The general operational plan for the university centers around the overall health and safety of the SSU community. The intent of the plan is to de-densify the campus community and educate those returning on how to navigate the physical campus as safely as possible.
Required Symptom Monitoring
On days community members expect to be on campus, they must self-check for any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. Should any member have any symptoms or a known exposure, they must stay home and contact Counseling and Health Services, if a student, or Human Resources, if an employee, for further guidance. Students who will be on campus in the fall are required to download the CoVerified app to self-monitor their health every day.
Testing and Quarantine
Testing and Contact Tracing
How to get tested, on- or off-campus, and how to help our contact tracing efforts.
Counseling and Health Services will encourage high-risk students to discuss the risks and benefits of on-campus interactions with their health care provider prior to coming to campus. Student requests for accommodations will be evaluated by Disability Services.
Options regarding completing courses remotely will be coordinated with individual colleges, departments and faculty members. Employees who self-identify as high-risk pursuant to CDC Guidelines may apply for an accommodation from Human Resources to continue to work remotely. According to the CDC, individuals with certain conditions may have a higher risk for COVID-19 infection, including older persons, persons who have compromised immune systems, and those with other chronic medical conditions. Students, faculty, or staff who share a household with someone who is determined to be high risk may receive an accommodation through Disability Services or Human Resources.
Travel
In the interest of student, faculty and staff health, all international and domestic travel has been canceled for the 2020-2021 academic year, unless required for grant compliance or deemed essential. This includes study abroad programs. SSU is committed to restarting study abroad programs and welcoming international students back to our campus when conditions globally and locally permit.
Domestic, out-of-state students will be allowed to return to campus but may need to follow additional quarantine requirements pending the Department of Public Health guidelines.
International students who are already in the U.S. will be permitted to return to campus. International students who are out of country will not be permitted to return until federal guidelines allow.
SSU will assess the following criteria in determining when to resume study abroad programs or welcome international students back to campus:
US State Department and CDC guidance.
Travel document processing and international travel conditions.
Availability of a flexible, high-quality academic model of education abroad, which allows for an immersive intercultural experience at the program site while following COVID-19 mitigation, containment and treatment protocols.
Health and safety monitoring which is consistent with US and local guidelines for
COVID-19 screening, containment and treatment including:
Access to testing for all students exhibiting symptoms.
Contact tracing, identifying and quarantining of exposed individuals.
Readily available mental health and medical resources.
Availability of housing with bathroom facilities that meet local health standards for student accommodation to minimize COVID-19 transmission.
Physical distancing and PPE policies in place in accordance with local guidelines.
Some travel may be deemed essential but will require approval prior to planning. Essential travel is defined as an operational requirement that if not completed will cause harm to the university; an accreditation or research requirement that cannot be postponed; or a graduation requirement that cannot be postponed. No travel should be planned or paid for unless it has been approved by the area vice president and risk management.
