A guide to our current Ruskin Campus COVID-19 protocols

Posted: June 16, 2022

To our Ruskin students and employees,

We are excited by our first cohort’s start earlier this month, and we are looking forward to the start of our remaining cohorts in August. As we welcome new and returning students and employees to campus for summer sessions and the Fall 2022 semester, we would like to share an update on Gannon’s current COVID-19 policies and procedures.

GANNON’S CURRENT COVID PROTOCOLS AT OUR RUSKIN CAMPUS:

TIPS FOR NEW STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES, REMINDERS FOR THOSE RETURNING:
Several of the initiatives that have been key to Gannon’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts will continue to best keep our campus communities safe.

LiveSafe
The LiveSafe app will still be used as the main source to notify the Health Center of any illness. Click here to view what happens after you report symptoms.

Employees and students (including those completing off-campus clinicals or other placements) should use LiveSafe to report symptoms, positive COVID-19 test results or exposure as a close contact to a positive case.

LiveSafe is no longer required to enter classes; however, we recommend using it daily for physical and mental health screening as a resource to connect you or peers with our Health and Counseling Center for any concerns.

Click here to view instructions for downloading the LiveSafe app for Ruskin Campus members.

COVID-19 Testing
Making testing available on campus has been a vital resource in our mitigation and safety efforts throughout the pandemic, and this will continue.

The current on-campus testing schedule is as follows:
M/W - 8:30-11 a.m.
T/TH - noon-1 p.m.
F – No testing

Tests can be obtained, completed off campus as well. We encourage keeping home test kits readily available for when you experience symptoms or have known exposure to a positive case. Positive home test results can be reported via LiveSafe to notify the Health Center.

Additionally, there are several nearby community testing sites, including:

COVID-19 Vaccination
We continue to encourage vaccinations. Vaccinations are the best way to protect yourself and our campus communities. Unvaccinated students and employees who can receive the COVID-19 vaccine are strongly encouraged to do so. 

Those who are vaccinated are asked to please upload an image of your vaccination to assist our COVID response team with processing any future LiveSafe reports you submit and contact tracing efforts. This information helps guide our mitigation efforts, and monitor health and safety on campus.

Want to receive the vaccine, but unsure where to go? Click here to view the Florida Vaccine Finder.

As current and future health professionals, our Ruskin Campus community has a special call to being leaders in the field and becoming fully vaccinated. Students should recognize that as they participate in clinical rotations/fieldwork experiences and seek future employment in healthcare, a number of facilities have mandated students and employees be fully vaccinated in order to work at the site. Not becoming fully vaccinated could hinder these experiences and requirements of your degree.

If you have questions or need more information to make an informed decision about becoming fully vaccinated, please do not hesitate to seek out reliable sources of information. We encourage you to talk with your program director, the Dean of the Gannon’s Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences (MCHPS), Gannon’s Health Center nurses, and/or your primary care provider, etc.  
    
These protocols and reminders serve as a reflection of Gannon’s current COVID-19 guidelines as of today. These continue to be assessed and updated to reflect the latest guidance from CDC and other federal, state and local entities to best align the institution’s practices. Changes to these policies will be communicated via email and shared at update.gannon.edu as they arise.

For other questions or comments, you may submit them on update.gannon.edu at https://www.gannon.edu/Questions-or-Comments/.