FALL 21 COVID PROTOCOL

Vaccination and Masking Requirements

Southwestern College remains committed to our guiding principles for decision-making during this pandemic: (1) Student health, well-being and educational success, and (2) Employee physical and financial health and well-being.

Below are the new vaccination and mask protocols for all campuses and facilities operated by Southwestern College during the 2021 fall semester.

Mask Requirement

Effective immediately, masks will be required of employees and students in all indoor spaces. Mask medical exemptions will be allowed. Requests for exemptions must be submitted online through ServiceNow. Instructions for ServiceNow will be communicated directly to employees and students via email.

Masks must adhere to the Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

Vaccinated students will be allowed to remove their masks while participating in activities in the following courses, at the direction of faculty:

Theatre Arts
Dance
Music

Students who are not vaccinated and cannot wear a face mask due to medical exemption will be required to wear a clear face shield and maintain social distancing at all times for their own protection. Southwestern College will provide clear face shields as needed.

Vaccination Requirement (Students)

Effective August 23, 2021, vaccines will be required of all students who are registered and accessing in-person classes, student services or facilities. Southwestern College will be requiring students to document vaccination status online through ServiceNow. Medical and religious exemptions will be allowed. Requests must be submitted online through ServiceNow. Instructions for ServiceNow will be communicated directly to students via email.

*Students enrolled in public safety and allied health courses will continue to follow the health and safety protocols and daily screenings approved by the County Public Health Office that have been in effect since the beginning of the pandemic.

Free vaccination clinics will be available at the Chula Vista campus in partnership with San Ysidro Health for the first two weeks of classes beginning August 23, and the first two weeks of the eight-week courses beginning in October.

Vaccination clinics can be accessed for free from multiple vaccination providers.

Students may attend in-person classes and/or access in-person services if they are partially vaccinated (have received at least one of two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine where applicable) and will be required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces.

Partially vaccinated students will be expected to follow-through with receiving a second dosage at the time it has been scheduled. Appointment and vaccine dates are required to be reported in ServiceNow.

If students are enrolled in in-person courses and are not vaccinated, they will be contacted to change their enrollment to a remote/virtual course offering.

Vaccination Requirement (Employees)

Effective August 16, 2021, vaccinations will be required of all employees. Southwestern College will be requiring employees to document vaccination status online through ServiceNow. Medical and religious exemptions will be allowed. Requests for exemption must be submitted online through ServiceNow. Instructions for ServiceNow will be communicated directly to employees via email.

Employees may return to in-person work if they are partially vaccinated (have received at least one of two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine where applicable) and will be required to wear masks in all indoor spaces.

Partially vaccinated employees will be expected to follow-through with receiving a second dosage at the time it has been scheduled. Appointment and vaccination dates are required to be reported in ServiceNow.

*If an employee does not have a medical or religious exemption and has not received their vaccination, they will need to consult with their supervisor and human resources to request a possible temporary work arrangement until they are able to receive the required vaccination.

Vaccination clinics can be accessed for free from multiple vaccination providers.

Mask and Vaccination Requirements (Visitors/Public)

Visitors and the public will not be required to document their vaccination status but will be required to wear a mask at all times, indoors and outdoors, while on any Southwestern College premises or attending any Southwestern College event.

What will happen if a student or employee tests positive for COVID-19?

If a student tests positive for COVID-19 they should report their positive results by completing the Student COVID-19 Form and remain isolated until cleared by a physician.

If a full-time or hourly employee (or student worker) tests positive for COVID-19 they should report their status to Human Resources and remain isolated until cleared by a physician.

Students and employees are not to return to in-person class or work until receiving approval from a physician.

What will happen if a student or employee has been identified as having close contact with a person on campus who tests positive for COVID-19?

Fully vaccinated individuals or individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past three months and recovered are not required to quarantine after close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated exempted individuals who have had close contact with an individual on campus that has tested positive for COVID-19 are required to quarantine for up to 14 days per a physician’s instructions.

Elements of our reopening protocols that have not changed are: increased cleaning and sanitizing protocols for our open buildings and plexiglass for those areas that receive approval through submitted Department plans. In addition, MERV-13 filters have been installed in HVAC systems in buildings we plan to open. Southwestern College will continue to adhere to all Cal/OSHA requirements to ensure employees have a safe work environment. For more information you may visit the SWC Returns webpage.

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COVID-19 Local Information and Resources

All county sites are now open for walk-up, no-appointment-required vaccinations and are available while supplies last. The Higher Education Center in San Ysidro is one of the sites. Evening hours are also available.
MTS is offering FREE rides for everyone in the region who needs a lift to get their vaccine and has created a transit trip planner with vaccination sites to help.
Rental assistance continues to be available.
Broadband support is available to families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic.