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CSCU Covid Protocol

Dear CSCU Community,

As we start the Fall 2022 semester, I am providing an update on our ongoing response to COVID-19. The changes we have made in our responses to the virus would not be possible without everyone’s commitment to our broader community, and I thank you for taking the virus seriously and doing your part.

During Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters the state of Connecticut, and by extension our institutions, operated under a public health state of emergency declaration.  These requirements included mandatory vaccination for all state employees, and the Board of Regents (BOR) passed a policy requiring vaccines for students.

In response to the success of the mitigation efforts, the CT General Assembly lifted the remaining executive orders during Spring 2022, including the end of mask requirements, social distancing protocols and mandatory vaccination for state employees. Today, the BOR Executive Committee suspended its June 24, 2021 policy requiring students to be vaccinated and restated its charge to the CSCU President, with input from the institution and campus leaders, to enact mitigation strategies to address the needs and circumstances impacting the CSCU campuses.    

As CSCU strives to foster a more vibrant, fully populated, educational experience for students, employees, and the communities we serve, the following protocols are effective immediately:

MITIGATION ACTIONS

  • Vaccine distribution: CSCU will work with the Department of Public Health (DPH) to make vaccines, including updated booster shots, available on all campuses throughout the semester.
  • Vaccine education: The vaccines currently approved for use by the FDA remain the safest, most effective means of protecting yourself from serious illness and hospitalization.  While vaccine requirements have been suspended for students and employees, CSCU is strongly advising everyone to be vaccinated and boosted and will continue to provide up to date information to the community.
  • Supplies available: Antigen tests and masks are available on campus for employees and students who don’t have ready access to these supplies.
  • Monitoring symptoms: Employees and students should continue to monitor their health and stay home whenever they have COVID-like symptoms.  See information from the CDC on what to watch for.
  • Quarantine and isolation: Employees and students are required to follow current CDC guidance on quarantine and isolation. 
  • Track and adjust to local conditions: CSCU will follow guidelines set forth for state facilities by the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), which are developed utilizing CDC’s guidance on community risk levels. COVID-19 Community Levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. When conditions meet the “high” level, campus leaders will strongly encourage masking in indoor public places.
  • HVAC operations: Per guidance from DAS, each campus continues to review operation of HVAC systems and implement enhanced air-filtration using highest filtration level possible and ensure that building HVAC systems are operating consistent with all relevant guidelines for fresh air delivery and filtration based on building occupancy and person-density inside occupied spaces.

FALL 2022 PROTOCOLS

  • Masks optional: CSCU has shifted to a “mask-optional” protocol.  However, mask wearing remains an effective prevention strategy against the spread of the virus and other respiratory diseases, and we fully support and expect all employees and students to respect those who choose to continue wearing masks. Please note: no employee has the authority to require the use of masks by others.
  • Physical distancing restrictions have been removed.
  • In-person events are now welcome on campus for both internal and external audiences.  A full schedule of in-person courses, meetings, convenings, etc. is planned for this fall.
  • Vaccine requirements are suspended for students and employees. Note: students in clinical or other practicum/internship sites may be required to be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing based on the rules of those employers.  Complying with these requirements is the responsibility of the student and should be discussed with the program directors on campus.

We look forward to a good academic year ahead and will continue to monitor the public health of our campus communities and act whenever necessary to promote safety and wellness. 

Sincerely,

Terrence Cheng
President, CSCU

CSCU COVID Updates

Yesterday the CDC provided updated guidance for those exposed to COVID 19 no longer calling for quarantine but rather a test at day 6 and masks through day 10 for those who are not symptomatic.   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/if-you-were-exposed.html

In addition, the CDC updated guidance for k12 and early childhood programs lessening mitigation strategies https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-childcare-guidance.html

The Community Level Maps which are updated weekly show that 5 of CT’s counties are in the medium level of risk and 3 at the low level https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

Additional information related to the COVID-19 virus can be found on the Department of Public Health website https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus