Latest COVID-19 updates

As we face the emergence of multiple COVID variants, the university is requiring all faculty and staff members to be up to date on vaccinations for COVID-19 or to submit weekly COVID-19 PCR tests. While limited religious and medical exemptions still apply, our goal is to protect the campus community from the virus and these many variants. 

As a reminder, Walmart will host a vaccine/booster clinic in the GCU Casino building auditorium (1^st floor) on February 3, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event is open to students, staff, faculty, and community members.

PROOF OF VACCINATION

Proof of vaccination or submission of weekly COVID-19 tests are required for all employees. A copy of your CDC vaccination card should be shared with the Office of Human Resources, which will keep your information strictly confidential. We strongly encourage all faculty and staff to get booster shots and submit proof of such booster to the Office of Human Resources. Click here for faculty and staff directions for submitting proof of vaccination.

Those who have not provided proof of vaccination will be assumed to be unvaccinated. Anyone who has been identified as unvaccinated (including those with medical or religious exemptions) or not fully vaccinated will be required to get a weekly PCR test and provide results to the Office of Human Resources every Friday. Failure to provide test results on time will result in progressive disciplinary measures.

To request a medical exemption, submit your medical records detailing why you cannot be vaccinated. For a religious exemption, you must submit a written statement detailing your objections. All employee vaccine exemption requests must be e-mailed to gcuHR@georgian.edu and will be kept confidential.

INDOOR MASK REMINDER

Regardless of your vaccination status, masks are required for students, faculty, staff, and visitors whenever inside any GCU facility.

Cloth masks are no longer acceptable for on-campus use. Faculty, staff and students are advised to use three-ply surgical, N95, or KN95 masks. Cloth masks may only be worn decoratively on top of an acceptable mask.

Masks must completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against the side of your face, without gaps. Face shields are acceptable only for faculty while teaching if the faculty member can maintain 6 feet of distance from the class. Similar allowances would be made for presenters at a meeting or event.

Masks are not required when actively eating or drinking. In addition, they are not required in private offices or workstations where physical barriers are present and 6 feet of distance can be maintained.

If you see an individual not properly wearing their mask inside buildings, you have the following options:

• Politely ask them to properly wear a mask per the GCU policy.
• Contact the Office of Campus Safety at 732-987-2613 or security@georgian.edu.
• For students, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 732-987-2601 or dos@georgian.edu.
• For employees, contact the Office of Human Resources at 732-987-2287 or gcuhr@georgian.edu.

QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION

We want to stress to all faculty and staff that we are committed to maintaining the health of everyone on campus and, to that end, we require anyone who is not feeling well to stay home. To protect our progress, we are coordinating with state public health officials for guidance:

• people who have NEVER been vaccinated MUST QUARANTINE FOR 10 DAYS FOLLOWING EXPOSURE;
• people who are fully vaccinated and also boosted DO NOT NEED TO QUARANTINE FOLLOWING EXPOSURE;
• people who are fully vaccinated, but not eligible to get boosted yet (5 months for Moderna/Pfizer and 2 months for J&J) DO NOT NEED TO QUARANTINE FOLLOWING EXPOSURE;
• people who are fully vaccinated, and ARE eligible to get boosted, but haven’t gotten boosted yet MUST QUARANTINE FOR 10 DAYS FOLLOWING EXPOSURE;
• Anyone who tests positive must quarantine for a minimum of 10 days from the positive result and can return to work only when symptom free.

In the event an employee is required to quarantine or isolate, time off will come from sick/personal/vacation leave balances unless the immediate supervisor approves alternate work arrangements. If no leave time is available, the quarantine time will be unpaid. Employees with exemption questions should contact the Office of Human Resources at 732-987-2215. (See policy.)

Please note: Institutions of higher education are considered “congregate settings” by the New Jersey Department of Health (https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/isolation_quarantine_nonhealthcare.pdf).

Also note that guidance published by the CDC for the general public on December 27, 2021, does not apply to congregate settings (https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html).

If You Are Fully Vaccinated

• If you have close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, you will generally not be required to quarantine. The university strongly recommends that you be tested within five to seven days of close contact and monitor yourself for symptoms. Any changes in your health status must be reported to the Office of Human Resources.
• Continue to use the CampusClear app each day you come to campus.

If You Are Unvaccinated or Not Fully Vaccinated

• You are required to get tested weekly for COVID-19 and submit your confidential results to HR every Friday. Any testing costs will be at your expense. Free public testing is also available in New Jersey: https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/testing-and-treatment/where-can-i-get-free-public-covid-19-testing-or-treatment.
• If you are unable to find a testing site, we recommend you work from home until you can provide test results. Please work with your individual supervisor on work schedules.
• If you have close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, you must quarantine for the prescribed number of days. All close contact exposures must be reported to the Office of Human Resources.
• Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in progressive disciplinary action.
• Continue to use the CampusClear app each day you come to campus.
• As mentioned above, Walmart will host a vaccine/booster clinic in the GCU Casino building auditorium (1^st floor) on February 3, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event is open to students, staff, faculty, and community members.

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES

Guidelines for class, in-person meetings and events involving students if a student advises you they have COVID-19 and you have been in class, at a meeting, or at an event with them:

Contact the Office of Health Services at ext. 2756 or healthservices@georgian.edu and report the student’s name and any relevant details, including date of encounter.

1. For classes/events where you are the convener, send the Office of Health Services your class attendance list for the date in question (and the previous 48 hours if your class meets more than once per week).
2. For classes/events where you are not the convener, provide the Office of Health Services with the information about the meeting including date, time, and location.
3. Contact the Office of Human Resources at ext. 2287 or gcuhr@georgian.edu and report that you have had a positive case in your class, meeting, or event.

If a student reports their COVID-19 positive status directly to the Office of Health Services and is in your class or reported being at a meeting/event organized by you:

1. You will be contacted by Health Services, which will request your class, meeting, or event attendance list for the date in question (and the previous 48 hours if your class meets more than once per week) and other pertinent information.
2. The Office of Health Services will not share the student’s name or condition with you. However, students will likely notify faculty if they are missing a class for quarantine or isolation. Faculty may, but are not required to, ask a student to provide documentation associated with their absence, including the health services notification sent to the student.

Free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests are available for order and shipment through the United States Postal Service: https://special.usps.com/testkits

If you have questions, please reach out via e-mail to gcuHR@georgian.edu or call ext. 2287.

Dianna Sofo, PHR, SHRM-CP
Director, Human Resources