COVID-19 Policies

Contents

Policy Author:
Emergency Response Team (ERT)

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

Effective Date of Policy:
June 2, 2022

Purpose

Daemen University prioritizes the safety and well-being of its community members above all else and therefore, all policies and procedures that are outlined as part of the University’s official response to a public health emergency must be followed explicitly. The campus’s COVID-19 policies are put in place with guidance from the Erie County Department of Health, New York State Department of Health, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and World Health Organization.

Campus community members are required to take personal responsibility for their health and the health of others. Faculty and staff that fail to abide by this policy will make the employee ineligible to work at Daemen and will result in termination of employment.

Furthermore, as adults, Daemen University students are responsible, not merely to avoid harming the campus community, but rather to improve it, support it, and encourage its growth. Failure to abide by the policies outlined below is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct resulting in sanctions. Should a student’s presence on campus create a threat to the safety or well-being of other members of the Daemen University community, the University reserves the right to immediately suspend that student from campus until the time of a hearing. Additionally, the University reserves the right to resolve a case and sanction a student, including suspension, without a hearing where such action is deemed necessary or appropriate by the President of the University.

Supporting COVID-19 Vaccination

Daemen University strongly encourages all campus community members to get vaccinated for COVID-19, including a booster vaccine. Individuals who are boosted will face fewer restrictions and be better protected from serious illness. If you have been vaccinated for COVID-19, please submit proof online to daemen.edu/covid19upload.

Housing Vaccine Recommendation

While the University does not require the COVID-19 vaccine for all community members, residential students are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated for COVID-19, including a booster, if eligible, to be protected in the most densely populated area of campus.

Incoming residential students who are unvaccinated and do not plan to be vaccinated must complete the COVID-19 vaccination acknowledgement and declination form linked here: dae.men/covid19declination.

Reporting Concerns

Campus community members are encouraged to submit a CARE report (including self-report) if they have a concern at daemen.edu/concern. Emergent concerns should also be reported to Campus Safety (24/7/365) at 716-839-SAFE (7233).

To receive support during COVID-19 isolation, an individual who tests positive must submit a CARE report at daemen.edu/concern (Report Type(s): Medical Issue) to share information on when they tested positive and symptom onset date, if applicable. This information will be received by the CHIP Center team so they can share information on support during isolation.

Employees reporting a positive test through the CARE system should select “Emma Sample” account: Emma Sample (777) emma@test.edu as the “Student of Concern.”

COVID-19 Testing

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.

Isolation Guidance (Positive Test)

An individual who tests positive for COVID-19 should follow CDC guidelines and isolate for at least 5 days from symptom onset or positive test date (sample collected), if asymptomatic. To calculate the 5-day isolation period, day 0 is the first day of symptom onset or positive test date, if asymptomatic. Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms developed or after taking the COVID-19 test.

An individual can leave isolation after 5 full days if they are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving. Following isolation, individuals should wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of the 5-day isolation period. If an individual is unable to wear a mask when around others, they should continue to isolate for a full 10 days.

To receive support during isolation, individuals who test positive should submit a CARE report at daemen.edu/concern (Report Type(s): Medical Issue) to share information on when they tested positive and symptom onset date, if applicable. This will be received by the CHIP Center team so they can share information on support during isolation. See the section on Support During Isolation for more details. Employees reporting a positive test through the CARE system should select “Emma Sample” account: Emma Sample (777) emma@test.edu as the “Student of Concern.”

Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 on an at home test need to report the positive test result to the local health department. Residents of Erie County, NY, including students living in Daemen’s residential housing need to complete the Positive COVID-19 Home Test Reporting Form. Individuals that test off campus at a healthcare facility, do not need to report their positive test result using the form linked above. Testing facilities are required to report positive results to the local health department.

Close Contact (Confirmed Exposure)

Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 should review and tell those who they have been in close contact with 48 hours prior to the first day of symptom onset or positive test date.

A close contact is defined by the CDC as “someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes).”

Close contacts should review and follow CDC guidelines, monitor symptoms and get tested for COVID-19. Close contacts do not need to report their exposure to the CHIP Center or submit a CARE report unless they test positive following their exposure.

Support During Isolation

To receive support during isolation, an individual who tests positive must submit a CARE report at daemen.edu/concern (Report Type(s): Medical Issue) to share information on when they tested positive and symptom onset date, if applicable. This information will be shared with the CHIP Center team so they can share information on support during isolation. Employees reporting a positive test through the CARE system should select “Emma Sample” account: Emma Sample (777) emma@test.edu as the “Student of Concern.”

Academics:

Once a CARE report is submitted by the student who tests positive for COVID-19, the CHIP Center will submit a prolonged absence notice (PAN) request to the Registrar’s Office. 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. This notice does NOT excuse students from completing their course assignments. 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. 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 that tests positive to share their status with confirmed close contact(s).

Students who isolate on campus must 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, remote work, or payroll questions by email: hr@daemen.edu or phone: (716) 839-8325. If an employee is in a role that is not eligible for remote work, they must share their status with the Employee Engagement office and coordinate missed work with their supervisor. To qualify for COVID wages under those circumstances, employees must fill out and submit an Affirmation of Isolation to Employee Engagement via the Secure Portal as soon as they test positive, with the dates of Quarantine/Isolation per CDC guidance. Retroactive affirmations will not be accepted.

If an employee is registered to take at least one class at Daemen University, they should submit a CARE report at daemen.edu/concern (Report Type(s): Medical Issue) to share information on when they tested positive, symptom onset date and that they need a PAN for academic support. Employees reporting a positive test through the CARE system should select “Emma Sample” account: Emma Sample (777) emma@test.edu as the “Student of Concern.”

Travel Considerations

Daemen University strongly encourages campus community members to delay travel until they are fully vaccinated and have received a booster vaccine.

Individuals planning to travel should review the latest guidance at cdc.gov/travel including but not limited to travel recommendations by destination, vaccine and testing requirements and monitoring symptoms post-travel.

Employees who choose not to be vaccinated for a personal, non-medical reason and travel internationally must use vacation, personal/sick, time off without pay or telecommute during a quarantine period. If an employee is issued a quarantine order from the Department of Health or their medical provider, they may be eligible for paid COVID-19 leave. For more information, employees should contact the Employee Engagement Office at hr@daemen.edu or 716-839-8504.

Study Abroad Vaccine Recommendation

Students participating in a study abroad program are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 including a booster, if eligible by their departure date. Proof of vaccine status must be submitted to the University for verification at daemen.edu/covid19upload or faxed to 716-839-8230.

Face Masks/Coverings

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

Following isolation, individuals should continue wearing a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of the 5-day isolation period. If an individual is unable to wear a mask when around others, they should continue to isolate for a full 10 days.

Visitor Policy

For the well-being of the Daemen campus community, visitors on campus need to complete the visitor form prior to their arrival (guests can also complete it upon arrival) and check in at the respective visitor kiosk. Please visit the University’s visitor page for more information.

COVID-19 Resources

Daemen’s Preparedness – official source of information on Daemen University’s response and protocols related to COVID-19. Updates related to the operation of the University will be shared here when new information becomes available.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH)
Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH)

Campus Contacts for COVID-19

The CHIP Center
Phone: 716-839-7380
Email: chip@daemen.edu
Secure upload: daemen.edu/covid19upload
Location: Wick 116-121

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

Employee Engagement
Phone: 716-839-7380
Email: hr@daemen.edu
Location: Duns Scotus 126

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 November 29, 2023