Student Return to Campus Protocols
For any student experiencing symptoms or being tested for COVID-19, please notify Gateway's Healthy at Work officer, Matt Bunning.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has created significant health risks for some populations. In alignment with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Governor of Kentucky, and the State Health Department, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) has developed and established safety protocols to assist its colleges in maintaining safe working and learning environments. These protocols outline additional precautions for student, employee, and community safety.
STUDENTS and COVID-19:
Students must be aware of and work with faculty, staff, and administration during these extraordinary times as required by the KCTCS Code of Student Conduct, Article III, Section 3, Standard 2.4, and the Appendix, entitled Crisis or Emergency Plans, Protocols, and Guidance.
Stay off campus if you have been in close contact (within 6 feet* of someone for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who has COVID-19, unless you have been fully vaccinated.
*NOTE: For KCTCS the “within 6 feet” guideline should be used for anyone reporting a possible exposure off campus/outside of work or on-campus, including lab classes. If the exposure is due to an on-campus exposure while in a lecture setting, then the determination for those that need to quarantine is anyone that was within 3 feet of the positive case individual for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more during that day.
People who are fully vaccinated do NOT need to stay off campus after contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms, or live with the positive case. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms.
What to do if you are NOT fully vaccinated
- Stay home for 10 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19 and monitor for symptoms.
- You can return after day 7 if you receive a negative test result (test must occur on day 5 or later from exposure date)
- If you have symptoms, including fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, immediately self-isolate and contact your local public health authority or healthcare provider.
Positive test results should be immediately reported to the Healthy at work officer so that contact tracing can be initiated.
Return to Campus:
Before returning to campus, students must submit one of the following acceptable documents to their Healthy at Work Officer and receive clearance from them to return:
- Complete the Self-Certification Form - This form may include an electronic signature and must be sent by the student using their kctcs.edu email account.
- Doctor’s Certification verifying that the student sought medical attention and is not experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
Return to Class:
Instructors are not obligated to provide an opportunity for completing makeup assignments unless students submit one of the appropriate documents as described above. Faculty will work with administration to ensure students will have a safe, productive, and appropriate return to the classrooms.
Anyone experiencing the following symptoms must stay away from Campus, including but not limited to:
- Fever of 100.4F or higher
- Chills or Sweating (regardless of actual temperature rating)
- New Cough
- Difficulty Breathing
- Sore Throat
- Muscle aches, body aches
- Stomach upset or vomiting and diarrhea
- Loss of taste or smell
Students who experience any of the symptoms outlined above, should:
- Contact your instructor(s) immediately to report that you are experiencingCOVID-19 symptoms.
- Stay off campus until cleared by the Healthy at Work officer to return tocampus. Return
will be granted when one of the following conditions are met:
- Quarantined for 10 days, fever free for 24 hours without medicationand other symptoms are improving
- No longer experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 and received a negative COVID-19 test
- My symptoms have been diagnosed by a medical provider as beingdue to an unrelated condition or illness.
Positive test results should be immediately reported to the Healthy at work officer so that contact tracing can be initiated.
Return to Campus:
Before returning to campus, students must complete and submit one of the following acceptable documents to their Healthy at Work Officer:
- Complete the Self-Certification Form - This form may include an electronicsignature and must be sent by the student using their kctcs.edu email account.
- Doctor’s Certification verifying that the student sought medical attentionand is not experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
Return to Class:
Instructors are not obligated to provide an opportunity for completing makeup assignments unless students submit one of the appropriate documents as described above. Faculty will work with administration to ensure students will have a safe, productive, and appropriate return to the classrooms.
