COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols

updated 12/20/2020

The well-being of the PSC community requires each of us to make a commitment to maintain healthy personal habits and be courteous in protecting one another. These protocols are mandatory for all students, faculty, and staff participating in campus activities during the 2020/2021 academic year.

Due to the dynamic nature of the public health situation created by COVID-19, it is expected that these protocols may change. The college will ensure that the community is informed of the status and current requirements if modifications or additions are made. We are committed to ensuring that all students, faculty, and staff understand the health and safety behaviors and actions required of us all.

• All individuals on campus are required to wear masks or appropriate facial coverings if social distancing with a minimum distance of six feet is not feasible, in college buildings walking between offices, and at all times in classrooms and during group gatherings.
• Students, faculty, and staff must always have acceptable face coverings readily available and worn when within six feet of others. As an exception, students rooming together will not need to wear masks inside their residential rooms. Masks may also be removed while dining.
• Acceptable face coverings include, but are not limited to, cloth (e.g. homemade sewn, quick cut, bandana), surgical masks, and face shields. Face coverings must be cleaned or replaced after use and may not be shared.
• Individuals are strongly encouraged to practice proper hand washing and respiratory etiquette (e.g., cough into a tissue or elbow).
• Individuals should limit the sharing of objects, such as computers, notebooks, touchscreens, and writing utensils, as well as the touching of shared surfaces, such as conference tables. Hand hygiene should be performed before and after contact when shared objects are used.
• Employees and students are requested to maintain a contact log identifying all contacts with non-family unit individuals that occur at a distance of less than six feet without a mask for more than ten minutes. This log should contain contact information, such that all contacts may be identified, traced and notified in the event an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19. Employees must cooperate with local health department contact tracing efforts.
• Individuals who feel sick with COVID-19 symptoms, or have been knowingly exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, should stay home or remain in their residence halls, following the College’s protocols for isolation or quarantine.
• Students, faculty and staff will perform a daily self-reported wellness health check. Screening practices for employees and non-residential students must be completed remotely before reporting to campus. Residential students will be asked to complete a daily wellness check before attending classes. At a minimum, the screening questionnaire will ask whether the individual has:
  • knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19 as defined by the Centers For Disease Control,
  • tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days, or
  • experienced any symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
• Individuals who experience a change in health status must disclose this information immediately, including during or outside of regularly scheduled hours. The Office of Human Resources is the point of contact for employees, and Student Health Services for students.
• PSC will administer mandatory campus-wide testing in collaboration with Adirondack Health on February 2-3 in the Saunders Gymnasium. The college will also test random samples of students and employees throughout the spring semester and will begin the week of February 8, 2021. Participation in this testing is required. 
• Physical signage is employed extensively across campus to reinforce social distancing and safety practices. This includes directional signs for one-way traffic in hallways and stairwells, and designated doors for entry/exit in many locations. Students, faculty and staff must follow this signage at all times.
• Office and classroom spaces are configured to ensure that social distancing can be maintained. Employees should consider closing any common indoor or outdoor seating areas (e.g. reception areas) within their office spaces. If such spaces remain open, employees must modify seating arrangements to ensure that individuals are at least six feet apart in all directions (e.g., side-to-side and when facing one another).
• In-person gatherings (e.g., meetings, presentations, socials) should be limited to the greatest extent possible and use other methods such as video or teleconferencing as alternatives. Social events will abide by state group gathering restrictions and social distancing protocols. Large events will be prohibited. When videoconferencing or teleconferencing is not possible, individuals should gather only in open, well-ventilated spaces and ensure that individuals maintain six feet of social distance between one another. If social distancing cannot be maintained at all times then masks must be worn.
• Students may allow other PSC residential students into their rooms, provided both host roommates agree. Social distancing must be practiced, and facial coverings must be worn in these circumstances. No more than two guests per room are allowed.
• No outside guests will be permitted in the residence halls.This includes family members at all times. On first occurrence the guest will be escorted out and the student will be given a warning. If the issue occurs again the student will be subject to the student conduct process.