Fall 2022 COVID-19 Plan
I. Preface
For Fall 2022, CUNY will have a mixed population of students, staff and faculty that are fully vaccinated, boosted, and not fully vaccinated. Our policies are designed to maximize the protection of all our community members including people who are not fully vaccinated. The CDC guidance identifies four factors that inform the optimal implementation of layered prevention strategies.
1. The level of community transmission of COVID-19
2. COVID-19 vaccination coverage, including among students, faculty, and staff
3. Implementation of a robust, frequent SARS-CoV-2 screening testing program with high participation from the unvaccinated campus population
4. Any local COVID-19 outbreaks or increasing trends
CUNY continues to consider all of these factors.
Unlike our departure from campus, which was quickly completed in a two-week period, we have carefully planned our return to campus, being mindful of and incorporating requirements of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), NYS Department of Health, New York Forward Higher Education Guidelines, CUNY, and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). There are many aspects to consider in planning a safe return to the campus. First, and foremost, is ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus.
It is important to note that Lehman College, CUNY is a commuter campus that prides itself on its diversity and commitment to multicultural understanding. For this reason, we value the input of all members in our community as we develop guidelines that are safe and inclusive.
II. The Joint Return to Campus Committee
The Joint Return to Campus Committee was established by merging the former Return to Campus Phase 1 and Phase 2 committees to form one large committee. The Joint Return to Campus Committee was divided into four (4) sub-committees charged to develop plans in the following areas:
- Student Services and Student Activities;
- Administrative Staff (Academic and Administrative) and Faculty and Staff Services;
- Academic Classes and Activities;
- Campus Public and Meeting Spaces & Campus Ground.
The committees identified concerns and potential problem areas associated with reopening the campus, and recommended solutions to guide the plans for a safe return to campus. The Committee includes the Vice President for Administration and Finance and representatives from Campus Planning and Facilities, Human Resources, Information Technology Resources, Environmental Health and Safety, Public Safety, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, the President’s Office, the Provost’s Office, Office of Communications and Marketing, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, a College Lab Technician, two PSC Higher Education Officer series representatives, School Dean, School Associate Dean, PSC Faculty representative, DC37 representative, Student Government (2), Student Affairs, Faculty members, representative from the Library and Online Education. The Committee’s report and recommendations have been incorporated as the update to the College’s approved plan and are contained in the Return to Campus Plan Addendum.
The first meeting of the Joint Return to Campus Committee was convened on April 14, 2021 and continued to meet as a full group through June 8, 2021, for a total of 6 meetings. The first meeting was used to advise all members of the purpose and charge for the Committee. Documents outlining current CDC, NYS & CUNY guidelines and the College’s approved Return to Campus Plan were posted into the team files for members. It was agreed that the best way to accomplish the work was to divide the overall committee into sub-committees to update the College’s approved return plan. The sub-committees met individually outside the overall committee meeting schedule.
The sub-committees were charged to develop the guidelines and where applicable, requirements associated with the sub-committee's area of focus. For example, in our approved plan - Phase 2, we listed every class that would be taught on campus and repeated the requirements associated with having an on-campus class. The document created for the updated plan will only include the requirements, guidelines, etc., not the details. We will have attachments or tables that will provide details such as approved occupancy and anything else pertinent.
The College’s approved plan and the CUNY update and addendum were the starting point used to either build on what exists (approved for 25% occupancy), or completely change as needed for a Fall 2021 return of 50% or greater building to full return Spring 2022. The Re-exit Committee will update the plan section detailing when to leave and the circumstances that warrant closing.
The documents resulting from the work of the sub-committees of the Joint Return to Campus Committee have been incorporated into the final updated return to campus document submitted for CUNY approval.
Joint Return to Campus Committee – All Members and Sub-committees and Membership:
COVID-19 Campus Liaison: Eric Washington, Director, Human Resources 718-960-8181, eric.washington@lehman.cuny.edu
COVID-19 Campus Coordinator: Rene Rotolo, Vice President Administration and Finance 646-533-2613 (cell), rene.rotolo@lehman.cuny.edu.
Student Activities and Student Services:
- Jermaine Wright (Chair) jermaine.wright@lehman.cuny.edu
- Diane Clarke diane.clarke@lehman.cuny.edu
- Teresita Levy teresita.levy@lehman.cuny.edu
- Julissa Monegro julissa.monegro@lc.cuny.edu
- Ronald Bergmann ronald.bergmann@lehman.cuny.edu
- Colleen Lutolf colleen.lutolf@lehman.cuny.edu
Administrative Staff (Academic & Administrative) and Faculty and Staff Services:
- Dawn Ewing-Morgan (co-Chair) dawn.ewing-morgan@lehman.cuny.edu
- Bridget Barbera (co-Chair) bridget.barbera@lehman.cuny.edu
- Eric Washington eric.washington@lehman.cuny.edu
- Joshunda Sanders joshunda.sanders@lehman.cuny.edu
- Mark Miller conard.miller@lehman.cuny.edu
- Takiyah Ali takiyah.ali@lehman.cuny.edu
- Enid Martinez enid.martinez@lehman.cuny.edu
- Ilona Linins Ilona.linins@lehman.cuny.edu
Academic Classes and Activities:
- Karin Beck (Chair) karen.beck@lehman.cuny.edu
- Mary Phillips mary.phillips@lehman.cuny.edu
- Robin Auchincloss robin.auchincloss@lehman.cuny.edu
- Olena Zhadko olena.zhadko@lehman.cuny.edu
- Blessing Babalola victoria.babalola@lc.cuny.edu
- Brian Morgan brian.morgan@lehman.cuny.edu
- Pamela Mills pamela.mills@lehman.cuny.edu
- Yvette Rosario yvette.rosario@lehman.cuny.edu
- Nicole Saunders nicole.saunders@lehman.cuny.edu
Cultural – Galleries, Theatres, & Group Meeting Spaces, Public Spaces – Campus Grounds
- Ediltrudys Ruiz (Chair) ediltrudys.ruiz@lehman.cuny.edu
- Conrad Walker conrad.walker@lehman.cuny.edu
- Fausto Ramirez fausto.ramirez@lehman.cuny.edu
- Victor Brown victor.brown@lehman.cuny.edu
- Martha Lerski martha.lerski@lehman.cuny.edu
- Pedro Luna pedro.luna@lehman.cuny.edu
III. Guiding Principle
With the safety of our college community as our guiding principle, we recommend a multi-phased return, one that ensures we protect all members of our community while slowly re-populating our campus.
IV. Plan Goal
To increase the number of persons, classes and activities on campus Fall 2021 moving closer to increased occupancy in Spring 2022.
V. The Campus Plan
This plan includes the pre-occupancy return to campus for full (100%) essential, maintenance, operation and custodial personnel including IT personnel, to prepare the campus for re-occupancy. Acknowledging that what is considered normal occupancy post pandemic will never be as it was pre-pandemic. We expect occupancy moving towards 70% occupancy in Spring 2022.
VI. Campus-wide Policies, Guidelines, Requirements, Protocols and Procedures
The following is a list of policies, guidelines, requirements, protocols, and procedures that must be in place for the return to campus and followed while on campus:
Policies & Procedures
Responsible party: Human Resources
- Flexible Work Guidelines (CUNY) https://www.cuny.edu/coronavirus/flexible-work-arrangements
- HR Guidelines - Lehman College Plan for Transitioning from Remote to On-Campus Work - attached
- Requesting exceptions and accommodations
Reasonable Accommodations for Disability and other medical reasons, Religious Practices, and Status as a Victim of Domestic Violence.
The CUNY Policy on Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments describes the reasonable accommodations and academic adjustments procedure in connection with a disability; pregnancy, childbirth, or a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth; religious practices, and status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offense or stalking. The Policy on Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments is posted to this URL: https://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/legal-affairs/policies-procedures/reasonable-accommodations-and-academic-adjustments/i-policy-statement
Employees who may need an accommodation in connection with one of these issues should contact Human Resources by calling (718) 960-8812 or write to eric.washington@lehman.cuny.edu
Options for Employees Not Covered by CUNY Policy on Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments
Employees who have concerns about returning to work for non-disability reasons or for reasons not covered by the CUNY Policy on Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments such as childcare or the health of others in their household, may be eligible for options such as use of annual leave, a leave of absence, or leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or the Families First Corona Virus Response Act (FFCRA extended through September 30, 2012). CUNY will continue to provide FFCRA leaves to eligible employees who fill out the appropriate attestation and request forms, which can be found here. If an employee has already exhausted their FFRCA leaves, they do not receive additional time.
Employees should contact Human Resources at (718) 960-8181 with questions about the Reasonable Accommodation Policy (disability and medical conditions) and options available to employees not covered by the CUNY Policy on Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments.
Campus-wide Policies, Guidelines, Requirements, Protocols and Procedures, Enforcement Facility Protocols and Supplies
Resources
- Lehman College Coronavirus (COVID-19) Webpage (Updates and Resources): https://lehman.edu/coronavirus
- Monitoring of health conditions and reporting
- Mandatory Requirements - safe social distancing, masks, face-coverings and/or PPE, hand hygiene, cough/sneeze etiquette, employee surface cleaning
- Requirements to return to work after a positive COVID-19 test or after exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 - Refer to DOH’s “Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure” regarding protocols and policies for individuals seeking to return to work or class after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or after individuals have had close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19
A. Enforcement of Mandatory Requirements and Reporting Violations
Responsible party: Human Resources, Administration and Finance
Vaccination and Booster Requirements (rev. 7/27/22)
All new students coming to campus for the first time in the fall for in-person and hybrid courses, or any other on-campus activities will be required to submit proof of vaccination, unless a religious or medical exemption has been approved.
Students must upload proof of being fully-vaccinated prior to the start of classes for the fall term. A person is considered fully vaccinated:
- Two weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna or;
- Two weeks after a single dose vaccine such as Johnson & Johnson (J&J),or;
- At the time specified in either in the FDA licensure or World Health Organization (WHO) approval, after the final vaccination of any other vaccines
Additionally, students are strongly encouraged to receive vaccine boosters, once eligible. Colleges should continue to promote the benefits of vaccination and encourage their campus populations to receive vaccinations and boosters.
Booster Eligibility:
- Those 18 and older are eligible for a booster shot at 5 months after the completion of two dose regimen of Pfizer, 5 months after the completion of two dose regimen of Moderna or 2 months after the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) shot. The Pfizer or Moderna booster is preferred in most situations.
- Those 12-17 year olds who initially received the Pfizer two dose regimen are eligible for a Pfizer booster 5 months after completing the regimen.
- Those 12 and older 5 months after the completion of a WHO-approved vaccine that is not authorized by the FDA, or 5 months after completion of a mix and match series of WHO-approved and FDA approved/authorized vaccines.
Faculty, staff and students who are still not vaccinated are urged to continue to wear a mask. Mask requirements associated with isolation and quarantine as referenced later in these guidelines remain in effect.
Note: Individuals who received a World Health Organization (WHO) approved vaccination other than the three listed above must provide more information. Students can reach out to your Campus Location Vaccination Authority (LVA) for details.
Student participation in on-campus activities will require proof of vaccination and booster unless a religious or medical exemption has been approved.
All faculty will be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 unless a religious or medical exemption has been approved.
For unvaccinated staff, the CDC recommends a mix of the following prevention strategies to reduce spread and protect unvaccinated populations on campuses. Based on the factors above, CUNY will be vigilant in monitoring the changing nature of the pandemic and will adjust the implementation of these prevention strategies as needed.
Offering and Promoting Vaccination (new 1/17/22)
CUNY has and will continue to strongly promote the vaccine and boosters. Campuses will continue to promote the University’s #VaxUpCUNY campaign, a multifaceted, multimedia campaign to encourage CUNY students, alumni, faculty and staff to get their COVID-19 vaccination and boosters. The campaign is a critical strategy for easing anxiety for those that may be hesitant to vaccinations.
Physical Distancing (rev. 7/27/22) - Removed
Masks (rev. 7/27/22)
At this time, CUNY will not require face masks during the fall semester.
Anyone who would like to continue wearing masks in any setting is welcome to do so at any time. Masks will continue to be available on campus and in offices.
Those who choose to wear a mask should continue to follow CDC guidance for acceptable face coverings: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html
To report student violations of any requirements or guidelines in this return to campus document, please submit a Code of Conduct report form that can be found on the Student Affairs Community Standards page: https://www.lehman.edu/student-affairs/community-standards.php.
Note, some employees may be required to wear protective PPE masks, etc. due to the nature of their work. Employers must comply with all applicable OSHA standards: https://www.osha.gov/personal-protective-equipment/standards
B. Facility Protocols: Hygiene, Cleaning & Disinfecting
Responsible party: Facilities/Buildings & Grounds
Hand Hygiene & Respiratory Etiquette
CUNY will continue to facilitate health-promoting behaviors such as hand washing and respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette to reduce the spread of infectious illnesses including COVID-19. Provide frequent reminders of proper hand hygiene (verbally, posters, videos) with hand sanitizer widely available in common areas and rooms. Campuses must maintain hand hygiene stations around the institution, as follows:
• For handwashing: soap, running warm water, disposable paper towels, and a lined garbage can.
• For hand sanitizing: an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for areas where handwashing facilities may not be available or practical.
• Hand sanitizer will be available throughout common areas. They will be placed in convenient locations, such as at building entrances, and exits. Touch-free hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed where possible. Remember: alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be flammable and may not be suitable for certain areas of a campus.
• Signage will be placed near hand sanitizer stations indicating that visibly soiled hands should be washed with soap and water; hand sanitizer is not effective on visibly soiled hands.
• Campuses will recommend and reinforce handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Campuses will place receptacles around the institution for disposal of soiled items, including paper towels and PPE.
• Disposable wipes will be made available to staff and faculty so that commonly used surfaces (e.g., keyboards, desks, remote controls) can be wiped down before and after use.
To anonymously report areas where facility protocols identified in this return plan are lacking on campus to the Department of Administration and Finance and the Department of Human Resources, please use the following link: https://www.lehman.edu/lehman-campus/index.php Or email the Director of Campus Planning and Facilities, Robin Auchincloss robin.auchincloss@lehman.cuny.edu
Buildings and Grounds has established a central email for students, faculty and staff to request replenishment of the stock of face coverings and to note if any of the facilities related steps in the Return to Work plan are not being addressed fully: buildingsandgrounds@lehman.cuny.edu. Staff and faculty can also continue to submit work requests through the ARCHIBUS system available through the campus website.
Buildings & Grounds (B&G) Custodial Staff have been on campus continuously since spring 2020 maintaining and disinfecting the campus.
The Return to Campus Protocol below varies from pre-COVID19 cleaning protocol in the following ways:
- The number and types of surfaces that are cleaned and disinfected, as opposed to just cleaned, and the frequency with which high touch surfaces are cleaned/disinfected.
- The high percentage of cleaning staff per occupied area allows for more intensive and repeated cleaning.
- Disinfection is done using an EPA registered anti-viral disinfectant.
B&G Custodial Staff Return to Campus Cleaning Protocol – Cleaning logs will be updated daily.
- Hand sanitizer stations located at building entrances and high traffic areas as well as elevator lobbies on each floor of every occupied building
- Public area floors disinfected daily
- All high touch surfaces in public areas are cleaned and disinfected twice daily including:
- door pulls/knobs
- elevator panels/buttons
- stair handrails
- bathrooms
- drinking fountains
- outdoor tables and chairs
- Over the summer all hard surface office floors are being stripped, waxed, and disinfected and all office carpeted floors are being shampooed.
- Office door hardware disinfected daily.
- B&G staff do not clean personal items, phones, or computers. Phones and computers are cleaned by individuals or by IT staff. Hand sanitizer wipes will be provided by B&G for office use. IT has alcohol wipes for use on keyboards.
- Bathrooms in occupied areas are cleaned and disinfected twice a day.
- Over the last several months touchless soap dispensers, hand driers and flushometers have been installed in bathrooms throughout campus.
- Over the summer floors in all classrooms and laboratories are being stripped, waxed and disinfected.
- All high touch surfaces in classrooms will be cleaned and disinfected once a day.
- Disinfecting wipes will be provided in classrooms and labs for use throughout the day.
Buidings & Grounds Hygiene & Disinfecting Response to Suspected or Confirmed Exposure or Positive COVID Test
Lehman College follows CDC guidelines on “Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility” if someone is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19:
- Upon notification from the COVID Coordinator, Facilities will immediately close and lock space.
- Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.
- Follow CDC guidelines: wait 24 hours before entering space to clean and disinfect. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
- Clean and disinfect all bathrooms and adjacent spaces, hallways, lobbies, and high touch surfaces (e.g., elevators, lobbies, building entrances, badge scanners, restrooms, handrails, door handles).
- Once the area has been appropriately cleaned and disinfected, it can be reopened for use.
- Individuals without close or proximate contact with the person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 can return to the work in the area or resume on-campus activities immediately after cleaning and disinfection.
- If more than seven days have passed since the person who is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary, but routine cleaning and disinfection will continue.
Cleaning and Disinfection (new 1/17/21)
Campuses must ensure adherence to hygiene and cleaning and disinfection requirements as advised by the CDC and NYSDOH, including “Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Public and Private Facilities for COVID-19,” and the “STOP THE SPREAD” poster, as applicable. Campuses must maintain logs that include the date, time, and scope of cleaning and disinfection. Campuses must identify cleaning and disinfection frequency for each facility type and assign responsibility.
The head of campus facilities (or position designated by the Coronavirus Campus Coordinator) will establish the log, perhaps online, with the required information and instruct housekeeping staff to complete an entry after each cleaning and disinfection activity. The head of campus facilities will determine cleaning regimens for specific spaces and establish a frequency schedule for each facility type and the housekeeping team assigned to the head of campus facilities will report to the Coronavirus Campus Coordinator regularly on the status of the cleaning regimen and the log.
• Campuses may choose to provide appropriate cleaning and disinfection supplies for shared and frequently touched surfaces for employees and encourage their employees (or cleaning staffs) to use these supplies following manufacturer’s instructions for use before and after use of these surfaces. Campuses may provide such supplies for others. o To reduce the number of high-touch surfaces, campuses should install touch-free amenities such as water fountains, trash cans, and paper towel dispensers. If installing touch-free amenities is not feasible, campuses will at a minimum, make hand sanitizer available near high touch surfaces (e.g. trash receptacles, paper towel dispensers).
o Occupants of the campus will be vested with the responsibility for cleaning their own work areas. Campuses will provide workspaces with single use disinfecting wipes and/or multi-surface spray cleaners to support self-servicing. For college-owned vehicles, drivers should clean and disinfect high touch points on and in vehicles before and after each use. Disinfecting supplies will be stored in each vehicle.
• Campuses must conduct regular cleaning and disinfection of the facilities and more frequent cleaning and disinfection for high risk areas used by many individuals and for frequently touched surfaces. Cleaning and disinfection must be rigorous and ongoing and will occur at least daily, or more frequently as needed. Please refer to NYSDOH’s “Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Public and Private Facilities for COVID-19” for detailed instructions on how to clean and disinfect facilities.
• Ensure that materials and tools used by employees are regularly cleaned and disinfected using registered products. Refer to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) list of products registered in New York State and identified by the EPA as effective against COVID-19. If cleaning or disinfecting products or the act of cleaning and disinfecting causes safety hazards or degrades the material or machinery, campuses must put in place hand hygiene stations between use and/or supply disposable gloves and/or limitations on the number of employees using such machinery.
• Campuses must ensure regular cleaning and disinfection of restrooms. Restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected more often depending on frequency of use.
• Campuses are expected to follow CDC guidelines on “Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility” if someone is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19: o Campuses do not necessarily need to close operations, if they can close off the affected areas.
o Close off areas used by the person who is sick, suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19.
o Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.
o Wait 24 hours before you clean and disinfect. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
o Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, such as offices, classrooms, bathrooms, and common areas.
o Once the area has been appropriately cleaned and disinfected, it can be reopened for use.
o Individuals without close or proximate contact with the person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 can return to the work in the area or resume on-campus activities immediately after cleaning and disinfection.
o If more than seven days have passed since the person who is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary, but routine cleaning and disinfection will continue.
o Campuses must provide for the cleaning and disinfection of exposed areas in the event an individual is confirmed to have COVID-19, with such cleaning and disinfection to include, at a minimum, all heavy transit areas and high-touch surfaces (e.g., elevators, lobbies, building entrances, badge scanners, restrooms, handrails, door handles).
• Refer to NYSDOH’s “Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure” for information on “close and proximate” contacts. o If a worker or visitor was in close or proximate contact with others at the location and tests positive for COVID, immediately notify and cooperate with New York State and City health departments with contact tracing efforts, including notification of potential contacts, such as workers, visitors and/or customers (if known) who had close or proximate contact with the individual, while maintaining confidentiality required.
• Campuses should avoid use of furniture that is not easily cleaned and disinfected (e.g., cloth fabric sofas)
• Whenever possible, campuses will increase ventilation of outdoor air (e.g., opening windows and doors) while maintaining safety precautions. o Patios or outdoor spaces that allow for open air meetings could serve as a substitute for indoor meeting spaces, weather permitting.
Repair Protocol
If social distancing requirement of 6 ft is in place, Buildings and Grounds Staff are not to enter occupied offices for repair work.
C. Ventilation Systems & Additional Guidance on Ventilation & HVAC Systems (updated 1/17/22)
Responsible party: Facilities/Buildings & Grounds
B&G Plant, Skilled and Unskilled Trades Staff have been on campus continuously since spring 2020 maintaining and operating campus buildings, building systems and the campus grounds, and making repairs as necessary as well as installing plastic barriers where needed.
As part of our overall ventilation assessment, an engineering consultant conducted site visits at all of the buildings identified for re-opening to determine what control measures were available for each building and reported its findings to CUNY. Based on the CDC guidelines and the data gathered, CUNY identified the buildings that meet a sufficient subset of the CDC guidelines to limit the risk of airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2. The reports confirmed which buildings could safely be used for in-person learning.
- Mechanical Equipment
- Over the summer all air handlers are being power washed, disinfected and MERV 13 filters changed.
- Occupied spaces with central mechanical systems have had the outside dampers set to allow the maximum intake of outside air.
- All building and bathroom exhaust fans have been surveyed, preventative maintenance completed, belts changed, and motors replaced where needed.
- Building Windows and Plumbing Systems
- Classroom windows have been surveyed and where necessary repairs made to operable windows.
- Building Plumbing systems have been flushed weekly to maintain
Additional Guidance on Ventilation and HVAC Systems (New 1/17/22)
Where possible, CUNY facilities should ensure there is an adequate flow of fresh air to workspaces and optimize the ventilation system operations in order to reduce the risk of airborne exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The CDC has identified many approaches in its Ventilation in Buildings guidance document, including:
• Increasing the introduction of outdoor air through opening of dampers and operable windows;
• Disabling demand control ventilation or systems that turn the fans off when thermostats are satisfied so that fans run continuously;
• Running HVAC systems at maximum outside airflow for 2 hours before and after the building is occupied.
• Ensuring ventilation systems operate properly;
• Increasing air filtration to as high as possible (MERV 13) without significantly reducing design airflow.
• Making sure filters are properly sized and fit properly;
• Ensuring restroom exhaust fans are functional and operating at full capacity;
• Considering portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) fan/filtration systems to enhance air cleaning; and
• Considering ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) as a supplemental treatment when options for increasing room ventilation and filtration are limited.
The CDC recommends that facility operators adopt a layered approach to COVID-19 transmission mitigation and suggests that facility operators “consider using some or all of [its list of control measure] tools to improve ventilation.” As part of the ventilation assessment, campuses were instructed to implement these measures to the extent practicable. These control measures and the CDC guidance formed the basis of the ventilation assessment planned and conducted by CUNY.
As part of this overall assessment, an engineering consultant conducted site visits at all CUNY buildings and for those buildings identified for re-opening it determined what control measures were available for each building and reported its findings to CUNY. Based on the CDC guidelines and the reported data, CUNY identified the buildings that meet a sufficient subset of the CDC guidelines to limit the risk of airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2. The reports confirmed which buildings or portions of buildings could safely be used for in-person learning.
Campuses were directed to review these reports and directed not to use or occupy buildings until they have been assessed, if necessary, undergone work to address ventilation issues and included in a report indicating that they can be used for in-person learning. In addition, campuses were specifically directed that they may not use or occupy any building or portion of a building that has not been included in a report indicating that it may be used for in-person learning.
Campuses must continue to perform maintenance and conduct operations to maintain the control measures recommended by the CDC that formed the basis of CUNY’s reports.
D. Sourcing and Securing Adequate Supplies
- PPE for everyone on campus
- PPE supplies will be provided at classrooms, laboratories and at locations identified by departments. Departmental supplies must be requested from Facilities via e-mail to mario.acosta@lehman.cuny.edu on a weekly basis identify the # of staff, faculty and/or students that will be in a location to quantify PPE needed.
- Public Safety has a supply of masks at each open gate to provide to anyone needing.
- Hand sanitizer supplies
- Disinfecting wipes
- Supplies will be delivered to designated locations identified by departments. Supplies must be requested from Facilities via e-mail to mario.acosta@lehman.cuny.edu identify the # of staff, faculty and/or students that will be in a location weekly to quantify supplies needed.
- Hand soap
- Paper hand towels
- Keyboard/devices disinfecting wipes
- Plastic screens to separate areas in situations requiring face-to-face interactions or where safe distancing is not possible
- Signage
- Cleaning and disinfecting supplies
- Equipment needed for remote work
- Face shields
- Tape markings
- Process for reporting areas requiring attention – Departments to submit work order to B&G. Individuals should email the Director of Campus Planning & Facilities, Robin Auchincloss with concerns or needs. Robin.Auchincloss@lehman.cuny.edu
E. Signage
Signage is available for download and printing on lehman.edu/coronavirus/signage. To request customized signage, contact the Office of Communications and Marketing at media.relations@lehman.cuny.edu.
- Building Entries – Wear Mask or face covering reminders
- Elevators – Social Distancing
- Bathrooms / locker rooms– Social Distancing, handwashing reminders-hand hygiene, Cough/Sneeze Etiquette If Sick – Stay Home; "Do Not Use" on hand dryers with Buildings & Grounds contact information if supplies need replenishing
- Public spaces – masks or face-coverings must be worn at all times, Social Distancing
- Hallways, and masks or face-coverings must be worn at all times
- Safe social distancing markers in common gathering or waiting areas masks or face-coverings must be worn at all time
- Signage at hand sanitizer stations, visibly soiled hands should be washed with soap and water, hand sanitizer is not effective on soiled hands.
- The College’s COVID page, https://www.lehman.edu/coronavirus, is the primary
- Safe Social Distancing and Safety
- Town Halls, video messaging, handouts and signage and webpage, email, and text messages
- Reporting procedures
- Contact tracing procedures
- Repeated communications reminding of the requirement to wear masks or face-coverings in public spaces and all shared spaces, safe social distancing, proper hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting guidelines, cough/sneeze etiquette, stay home if you feel sick, etc., and visits scheduled by appointment only.
- Set date/time to be established, dedicated to for at risk populations (faculty, staff & students) requiring services.
- List of outside resources – for example, (NYC.gov/covidtest; https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/test-and-trace/ and “NYS Contact Tracing” (518-387-9993).
- CUNY has and will continue to strongly promote the vaccine. Lehman will continue to promote the University’s #VaxUpCUNY campaign and the College's #LehmanGetstheVax campaign, a multifaceted, multimedia campaign to encourage CUNY and Lehman students, alumni, faculty and staff to get their COVID-19 vaccination as soon as they become eligible. The campaign is a critical strategy for easing anxiety for those that may be hesitant to vaccinations.
- Encouraging employees and students to get vaccinated via social media, website, and other messaging. Building a campaign involving students who have been vaccinated encouraging other students to vaccinate and issuing a list of FAQs. https://www.lehman.edu/coronavirus/vaccine-info/
- If the need to close again, utilize the same communication processes/plan
G. Training
An instructional video developed by EH&S is posted on the College COVID website. https://youtu.be/ZWIa8HpCqJU
- How to properly wear a mask or face covering, how to remove a mask or face-covering and how to properly dispose of PPE
- Gloves – when and how
- Proper hand washing
- COVID 19 FAQs
- Outline procedures for dealing with infected individuals in the moment
- Keeping a safe workspace
- Safe social distancing
- Cleaning and disinfecting your workspace
- Limiting duration of face-to-face interactions
H. Safety Equipment
Identify location and appropriate type, source, and procure method to safely separate staff in face-to-face interactions or where safe distancing is not possible
- Plastic screens -Have been and continue to be installed in student and public facing areas and where and as requested for physical separation of staff in shared spaces.
- Air flow control or barriers if needed
- Face shields
- Physical barriers
- Tape markings
- Signage
- Public Safety: critical to know who is on campus, when and where they are in the event of a positive case.
- Maintain accurate lists of essential staff and non-essential faculty, staff and/or students, visitors and contractors working on campus. Notify Facilities of the location of all individuals on campus.
- Limit gates that are opened – Gates 5, 8 & 13 only, operated by Public Safety Officers at all times.
- Card readers have been installed at the open gates for contactless check-in to campus for staff, faculty, and students.
- Visitors must be invited and are by appointment only.
J. Scheduled Use and Appointments
IT to expand use of Q-less system and departments to schedule visits by appointment only for students and other visitors, if in-person services are required (we expect to be mostly remote): See detailed schedule in the Return to Campus Addendum.
- IT Open Center
- Bursar
- Financial Aid
- Registrar
- Admissions – Undergraduate and Graduate
- Counseling Center
- Health Center
- Tutoring Center
K. Confirmed Exposure, Positive Test or Symptoms, Contact Tracing, Isolation & Quarantine (rev. 7/27/22)
The Campus COVID-19 Task Force established the protocol for reporting community members (faculty, staff, and students) and visitors or contractors who present with symptoms while on campus or who report exposures or who have tested positive after having been on campus. This protocol will remain for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and applies to all phases of reopening.
- Employees, students, visitors, or contractors who present with symptoms while on campus will be immediately sent home. If a person requires emergency response and transport to the hospital, they will be moved to an isolation room, for students, the student health center, for others a room located close to emergency response pick up that is designated for isolation.
- Designate a Campus COVID-19 Coordinator - VP for Administration and Finance. Report potential exposure or confirmed illness to:
- Screeners must report daily on COVID exposures as reported on the screening questionnaire to the Campus COVID-19 Coordinator who will report to the Campus Liaison and to the Return to Campus Committee.
- Campus COVID-19 Managers:
- College faculty and staff – Human Resources (human.resources@lehman.cuny.edu)
- Visitors and Contractors – Public Safety and Campus Facilities (public.safety@lehman.cuny.edu)
- Students – Health Center Director Cindy Kreisman ( med.requirements@lehman.cuny.edu)
- NYS DOH advised that reporting is no longer required
- The College COVID-19 managers must report positive cases and exposures of persons on campus to the COVID-19 Campus Liaison (Eric Washington, eric.washington@lehman.cuny.edu), who will notify the CUNY SVC for Institutional Affairs as well as notify and cooperate with state and local health departments with contact tracing efforts, including the notification of potential contacts who had close contact with the individual.
- Reactivate the COVID-19 Response/Implementation Team – Meet weekly online to review procedures and the implementation of the plan to address any issues that come up on a daily basis and to implement the response to a positive case on campus. Include a public health expert in this team.
- Reporting:
- Bi-weekly, or more frequently as needed, departments with staff or students on campus must report to the campus re-opening committee on status and suggested revisions.
- Campus Liaison will report to COO’s office.
Contract Tracing Guidelines (rev. 7/27/22)
CUNY will continue to aid in the identification of exposures, and notify close contacts, as appropriate, of exposure as soon as possible after being notified that someone in the campus has tested positive or been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Contact and Triage for Students: Individuals will be contacted within 24 hours of notification and triaged for support.
o New York State Contact Tracing Program is contacted to report the positive case (done by CUNY Central).
If a student accessed campus when they tested positive, Student Affairs notifies the following departments:
o Registrar’s office to provide class rosters and instructor contact information (if needed).
o Buildings and Grounds to provide sanitizing, if necessary, of the area(s) accessed.
o Public Safety and IT if campus restrictions need to be implemented.
Triage for support
o Assess positive individual’s health status and whether they are under a physician’s care. Provide referral resources, if needed.
o Faculty and students referred to Student Disability Services for potential medical accommodation and assistance, especially in case the student is hospitalized, still symptomatic or develops long term COVID symptoms.
Tracing
Student Affairs will:
--determine when student was last on campus, where and with who
--trace close contacts* within campus community to potentially include classes, administrative units, services, or programs attended
--notify faculty, staff and students via email using CUNY template which provides all information regarding exposure, need to be COVID tested, where to send test results and that access to campus will be blocked until receipt of negative PCR test results
--provide public safety and IT with a list of exposed individuals to remove access to campus as necessary
--contact HR with names of exposed employees for follow up if needed
CUNY will continue to aid in the identification of exposures, and notify close contacts, as appropriate, of exposure as soon as possible after being notified that someone in the campus has tested positive or been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Guidelines for contact tracing apply:
• If a worker or visitor was in close or proximate contact with others at a location and tests positive for COVID, immediately notify and cooperate with New York State and City health departments with contact tracing efforts, including notification of potential contacts, such as workers, visitors and/or customers (if known) who had close or proximate contact with the individual, while maintaining confidentiality as required.
• In the case of an individual testing positive, campuses must develop plans with local health departments to trace all contacts of the individual in accordance with protocols, training, and tools provided through the New York State Contact Tracing Program. Confidentiality must be maintained as required by federal and state law and regulations. Campuses must cooperate with state and local health department contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine efforts. o Campuses should partner with local health departments to train staff and students to undertake contact tracing efforts for on-campus populations.
• State and local health departments will implement monitoring and movement restrictions of infected or exposed persons.
• Campuses must ensure that reporting plans are in place for individuals who are alerted that they have come into close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19, and have been alerted to such exposure via tracing, tracking or other means. The CDC-issued guidance on how to manage reporting can be found here.
Isolation and Quarantine (rev. 7/27/22)
CUNY continues to follow the latest CDC guidance on isolation and quarantine. Any students, staff or faculty who test positive with COVID-19 or are exposed to someone with COVID-19 must follow these guidelines, as outlined below, prior to returning to campus. If you are required to isolate or quarantine, you must receive a negative test or doctor’s certification prior to returning to campus.
Test results will be accepted from CUNY testing sites or other licensed test providers.
- Isolation Guidelines if You Test Positive for COVID-19. Everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
- Stay home for 5 days (day 0 is your first day of symptoms, or the day of your first positive test if you do not develop symptoms).
- If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house.
- In order to return to CUNY after isolation, you must receive a negative PCR or Antigen test (we strongly recommend an Antigen test, if available).
- Collect the test sample only if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.
- If your test result is positive, you should continue to isolate until day 10. Following day 10 you must receive a negative PCR or Antigen test before returning to CUNY.
- In lieu of a negative test, individuals may provide a doctor’s certification that they have recovered from COVID-19.
- Continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others for 5 additional days; if you cannot wear a mask, continue to isolate for 5 days.
- If you have a fever, continue isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
- If you were severely ill with COVID-19 you should isolate for at least 10 days. Consult your doctor before ending isolation.
- If You Were Exposed to Someone with COVID-19
| Population | What to do: |
|---|---|
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L. Testing & Symptom Screening (rev. 7/27/22)
Testing
CUNY will continue its robust testing program using various testing models for the safety and convenience of the CUNY community.
- All students are expected to test before returning to campus.
- Student athletes and students in residence halls will be required to submit a negative PCR test before returning to campus.
- Weekly testing will continue for those who are unvaccinated and expand to cover students in residence halls, regardless of vaccination status.
- Overall random testing of 20% of the on-campus population. Participation in the random surveillance testing is mandatory and failure to participate will result in the removal of the individual’s Cleared4 access pass to CUNY spaces.
To facilitate testing for required medical clearance to return to campus, tests will continue to be accepted from non-CUNY testing providers as well as from CUNY safeCircle test sites. Testing to return to campus should only be done at CUNY safeCircle test sites when you are symptom free to protect you and others in the CUNY community. If you are recovering from COVID-19, you should not get tested until you have completed your isolation requirements and are symptom free. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, we encourage you to visit a public testing site near your home or use an at- home test kit.
Rapid tests will be available for approved screening circumstances when unanticipated entry to campus is required. The rapid tests will be distributed to CUNY testing sites and to selected locations on campus and will be tracked through the testing system for inventory and usage management.
For more information about CUNY’s COVID-19 testing program, please see the Testing FAQ. For a list of testing locations, visit here. For general frequently asked questions, please refer to the Getting Back to Working in Person FAQ. If you still have questions, please contact your HR office.
Self-Screening (Rev.7/27/22)
Before coming to campus, each member of the community is expected to monitor your symptoms, stay away from others if you feel sick, and get tested at a public testing site if you have any symptoms. CUNY safeCircle testing sites should not be used if you have symptoms.
M. Administrative and Shared Office Space
- Human Resources personnel are meeting with division heads and in some cases their staff to discuss the CUNY Flexible Work Guidelines and offer suggestions as to how the guidelines can be effectively implemented within their departments. Managers are encouraged to identify the functions that will return to campus and the order the functions will return. The objective is to transition to a greater in-person presence while maintaining social distance and density recommendations. All divisions have been advised to send Remote Work Agreements to Human Resources.
- Physical barriers – plastic screens will be or have been installed where needed when staff cannot work staggered shifts or maintain safe social distancing.
- If needed, relocation to larger spaces, i.e., potential one-stop in the East Dining Room.
N. Public Spaces (Rev. 7/27/22)
Responsible Party: Facilities, Buildings & Grounds.
Maintain density numbers, in compliance with CDC, NYS DOH & CUNY guidelines.
O. Gatherings (Rev. 7/27/22)
Must be scheduled in advance in compliance with the visitor policy.
P. Cultural, Meetings and Public Spaces, Including the Campus Grounds
Responsible party: Facilities and Facility Operator or User Group.
Lehman College will adhere to the following guiding principles:
- Students, faculty, and staff must take steps to protect themselves and others at all times by: (1) wearing a mask that covers nose and mouth; (2) staying 3 feet apart from each other; (3) avoiding crowds; (4) often washing hands with soap and water or using sanitizer when soap and water is not available; and (5) getting vaccinated.
- Avoid social gatherings and events. This applies to out-of-class student gatherings and events as well as faculty and staff gatherings and events.
- Social gatherings and events, with limited exceptions, should continue to be held virtually.
- Hold activities, events, and gatherings outdoors in areas that can accommodate physical distancing, when possible.
- Clearly communicate these guidelines.
Leonard Lief Library
To regulate number of visitors, building access will be controlled by Reservation only [LibCal software]. Student would use Q-less software to gain access to Library building. LibCal Reservations would have them designate request for: study space, scanning, book pickup-return. These procedures will be shared with Public Safety for input and approval. It appears prudent to implement Reservation system – then resolve to suspend if proper vaccination levels and onsite health and safety metrics warrant.Once the Library has assessed success of these procedures [October 2021] – we could consider next step to open Concourse level – with Open Lab and Periodicals Room – though issues of ventilation and air flow must be addressed and confirmed by Facilities. While this would involve increasing onsite supervision staff – most likely we would be able to double building capacity at that time.
Staffing and Budget
- Library faculty-staff reduced to 50% onsite presence with understanding that service units and operations are appropriately staffed
- Telecommuting system factors in child care, elder care, underlying health and physical mobility conditions, commuting considerations
- Library faculty-staff will continue to work 35-hour week
- Increased student presence in Building warrants supplementary budget for onsite supervision
Space Configuration
- Furniture-technology reduced 50% to allow for social distancing
- Consider instituting outdoor seating areas-tents
Reservation Access
- Q-less for Building entry
- LibCal Reservation for following services: Study Space [one hour]; Scanning [30 minutes]; Book Pickup [5 minutes]
Access Services [Circulation-Reserve]
- Reserve eBook service foregrounded
- Print Textbooks available only internally for loan
- Limited-reasonable on demand scanning of book chapters for faculty courses
- Interlibrary Loan pickup
- Online system to request Circulating Books paged from stacks by staff
- Possible reinstatement of Curbside Pickup
- Returned Books quarantined-sanitized for 24 hours
Reference and Instruction
- Reference services remain virtual
- Expansion of Virtual Reference offerings: Zoom Drop-in Research Pilot to supplement existing 24-7 Chat
- Signage promoting 24-7 Chat to students in Building
- Virtual Instruction conducted onsite or remotely as needed
Technical Support
Bloomberg Lab-Government Documents-Special Collections
Conference Rooms
Minimize or eliminate in-person meetings. Continue to conduct meetings virtually through MS Teams and Zooms.
- In-person meetings, particularly in small conference rooms, should be strongly discouraged. When videoconferencing or teleconferencing is not preferable or possible, campuses should hold meetings in open, well-ventilated spaces and ensure that individuals maintain six feet of physical distance between one another.
- At Lehman, conference rooms are managed by departments. These departments should ensure that CDC guidelines are followed when a decision is made that an in-person meeting is required.
- Prepare the space by removing chairs and desks to ensure proper physical distancing in conference and waiting rooms.
- Determine maximum capacity in compliance with the 6 feet physical distancing and provide signage indicating it.
- Ensure that the capacity is adhered to when scheduling the meeting. Again, in-person meetings are strongly discouraged.
- Cleaning Protocol: Conference rooms that are used should, at a minimum, be disinfected daily.
- Disinfectant wipes or spray should be left in each conference room and employees should be encouraged to wipe down all surfaces and equipment (e.g., mouse, keyboard, phone) touched during conference room meetings.
Computer Labs
To avoid long lines and crowds, deploy a reservation system for use of the Academic Open Center, the Satellite Computer Room in Carman Cafeteria area, and the Multimedia Center.
- These locations should operate at a reduced capacity to adhere to the 3 feet apart social distancing in effect.
- Limit the number of people who can sit together.
- Provide alcohol-based wipes and gloves so students clean the keyboard and mouse before use of the reserved computer. Provide enough and nearby trash cans for disposable of used wipes and gloves.
- Students must thoroughly wash their hands before using any computer. Use sanitizer when soap and water is not available. The college should make sanitizer readily available.
- Provide clear instructions and signage detailing protocols during reservation and in the facilities.
- Cleaning Protocol: These facilities should, at a minimum, be disinfected daily.
- In the case of a positive test, plan on closing the affected facility; conduct thorough cleaning in line with NYSDOH guidelines and Lehman’s cleaning protocol.
Campus Grounds
While ingress and egress considerations are not part of this subcommittee charge, please note the following from CUNY Guidelines for Safe Campus Reopening dated April 20th, 2021, page #24. “Physical Preparation: Ingress and egress: If a college determines that any area of the campus should be reopened, facilities staff should reconfigure all accessible exterior spaces to practice physical distancing, paying special attention to points of access and egress to the campus. Staff should limit the gates available, and where possible, entrance and exits to the campus should be separated. Staff should develop traffic flow patterns for exterior spaces on campus and demarcate patterns with universal signage and other measures, as appropriate. Staff should attend to physically distanced ingress and egress to campus buildings from parking lots as well."
- Use of outdoor spaces should be considered for in-person instructions to the extent possible and practical. See below for a list of outdoor spaces identified by this subcommittee.
- Amphitheater
- Campus Quad
- Speech and Theater Plaza Area
- Science Hall Lawn
- Gate 5 - Path of Knowledge
- Music Building Plaza
- Gate 7 – Apex Plaza
- Olmecc Head – Water Fountain – meditation area
- Shuster Garden – Gate 5 / Goulden Avenue
- Gate 8 -- Corn Field
- Use of outdoor spaces should be considered for eating to the extent possible and practical. indoor dining should be eliminated.
Cafeteria (Music Building) (rev. 3/10/22)
The cafeteria is not currently providing food service; however, students may use the cafeteria as a study hall with no appointment necessary.
Grab and go food service is available in the Harmony Cafe, next to the Faculty Dining Room on the first floor of the Music Building. The Little Hot Dog Wagon will be on campus Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. outside the Fine Arts Building (Goulden Ave. side); Farmer's Fridge, on the ground floor of Shuster Hall, will also be available beginning Feb. 7.
Carman Hall Cafeteria will be used as a Satellite Computer Lab to provide space for students who are in-person classes as well as online classes. Portable tri-fold plastic screens have been incorporated to create isolated workspaces and IT will issue headsets to students for use.
Cultural, Social and Educational Facilities (rev. 9/28/21)
On campus that congregate patrons and operate above the State's social gathering limit (e.g., event venues, sports competitions, performing arts and entertainment) NYS Guidelines:
According to New York City Emergency Executive Order 225: Patrons, full- or part-time employees, interns, volunteers, or contractors are required to display proof of vaccination and identification bearing the same identifying information as the proof of vaccination. This includes visitors to Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Lehman Stages and Lehman College Art Gallery.
The following individuals are exempted from this Order, and therefore may enter a covered premises without displaying proof of vaccination, provided that such individuals wear a face mask at all times they are unable to maintain six (6) feet of distance from other individuals inside the covered premises:
Individuals entering for a quick and limited purpose (for example, using the restroom, placing or picking up an order or service, changing clothes in a locker room, or performing necessary repairs);
- A nonresident performing artist not regularly employed by the covered entity while they are in a covered premises for purposes of performing;
- A nonresident professional athlete/sports team who enters a covered premises as part of their regular employment for purposes of competing; and
- A nonresident individual accompanying a performing artist or professional athlete/sports team into a covered premises as part of their regular employment so long as the performing artist or professional athlete/sports team are performing or competing in the covered premises.
Masks are required indoors, except while seated and eating or drinking. Masks are optional outdoors while seated and socially distanced. Outdoor events do not require proof of recent negative COVID-19 test result. Fully vaccinated individuals do not need to be socially distanced in assigned sections. Masks are required.
Facilities seeking to implement fully vaccinated sections, eliminating social distancing, and increasing capacity, must require proof of vaccination status and cannot rely upon self-reporting of vaccination status (e.g., honor system).
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts
In adherence to NYC Emergency Executive Order 225: All persons attending an event at Lehman Center must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of such vaccination to Center staff at the time of entry. “Fully vaccinated” means that the attendee has received the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or the full dose of a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the date of the event. All persons attending an event at Lehman Center must wear a mask at all times while in the building, except for brief moments while eating or drinking and socially distanced. Those who do not follow these guidelines will not be permitted entry.
COVID-19 WARNING
An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where people gather. You assume all risks, hazards, and dangers arising from or relating in any way to the risk of contracting a communicable disease or illness—including, without limitation, exposure to COVID-19 or any other bacteria, virus, or other pathogen capable of causing a communicable disease or illness, whether that exposure occurs before, during, or after the event, and regardless of how caused or contracted—and you hereby waive any and all claims and potential claims
All visitors visiting Lehman Center must upload proof of vaccination here in order to access the Lehman College campus and Lehman Center.
Lehman College Art Gallery
Lehman College Art Gallery is open to the public by reservation only, through Eventbrite.
If visiting Lehman College Art Gallery, you agree that you will provide proof of vaccination against Covid-19 upon purchasing tickets. This will be checked upon entry to the venue. Vaccination for Covid-19 is a requirement to enter the premises in accordance with the Lehman College Art Gallery's reopening plan for the Fall of 2021. Please understand that by not providing proof of your vaccination against COVID-19 that you will not be allowed in the venue. In addition, we require that all personnel and members of the public will wear masks on Lehman College Art Gallery's premises.
COVID-19 WARNING
An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where people gather. You assume all risks, hazards, and dangers arising from or relating in any way to the risk on contracting a communicable disease or illness-including, without limitation, exposure to COVID-19 or any other bacteria, virus, or other pathogen capable of causing a communicable disease or illness, whether that exposure occurs before, during, or after the event, and regardless of how caused or contracted-and you hereby waive any and all claims and potential claims.
ENTER LEHMAN COLLEGE CAMPUS AT GATE 5 ON GOULDEN AVENUE. Visitors who have not uploaded their proof of vaccination in CUNYfirst will need to submit proof of vaccination here.
Mailroom and Central Receiving
- Plastic divider installed at door to mailroom
- Deliveries and drop-off – driver to notify receiving and leave packages at the loading dock or if B&G is unloading, driver is to remain in the truck. Current process is delivery company calls receiving and a member of the team goes to the loading dock with a platform truck and the driver passes the boxes to staff. If it is a large delivery (determined once the driver calls Receiving), then the delivery drop box is used to off load packages. Looking to replace with a lockable, secure drop box for contactless delivery.
- An existing roll-up gate will be utilized as a pick-up window for those persons who come to retrieve their mail & small packages
- Mail and package delivery to offices will commence Fall 2021
- Sneeze Guard placed on the half-door where staff come to retrieve print jobs
- Mobile standing computer workstation with keyboard tray – to maintain 6 ft. distance between each operator – currently operators share one desk.
- The bookstore is open for retail operation with customers on campus or pick up at gate. Hours of operation are:
M-Fr: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Closed weekends. - Follett’s COVID-19 Safety Procedures document is used by the store manager to train staff and ensure the campus store is healthy and safe environment. This is for employees of Follett, not Lehman College.
- Customers must meet the College's covid requirements to visit the store. The store is not open holidays that the College is closed or on days when the College is closed unexpectedly such as due to weather events.
Q. College Vehicle Use
Responsible Party: Auto Mechanic, B&G, Public Safety.
- All employees in the same confined space of the vehicle are required to wear face coverings.
- Vehicles to be cleaned and sanitized after each use
R. Visitors and Vendors (rev. 3/10/22)
Responsible party: Public Safety or manager coordinating vendor visit.
Visitor Access to Campus
This policy is informed by CDC, New York State Department of Health, and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene guidelines relating to the COVID-19 public health emergency. It aims to provide a consistent approach to density management that is in parallel with the processes that are or will be in place for all City University of New York (CUNY) community members who are on campus.
The federal, New York State and New York City rules, regulations, policies, procedures and laws (collectively, “Laws”) regarding the matters covered by this policy change frequently. In the event that the U.S. Government, New York State or New York City adopt Laws applicable to CUNY that are stricter than those set forth in this policy, these stricter Laws shall supersede those in this policy.
This policy is written broadly with the expectation that individual campuses will adopt procedures for implementation of it.
Visitor Policy (Rev. 7/27/22)
CUNY’s Visitor Policy is designed to restrict anyone who has not been fully vaccinated or has not received a recent negative COVID-19 test from entering a CUNY campus or office.
Definition of Visitor
A visitor to a University campus is someone who is not a CUNY student, faculty or staff member. Examples of visitors include, but are not limited to:
• vendors and other individuals coming to campus to perform activities related to a contract with or in support of the University;
• employees of related entities of CUNY including without limitation auxiliary enterprise corporations, colleges associations, and child care centers;
• unpaid college interns;
• community members and other individuals coming to a campus to use University facilities such as pools and gyms, or to attend activities on campus; and
• family members or friends of CUNY students, faculty, or staff.
Rules for Visitors
Every visitor to a CUNY campus, whether accessing indoor or outdoor spaces, must provide proof to CUNY that they (i) are fully vaccinated or (ii) have had a negative COVID-19 molecular (PCR) test performed by an accredited lab no more than 7 days prior to the visit. “Fully vaccinated” means:
• Two weeks after a second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines; or
• Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine; or
• At the time specified in either the FDA licensure or World Health Organization approval, after the final administration of any other vaccines.
Visitors are also required to comply with all other University policies and codes of conduct, as well as government and/or campus-specific rules and protocols, applicable to individuals on campus that are intended to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including by way of example:
• any masking requirements; and
• complying with any applicable federal, state or local quarantine rules.
Before coming to a CUNY campus, visitors are encouraged to consult the campus’ website to review the most current access rules and protocols. A link to each campus plan can be found on CUNY’s Spring 2022 Reopening Plans page.
Exception for Short Visits with No Close Contact
Visitors who are on campus for 30 minutes or less per visit do not have to comply with any COVID-19 vaccination or surveillance testing requirements applicable to CUNY staff unless the visitor expects during that time to be less than 6 feet distant of another person for a total of 15 minutes or more.
Policies for Minors Under 5 Years Old
| TYPES OF UNDER 5 GROUPS | DESCRIPTION | CUNY PROTOCOL |
|---|---|---|
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1. Accompanying a visitor |
Children accompanying a visitor who have business to tend to on campus for a limited time. |
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2. Attending events |
Children attending an event, performance, or assembly where a large group will congregate for an extended period. |
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3. Enrolled in programs |
Children who routinely come to CUNY facilities to participate in a program. |
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All individuals should follow the CDC domestic travel recommendations and international travel recommendations before reporting to work or campus and notify their manager in advance of the travel dates and should quarantine be required.
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Any students, faculty or staff engaging in official travel on behalf of CUNY must follow the latest approval requirements for domestic and international travel.
T. NYC DOE
High School Students on Campus – The High School of American Studies and the Celia Cruz High School of Music must submit approved individual and DOE plans. Those plans will be reviewed for consistency with Lehman, CUNY & NYS guidelines. No HS activity on campus will be allowed until approval of their plans is granted.
- Protocols
- Safe Social Distancing – In accordance with CDC and NYC DOE
- NYC DOE requires pre-screening
- DOE & NYCDOHMH guidelines
- High Schools – NYC DOE is conducting regular testing of students.
U. Metrics & Early Warning, Reclosing Protocols: CUNY's Guide for Safely Closing On-Campus Operations (New 1/17/22) (Formerly Re-Exit Preparation and Monitoring)
Metrics and Early Warning
CUNY will continue to monitor campus and community infection rates. CUNY Central Office will consult with campus leadership to determine the best course of action for additional safety protocols or scaling back campus activity, if necessary. Any decisions on shutting down particular buildings/areas within campuses, individual campuses, or multiple campuses, as appropriate, will be made by the Chancellery/COO’s Office in consultation with local/State authorities.
Campuses must have a shutdown plan in place to respond rapidly. Campuses should rely on previously developed shutdown plans and consult the Reclosing Protocols: CUNY’s Guide for Safely Closing On-Campus Operations, for additional information on criteria for shutdown and shutdown protocols.
Reclosing Protocols: CUNY's Guide for Safely Closing On-Campus Operations
Governance
Should the Chancellor authorize a campus to close down operations after reopening, that campus should apply the same governance structure as laid out in its reopening plan. Pursuant to that structure, campuses will monitor the criteria included in these guidelines to determine if circumstances warrant consideration of re-closing and if so, then request permission from the Chancellor to close down. Campuses should develop re-closing plans (following the guidelines set out herein) and ensure that those plans include the criteria listed below to determine the circumstances that warrant closure. These criteria should replace any other criteria included in campus plans.
The process to shut down will be informed by a report on the rate of infection on the campus. This report will be provided by the Campus Coronavirus Liaisons who will report daily to the Campus Reopening Committee and to the Chancellery/COO’s Office on COVID-19 exposures. This data, along with local and state data and guidance, will guide the campus in their evaluation of circumstances that may warrant closure, and when such circumstances are identified, campuses will bring that information to the Chancellor, who will make the final decisions as to whether a campus must scale back in-person activities or pursue closure.
Circumstances That May Warrant Closure
While CUNY’s intention is to move forward and bring more activity back to campus over time, CUNY campuses must also be prepared to reverse the reopening if the situation dictates.
● The Chancellery/COO’s Office and the Campus Reopening Committees will monitor a range of internal and external criteria when assessing whether a ramp down or closure of campuses is required.
● External monitoring criteria should include:
○ Federal, New York State, and New York City regulatory guidelines and mandates
○ Infection/health system status at the local, state, regional and nation-wide level
○ Status of resources and infrastructure to combat contagion (e.g., PPE, health system capacity, testing and tracing)
○ Compliance of the greater public with COVID-19 protocols (e.g., group gatherings, social distancing)
○ Reclosing status of neighboring universities
● Internal monitoring criteria should include: ○ Spread of infection on campus (i.e. via data reported by Campus Coronavirus Liaisons and surveillance testing programs - metrics on current caseload, new flu-like symptoms, rate of spread)
○ Status of resources and infrastructure to combat contagion on campus (e.g. University health system capacity, PPE resources, testing & tracing resources).
● Campus internal monitoring will be informed by the surveillance testing program and the requirement for students and faculty/staff to self-diagnose/report symptoms, as well as the regular reports on COVID-19 exposures on their campus that should be provided by the Campus Coronavirus Liaisons to the Campus Reopening Committee and the SVC for Institutional Advancement.
●Campuses must monitor health conditions using the criteria above and lookfor warning signs thatinfection maybe increasing.
○CoronavirusCampus Liaisons have primary responsibility for collecting accurate and complete data about each individualon their campus with possible exposure to the coronavirus and forsharing that information with the Campus Reopening Committee and the SVC for InstitutionalAdvancement.
○Campus Coronavirus Liaisons should report information from their campus as well assurveillance testing results.
○Campuses should considerdeveloping dashboards to actively displayand monitor the situationon campuses.
Ramp Down Guidance
●A CUNY campus should expect to only close buildings/areas within its particular campus if the suspected exposure orpositive findings thatoccur reflect confidence in a low levelof risk to the wider campus community. This will allow deep-cleaning and disinfection ofbuildings,premisesorgrounds. This should be coupled with notifications to potentially impacted students, faculty and staff,and ramp down measures being applied e.g. testing (referrals to City testing sites) andtracing of membersof the campus community, moving classes to remote learning,asking employees to work remotely, etc.for the short duration of such limited closures.
●The ramp down response to the local and community health situation within a campus, acommunity or the Cityas a whole, should be made following CUNY’s governance process outlinedabove, in which the Campus CoronavirusLiaisons must reportdata and consult with the CampusReopening Committee and the CUNY Chancellery/COO’s Office. Finaldecisions on shutting down particular buildings/areas within campuses, individual campuses, or multiple campuses,asappropriate, will be made by the Chancellery/COO’s Office in consultation with local/Stateauthorities.
○The reopening plan forthe CUNYcampusesproposesstages, moving from a soft reopening to full operations asdescribed in the Phasing Section of the CUNY Guidelines for Safe CampusReopening. Depending on which stage of reopening CUNY is in, closure ofa campus orcampuses may involve reverse engineering to lower stages,up to and including a totalshutdown.
●Campuses should activelyprepare plansand procedures to be ready to close particularbuildings/areas within campuses,or to close campus-wide, in the eventof a resurgence of the virus, and return to essential service and workforce restrictions.
●Campuses/Central shouldmake a checklist of tasksthat stopped during the previous shutdown in order to “reverse engineer” the closing and be prepared for anyfuture campus-wide closings.
●Campuses should be readyto deploydistance learning modalities with as few employeeson campus as possible, to instruct only those who have been designated asessentialstaff to report towork, and to transition to distance working for all non-essential staff.
○This should include readiness to deploytargeted distance learning modalities ifnecessary due to targeted shutdownsof particular buildings/areas impacted by COVID-19.
●Campuses should have communicationsplans in place to address questions from students, facultyand staff.
●In the event of a campus-wide shutdown or a targeted shutdown of particular areas on a campus,schoolpresidents and deans can decide attheir discretion what facilities, such as libraries and laboratories, are essential.
○Managers of CUNY staff who are notable to remotely perform all of their job dutiesshould lookfor ways to minimize everyone’s potential exposure, including: where possible, combining remote and on-premises work; staggering schedules to enable employees to use public transitduring off-peak times; implementing staffing rotations; condensing work weeks, with more hours but fewer days asduring the summer;band, for those who are working on-site, utilizingstringent social-distance strategies.
○To minimize the risk to essential staff including ITS personnel, custodians, public safetyofficers and facilities staff, generalaccess to campuses/campus areas thatare shutdown should be limited to the extent possible.E.g. Accessto impacted areas should be limited exceptby appointment. Campuses can be contacted for specific information.
●Establish protocols for ramping down research and moving to remote work. The protocols should follow Research Continuity guidance on the Guidanceon Academic Continuityto Campuses page ,including:
○Securing Personal Health Information (PHI)
○Policy for Commercialization of Research
○Requirementsfor non-Human Animal Research
○Safety practices for Human subject research
○Plans for equipment/facilities that require human attention and/or supplies for operation
○Updating any data use agreements that may be affected by shifting to remote platforms
○Setting procedures for tissue and other non-IACUC Materials
Distance Learning Guidelines and Tools
General
●At the initiation of CUNY-wide or campus-wide closure, campuses should begin fully onlineprograms and courses. Faculty, students and staff should be prepared to operate in fulldistance education mode until such time as a decision to reopen is made.
○Campuses should drawon their earlier experience in which 95 percentof CUNY’s50,000 course sections were converted to distance learning instruction,and 95 percentofCUNYfaculty and staff worked remotely.
○Distance learning, and student support services to be provided remotely include mentalhealth counseling;advisement; library, enrollment management, and career engagement services;student life; developmentand inclusion programming.
- Move libraries online,eliminate fines, support learning and research.
○Deliver distance education in accordance with the regulatory requirementsprovided by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) (including responding to allmandatory requirements such as the MSCHEAnnual Institutional Update),and the New YorkState Education Department (NYSED). Refer to the Guidance on Academic Continuity to Campusespage, section on ‘Accreditation and Regulatory Issues’ for details.
●Campuses should decide which functions need to remain open;these may include dormitories,libraries, research facilities,daycare centers and mission-critical venues that support our students.
●Specific programs, such asthose requiring on-site skills assessment or campus laboratory access to meet licensing oraccreditation requirements that require interim campusaccess tosupport critical programming should be allowed to request approvalby a College’s president or dean and be subject to the social distancing provisions. See the Guidance on Academic Continuity to Campuses page, section on ‘Distance Learning & Reopening Plans’ for details.
● If the course’s learning outcomes cannot ultimately be achieved via distance learning and cannot adhere to social distancing requirements, the courses could resume once the closure is lifted, at which time faculty and students would work to make up for lost time. Given the circumstances, students could also opt to withdraw from the course, or receive a grade of incomplete, if appropriate. For in-progress continuing education courses, colleges should communicate options available to students who decide to drop or cannot continue with coursework. See the Guidance on Academic Continuity to Campuses page, section on ‘Financial Aid and Other Types of Support’ for details.
Technology Platforms, Tools & Resources for Distance Learning
● Campuses should continue to support professional development opportunities for faculty and staff on effective online teaching and provision of remote student support services.
● Campuses should continue to purchase tablets and laptops for students who need it in order to continue to fully participate in distance learning. Students should be encouraged to take advantage of current offers by cellular carriers and internet service providers to provide free in-home broadband and mobile hotspot services.
● There are a number of technology tools available to support campus staff who need to work from a remote location. Many of these tools are used every day by college and staff. These systems and services, used by staff and administrators, include on-line access from anywhere to CUNYfirst, DegreeWorks, Blackboard, Microsoft Office 365 for Education (this includes OneDrive and the Cloud versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint), Dropbox and WebEx. There are extensive user guides and training videos available to our CUNY workforce that will allow familiarization with these invaluable tools.
● CUNY’s Virtual Desktop environment and many similar Virtual Desktop environments at the colleges provide students, faculty, and staff with remote access to some of the software products commonly found in computer labs across the University.
● CUNY’s academic systems, including its learning management platform Blackboard and Cloud collaboration tools, Microsoft Office 365 for Education and Dropbox and EAB Navigate, can be helpful ways to deliver academic instruction in a remote/online manner.
● CUNY’s Guidance on Academic Continuity to Campuses recommends vendor relationships be examined in the context of a closure:
○ CUNY should consider the need to update contract terms with any vendors used to support telecommuting and virtual classrooms.
○ Determine any Cloud-based Adobe Licenses that need to be expanded for students.
○ Use available assistive technology services to increase the accessibility of online learning.
○ Ensure that essential platforms (e.g., Blackboard) are universally compatible with students’ personal devices.
○ Work with vendors to address any data capacity issues that may arise as more users migrate to online platforms.
Academic Policies and Requirements
The section on Academic Policies, Requirements, and Deadlines in the Guidance on Academic Continuity to Campuses, provides up to date guidance during shut down scenarios on:
● Grade Policy
● Student Progress and Discipline
● Graduation
● Admissions Policy.
Support for Specific Populations: Equity and Inclusion
● Each campus will offer mental health and wellness services to students via tele-counseling and tele-health in a manner consistent with services provided on campus under regular circumstances. Establish whether these may need to be scaled up to meet increased demand.
● Set protocols for accommodating international students.
● Determine academic policies for Student Veterans, National Guard, and Reservists who may face difficulty in completing their studies if called to active duty.
● Meet the needs and ensure accommodation for students with disabilities.
○ CUNY offers a variety of University-wide guides and tutorials to faculty members to help make their online content accessible to students with disabilities.
○ The CUNY Assistive Technology Services (CATS) and Media Accessibility Project (MAP) support CUNY students with disabilities with software available to students for free at-home use.
○ The guide “Reasonable Accommodations: A Faculty Guide for Teaching Students with Disabilities” was developed specifically for CUNY faculty and includes helpful information in accommodating students with disabilities in distance learning, including Technology in the Classroom. Additional considerations for accommodating students with disabilities can be found at Considerations for Reopening Facilities & Services in Stages.
● CUNY Start/Math Start, CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP), and the Adult Literacy Program should once again move their instruction online.
● Pursue campaigns that promote greater engagement with trainings aimed to reduce sexual violence (such as CUNY’s SPARC training).
● Adult and Continuing Education Programs:
○ Campuses should continue to activate existing and new training programs to address immediate workforce priorities such as telehealth and medical scribes. Some campuses have the capability to provide online training, complemented by virtual simulation for clinical skills, and on-site competency-based assessment of students in CUNY’s state-of-the art high fidelity clinical simulation center located at Bellevue Hospital. Furthermore, the University’s faculty have extensive expertise and capacity to support any number of short-term training programs.
○ For information on Employer/Employee Resources Related to the Impact of COVID-19 and Adult and Continuing Education Financial Management, refer to the Academic Continuity Guidance on Adult and Continuing Education.
● For more detail, refer to the Student Success, Equity & Inclusion section of CUNY’s Guidance on Academic Continuity to Campuses. (OAA Continuity)
Continuity for Students and Student Life
Research
For updated guidance on research-related continuity, please refer to the Research Continuity section in the most recent Guidance on Academic Continuity to Campuses webpage.
Internships
For information on Legal Guidance for Internship Agreements, Guidance for Credit-bearing Internships, Guidance for CUNY Students Working in Internships, Guidance for Campus-based Internships, see the Guidance on Academic Continuity section on Internships.
Clinical Placements
For information on NYS Contact Tracer Initiative, NYC Resource Navigators, Clinical Placements in Education Programs, Health Professions Credit Considerations for Clinical and Field Experiences, and Clinical Placements — HHS Programs, see the Guidance on Academic Continuity section on Clinical Placements.
Fees, Financial Aid and Other Types of Support
Campuses, in coordination with Central, should provide additional support to students in the event of another shutdown. The Guidance on Academic Continuity to Campuses, Financial Aid and Other Types of Support section and Student Payment Modifications section, provides up-to-date guidance during shut-down scenarios on:
● Financial Support
● Dorm Fees Policy
● Student Activity Fee Policy
● Student Payment Modifications
Continuity for Staff and HR Issues
Protocol for Establishing Essential Personnel
● Each campus president and dean should determine which personnel are needed on campus. Essential personnel are defined as anyone whose job function is essential to the effective operation of their agency or authority, or who must be physically present to perform their job, or who is involved in the COVID-19 emergency response. There are many employees who have been deemed essential, but whose jobs can and will be performed remotely, if so authorized by their supervisor. It is important to note that as we navigate this emergency, the members of our campus communities who can be expected to be classified as essential employees may shift over time, depending on campus, University, city, and state needs.
● If the campus is required to close, the campus should consult with the University on an extension of the notification deadline for reappointments and non-reappointments of adjuncts and non-teaching adjuncts, and adding provisions as agreed with PSC (e.g. allowing full-time faculty and adjuncts to hold office hours through distance technology). Refer to the Guidance on Academic Continuity to Campuses, section on Shared Governance and HR Issues, for details.
● It is important to remember that only supervisors have the authority to determine if an employee can telecommute. Therefore, it is essential that all supervisors and department heads, whether they work on the teaching or non-instructional faculty or professional staff, on a campus or at CUNY Central, maintain a steady and open line of communication with their teams to ensure that expectations are communicated in a clear manner. As circumstances are subject to change on the ground, the presidents and deans may change the composition of those employees designated essential to meet the academic and operational needs on our various campuses.
Guidelines for Flexible Work Arrangements/Remote Work Guidelines
● If needed, a full conversion to distance education is intended to dramatically reduce the density of the City and CUNY campuses. To maximize the number of employees who could telecommute or otherwise significantly limit their time on campus, campuses should once again implement flexible work arrangements, even extending them to many employees whose services have been deemed essential. These guidelines have the goal of minimizing faculty and staff exposure to the virus and maximizing social distancing as part of community mitigation strategies set by the CDC. Some of the remote work accommodations include: flexible scheduling, telecommuting, staggered work shifts and condensed workweeks.
● Managers have been instructed to remain as flexible and accommodating as possible. Furthermore, as these Guidelines are implemented, managers are instructed to work closely with HR directors to communicate clear expectations and maintain continuous support and supervision. Accommodations have been, and will continue to be made, for any employee who is in a high-risk category for COVID-19 or anyone who shares a household with a person in a high-risk category. These individuals, including those who have been deemed essential, should communicate their circumstances to supervisors and the campus Human Resources office.
Communication
In the event that the University may be required to scale back on-site operations or reclose a building, a campus, or the university, CUNY should continue using its two-pronged communications: centralized communications from the chancellery and the provost’s office on policy and information important to the University community as a whole and campus specific communications on information relevant to the campus specific plan.
Communications should include:
● Sharing information with staff, students, and faculty without increasing fear and stigma.
● Communicating steps being taken to prepare and how additional information will be shared.
● Communicating changes to campus schedules or functions, and any resources to help the community adjust to new campus behaviors.
● Communicating information students/faculty/staff can use to protect themselves from infection, and the actions taken by the University to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., disinfection routine, health policies for staff, and health & safety measures in place).
● Establishing formal and informal routes of communication for students/faculty/staff to express concerns, questions, comments, and feedback.
VIII. Academic Affairs Departments, Facilities and On-Campus Hybrid Classes
In deciding which course sections are to be delivered utilizing the modified on-site in person modality, school deans applied a risk-based approach to determine which classes are most appropriately to be held on campus in person. This approach was mainly based on room capacities for social distancing, ventilation characteristics of spaces, as well as each course’s need for on-campus equipment and facilities (labs, studios etc.). Priority has been given to identifying and preparing spaces identified to be used for classes.
The Senior Registrar convened a committee comprised of Deans and other stakeholders to look at Fall classes and discuss modality and categorize as on-line, on-campus and hybrid. Specifically, each school dean and the associate provost for academic programs worked with department chairs to submit appropriate schedules and room plans.
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- Student Accommodations: the primary accommodation in place for vulnerable populations with an underlying medical issue is to request and receive a medical exemption from receiving the COVID 19 vaccine. This form will be developed by the CUNY Central Office and administered by the Local Vaccination Authority agents at Lehman College—both individuals are part of the Health and Wellness Centers. In addition, to receiving a COVICD 19 medical exemption, all individuals will be referred to the Student Disability Services Office to receive accommodations. Here, it is important to note that academic accommodations for Lehman students are established on a case-by-case basis. As a result, students will receive individualized assistance as it pertains to receiving accommodations for course scheduling, exam scheduling, instructional support, tutoring, on campus activities, etc. In summary, the accommodation process for supporting vulnerable populations upon their return to campus, is to forward their requests to the Local Vaccination Authority who will serve as the initial triage/intake person and will then escalate their requests to the Student Disabilities Office (and or any other relevant office, e.g., Title IX) to finalize academic accommodations.
- Students will have the option to schedule one-on-one appointments via phone or zoom with the following areas within the division of Student Affairs, this includes UMLP, Wellness, Campus Life, Health Center, CUNY Edge, Counseling, Student Disability Servies, and Career Services. Those who pick in-person will be scheduled and will receive on-campus protocol information at the time the appointment is scheduled. Once the student has met with the staff in these areas, we will likely encourage follow-up via zoom if possible.
- The Counseling Center and the Student Disability Services Office will continue to provide mental health services informed by best practices, recommendations, and guidance from CDC, NYS DOH, CUNY, and Lehman College, taking into account the individual and unique needs of the students. Individual and group services will continue to be offered virtually.
- Departments should have a return to campus on-campus and remote schedule that is detailed, descriptive, and includes hours of operation and service modalities. For Example: The Career Exploration and Development Center will be open Mondays & Fridays 9 AM -5 PM; Tuesdays 9 AM -6:30 PM; Wednesdays & Thursdays 9 AM-8 PM; Saturdays 10 AM -2 PM *evening/weekend hours when classes are in session.
Career Development Workshops
We will continue to offer group career development workshops via zoom. Students who need workshops and prefer in person will be scheduled for a one-on-one with the respective advisor.One-on-one appointments
Students will have the option to schedule one-on-one appointments in person, via phone or zoom. Those who pick in-person will be scheduled and will receive on-campus protocol information at the time the appointment is scheduled, and in a reminder call 24 hours prior to their appointment. Unless changed we must allow 30 minutes between appointments for cleaning so we will have to cut our appointment time from one hour to 30 minutes. Once the student has met with the advisor in-person we will encourage follow-up via zoom if possible.Employer engagement
All employer engagement activities will continue to be hosted remotely. Employers will not return to campus in the next 1-2 years. In addition, remote offerings have allowed employers to reach more students and has cut down on their commuting time and expenses associated with on-campus recruitment. We have also had an increase in student engagement for remote offerings. Our location has always posed a challenge for employers including lack of on-campus parking for those who drive. Here is a breakdown of the service options available to employers for the upcoming academic year:- Electronic Job Posting – Employers will be able to log into their free Simplicity account to post available positions at https://lehman-cuny-csm.symplicity.com. CEDC will also do additional targeted marketing to alert students of new postings.
- Resume Books - A Resume Book allows students to view the opportunities that employers are recruiting for and choose to have their resume included in that book which will be available for viewing/download by the employer. All they would need to do is log into their Simplicity account and select Resume Books on the navigation bar located on the left side of the screen. In order to create the Resume Book, employers need to complete the Resume Book Creation Request providing us with information that will be included for student viewing. At any time throughout the established submission date, employers may log in and view the resumes of students/alumni applying to their positions as well as download those resumes.
- Resume Screening – CEDC career advisors will screen candidates based on the job requirements and provide employers with the qualified candidates within one week of the employer’s request.
Information/Recruitment Sessions – Employers can connect with students via ZOOM to speak about their organization, open positions, qualifications, and application instructions. Students will have an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session. - Career Conversations – Professionals can connect with students who would like to learn about the skills, knowledge and qualifications needed to begin and succeed in their respective career.
Fall 2021 Internship Fair and Spring 2022 Job & Internship Fair – Exploring technology to host virtually.
First Destination Survey
We will not be doing on-campus data collection and will rely on our other options (Emailed surveys, Linked-In data mining, Post Graduate Survey (IT), The Office of Graduate Studies at Lehman College)Lehman Food Bank
Has operated through this past year and will be fully open and operational Spring 2022. A list of departments serving student and schedules follows:
Students and Student Services
A current list of Student Service offices and their hours are available here. - Student Accommodations: the primary accommodation in place for vulnerable populations with an underlying medical issue is to request and receive a medical exemption from receiving the COVID 19 vaccine. This form will be developed by the CUNY Central Office and administered by the Local Vaccination Authority agents at Lehman College—both individuals are part of the Health and Wellness Centers. In addition, to receiving a COVICD 19 medical exemption, all individuals will be referred to the Student Disability Services Office to receive accommodations. Here, it is important to note that academic accommodations for Lehman students are established on a case-by-case basis. As a result, students will receive individualized assistance as it pertains to receiving accommodations for course scheduling, exam scheduling, instructional support, tutoring, on campus activities, etc. In summary, the accommodation process for supporting vulnerable populations upon their return to campus, is to forward their requests to the Local Vaccination Authority who will serve as the initial triage/intake person and will then escalate their requests to the Student Disabilities Office (and or any other relevant office, e.g., Title IX) to finalize academic accommodations.
Residence Hall Plan
Given that vaccines and boosters will be mandatory for students living in campus housing, housing and dorms will resume normal operations with 100% of occupants fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated students may not live in campus housing.
Location and Residents
The Lehman College Residence Hall is located on 247 Bedford Park Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458.
Response to Guiding Principles
Safety first: Lehman College has made the health and safety of the entire College community the focal point of all its planning and decision-making. All residence hall residents must be vaccinated. Any unvaccinated individuals will not be permitted to reside in any CUNY residence hall or dorm.
Guest Policy and Visitors
Students will not be allowed visitors; This includes overnight guest and short-term guest. Guest policy has been suspended since late February and will continued to be suspended for the Fall until further notice.. Social gatherings will be limited to outdoors.
In the event a student is exposed to COVID-19 Isolation/quarantine is necessary
- If residents have any symptoms of illness or have been in contact with anyone who has symptoms of illness they are being told to quarantine in their units. RA and RD will ensure necessary support systems are provided.
- For those students in quarantine due to COVID-19, the campus will work with the Lehman College Basic Needs Center to coordinate access to meals by way of food cards, grocery deliveries, and takeout. Lehman will also provide student access to items located in Campus food pantry.
- Due to the potential mental and psychosocial health issues that may occur as a result of isolation, staff from the Counseling, Wellness, and Health Centers will work with the Resident Hall Director to provide timely support for students. These efforts will also be supplemented by resident assistants. Lehman has also created a comprehensive list of external resources that will be shared with students upon moving into the residence.
- The Heath Center will provide Telemental health to students in quarantine. This will include daily check ins regarding new and ongoing symptoms. The Counseling Center will also provide Telemental health services. Services can be accessed via zoom, by phone, or email.
- Under the supervision of the Resident Director, Residents Assistant will check on the health and safety of residents daily during their duty rounds. These interactions will occur from outside the room to limit exposure through teleconferencing applications such as zoom and facetime.
- If facing extreme symptoms residents will be advised to seek medical treatment. The RA/RD will call 911 if a medical emergency and wait with student until EMS arrives and will promptly contact the student’s emergency contact.
- Lehman will help to facilitate transportation for students effected by COVID-19. This will be coordinated with campus and external services. At this time, most students who require emergency care are transported to Montefiore Hospital. This will continue to be the primary hospital student are sent to.
Quarantine and Isolation Guidelines for Dormitories (rev. 1/17/21)
• Before returning to campus for the Spring semester, all dorm students must submit proof of a negative test.
• In consultation with the local health department, campuses with dormitories must identify where students who are infected with COVID-19 will be residing and how daily needs, such as food and medication, will be met if it becomes necessary to have a period of isolation or quarantine. Recommended facilities include, but are not limited to: o Sections of residence halls with private bathrooms, if possible, should be reserved to be used solely for the purpose of isolating or quarantining individuals living on-campus who have, who are suspected to have COVID19;
o Nearby hotels that are arranged to accommodate individuals who have, or are suspected to have COVID-19; and/or
o Individual homes, as long as the student is able to safely travel home (e.g. not using mass transit) and their home is safe for them to isolate away from other individuals.
Physical Preparation
o The isolation and quarantine rooms should be physically separated from other residential student rooms.
o The rooms should have private/separate bathroom facilities and be stocked with a thermometer, sanitizing wipes, tissues, soap, hand sanitizer, and toiletries.
o Spaces should be labeled externally with appropriate signage that states restricted access (e.g., “Private Quarters” or “Authorized Personnel Only”) but does not state the reason for the restricted access due to concerns about potential for stigma and FERPA/HIPAA regulations. Any signage decisions should be reviewed with the campus or University general counsel.
o Adequate numbers of rooms should be pre-identified to accommodate an increase in cases. The CDC may later provide guidance on adequate numbers of rooms.
• Operational Preparation: o If a residential student contracts COVID-19, campuses must proactively identify appropriate residential spaces and reserve those spaces in the event of needed isolation or quarantine of a student(s).
o Campus leaders will consult with CUNY Central and health officials to run scenarios on transmission and ensure enough space is set aside to isolate all cases and suspected cases in an aggressive transmission scenario.
o A protocol should be made available to all individuals involved in the management of isolation spaces and its procedures.
o Minimally, a select group of individuals within housing/residence life, campus safety, and facilities should be aware of the rooms used for isolation.
o Student health services staff should remotely monitor students on a daily basis (temperature checks and symptom screening) and transfer to an on- or off- campus site for a clinical evaluation if symptoms advance or the patient requests.
o For students on the campus meal plan, dining services should arrange food delivery in collaboration with housing/residence life, student affairs or campus life. Housing/residence life staff could arrange for the purchase of a campus meal plan or coordinate meal delivery for those students who have not purchased the campus meal plan.
o Transportation should be made available to and from the location if medical care is needed.
Cleaning and Disinfection of Exposed Areas
- Once positive diagnose is confirmed, infected student will be moved to Isolation room that have already been taken off-line to quarantine for the recommend CDC timeframe and until the student can provide evidence of a test negative.
- Exposed room will be taken offline. At which point, Campus Facilities will follow college approved cleaning protocol. The room will remain vacant until clearance in given by Campus Facilities.
Notification of Occupants
- In an event a student test positive, The Hall Director will notify the Assistant Director and the Dean of Students. This information will then be shared by the Dean with designated senior administration and the COVID-19 Campus Liaison. All residents will be notified of possible exposure by Hall Director and Dean of students.
Move-out
The closure of campus residence halls falls under the purview of the President. Upon notification of a closure, the Office of Student Affairs will work with both the Campus Emergency Response Team and Crisis Communications team to provide guidance to students affected by the disruption. Students will be provided with a minimum of 48 hours to vacate the Residence Halls. In some cases, students will be allowed to store personal items on campus.
- The college will work with external partners to help facilitate temporary housing for students who are unable to secure housing if the facility is closed. This includes but is not limited to other housing facilities within the larger University System.
Communication
Students will be notified of the closure via telephone, text, and email. The email will contain timelines, checkout instructions and emergency housing opportunities.
COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfection Procedures
- Introduction
Enhanced cleaning and disinfection are critical to reducing the spread of COVID-19 at Lehman College. These procedures have been developed to provide consistent practices for enhanced cleaning and disinfection in accordance with New York State Department of Health regulations, CDC recommendations and guidance available from safety and industry associations.- It is expected that all employees, students, and contractors will follow these procedures to protect their own health as well as other members of the campus community.
- These procedures are in effect until further notice and are subject to change at any time as additional guidance becomes available.
Custodial Staff Cleaning and Disinfection Procedures
The following procedures describe the cleaning procedures to be followed by the Custodial Staff.
Routine cleaning of occupied areas shall be continued according to departmental standards and includes actions such as:
- Cleaning high contact surfaces that are touched by many different people, such as light switches, handrails, and doorknobs/handles
- Dust- and wet-mopping or auto-scrubbing floors
- Vacuuming of entryways and high traffic areas
- Removing trash
- Cleaning restrooms
- Dusting horizontal surfaces
- Disinfection of Frequently Touched Surfaces
Frequently touched surfaces in common areas of occupied buildings are cleaned and disinfected by the custodial staff using products meeting the EPA criteria for use against COVID-19. When such products are temporarily not available, disinfectants labeled for effectiveness against Human Coronaviruses must be used.
Examples of frequently touched surfaces include:
- Doorknobs or push bars
- Refrigerator and microwave doors and handles
- Door handles and push plates
- Stair Handrails
- Kitchen and bathroom faucets and fixtures
- Light switches
- Handles on equipment
- Disinfection of Bathrooms/Kitchenettes
- Residence Life staff will provide students with cleaning supplies placed in each bathroom for use in before and after every usage. Students will be educated to wipe down all areas before using cleaning wipes and disinfecting sprays. These items will be replaced on a regular basis.
- Purell stations on each floor for residents to use when arriving on each floor. Resident assistant is responsible to monitor and report and refill stations as needed and part of their daily duty rounds.
- Will be getting steady supplies from normal purchasing methodology and the Building and Grounds department.
- Cleaning and Disinfection of exposed areas
- Once positive diagnose is confirmed, infected student will be moved to Isolation room to quarantine for the recommend CDC timeframe and until the student test negative.
- Exposed room will be taken offline. At which point, Campus Facilities will follow college approved cleaning protocol.
- Notification of Occupants
- In an event a student test positive, The Hall Director will notify the Assistant Director and the Dean of Students. This information will then be shared by the Dean with designated senior administration and the COVID-19 Campus Liaison. All residents will be notified of possible exposure by Hall Director and Dean of students.
- Current Travel Guidelines:
- Testing
- CUNY has contracted with BRL to conduct regular testing at Lehman’s residence.
Child Care Center
During the Covid-19 pandemic, it is vital to follow the recommended health and safety guidelines of local regulatory agencies and the recommendations in the CDC Guidance for Child Care Programs that Remain Open to keep the children, staff, and families in the childcare program safe. The Imagine Health and Safety Plan has been updated as follows:
Child and Family Protocols
Drop Off/Pick Up:
- Child drop off is at the center entrance to reduce outside exposure within the center.
- Adults and children must wear masks/face coverings when approaching the center for drop off.
- Postings on the front door remind parents to socially distance by 6 feet while waiting to drop off children at the center entrance.
- CDC Covid-19 Symptoms and Safety Protocols are posted at Center Entrance.
- Families will be accepted into the center drop off area one at a time by Center staff.
- Parents will use their own pen to sign the Daily Attendance Log. If they do not have a pen, they will be provided with a disposable glove to use a center pen.
- Children will remove outside shoes and change to inside shoes.
- Outside shoes will be stored individually in provided storage containers.
- No strollers will be accepted into or stored in the center
Daily Screening for All Families, Employees, and Necessary Visitors Screening Questions
- Are you or your child exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19?
- Have you or your child had any contact with anyone that has or is suspected to have Covid-19?
- Temperature check to be conducted by staff wearing mask/face covering, gloves and eyewear:
- 100.0 degrees or more is considered a fever and requires exclusion for 72 hours.
- Temperature check repeated after lunch time.
- Temperature is logged in Daily Health Check on Classroom Attendance Log.
- In order to follow HIPAA rules, we will not be required to note the temperature...just that it was taken and that, by entering a “T”, we acknowledge that the temperature met the threshold for attending the program (under 100.0 degrees).
- Temperature is taken at drop off and again at lunch. Staff mark the sheet with a “T” and the time each time the temperature is taken.
- Children developing a temperature or other CV-19 symptoms during attendance at the center will be isolated until an Authorized Escort can pick them up.
- Children will wash hands for 20 seconds immediately as they enter the program/classroom and at least hourly throughout the day in addition to the otherwise typically required times (Before and after meals, after diaper changing or using the bathroom, after wiping their nose)
- Any child presenting with fever, who is either isolated and sent home or kept home by family, must remain out of the center for 72 hours until fever free without the use of fever reducing medications.
- Any child that presents additional symptoms of COVID-19 or who’s parent(s) inform the center that the child has been tested for COVID-19, must provide a doctor’s note to allow the child to return to the program
Staff Protocols
- Staff will check their own temperature at home before coming to work.
- 100.0 degrees or more, without having taken any drugs to reduce fever, is considered a fever and requires exclusion for 72 hours. The staff member may be asked for a physician’s note to return to work.
- Temperature check upon arrival to the center by a designated staff member wearing mask/face covering and gloves. Temperature is logged on the CV-19 Staff Temperature and Symptom Checklist. Social distancing markers or signs will be posted to denote 6 ft. of space between staff.
- Imagine will provide all staff with two (2) masks for face covering at no cost to the employee and will have an adequate supply of coverings in case of replacement.
- Staff are trained in CDC guidelines for properly wearing face coverings. Masks/face coverings cannot be shared. Staff must alert their director when a mask/face covering is damaged or soiled for a replacement. Disposable masks must be discarded in the trash bin.
- Staff will wear masks/face coverings at all times, traveling to and from work with one covering and another while at work. Staff are provided with, and are responsible for cleaning, two (2) reusable cloth masks. Disposable masks are available as a back-up.
- Staff will answer daily health screening questions, logged on the CV-19 Staff Temperature and Symptom Certification Record Log.
- Are you exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19?
- Have you had any contact with anyone that has or is suspected to have Covid-19?
- Staff will use hand sanitizer before clocking in. Hand sanitizing stations are located in common areas throughout the center. Social distancing markers or signs will be posted to denote 6 ft. of space between staff.
- Staff are provided scrubs and will change into them at the center after clocking in.
- Staff will remove scrubs if leaving the center for a lunch break and at the end of the day.
- Staff will launder appropriately scrubs and face masks. Staff will bring a freshly cleaned pair of scrubs to wear daily (Imagine is providing 2 pairs of scrubs).
- Staff will wear center only shoes or PPE shoe covers (if there are no safety concerns with the flooring).
- Staff will wash hands for 20 seconds immediately as they enter the program/classroom and at least hourly in addition to the otherwise typically required times (Before and after serving food, after diaper changing or bathroom assistance, after using the bathroom themselves, after wiping their own or a child’s nose)
- When staff are in contact with shared objects or frequently touched areas, such as in the kitchen area or bathroom, staff may wear gloves that are provided by Imagine or sanitize or wash hands before and after contact.
- Staff will avoid interactions in shared areas to the greatest extent possible and maintain 6 ft. social distancing rules (e.g., break rooms, kitchen area, meeting areas, etc.
Classroom Practices
- Reduced Group Sizes/Face coverings
- Reduced group Size and teacher-to child ratios will be maintained according to local regulatory authorities.
- Group size including adults and children in any room will not exceed state and local regulations.
- Groups will not be combined, and staff will remain with the same group whenever and wherever possible.
- Children over the age of 2 are encouraged to wear a fresh, inside face covering in classrooms (not the one worn walking to school). The face covering must be stored in a Ziploc bag with the child’s name and sent home daily for cleaning.
- Face coverings should not be placed on children younger than 2 years of age, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance.Children will be reminded not to touch their faces
Recommended Classroom Best Practices Around Social Distancing
Approaches to teaching children about social distancing:
- “Stay in your bubble”
- When children sit, ask them to form a bubble extending their arms, and bringing them to their heads. The arms once down cannot come out of the bubble and the bubble only expands once the teachers say to stand up or move.
- “Helicopter arms”
- Invite children to extend their arms and create a helicopter. If their hands touch each other, they are too close
- Using space markers/pods/mats
- Use masking tape, sit upon or mats to create spots on the floor and encourage the children to use the space in the pod to play while communicating with their peers.
Rest Period
During nap/rest time, children’s cots will be distanced at least 6 ft. apart and children alternated “head-to-toe.” Partitions may be used, as necessary.
Art
Individualize materials. Children can have zip lock bags with crayons, a scissor, and even some paper and craft materials. Label with name and refill as needed.
Block Play
Limit children participating in the area. Once the children finish, the center should be closed and sanitized. Provide multiple sets of materials to rotate for use for each new group using the area.
Dramatic Play
As suggested in Block Play, use prop boxes to rotate use for each new group.
Manipulatives
Be very purposeful with your choices and planning. 4-year-olds can use the smaller Legos while the 3’s use larger ones. Rotate in toys from storage or items not being used in other classrooms. Limit puzzles. Ask the children what THEY want to use that day. Make them part of the decision-making process.
Sensory
Do not avoid it! It is still a very important part of daily play.
Use individual metal tins or trays for shaving cream, playdough, hair gel, shaving cream and homemade slime and goop. Have every child make their own playdough and keep it in their own container.
Playground Protocol
- Playgrounds must be used by one class at a time and schedules made to allow for classes to completely exit to their classroom before another class comes out.
- Playground equipment should be wiped down/sanitized between classes. Cleaning equipment and proper sanitizer should be readily available for playground use.
- Staff will wear gloves when picking up cleaning materials as other staff will have used the materials prior.
Meals
- Adults and children must wash hands for 20 seconds before and after meals.
- No sharing of food. Centers participating in lunch programs will have individual lunches/portions served.
- No food served family style. This includes birthday celebrations. During this crisis, centers will not make birthday cakes for sharing but birthdays will be acknowledged and celebrated in creative ways.
- Staff and children will be distanced as per CDC guidelines while sitting for meals.
- Children and staff will not share utensils, using only disposable utensils or those bought from home.
- All shared food preparation equipment (microwave, coffeemaker, and refrigerator) must be cleaned with disinfectant before and after each use.
Adult Bathroom Facilities
- Bathroom areas will be cleaned as per requirements.
- Only one adult in the bathroom at a time
- Wash hands after using bathroom for 20 seconds
- Faucets shut off with a clean paper towel
- Door opened with a clean paper towel discarded in a garbage receptacle outside the bathroom.
Office Protocols
- Masks/face coverings must be worn, and 6 feet of distance maintained if more than one person is in the office.
- Wipe down desks, and keyboards, phones, printers, door release buttons, radios, walkie talkies after each use.
Director / Supervisor Protocols and Responsibilities
- Imagine will adhere to hygiene and sanitation requirements from the CDC and the Department of Health and maintain cleaning logs on site that document date, time, and scope of cleaning. Directors are responsible for maintaining the cleaning log in the COVID-19 Safety Plan Binder.
- Directors will ensure that all cleaning and disinfection occurs as per the CV-19 Safety Checklist and this Safety Plan. Frequent daily cleaning and disinfection of shared objects, surfaces and high transit areas is required.
- Directors are responsible for monitoring all COVID-19 safety protocols and will designate staff members to assist as Safety Coordinators and ensure they are trained.
- Directors will ensure that the COVID-19 Safety Plan is maintained current with all checklists, posters, and other relevant documents, kept onsite in a COVID-19 Safety Plan Binder.
- Video-conferencing meetings will be held as needed. Essential in-person meetings will be held in open, well-ventilated spaces with appropriate social distancing among participants.
- Directors will prohibit non-essential visitors on site to the extent possible. Designated areas for “pick-ups” or “deliveries” will be established to limit interactions to the extent possible.
- Directors (or their designees in their absence) are the point of contact for reviewing screening requirements and for the reporting of symptoms, exposure and testing results by staff and families.
Communication
- Imagine will keep lines of communication open to all staff and parents.
- All staff must discuss immediately with their supervisor or director any questions, suggestions, or concerns. Staff can also reach out to:
- Caryn O’Connor (Vice President) caryn@imagineelc.com Debbie Bermudez (Executive Director) debbie@imagineelc.com Josie Wong (HR Director) josie@imagineelc.com
- Imagine will post signage throughout the childcare centers to remind staff to adhere to proper hygiene, social distancing rules, appropriate use of PPE (masks/face coverings, scrubs, gloves), and cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
- Imagine has a communication plan in place and will utilize email, in addition to verbal communication from Directors to update staff and families.
- Imagine will maintain a continuous log of every person, including staff, children, and essential visitors, including cleaning personnel, who may have close contact with other individuals at the childcare center or area. This is critical to comply with contact tracing requirements in the event of a positive case. These logs include timecard clock in/out records in ADP, Classroom In/Out Logs and the Essential Visitors Log. Directors and site supervisors are responsible for maintaining these logs and ensure they are placed in the COVID-19 Safety Plan Binder. Cleaning personnel who enter the center after hours will be asked to sign in/out on the essential visitor log as well.
- If a staff member tests positive for COVID-19, Imagine will immediately notify state and local health departments and cooperate with contact tracing efforts, including notification to potential contacts, such as staff, families, and essential visitors who had close contact with the individual. Imagine will provide the COVID-19 Infection in the Workplace Communication, while maintaining confidentiality required by state and federal law and regulations. The Director, Executive Director or Vice President are responsible for notifying the state and local health departments. The Director will notify the center sponsor, where applicable, of any CV-19 exposures or positive cases in staff.
- If a child or child’s family member, test positive for COVID-19, Imagine will follow similar procedures of notifying the appropriate local health departments. Families of children in the child’s immediate class will be called to inform them, keeping confidential the name of the family involved. The rest of the center population will be informed as well via written/email communication. The Director will notify the center sponsor, where applicable, of any CV-19 exposures or positive cases in children or family members.
- If staff of children have a fever or affirmative answers to the screening questions, or have been exposed to, or are displaying symptoms of COVID -19, they will not be allowed to enter the facility/required to isolate and then leave the facility and required to see a health care provider for assessment and testing. Upon request, staff and families will be provided with healthcare and testing resources.
Training
- All staff taking temperatures will be required to take HIPAA training and will maintain confidentiality. As child-care professionals, all staff have been trained to take temperatures.
- Directors are required to conduct training with all staff on the COVID-19 Safety Plan, including the appropriate use and disposal of PPE, social distancing rules, proper hygiene and cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
- It is recommended that Directors attend CV-19 training made available through industry contacts and share feedback with supervisors and colleagues.
Essential Visitors
Directors will conduct the following:
- Directors or on-site supervisors are required to take the temperature of all essential visitors, including cleaning personnel.
- Directors or on-site supervisors are required to ask essential visitors: Are you exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19?
- Have you had any contact with anyone that has or is suspected to have Covid-19?
- Directors or on-site supervisors will record the temperature and COVID-19 symptom and exposure question on the Essential Visitors Log.
In the Event a Staff Member or Child Becomes Sick at the Center we will follow our current Health Policies and:
- Identify an area to separate anyone who exhibits COVID-like symptoms during hours of operation and ensure that children are not left without adult supervision.
- Notify local health officials, staff, and families immediately of any possible case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable federal and state privacy laws.
- Areas used by any sick person will be disinfected immediately. Ensure safe and correct application of disinfectants, and keep disinfectant products away from children
- Advise sick staff members or children not to return until they have met CDC criteria to discontinue home isolation, and have a doctor’s note to return:
- 3 days with no fever and
- Symptoms improved and
- 10 days since symptoms first appeared
- If a child or employee in the work environment… DOH… Inform those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days, and to follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop. If a person does not have symptoms follow appropriate CDC guidance for home isolation.
- Any person who has been in close contact with a staff member or child at the center that has tested positive will be informed verbally and in writing.
Travel Exclusion
- Continuing safety for Imagine staff and families is our priority. Staff and families returning to Imagine Child Care Centers after personal travel are required to follow all Executive Orders, licensing agencies and CDC Guidelines.
- Effective June 25, 2020, staff and families are required to quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state during the time of travel.
- All staff and families are required to notify their director with their personal domestic vacation destinations to determine if their travel to a state will necessitate a quarantine period after their return.
- Staff and families may be required to submit a doctor’s note and proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Imagine will follow all agency regulations.
- Staff and families are reminded that if they are traveling by plane, they should abide by all social distancing and hygiene recommendations, including wearing a mask and maintaining 6 ft. distance.
- Staff and families returning from a personal trip to any state or location must notify their director if they have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 or if they are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID19.
- If a staff member or family is returning from a cruise and/or international travel, they will need to quarantine until 14 days have passed from the date of their return.
Testing Sites in NY State
Staff and families can use the link below to find testing sites closest to home. https://www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/get-tested/covid-19-testing.page
This Safety Plan will be updated as additional recommendations are provided by regulatory agencies.
Human Resources Guide to Transitioning from Remote to On-Campus Work
This plan describes the actions taken to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of the campus community. The Plan will evolve further as new information and guidance becomes available from public health authorities, New York State and CUNY. A healthy workplace and campus environment are a team effort therefore, you will also find information that explains how all members of the Lehman College community can contribute to an environment that promotes a sense of comfort and security. We welcome your suggestions and ideas to enhance workplace safety.
- Access to Campus
Effective August 2, 2021, staff will return to their workplaces in preparation for a more in-person fall semester. The access to campus process will be converted to an electronic workflow process in time for the beginning of the fall semester. A notification will be sent to the campus community when the new electronic process is available. - Contact Tracing
CUNY will continue to aid in the identification of exposures, and notify close contacts, as appropriate, of exposure as soon as possible after being notified that someone in the campus has tested positive or been diagnosed with COVID-19.
CDC Guidance that CUNY and Campuses will continue to follow:
- As soon as possible after they are notified that someone has tested positive for or been diagnosed with COVID-19, campuses should notify close contacts of exposure, in accordance with applicable privacy and other laws.
- Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or have COVID-19 symptoms should isolate and notify their close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and refer close contacts to the state or local health department website to learn about the steps they should take because of the exposure.
Return to Onsite Work Requirements
Effective April 2, 2021, CUNY’s quarantine/isolation requirement for employees to return to work is 10 days. This applies to all quarantines including onset of symptoms, positive test, (possible) exposure and travel both domestic and international. Domestic travel is currently defined as any time, other than brief passage, spent in a non-contiguous state. (All travelers must complete the NYS Travel Form unless the traveler left New York for less than 24 hours or is coming to New York from a contiguous state i.e., Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont.
- A negative test result is still required or, if a negative result cannot be achieved despite lack of symptoms, then appropriate medical clearance is required to return to work. This documentation must be dated no earlier than 3 days prior to the anticipated return to work date.
At this time, vaccination status does not impact or waive these requirements for returning to work at a CUNY campus of work location.
Maintaining A Safe and Healthy Campus Environment
Airflow and Ventilation:
The approach for improving ventilation varies by the type of mechanical system in the building. In older buildings like Gillet and Davis opening windows and doors creates the best airflow.
In newer buildings with central air handlers (AHU), the controls are being adjusted to increase the percentage of outside air. All air handling units have been disinfected and air filters have been replaced with MERV 13 filters.
Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection Program:
Buildings and Grounds implemented an enhanced cleaning and disinfection program before the campus closed in March of 2020, which is still in effect. Employees returning to campus can expect the following:
- Cleaning and disinfecting of public and occupied areas on a daily basis. Disinfection is done using an EPA-registered anti-viral disinfectant for high touch surfaces including door pulls/knobs, elevator panels/buttons, stair handrails, bathroom surfaces, counters and desks, light switches, and drinking fountains.
- Hand sanitizer stations throughout the campus in high use areas that are checked and refilled regularly.
- Disposable disinfecting wipes in offices and instructional spaces. Employees are encouraged to use the wipes to clean frequently touched surfaces such as telephones, doorknobs, copier touch pads and counter tops. IT has alcohol wipes for use on keyboards.
- In staff areas where social distancing is not possible, acrylic protection shields may be installed. Supervisors should contact Campus Planning and Facilities to review shielding options and locations.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Faculty, staff, and students must wear a mask or appropriate face covering on campus per the Governor’s Executive Order 202.17. This executive order requires individuals over the age of two and those medically able to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face covering when in a public place and unable to maintain or not maintain social distancing. Employees may choose to use their own appropriate mask or face covering or wear a cloth face covering provided by the college.The college will provide masks and gloves as needed. This requirement will remain in effect on the campus until further notice.
Signage and Communication
CDC and Department of Health signs are prominently displayed in the restrooms, elevators, bulletin boards and other areas of the campus. These signs provide helpful information to protecting ourselves and others.
Signs are posted throughout the campus with recommended occupancy limits for bathrooms, elevators, break rooms, meeting rooms and other multi-occupancy spaces, please comply with the posted limited occupancy.
Maintaining a Safe and Healthy Campus Environment
Use the stairwells, when possible, to reduce the number of people in the elevators at one time.
- When Cafeteria service resumes, food service will be may be arranged as grab and go or phone-in/email order for pick up.
- Seating in the cafeteria and dining rooms conforms with safe social distancing requirements limiting occupancy to 25-30% of maximum capacity. Employees should consider in-office or outdoor seating areas and social distancing for lunch and breaks.
- Lobbies and the seating in waiting areas conforms with safe social distancing requirements.
- Follow public health recommendations on hand washing with soap and water and the use of hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer stations, located around the campus, are restocked regularly.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, cough, or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands. Immediately wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer. Learn more about cough and sneezing etiquette from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at CDC.gov.
- Limit the cross-contamination of desks, counters, and other work areas by not touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, avoid readjusting or touching the mask or face covering or placing a used mask on shared surfaces. If possible, do not share telephones, electronic devices, pens and other work tools and equipment and clean and disinfect them before and after use.
Visitors and Vendors
Visitors and vendors should be by appointment only.
Contractors working on campus are under the jurisdiction of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York and are required to follow NYS requirements for construction sites regarding daily screening, social distancing, and the use of PPE.
Academic and Business Travel
All individuals should follow the CDC domestic travel recommendations and international travel recommendations before reporting to work or campus and notify their manager in advance of the travel dates and should quarantine be required.
Health and Wellness
CCA@YourService, CUNY’s Work/Life program, is a free benefit to you and your family. The program offers a range of support services including free, confidential counseling to employees, as well as their household and family members, health and wellness resources and referrals, assistance with convenience matters, and financial tools and resources.
Call CCA@YourService 24/7 toll-free at (800) 833-8707 or log on to their website www.myccaonline.com. The company code is CUNY.
The CCA@YourService seminar Stress Management Under COVID 19 is available for viewing by using the following link https://ccainc.adobeconnect.com/pce9bsti9pne/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal
COVID-19 Vaccination Paid Time Off Benefit
All full-time and part-time active employees who submit appropriate documentation for vaccination appointments that occur during the employee’s regular work hours will be granted 4 hours of paid time off for each dose. As two doses may be required, a total of 8 hours of paid time off is permitted. Send proof of appointment to Eric Washington, Director of Human Resources at eric.washington@lehman.cuny.edu.
Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination
As we resume on campus operations after months of working remotely, we encourage all staff to complete two mandatory annual trainings. The redesigned Employee Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Course (ESPARC) and the Workplace Violence Prevention Program. Both programs are posted to Blackboard under My Organizations.
We also want to remind you of workplace policies that contribute to a respectful, affirming and harassment/discrimination free campus community.
The CUNY Policy on Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination prohibits discrimination on the basis of numerous protected characteristics in accordance with federal, state, and local law. The protected characteristics include race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, partnership status, disability, genetic information, alienage, citizenship, military or veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence/stalking/sex offenses, unemployment status, or any other legally prohibited basis https://tmg-web.lehman.edu/academics/policies.php
The CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct prohibits sexual harassment, gender-based harassment and sexual violence against any CUNY employee, student, or visitor.
Employees are encouraged to contact the Office of Compliance and Diversity with questions about the CUNY Policy on Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination and the CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct.
Reasonable Accommodations for Disability and other medical reasons, Religious Practices. and Status as a Victim of Domestic Violence
The CUNY Policy on Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments describes the reasonable accommodations and academic adjustments procedure in connection with a disability; pregnancy, childbirth, or a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth; religious practices, and status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offense or stalking. The Policy on Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments is posted to this URL
Employees who may need an accommodation in connection with one of these issues should contact Human Resources by calling (718) 960-8812 or write to eric.washington@lehman.cuny.edu
Options for Employees not covered by CUNY Policy on Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments
Employees who have concerns about returning to work for non-disability reasons or for reasons not covered by the CUNY Policy on Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments such as childcare or the health of others in their household, may be eligible for options such as use of annual leave, a leave of absence, or leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or the Families First Corona Virus Response Act (FFCRA extended through September 30, 2012). CUNY will continue to provide FFCRA leaves to eligible employees who fill out the appropriate attestation and request forms, which can be found here. If an employee has already exhausted their FFRCA leaves, they do not receive additional time.
Employees should contact Human Resources at (718) 960-8181 with questions about the Reasonable Accommodation Policy (disability and medical conditions) and options available to employees not covered by the CUNY Policy on Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments.
Resources
Lehman College Coronavirus (COVID-19) Webpage (Updates and Resources) https://lehman.edu/coronavirus
Employee Benefits, Policies and Guides
The University Benefits Office has compiled Coronavirus Wellness Resources for faculty and staff on their website. This information includes links and contact information to CUNY’s Employee Assistance Provider, CCA; a chart of telemedicine options now made available by our different health insurance carriers; Mental Health and Substance Abuse assistance for those suffering from stress and anxiety during this time and free fitness classes through NYC’s Work Well Program. https://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/hr/benefits/#1586266607483-5c6c7058-6281
Corporate Counseling Associates
Call 24/7 toll-free at (800) 833-8707, website www.myccaonline.com, company code: CUNY.
Employees may be eligible for paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave through The Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Please see the Department of Labor Poster that describes the different entitlements. https://www.cuny.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/media-assets/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf
Tools and Rules for Teleworking: A Guide for Employees
https://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/hr/covid-return-to-work-resources/tools-and-rules-for-teleworking-a-guide-for-employees/
CUNY Flexible Work Guidelines
https://www.cuny.edu/coronavirus/flexible-work-arrangements/
Public Transportation
The steps you can take to help keep yourself and others healthy when you are riding public transit in New York are described in the MTA flyer Traveling Safely During the Pandemic MTA.
Traveling safely during the coronavirus pandemic | MTA
"COVID-19 How We Are Protecting You" describes the enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols implemented by New Jersey Transit to keep riders safe https://www.njtransit.com/covid19
Coping with Stress During COVID-19
What you should know.
When you hear, read, or watch news about COVID-19, you may feel anxious and show signs of stress. These signs of stress are normal and may be more likely or pronounced for people who live in or have loved ones living in parts of the world affected by the outbreak. In the wake of an infectious disease, monitor your own physical and mental health. Know the signs of stress in yourself and your loved ones. Know how to relieve stress and know when to get help.
Know the signs of stress.
What follows are behavioral, physical, emotional, and cognitive responses that are all common signs of anxiety and stress. You may notice some of them. You may experience:
Your Behavior
- An increase or decrease in your energy and activity levels
- An increase in your use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs
- An increase in irritability, with outbursts of anger and frequent arguing
- Trouble relaxing or sleeping
- Frequent crying or excessive worrying
- Wanting to be alone most of the time
- Blaming other people for everything
- Difficulty communicating or listening
- Difficulty giving or accepting help
- An inability to feel pleasure or have fun
Your Body
Your body shows stress by:
- Having stomach aches or diarrhea
- Having headaches and other pains
- Losing your appetite or eating too much
- Sweating or having chills
- Getting tremors or muscle twitches
- Being easily startled
Your Emotions You might feel:
- Anxious or fearful
- Guilty
- Angry
- Heroic, euphoric or invulnerable
- Overwhelmed by sadness
You are Thinking you Might:
- Have trouble remembering things
- Feel confused
- Have trouble thinking clearly and concentrating
- Have difficulty making decisions Know how to relieve stress.
You can manage and alleviate your stress by taking time to take care of yourself. The following strategies can help.
Keep things in perspective
Set limits on how much time you spend reading or watching news. You will want to stay up-to date on changes in the situation, particularly if you have loved ones in places where many people have gotten ill, but make sure to take time away from the news to focus on things in your life that are going well and that you can control.
Get the facts
Find people and resources you can depend on for accurate health information. Learn from them about the outbreak and how you can protect yourself against illness if you are at risk. You may turn to your family doctor, a local health department, government agencies or an international organization. Avoid getting news from social media.
These two organizations are credible sources of information about infectious disease outbreaks:
World Health Organization (WHO), https://www.who.int
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), https://www.cdc.gov
Keep yourself healthy
- Eat healthy foods, and drink water
- Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol
- Do not use tobacco or illegal drugs
- Get enough sleep and rest
- Get physical exercise
Use practical ways to relax
- Relax your body often by doing things that work for you – take deep breaths, stretch, meditate, or engage in hobbies
- Pace yourself between stressful activities, and do a fun thing after a hard task
- Use time off to relax – eat a good meal, read, listen to music, take a bath, or talk to family
- Talk about your feelings to loved ones and friends
- Take care of your physical health to help lower your stress
- Take a break to focus on positive parts of your life, like connections with loved ones
Pay attention to your body, feelings, and spirit
- Recognize and heed early warning signs of stress
- Recognize how your own past experiences affect your way of thinking and feeling about this event. Think of how you handled your thoughts, emotions, and behavior around past events
- Know that feeling stressed, depressed, guilty, or angry is common after an event like an infectious disease outbreak, even when it does not directly threaten you
- Connect with others who may be experiencing stress about the outbreak
- Talk about your feelings, share reliable health information, and enjoy conversation unrelated to the news to remind yourself of the many important and positive things in your life
- Take time to renew your spirit through meditation or helping others in need
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014, 21 October). Coping with stress during infectious disease outbreaks (Pub. No. SMA14-4885). Retrieved 23 January 2020 from h ps://store.samhsa.gov
Disclaimer: This document is intended for general information only. It does not provide the reader with specific direction, advice, or recommendations. You may wish to contact an appropriate professional for questions concerning your particular situation.
This is a publication of the Office of Diversity and Human Resources
Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, New York 10468
Email: diversity.resources@lehman.cuny.edu
Email: human.resources@lehman.cuny.edu
First published August 27, 2020
X. Appendix
Service Stage Two
Online Services – Limited Onsite Campus Access
Colleges innovate and expand uses of campus facilities. In a mostly online semester, the entire campus, with adequate and open WiFi access, is quiet and appropriate for study space. Colleges that house computer workstations in libraries among materials and in tight quarters can move computers to open spaces that allow for social distancing with reduced staff requirements. Campuses can apply existing class and event scheduling software, such as R25, to schedule use of study spaces, computers, and cleaning, and to minimize lines and lower the need for onsite staffing.
Closed stack service implemented where staff retrieve books from shelves to limit contagion risk. Book delivery and return mechanisms are innovated by library staff with Campus Facilities and Public Safety. Plexiglass barriers at service desks and eID reduces hand-to-hand service. Circulation staff employ procedures informed by recent public health expertise to manage lending, return, cleaning, and quarantine of library materials.
Increased staff access to physical collections to support online Reserve and course instruction. Patrons can request physical materials, with stacks still closed, to borrow circulating material for research with return of materials for 3+ day quarantine. Increased Interlibrary lending of physical materials for pickup at Circulation Desks. Library staff and students reduce hand-to-hand contact at the point of lending with barcodes displayed on smartphones.
Reference and Instruction services remain online via e-mail, chat, phone, and video conference. Onsite acquisitions, cataloging, and web content are managed remotely. Interlibrary Loan and physical Reserves are managed remotely with onsite scanning as staffing allows.
XI. New York Forward Business Affirmation Form
[1] See NYS Department of Health, Updated Interim Guidance for Travelers Arriving in New York State, dated April 10, 2021, https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2021/04/updated_travel_advisory_april_10_2021a.pdf
[2] See Academic and Business Travel https://www.cuny.edu/coronavirus/travel-guidance/