New guidelines for on-campus operations

Posted: May 7, 2020

The following guidelines have been developed to maximize the safety of our employees, contractors and students. They are in compliance with orders issued by the states of Pennsylvania and Florida. These guidelines are applicable to all Gannon University employees (i.e. colleagues) and contractors. Colleagues and contractors are collectively referred to as “individuals” below.  These guidelines are subject to change as the COVID-19 situation evolves. The guidelines are effective May 7, 2020, until further notice.

1. Social Distancing:  Social distancing continues with a minimum of six feet separation between all individuals while on campus. Care should be taking when in common areas such as hallways, classrooms, dining areas and breakrooms.

2. Masks/Gloves:  Masks will be worn when in proximity to others, except to the extent a colleague is using break time to eat or drink. Individuals working alone and not in proximity of others do not have to wear a mask (e.g. an office).  Masks and gloves will be provided to colleagues and will be located in their department or the Gannon Health and Counseling Services. Colleagues are permitted and encouraged to make their own masks, provided they meet the CDC guidelines.  The Gannon Health and Counseling Services should be consulted if an individual has respiratory medical issues or if wearing a mask otherwise presents a safety issue. Individuals may be asked to wear gloves.

3. Wellness Check:  To help ensure the safety and wellness of all individuals, Gannon is piloting a wellness check requirement effective Monday, May 11, 2020, which will resume until further notice. The decision to continue, modify, or cease wellness checks will be determined at a future date. All contractors who are working in proximity to Gannon employees or students will be subject to Gannon’s protocol (or their employer’s protocol if deemed acceptable to Gannon). All individuals working on campus who are in the proximity of others will be asked to adhere to a daily wellness check at the start of their shift.
1. Temperature Screening:  The supervisor or designee will utilize a no-touch thermometer to take the colleague’s temperature and document the temperature on a provided form.  The supervisor and employee each must be wearing a mask.
2. Symptom Questionnaire:  The colleague will be asked questions pertinent to mitigating risk of contagious illnesses (e.g. disclosure of certain symptoms, disclosure of recent travel, disclosure if have been in close proximity of an individual with COVID-19).
3. If the colleague has a temperature of 100.4 or higher, or has any of the symptoms on the form, or other risk factors, they will be sent home with instructions to follow up with the Gannon Health and Counseling Services at 814-871-7622 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday at their earliest opportunity. A return to work plan/date will be determined by the Health & Counseling Services medical personnel.

4. Illness:  Individuals should not report to work on campus or visit campus if they are potentially contagious for any reason. Colleagues should follow their normal call-off procedures. If an individual develops any of the symptoms on the questionnaire or is not feeling well during their shift, they should contact their supervisor and go home.

5. Personal Sanitizing:  Soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes will be provided. Individuals working on campus in proximity with others will wash their hands at least once an hour or utilize the hand sanitizing stations that are available throughout campus.

6. Colleagues Visiting Campus:  Colleagues who have been authorized to go to campus for brief time periods must wear a mask while in common areas where there may be interaction with others. They must also sanitize any shared equipment that they use while on campus (e.g., copiers) by utilizing disinfecting wipes or cleaners. The colleague may remove their mask if they are working in their office alone.

7. Staggered Shifts: Supervisors will schedule their staff to begin and end their shifts with staggered start/stop times if necessary to avoid close proximity with others.

8. Breaks: Breaks should not be taken together when possible. Colleagues taking breaks at the same time in the same break area must maintain social distancing of at least six feet.

9. Essential Colleagues: Supervisors will continue with current scheduling practices to minimize colleagues working on campus. Only colleagues who are currently designated as essential are to work on campus. Any changes to current staffing must be approved by the respective Vice President in consultation with Human Resources.

10. Meetings: All meetings and trainings will be held virtually if at all possible. If a meeting must be held in person, the meeting should be limited to the fewest number of colleagues possible and not to exceed 10 colleagues at one time. Masks and social distancing (six feet) are required.

11. Visitors/Contractors: Colleagues should not allow nonessential visitors/contractors on campus. Any essential vendors, contractors, or delivery personnel must wear a mask while on campus. Visitors/contractors are to be approved by a Vice President.

12. Cleaning: All high-touch areas will be cleaned and disinfected routinely in accordance with guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in spaces that are accessible to colleagues, students, and other individuals. Unless informed otherwise, daily disinfecting of office surfaces is the responsibility of office personnel (e.g., tables, copiers, handles of chairs, door knobs).

13. Travel: Colleagues who travel for work must have prior approval from their Vice President via their supervisor. Colleagues who travel for personal reasons must notify their supervisor (1) if they travel via commercial transportation (e.g. airlines, train, cruise, Greyhound bus), (2) if they travel to PA counties that are in the red stage or (3) counties in other states that have been labelled as high risk areas by their state officials. In cases of work or personal travel, the individual should consult with the Gannon Health and Counseling Services medical personnel in advance of their travel and may need to be quarantined for 14 days upon their return.  

14. Probable or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19:  Any individual with a positive diagnosis should not be on campus and should contact Gannon Health and Counseling Services medical personnel. Gannon University will follow the following protocol to ensure compliance with the orders issued by the Governor of Pennsylvania and the PA Department of Health to respond to a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19 on campus. 
    1. Close off areas visited by the person who is a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19.
    2. Open outside doors and windows and use ventilation fans to increase air circulation in the area if possible.
    3. Wait a minimum of 24 hours, or as long as practical, before beginning cleaning and disinfection.
    4. Disinfect and clean all areas such as offices, bathrooms, common areas including but not limited to break rooms, conference and training rooms, dining facilities, shared electronic equipment (e.g., keyboards, touchscreens, copiers) or anything used by the ill person.
    5. Identify individuals at Gannon that were in close contact (within about six feet for about ten minutes) with a person with a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19 from the period 48 hours before symptoms onset to the time at which the patient isolated.
    6. Promptly notify individuals who were in close contact with any known exposure to COVID-19 on campus. Consistency with applicable confidentiality laws will be followed.
    7. If exposed individuals become symptomatic, they should follow the CDC’s guidelines regarding isolation and the discontinuance of isolation.

Compliance with these guidelines is essential to provide the safest environment possible. Please discuss any questions with your supervisor. Also, Human Resources is available as a resource. You can reach out to Carolyn Cartwright at cartwrig004@gannon.edu or Robin Murray-Williams at williams171@gannon.edu.