Health and Well-Being Measures
In order to focus on the health and well-being of our faculty, staff, students, vendors, volunteers, and visitors across all planning, health measures were developed based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance.
All campus locations have undergone a COVID-19 Risk Assessment performed by the Offices of Safety Compliance and Public Safety. The recommendations from those assessments constitute a risk control plan for each area. Each unit will follow the recommended mitigations from the unit’s control plans.
The following health measures are required of all members of the University community including visitors:
- Plan - WVSU will implement appropriate policies, following state, federal, and local guidelines, as well as those of the CDC and the World Health Organization, and those which are informed by industry best practices, to ensure a safe reopening of the Institute campus and all University properties. To this end, WVSU will do the following:
- Sanitize and prepare all buildings for reopening and increase the frequency of such cleanings to meet established protocols;
- Enforce social distancing protocols of six-feet spacing where possible;
- Require face coverings for all who enter campus properties;
- Install Plexiglass shields at all appropriate administrative offices and teaching spaces;
- Control access points of entrance and exit of all buildings for the purpose of screening those who enter;
- Perform temperature checks at each building;
- Develop signage in order to control flow of traffic in hallways and stairwells;
- Develop a central dispensary for personal protective equipment (PPE) and provide the same to all campus users, giving special consideration for those who deal with the public and those in at-risk populations;
- Increase the frequency and availability of hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and other cleaning products;
- Reduce touch points to the maximum extent possible; and
- Create an open line of communication for all students, employees, and the general public through the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
- Close the campus to unrestricted foot traffic.Visitors will be expected to sign in at the WVSU Visitors’ Center to allow for a log of campus visitations.
- Screening - Screen employees reporting to work daily and all those who enter the building for COVID-19 symptoms with temperature checks and the following questions:
- Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
- Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat?
- Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?
- Have you had new loss of taste or smell?
- Have you had vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours?
- Sick Employees - Any employee or visitor who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms (i.e., answers yes to any of the screening questions or who is running a fever above 100.4 degrees) will be asked to leave the premises immediately and seek medical care and/or COVID-19 testing, per CDC guidelines. Confidentiality of any and all health information will be maintained through the protocols of the Office of Human Resources.
- Training - It will be the policy of WVSU to expect increased frequency of handwashing and the use of hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol. Such expectations are outlined in the Code of Expectations that will be made available to all students and employees of the University.
- Cleaning - WVSU will implement workplace cleaning and disinfection practices, according to CDC guidelines, with regular sanitization of common surfaces. Staffing and supplies available will be increased in order to enable enhanced sanitization and cleaning measures in accordance with appropriate CDC guidelines.
- Hygiene - In addition to wash facilities in public restrooms, WVSU will provide individual hand sanitizer bottles to all students, faculty, and staff.
- PPE - WVSU will provide cloth face masks to all students, faculty, and staff at the beginning of the fall 2020 semester and encourage wearing of the same through the Code of Expectations. Accommodations will be given to students and employees with disabilities for whom the wearing of masks would create breathing difficulties.
- Tracing - WVSU will develop and implement policies and procedures for employee contact tracing for individuals with a positive COVID-19 test and inform the local health department of such positive test and tracing. WVSU will work with the Kanawha County Health Department who will conduct contact tracing procedures.
- Telework - WVSU will continue to enhance its technology to provide additional resources and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to work remotely when necessary.
- WVSU will continuously monitor its technology needs to meet the demand created by the fluid nature of COVID-19 information and protocols;
- WVSU will convert as much of its instructional space as possible to virtual learning space, with appropriate technology therein;
- WVSU will make appropriate accommodations for members of the campus community who are within vulnerable populations;
- Touch Points - Contact with doorknobs, switches, buttons, and any point of sale equipment will be limited to the maximum extent possible and frequently cleaned and sanitized. The entrance/exit doors will be sanitized routinely
- Travel – Until further notice, all out-of-state and non-essential travel is cancelled;
- Visitors - To the greatest extent possible, visitors and the general public will be encouraged to make appointments. Visitation by individuals for reasons other than to conduct business should be limited. Visitors will be directed to check in the visitor’s center (the University’s designated entry point) where they will be screened prior to entry. Appropriate PPE, including face coverings, will be required.
- Traffic - WVSU will install physical barriers and/or visual cues and signs to ensure that students, faculty, staff, and visitors maintain appropriate social distancing.
- Cooperation - WVSU is currently working with federal, state, and local entities, and the officials of the same, to plan and implement safety measures and will continue to do so throughout the pandemic period.
- Signage - WVSU will post extensive signage on health policies that are contained within the guidelines of federal, state, and local health boards.
- Phased Staffing - WVSU will phase in a return of staff over time in a coordinated process to ensure appropriate social distancing, availability of PPE and testing capabilities for COVID-19.
We will assess expanded staffing based on mission-critical operations, ability to control and manage specific work environments, and necessity to access on-site resources. These decisions, once approved, will be communicated through respective Deans, Vice Presidents, or the Associate Provost.
The need to reduce the number of people on campus (density) to meet social distancing
requirements will continue for some time. Support units that can continue to work remotely effectively will likely continue to do so until restrictions are eased for larger gatherings.
Expanded staffing will be tightly controlled and coordinated to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of faculty and staff as well as the communities we serve. No unit or department should increase staffing levels beyond current needs to support critical on-site operations without approval from the respective Dean, Vice President, or Associate Provost. Once decisions to expand on-site staffing in certain areas have been made, staff should follow the policies and protocols detailed in this guide for returning to work on campus.
- Staffing Options - Once staff members have been instructed to return to work on-site, departments should consider several options to maintain required social distancing measures and reduce population density within buildings and work spaces.
- Remote Work: Those who can work remotely to fulfill some or all of their work responsibilities may continue to do so to reduce the number of individuals on campus and the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus. These arrangements, which should be approved by the immediate supervisor, can be done on a full or partial day/week schedule as appropriate.
- Alternating Days: In order to limit the number of individuals and interactions among those on campus, departments should schedule partial staffing on alternating days. Such schedules will help enable social distancing, especially in areas with large common workspaces.
- Staggered Reporting/Departing: The beginning and end of the workday typically bring many people together at common entry/exit points of buildings. Staggering reporting and departure times by at least 30 minutes will reduce traffic in common areas to meet social distancing requirements.
- WVSU will ensure staff are up to date on training;
- Through the offices of the Vice Presidents, WVSU will adapt flexible return policies and practices for staff to work remotely that include staff with underlying conditions; employees 60+, and employees with day care issues.
The overriding goal is to provide a safe environment for the return of students, faculty, and staff. The aim is to strike a balance between the pressing needs of the University and being flexible based on the needs of the employees. Contingent on the readiness of the campus, the first phase of employees returning would be July 6, 2020 (50%) with a goal of having 100% return by August 3, 2020. This also depends on the individual needs of a particular office and required duties.