COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges continue to operate in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Iowa Department of Public Health guidelines. 

Fall 2022 – effective August 22, 2022

Download 4 C's Poster (PDF)

Click on each step to show more details.

  1. Check Your Symptoms - Stay Home if You are Sick
  2. Complete a COVID-19 Test
  3. Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19
  4. Communicate your Absence

 

  1. 1. Check Your Symptoms


    Stay home if you’re sick.

  2. 2. Complete a COVID-19 Test


    Remain off campus while awaiting results

    • If you’re experiencing symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19, complete a COVID-19 test. Tests are available through your healthcare provider, local pharmacies, EICC Campus or Test Iowa.

    • We encourage you to order free at-home testing kits via the U.S. Postal Service. Having tests ahead of time will make it easier for you to test if you begin feeling sick.

      Order your free test kits

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  3. 3. Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID19

  4. 4. Communicate your absence

Students:

  • Let your instructors know you’re sick or have an appointment 

  • We encourage you to keep your instructors informed when you’ll be absent due to illness or appointments. Faculty and staff should expect you will continue to face challenges and offer flexibility whenever possible.

  • You should contact your instructors when a need to miss a class or deadline arises. A make-up policy is included in your course syllabus. Instructors may request appropriate documentation regarding your absence.

  • If you’re ill for an extended period of time, we encourage you to contact your instructors and advisor to explore best options for completing your courses.

  • If you need to miss an appointment such as advising, testing or tutoring, please notify the appropriate office. The staff will work to reschedule you when you are well enough to return to campus. You can also ask about conducting the appointment via Zoom, if your health allows.  

 

For Staff/Faculty/Student Employees:

 

  • Communicate to your supervisor  

  • You are required to practice good communication strategies.  

  • You will communicate to your supervisor and confirm a return to work date. You may be asked to verify with a healthcare provider note, a positive test result or a screenshot of the CDC calculator.  

  • Confirmation from Supervisor 

  •  Before your first day of absence is over, you will receive an email confirmation from your supervisor regarding the receipt of your need to Isolate/quarantine.  They will also confirm your return to work date.  The date shall match the healthcare provider release or the CDC guidance you provide. Please note, return to work date may change based on continued symptoms or if you receive a positive test result. 

 

Flexible Work Options: 

    • Staff:  If your illness requires you to isolate/quarantine, work with your supervisor to see if working remote is permissible given the specific situation.

    • Instructor:  If your situation requires you to isolate/quarantine, you need to work with your supervisor to determine if teaching remote is permissible given the specific situation; or if a substitute teacher should be considered.

    • Supervisor approval is required for remote work.

 

Leave 

    • If you’re unable to work remotely, you will need to use leave time.

    • Upon your return, employees should complete a “green sheet” for sick leave.

      • Reminders for sick leave:

        • 1 sick day = 8 hours of sick leave (regardless of your teaching schedule that day)

      • Utilize Self-Service to track leave usage and availability

      • Adjunct instructors do not need to complete leave forms. 

    • If you have any concerns about the appropriate use of leave, please contact HR. If the amount of leave needed exceeds three days, you may be eligible to apply for FMLA. Contact HR to discuss your options.

 

Notification to Students, Appointments  
     

  • If applicable, send your appointments an email with any additional information that they might need.

  • Instructors:

    • Report your absence to your supervisor per your campus protocol so your absence can be posted on EICConnect.

    • Use Canvas to post an announcement and send your students an email with any additional information that they might need.

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We will continue to keep you informed with information about services, potential changes to our COVID protocols, closures, or other important notices via college email, the college website and text messaging (when deemed necessary).