 2, these students (who enrolled during Phase 3), cannot be required to continue with in-person instruction. Note the only instruction that would continue in a face-to-face format during such a transition (Phase 3 back to Phase 2) would be Emergency Medical Technicians, Police, and Firefighters, students in clinical experiences, or apprenticeships / internships in industries and businesses that remain open under the designation as Essential Businesses and Operations. Students who choose not to participate should be afforded the opportunity to complete their in-person instruction at a later date. Phase 3: Finishing Up Student Credentials In the event that an institution moves from Phase 2 forward to Phase 3 and there are individuals who had their instruction interrupted due to being in Phase 2, the following applies: • • In the scheduling of in-person instruction, priority should be given to students scheduled to graduate soonest. In partnership with high schools, dual credit students could come to the college campus to complete their in-person instruction. 10 FINAL COPY • • • Colleges are responsible for seeking any necessary relief from accreditors and are encouraged to work directly with their respective accrediting bodies. All approved accommodations and services per Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the ADAAA still apply. Students cannot be required to participate in in-person instruction. Students who choose not to participate should be afforded the opportunity to complete their in-person instruction at a later date. INSTRUCTION IN PHASE 4 Education and childcare: P-12 schools, higher education, all summer programs, and child care open with IDPH approved safety guidance. • In-person instruction may resume, provided appropriate safety protocols are in place, and institutions do the following, including, but not limited to: o Provide employees with appropriate face coverings. o Require students to wear appropriate face coverings. o Ensure students and faculty comply with social distancing requirements pursuant to IDPH Guidelines, including by maintaining six-foot social distancing and convening in groups of 10 or fewer in Phase 3 and 50 or fewer in Phase 4. o Designate six-foot distances in areas where lines are formed, or employees/students are required to gather. Designate with signage, tape, or by other means, six-foot spacing for employees and students in order to promote compliance with social distancing guidelines. o Have hand sanitizer and sanitizing products readily available for employees and students. Students and employees must practice hand hygiene prior to using any common spaces or materials and again after completion of their work. o Insofar as possible, separate hours should be implemented for students at high risk of contracting COVID-19. o Follow all appropriate IDPH and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines to minimize in-person interaction and maximize safety protocols. o Provide sanitizing wipes or cleaners in all common high-touch areas and for materials that are touched by faculty, staff and students. o All approved accommodations and services per Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the ADAAA. STUDENT SERVICES – PHASE 3 AND PHASE 4 • • Student services staff are best equipped to help students in distress and should assist faculty with identifying and referring students in distress to appropriate services. Advising Centers, Testing Centers, Tutoring Centers, Financial Aid Offices, etc., should operate under the health and safety guidelines of the appropriate phase. o For example, during Phase 3, advising, tutoring, etc., should be offered remotely, insofar as possible. When not possible, they should operate under the guidelines for gatherings under Phase 3 and Health and Safety Guidelines cited in this document. o Other congregate spaces will be closed during Phase 3. 11 FINAL COPY • • Placement testing should be discontinued or conducted via an online platform in phase 3. o If institutions choose to open placement testing centers during Phase 3 or Phase 4, they should open them consistent with gathering requirements in the appropriate Phase. o If college testing services must offer in-person testing for student certifications and assessments that do not have remote options, appropriate gathering restrictions and health and safety measures must be followed. Community colleges should also utilize the high school GPA when other assessments are not available (or not easily accessible), or when the GPA places a student out of remedial coursework. See: Applying the Final Placement Recommendations for Placement in the Fall of 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. AUXILIARY SERVICES Service Guidance Childcare Centers https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/OECD/Pages/Resources-for-Providers.aspx Health and Fitness Centers Institutions should consider keeping fitness centers closed to the public during Phase 3. https://dceocovid19resources.com/assets/RestoreIllinois/businessguidelines3/healthandfitness.pdf https://dceocovid19resources.com/assets/RestoreIllinois/businessguidelines4/phase4overview.pdf Swimming Facility Guidelines for Phase 3. http://www.dph.illinois.gov/sites/default/files/Swimming%20Facility%20Gu idelines%20Final%206%205%2020.pdf Cafeterias and Dining Services Vending machines may remain in use, though should be sanitized after each use. See https://dceocovid19resources.com/assets/RestoreIllinois/businessguidelines3/offices.pdf https://dceocovid19resources.com/assets/RestoreIllinois/businessguidelines4/phase4overview.pdf https://dceocovid19resources.com/assets/RestoreIllinois/businessguidelines3/restaurantbars.pdf Bookstores https://dceocovid19resources.com/assets/RestoreIllinois/businessguidelines3/retail.pdf https://dceocovid19resources.com/assets/RestoreIllinois/businessguidelines4/phase4overview.pdf 12 FINAL COPY Office Spaces Sharing of Offices is addressed. https://dceocovid19resources.com/assets/RestoreIllinois/businessguidelines3/offices.pdf https://dceocovid19resources.com/assets/RestoreIllinois/businessguidelines4/phase4overview.pdf RETURN TO CAMPUS MEMBERSHIP MEMBER REPRESENTING Tammy Betancourt, Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer Danville Area Community College, VicePresident, Chief Financial Officers Organization Stephanie Bernoteit, Executive Deputy Director Illinois Board of Higher Education Kathy Bruce, Associate Provost, Academic Affairs Harper College Josh Bullock, President Lake Land College, Presidents’ Council Executive Team Noella Dcruz, Astronomy Faculty Joliet Junior College Yolanda Farmer, Vice President of Student Development Joliet Junior College, Past – President, Illinois Chief Student Services Officers Dan Hagberg, Executive Director of Institutional Research Heartland Community College, ICCB MIS Advisory Committee Ginger Harner, Adult Education/Alternative High School Manager Shawnee College, Chair Illinois Adult Education Advisory Council Peggy Heinrich, Vice President of Teaching, Learning, and Student Development Elgin Community College Anne Humphrey, English Faculty McHenry County College Ryan Jansen, Disability Services Coordinator John Wood Community College Sylvia Jenkins, President Moraine Valley College, Presidents’ Council Executive Team Tony Johnston, President Cook County College Teachers Union Kona Jones, Director of Online Learning Richland Community College 13 FINAL COPY Diane Koenig, Math Faculty Rock Valley College, President of the Illinois Math Association of Community Colleges, SJR 41 Taskforce Member Raymond Kowalczyk, Accounting Faculty Illinois Central College Bill LaTour, Dean of Operations/Chief of Police John Wood Community College Ileo Lott, Vice President of Academic Affairs Oakton Community College Cynthia Maskey, Dean, Health Professions Lincoln Land Community College Diane Nyhammer, Vice President of Educational Affairs Waubonsee Community College, President, Chief Academic Officers Organization Curt Oldfield, President Spoon River College, Presidents’ Council Executive Team, President of the Council Randi Papke, Biology Faculty Southwestern IL College, Labor Amy Pawlik, Associate Vice President of Enrollment and Student Support Services Heartland Community College, President, Illinois Chief Student Services Officers Paige Ponder, CEO of One Million Degrees ICCB Board Member Mark Potter, Provost & Chief Academic Officer City Colleges of Chicago Jim Reed, Executive Director Illinois Community College Trustees Association Jonah Rice, President Southeastern IL College, Presidents’ Council Executive Team Purva Rushi, Executive Director for Strategic Planning and Accreditation Triton College Tawnja Trimble, Coordinator of Tutoring McHenry County College, Labor Terry Wilkerson, President Rend Lake College Jacob Winter, Math Faculty Member Blackhawk College, President, Illinois Community College Faculty (ICCFA) 14