COVID-19 Policies

Contents

Policy Author:
Emergency Response Team (ERT)

Responsible Office – Department:
Emergency Response Team / Student Affairs / Employee Engagement

Effective Date of Policy:
September 13, 2024

Purpose

Daemen University prioritizes the safety and well-being of its community members. Therefore, all policies and procedures outlined as part of the University’s official response to a public health emergency must be followed. Daemen’s COVID-19 policies are established with guidance from the Erie County Department of Health, New York State Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and World Health Organization.

Campus employees and students are asked to take personal responsibility for their health and the health of others. Failure to follow the established public health emergency Policies and Procedures may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

Supporting COVID-19 Vaccination

Daemen University strongly encourages all campus community members to get vaccinated for COVID-19, including all recommended booster vaccines.

Housing Vaccine Recommendation

Residential students are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated for COVID-19, including boosters, if eligible, to be protected in the most densely populated area of campus.

Reporting COVID-19 Infection Status and Support

All campus community members are encouraged to report illness through a CARE Report or if they are an employee, to Employee Engagement. Emergent concerns should also be reported to Campus Safety (24/7/365) at 716-839-SAFE (7233).

To receive support during COVID-19 illness, a student who tests positive is asked to submit a CARE report at daemen.edu/concern. For students, the report (Report Type(s): Medical Issue) asks for information on when they tested positive and symptom onset date, if applicable. The CHIP Center team receives this information in order to holistically support students during illness.

Employees reporting a positive test should report illness to their supervisor and also notify Employee Engagement in order to determine if they are eligible for paid time off during their period of illness (New York State residents only).

COVID-19 Testing

Campus community members are encouraged to self-monitor COVID-19 symptoms and take precautions if they are feeling sick. Precautions include but are not limited to wearing a mask, staying home, and contacting a medical provider to discuss testing recommendations.

Testing Positive

An individual who tests positive for COVID-19 should follow CDC guidelines and stay home and away from others. Individuals may return to normal activities when both are true:

Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
You have not had a fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication).

Additionally, individuals should take the added precautions of hand washing, masking, and physical distancing for five (5) additional days.

Students

Once a student who tests positive for COVID-19 submits a CARE report, the CHIP Center may, with documentation from a medical provider, submit a prolonged absence notice (PAN) request to the Registrar’s Office if the student will be absent for 3 or more days.

A PAN is a formal letter from the Registrar’s Office that is sent to the student and their faculty for all registered classes. The notice will share that the student is out of classes physically, but can participate virtually if that is an option. This notice does NOT excuse students from completing their course assignments nor does it promise a virtual class participation option if that is not the original modality offered by the course instructor. Instead, it provides the instructors notice that the student has a legitimate reason they cannot physically attend classes. Students are expected to reach out to their instructors to determine what options are available to complete their coursework.

Students with an acute illness or injury may have the right to additional academic support and accommodations. If appropriate, please contact Debbie Dimitrovski, Director of Accessibility Services: 716-839-8583 or ddimitro@daemen.edu for more information. Accommodations cannot be granted retroactively. Therefore, students should reach out immediately to the Accessibility Services office to determine what options are available for support during their isolation.

Residential Students

Residential students who test positive are strongly encouraged to isolate at home or at another off-campus location in keeping with CDC guidelines. If a student is unable to isolate off campus, they need to wear a well-fitting mask when they need to be around others and stay in the most isolated environment possible. It is the responsibility of the student who tests positive to share their status with close contact(s).

Students who isolate on campus should coordinate with a friend, roommate or peer to get food delivered from the dining hall to their room. Students can also order food through third-party delivery services like DoorDash, UberEats, Instacart, etc. and must coordinate with a friend, roommate or peer to get food delivered to their room.

If a residential student has a concern during their isolation they should reach out to their Resident Assistant (RA).

Wellness

The mental health and well-being of individuals during isolation is of utmost importance. Students have access to and are encouraged to utilize free and confidential counseling services through the CHIP Center (in-person and teletherapy counseling sessions are available). Students are encouraged to complete the online support form at daemen.edu/counselingsupport. A member of the CHIP Center team will be in contact to set up an appointment.

Employees

The Employee Engagement office can always assist with any questions about time off, New York State COVID-19 leave, remote work, or payroll questions by email: hr@daemen.edu or phone: (716) 839-8325.

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to stay home (or work remote if in a role that is eligible for remote work) and should follow current CDC guidance and return to work when for at least 24 hours, both are true:

Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).

If any employee tests positive for COVID-19 and is in a role that is not eligible for remote work and will be out of work due to following the CDC guidance listed above, the employee must share their status with the Employee Engagement office and coordinate missed work with their supervisor.

Employees will be eligible for COVID Sick Pay for the days they are out following the CDC guidance listed above. Employees are required to complete an Affirmation of an Isolation Form from the Employee Engagement Office. Employees may experience multiple instances of testing positive for COVID-19. After the first instance of testing positive and receiving COVID-19 Sick Pay, employees will be required to submit documentation from a licensed medical provider or testing facility attesting that the employee has tested positive for COVID-19.

In certain circumstances, an employee may be issued a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation issued by the State, Department of Health, local board of health or government entity.

To get an order of precautionary or mandatory order of quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19, employees should contact the Local Health Department (LHD). You can search for your LHD on the New York State Department of Health website at https://www.health.ny.gov/contact/contact_information/.

LHDs should provide written orders in a timely manner. For more information on obtaining a mandatory or precautionary order, visit https://www.greenegovernment.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/DOH-DOL_COVID19_PaidSickLeaveGuidance_032720.pdf to view the PDF.

If an employee is issued a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation issued by the State, Department of Health, local board of health or government entity, the employee may be eligible to take combined Paid Family Leave and disability COVID-19 quarantine leave benefits for themselves or their minor dependent child.

If issued a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation for yourself or your minor child, the employee can apply for the combined Paid Family Leave and disability benefits.

Please note, an employee applying for New York Paid Family Leave – COVID-19, will need to follow the guidance listed below:

Fill out the NYS Paid Family Leave Request for COVID-19 Quarantine form for self or minor child no later than 30 days from the onset of illness and submit to Employee Engagement

Please note, in no event shall an employee qualify for sick leave under New York’s COVID-19 sick leave law for more than three orders of quarantine or isolation. The second and third orders must be based on a positive COVID-19 test and the employee must submit documentation from a licensed medical provider or testing facility attesting that the employee has tested positive for COVID-19.

Additionally, employees will only receive NYS COVID-19 sick time on days that they were scheduled to work.

Face Masks/Coverings in General

Face masks are not required anywhere on campus, including classrooms. Individuals who want to wear them for any number of reasons may do so and should be respected in that decision.

Campus community members are encouraged to self-monitor symptoms and take precautions if they are feeling sick including but not limited to wearing a mask, staying home and contacting a medical provider to discuss testing recommendations.

COVID-19 Resources

Campus Contacts for COVID-19

The CHIP Center
Phone: 716-839-7380
Email: chip@daemen.edu
Secure upload: daemen.edu/covid19upload
Location: Yurtchuk Student Center116-121

Campus Safety (available 24/7/365)
Phone: 716-839-SAFE (7233)
Email: campussafety@daemen.edu
Location: Yurtchuk Student Center Lobby

Employee Engagement
Phone: 716-839-7380
Email: hr@daemen.edu
Location: Alumni House, First Floor

Confidentiality and Privacy

All medical information collected from individuals, including vaccination information, test results, and any other information obtained as a result of testing, will be treated in accordance with applicable laws and policies on confidentiality and privacy.

Updated on September 13, 2024