Health & Safety Concerns - Fall 2021

The following notes were shared during our General Membership Meeting on August 19, 2021, via Zoom. Direct questions to Kevin McCoy, who serves as the FA rep to the college's Safe Restart Task Force. 

Be sure to review for yourself and direct student inquiries to the college's coronavirus information website, particularly "Timely Student Information Related to the Fall 2021 Semester."

More information can be found on the SCCC handout "Keeping You Safe and Healthy: Important Things to Know While Choosing Your Schedule." 

  • Plans have still not been completely finalized 
  • Enrollment – roughly split between online/remote and on campus
  • Recent student enrollment is trending towards on campus
  • Seat limit – 75% of room capacity (not class size limit capacity)
  • Office hours – still being discussed
  • Non-classroom faculty & staff schedules – 75% on-campus & 25% remote
  • Academic/student services – both online & on campus
  • SUNY student vaccine policy – mandatory when FDA gives final approval
  • DO NOT ASK STUDENTS IF THEY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED
  • Employee vaccine policy would be created at the state level; college would negotiate terms with bargaining units
  • Covid testing – mandatory weekly testing for unvaccinated students & employees
  • Optional Covid testing for vaccinated students & employees
  • SCCC will follow Suffolk County DOH guidelines for contract tracing/quarantines
  • Everyone coming to campus should monitor themselves for COVID symptoms
  • Masks will be required in classes, labs, public spaces, crowded outdoor events
  • College will make extra masks available if a student needs one
  • The college is following CDC/FDA safety protocols (e.g. HVAC upgrades, cleaning protocols

Helpful Links/Information

Reminders

  • The beginning of the semester is probably going to be chaotic for everyone—please try to be patient
  • Students might be angry about mask mandates or mandatory vaccines; contact security if they are belligerent
  • Covid positivity rates on campus were extremely low this past year (.15%)
  • We are going to have increased density on campus and the Delta variant is more contagious, so please follow the safety protocols and if possible get vaccinated
  • Please do not hesitate to contact your EC rep or FA officers if you have concerns about what is going on in your area