Navarro College COVID-19 Protocols

NAVARRO COLLEGE

Pandemic COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocol

UPDATED 7/30/2020 

This protocol has been developed in preparation for the return as well as ongoing health and safety of all faculty, staff, students, and visitors within facilities owned, operated, leased, or utilized* by Navarro College. Due to the nature of COVID-19, the following general protocol should be followed and included in more detailed departmental protocol in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Interim Guidance for Higher Education and the Navarro County Area Health Department:

 

Social Distancing, Face-Coverings, and Protective Gear

• All faculty, staff, students, and visitors must practice social distancing as follows:
  • Stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) from other people,
  • Do not gather in groups, and
  • Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.
    
    
• All faculty, staff, students, and visitors are required to bring to campus and wear face-coverings in all public areas as follow:
  • All face-coverings, should be solid, patterned, or with approved Navarro College logo/slogan.  All face coverings should be appropriate for a professional educational environment. 
  • Offices should be prepared for visitors who may not have masks by requesting a supply of disposable masks through the Physical Plant.
  • Requests for accommodations/exceptions should be in written form and submitted to facecovering@navarrocollege.edu and or by contacting the offices listed below.
  • Additional guidelines (e.g., accommodations, face-shields, FAQs) are provided in the Face-Covering Protocol (see tab below).
    
    
• Based on the unique environment of certain forms of instruction, students may be required to wear gloves and other protective gear as directed and provided by faculty and staff; however, the following guidance in accordance with CDC recommendations is most helpful for good hygiene:
  • Wash hands before placing mask on face,
  • Wash hands after taking off mask,
  • Utilize hand sanitizer frequently,
  • IMPORTANT:  Avoid touching your face,
  • Clean cell phone frequently, and
  • Good hygiene provides less risk of contaminating self than use of gloves.

 

Screening and Temperature Checks

• Each day and prior to entering campus facilities or College-owned vehicles, all faculty, staff, students, and visitors will be required to complete an initial screening as follows:
  
  
  • Each day and more frequently as needed, a COVID-19 screening should be completed utilizing a smartphone and the QR Code which is visible on the College website and available through other forms of communication including postings on outer doors and on the Navarro College COVID-19 website. This pre-screening assessment (also in paper form: Pre-Screening Assessment) helps determine who is approved to enter campus facilities and utilize College-owned vehicles based on critical factors that include recent close contacts, temperature taken, and COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Screenings should be completed prior to entering Navarro College facilities each day.
  • If symptoms should develop while on campus or in a College-owned vehicle, an additional screening should be completed.
  • If the paper form is utilized, it may be retained by the individual being screened but must be turned in to either HR or Disability and Access Services if a concern exists.
  • As needed, an infrared thermometer will be located on each floor of each building on all campuses for temperature checks needed throughout the day (supervisors will communicate locations of thermometers), and
  • If needed, faculty and staff may need to watch video (or share video with student/visitor taking own temperature) on how to properly utilize an infrared thermometer.

 

Protocols

• An individual who has had close contact* with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 should be symptom-free after 5 day quarantine and obtain negative test results OR quarantine for 14 days in which at least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
  
  
• For an individual who tests positive for COVID-19, these individuals should place themselves in self-isolation as determined by local health officials at the time of testing, and may return to Navarro College only after being cleared by their health care provider or at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset and at least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have improved based on discontinuation of Isolation criteria .  Those with more severe illness and symptoms thereof may warrant a lengthier isolation period as determined by the healthcare provider.
  
  
• Any individual who has not been in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 but is experiencing symptoms according to these CDC guidelines should immediately be separated from others and follow CDC-recommended steps. Based on discontinuation of Isolation criteria, the individual should be symptom-free for 72 hours before being allowed to return to Navarro College
  
  
  • *Close Contact: Per Navarro County Area Health Department, any faculty, staff, student, or visitor who has had contact with a suspected or confirmed positive case (less than 6 feet apart for 15-30 minutes) should quarantine for 14 days. Even testing early during the quarantine period would require an additional test as determined by a medical professional. Additional faculty, staff, students, and visitors within similar proximity to the individual who had the contact in question would not need to be alerted unless the individual who had the contact also tested positive or further developments warrant notification—without identifying individual contact and only as directed by Navarro County Area Health Department.
    
    • MIT Medical provides a great chart (also see below) that demonstrates “what to do” when close contact with the COVID-19 virus is suspected. In addition to the definition provided above from Navarro County Area Health Department, MIT Medical defines “close contact” as the following:
    • You spent a PROLONGED period of time in the same room.
    • You had DIRECT PHYSICAL CONTACT with the person (e.g., kissing, hugging).
    • You SHARED eating or drinking utensils with them.
    • You came into contact with their RESPIRATORY SECRETIONS (e.g., they coughed on you).

 

• Any suspected or confirmed cases on campus should be reported to NC Administration immediately so that local health officials can be consulted to provide further direction for the College to follow in compliance with CDC guidelines.
  
  
• Faculty, staff, students, and visitors may be referred based on symptoms as follows:
• With a need for help, shortness of breath, or for worsening symptoms, immediately seek help at an Emergency Room or by calling 911;
• For all other symptoms or conditions, call for an appointment at either (903) 872-DOCS or (903) 641-4270 or to a preferred medical physician.
• Currently available, MIT Medical provides the following COVID-19 hotline:  (617) 253-4865.

Testing and Contact Tracing

• Individuals to be tested may be referred to their physician and also may be sent to this website to obtain current information on locations providing testing within their community or geographical area: https://txcovidtest.org/.
  • The CDC provides a database for state-specific public health departments for more information on that state’s specific testing and contact tracing resources.
  • Students on the Corsicana Campus may contact Medical Associates of Navarro County or the Bulldog Health Center website for testing and other appointments at https://www.navarro-docs.com/ or (903) 872-DOCS or (903) 641-4270.
    
    
• For accommodations based on vulnerable conditions like immune deficiencies and/or to submit medical documentation or testing information to the College, the following protocol should be followed:
  • Students and related visitors should contact Philip Johnson, Director of Disability and Access Services, by email at philip.johnson2@navarrocollege.edu or by phone at (903) 875-7377.
  • Faculty, staff, and related visitors should contact Marcy Ballew, Vice President of Human Resources, by email at marcy.ballew@navarrocollege.edu or by phone at (903) 875-7330.

 

For consultation and contact tracing, Navarro College partners with Navarro County Area Health Department {located at 618 N. Main Street, Corsicana, Texas, 75110; phone at (903) 874-6731},

• a subsidiary of the Texas Health and Human Services department of the Texas Department of State Health Services for COVID-19 and other public health concerns. Faculty, staff, students, and visitors are also encouraged to utilize this link for the Texas Department of State Health Services contact-tracing site for the effective management of public health in relation to the COVID-19 virus.
• As referenced above, any suspected or confirmed cases on campus should be reported to NC Administration immediately so that local health officials can be consulted to provide further direction for the College to follow in compliance with CDC guidelines.

 

Hygiene

• Faculty, staff, students, and visitors are required to wash their hands prior to entering classrooms or offices, beginning class, or pursuing other academic and extracurricular activities.
  
  
• Information on proper handwashing, social distancing, and other personal hygiene etiquette is posted in English (and in some locations in Spanish) in restroom, dining facilities, and public areas throughout the Navarro College District by Navarro College Physical Plant personnel.
  
  
• Following American College Health Association Guidelines in which all non-clinical staff should be trained on respiratory and hand hygiene, including cough etiquette, the proper techniques for using alcohol-based hand sanitizers and washing hands with soap and water, and the use of standard face-masks and social distancing, all Navarro College faculty, staff, students, and visitors are strongly encouraged to complete the following COVID-19 health and safety trainings:
  • Read the same entire CDC webpage entitled, “How to Protect Yourself and Others,” and
  • Watch the two-minute CDC video on “What You Need to Know about Handwashing.”
  • If sick, review and follow guidance on COVID-19 Symptoms site or posted flyer in English or Spanish.

All faculty, staff, and students frequently should utilize CDC-recommended hand sanitizer (greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol level) also supplied by Navarro College Physical Plant personnel.

 

Sanitized Environment

• All facilities owned or operated* by Navarro College are sanitized nightly utilizing products recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Corsicana/Navarro County Public Health Department and as follows:
  • All doorknobs, keyboards, hard counter tops, water fountains, elevator buttons, and any visible hard surfaces that are touched frequently are cleaned and sanitized utilizing CDC (EPA) approved disinfectant by Navarro College Physical Plant personnel.
  • All desktops that are clear of knickknacks, paperwork, and office supplies are cleaned and sanitized utilizing CDC (EPA) approved disinfectant by Navarro College Physical Plant personnel.
    
    
• All computer stations and desk areas are cleaned and sanitized by faculty and staff (and may recruit supervised student assistance) during multiple-person usage, between classes, office visits, and computer lab visits, utilizing CDC-recommended COVID-19-resistant products and gloves supplied by Navarro College Physical Plant personnel.

*All facilities utilized by Navarro College must follow the same guidelines provided in this protocol.

 

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ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS from Navarro Regional Hospital and based on area/type of work

• Make sure that cleaning products are EPA effective and approved to kill COVID-19
• Be sure that any shared areas are disinfected more than once a day—bathrooms, elevators, etc.
• Limit staff going to residence halls as much as possible
• Use virtual check-ins
• For shared areas, use extra tables and chairs to help encourage social distancing
• Any places where lines might form, we should utilize stickers to remind people to stay away from each other
• Make sure that there are supplies in common area—tissue, sanitizer, open-top trash receptacles
• Keep up communication to faculty and staff as things progress—based on ongoing, current situation
• If you have anyone living alone, use a buddy system to check for developing symptoms and self-isolation to quickly identify worsening conditions (check-in system)
• Ventilation system when possible should allow for an increase in the number of air exchanges, especially in common areas
• Dining areas, kitchen, non-disposable food service items—those handling these should use gloves and wash hands; use gloves when handling garbage bags
• Laundry room—limit number of people at one time; people handling dirty clothes should use sanitizing methods
• Exercise rooms should remain closed
• Ping pong tables (or similar activity) should remain unavailable
• Shared bathrooms should be cleaned twice a day
• Toothbrushes should remain in a separate tote and not on counter of shared bathroom
• Athletics—Ice baths—clean with chlorine between use—sanitizing will be a challenge; so will locker rooms
• No large gatherings; check-ins should be staggered to prevent close contact
• Faculty/staff meetings—reiterate importance of masks as COVID-19 shedding can occur before symptoms develop
• Those in isolation—designate staff to do check-ins, preferably virtual; choose low-risk staff otherwise

 

Guidance for Individuals who Fail the COVID-19 Screening

The following message should be shared with faculty, staff, students, and visitors who do not pass the minimum requirements for entry into Navarro College facilities:

Thank you for completing the Navarro College Bulldog COVID-19 Health Screening. Unfortunately, your results indicate a need for more information.

 

Currently, you are NOT permitted to enter Navarro College buildings or premises at this time.

If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, please call 911 immediately.  If you are not experiencing life-threatening symptoms, you may choose to quarantine and return thereafter in accordance with the following protocol:

• Individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19 should self-isolate and follow CDC recommended steps. You may return to campus at least 10 days after symptoms first appeared and at least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medications and symptoms have improved.
• Individuals who have been in close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 or sick with COVID-19 symptoms at home or in a comparable setting and practice social distancing for 14 days.
  • In accordance with Navarro College COVID-19 protocol, potentially exposed individuals who do not have symptoms and who choose to test for COVID-19 in order to gain re-entry to Navarro College MUST either quarantine for 14 days or wait 3-5  days from first exposure and then obtain a negative test for COVID-19. Call our partners at Medical Associates of Navarro County at (903) 872-DOCS or your own health provider for more information or may utilize the Texas Department of State Health Services COVID-19 testing locator for a testing location near you.
  • Documentation should be submitted to the following departments for approval and/or accommodations:
    • Students and Related Visitors should contact Philip Johnson, Director of Disability and Access Services, by email at philip.johnson2@navarrocollege.edu or by phone at (903) 875-7377.
    • Faculty, Staff, and Related Visitors should contact Marcy Ballew, Vice President of Human Resources, by email at marcy.ballew@navarrocollege.edu or by phone at (903) 875-7330.
  • As always, we recommend you consult a professional healthcare provider for medical advice.

 

Thank you so much for your help in protecting both your health and safety as well as that of our Navarro College Bulldog Community!  We hope to see you soon after your 14 day quarantine has lapsed and you are medically cleared for return as stipulated above.  Be safe

Navarro College Face-Covering Protocol

Usage of Face-Coverings to Mitigate COVID-19 Spreading

 

Effective Monday, July 6, 2020 with the return to campus for the summer II and fall semesters, the health and safety of the Navarro College Bulldogs (students, faculty, staff, and visitors), and especially of vulnerable individuals, is of paramount importance. In light of CDC guidance, and to protect you and College community against COVID-19, face-coverings (cloth face-covering, surgical mask, individually-approved face-shield) must be worn by all individuals (faculty, staff, students, and visitors) on campus in the following areas: (1) indoor public areas on campus, except where marked otherwise, even if you are alone (includes all non-private office or residential spaces such as lobbies, restrooms, classrooms, teaching laboratories, common spaces in residence halls, conference rooms, and lounges); (2) outdoor spaces where 6 feet of physical distancing is difficult to reliably maintain; and (3) all College vehicles (buses, trucks, cars). This protocol will be amended as needed in response to conditions on campus.

 

Navarro College recommends that all individuals on campus have at least three face-coverings available to use throughout a week so that each day starts with a new or cleaned face-covering. Those face-coverings should follow the current CDC recommendations. If using cloth face-coverings they should, at a minimum, be made of multiple layers of tightly woven cotton fabric. Some common household materials may block particles more effectively than cotton (for example, see https://cace.tamu.edu/research/covid-19-mask-materials/index.html). Adding a layer of filter material within a cloth face-covering is recommended. Additionally, FDA approved surgical masks may also be used as a face-covering.

 

Rationale for Use of Face-Coverings

The primary purpose of wearing a face-covering is to reduce the amount of virus spreading from the wearer (who may not know they are spreading the virus) into the environment and to others. The secondary purpose of the face-covering is to reduce the likelihood that large droplets containing virus that are generated by others may enter the nose and mouth of the wearer.

The use of a face-covering does not replace the continued need to maintain physical distances from others, at least 6 feet, but instead augments physical distancing and helps us further reduce the likelihood of virus transmission.

 

Exceptions to this Protocol

Exceptions/waivers will be evaluated on a case by case basis. For accommodations based on vulnerable conditions like immune deficiencies and/or to submit medical documentation or testing information to the College, the following protocol should be followed:

• Students and related visitors should contact Philip Johnson, Director of Disability and Access Services, by email at philip.johnson2@navarrocollege.edu or by phone at (903) 875-7377.
• Faculty, staff, and related visitors should contact Marcy Ballew, Vice President of Human Resources, by email at marcy.ballew@navarrocollege.edu or by phone at (903) 875-7330.

For areas or occupations where wearing a face-covering is not feasible and is not based on a disability or related concern, a request for an exception to this policy may be made by sending an email message to facecovering@navarrocollege.edu that includes the request, the reason that face-coverings are not feasible, and the additional safety measures taken to further mitigate the risk in the absence of face-coverings.

Areas where face-covering requirements are waived must be clearly marked with signs indicating that an exception to wearing face-coverings has been granted. In some cases, face-shields may be approved for use instead of face-coverings.

 

Face-Covering 101

TIPS for wearing a face-covering during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Face-coverings must be used in conjunction with physical distancing (6 feet social distancing), engineering controls (barriers between people) and/or administrative controls (reduced number of people at events).
• Face-coverings may reduce the spread of viruses and droplets from the wearer to others.
• Face-coverings may reduce the likelihood that droplets from others enter the wearer’s nose or mouth.
• Face-coverings may reduce the spread of aerosols from asymptomatic and presymptomatic COVID-19 carriers.
• Face-coverings become contaminated as you wear them, both from yourself and from the environment around you. You should treat them as contaminated and avoid self-contamination or contamination of others by unsafe handling.
• Remember to wash your hands frequently and to avoid touching your face as much as possible.
• Some individuals may not be able to wear a face-covering due to a medical contraindication.

 

Face-coverings must be put on properly:

• https://app1.unmc.edu/nursing/heroes/mpv.cfm?updateindex=133&src=yt
• Face-coverings should fully cover your nose and mouth, but not the eyes.
• Face-coverings should be held in place firmly with straps.
• When you are putting on a face-covering, do so by the straps and adjust the covering to cover your nose and mouth, being careful not to touch your face in the process.
• Once your covering is in place, wash your hands, and wash your hands after each time you adjust your covering.

 

Face-coverings must be taken off properly to avoid self-contamination:

• Remove face-coverings by the straps and move it gently away from your face. Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing.
• If your face-covering is disposable, then promptly throw it away; do not place it into your pocket, backpack or where it may contaminate your belongings.
• If you have a disposable face-covering that you have to reuse, then make sure that you store it between uses in a clean breathable container (paper bag) and be careful not to touch the inside of the face-covering. Do not store in an airtight container.
• If you have a reusable cloth face-covering, make sure you wash it after each use (a washing machine is fine). Learn more about how to wash your face-covering (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wash-cloth-face-coverings.html).
• Wash your hands after handling a used face-covering.
• Clean cell phone frequently.
• Good hygiene provides less risk of contaminating self than use of gloves.

 

Frequently Asked Questions for Face-Coverings

Navarro College Face-Covering Frequently Asked Questions can be found below

CDC Guidance Resources:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/collegesuniversities/considerations.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/cloth-face-coverings-information.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/cloth-face-covering.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-make-cloth-face-covering.html

 

Face-Covering FAQs

What is a face-covering?

A face-covering is a cloth, bandana, or other type of material that covers an individual’s mouth and nose. The CDC lists five criteria for “cloth face-coverings,” which should:

• Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• Be secured with ties or ear loops
• Include multiple layers of fabric
• Allow for breathing without restriction
• Be able to be laundered and machine-dried without damage or change to shape.

FDA-approved surgical masks may also be used as a face-covering.

There are a variety of cloth face-coverings available, including FDA approved surgical masks, that you can find online or you can make your own following the straightforward CDC guidelines. CDC recommends at least two layers of tightly knit cotton or the more detailed Olson design by medical professionals.

Only for very specialized reasons (e.g., lip-reading, lecturing, laboratory use), a clear face-shield may be approved for temporary use in lieu of a cloth or surgical mask. However, social distancing must be employed especially in such circumstances. If an instructor can maintain at least 6 feet physical distance from the nearest member of the class and/or you have a plexiglass barrier between the instructor and the class, then the instructor may wear a face-shield instead of a face-covering while lecturing. However, a face-covering should still be worn when entering and exiting the classroom since face-coverings provide more protection than face-shields.

 

What is the purpose of a face-covering?

Wearing a face-covering helps to protect both the individual wearing the face-covering and others in the vicinity. Those with COVID-19, even those who do not know they have COVID-19, naturally expel droplets contaminated with the virus that causes COVID-19 when breathing, talking, sneezing, coughing, etc.

Wearing a face-covering in public shows you care enough to protect others. Additionally, limiting virus spread allows the campus to resume some normal operations, including face-to-face classes without the need to return for full remote instruction.

 

What is a public space?

A public space is both any indoor space other than your own residence (including residence hall room or apartment) or personal vehicle and any outdoor areas on campus. Public spaces include lobbies, restrooms, cafeterias, classrooms, laboratories, offices, common spaces of residence halls, conference rooms, lounges, meeting areas, gyms, and College vehicles including buses.

Face-coverings must be worn in ANY public area (indoor or outdoor) on campus. If you are in your own workspace, office, or cubicle, you are not required to wear a face-covering when alone; however, face-coverings are highly recommended at all times and ARE REQUIRED by all individuals at the point in which others enter the office or public space.

 

Are face-coverings required while riding or operating a bus or College vehicle?

Yes, face-coverings must be worn while riding a bus or college vehicle, even if no one else is on the bus or in the vehicle. Face-coverings must be worn in a shared vehicle, even if no one else is in the vehicle, to decrease respiratory secretions on surfaces within the vehicle. Contaminated surfaces may still be a source of infection after you have left. 

If the vehicle is assigned to a single employee, and that person is alone in the vehicle, a face-covering does not need to be worn.

 

Do I wear a face-covering while eating or drinking?

No, you do not need to wear a face-covering while eating or drinking.  After removing your face-covering for eating, place the face-covering into a bag to help keep the material clean and away from other people and items in your proximity. As soon as your meal is complete, wash your hands or clean your hands with hand sanitizer and replace your face-covering, then clean your hands again.

 

Who should provide face-coverings to faculty and staff? To students? To visitors or contractors?

It is the responsibility of the individual to provide their own face-covering. However, each unit may keep a small amount of disposable face-coverings on hand for visitors.

 

Am I required to wear a face-covering while in my on-campus dorm room or apartment?

Face-coverings are not required when students are in their personal on-campus residence hall rooms/suites or apartments (including private and suite-style bathrooms). You should apply the same thought process that you used while living at home with your family. When you and your roommate first come together at the start of the semester, you should have a discussion around face-covering expectations. However, if one of you were to develop COVID-19 related symptoms, then face-coverings should be worn until a healthcare professional can been consulted.

Face-coverings are strongly recommended when students and visitors are in residence hall/apartment hallways or while visiting other students’ rooms/apartments. Additionally, residents should frequently clean sinks and other bathroom areas that require touching of the face (brushing teeth, washing face, etc.), and toothbrushes should remain in a separate tote rather than on the counter of a shared bathroom.

 

If I have already had COVID-19, do I have to wear a face-covering?

Yes. Scientific understanding of COVID-19 is still evolving, and currently it is not known if those who have had the disease can be re-infected and become contagious again.

 

Who reviews personal exemption requests for employees and visitors based on a disability or other concern?

Advance notice of the need for accommodations/exemptions can help to ensure that there is adequate time to review the request and make a decision on a case-by-case basis. If an employee or student has been approved for this exception to the policy, they will be given an accommodation or exemption letter to provide to faculty members to allow them to remain in class without a face-covering. 

A face-shield or plexiglass stand might be approved in lieu of a face-covering so long as 6 feet of physical distance is always maintained. As the CDC recommends limiting exposure, remote options may be considered. 

Exceptions/waivers will be evaluated on a case by case basis. For accommodations based on vulnerable conditions like immune deficiencies and/or to submit medical documentation or testing information to the College, the following protocol should be followed:

• Students and related visitors should contact Philip Johnson, Director of Disability and Access Services, by email at philip.johnson2@navarrocollege.edu or by phone at (903) 875-7377.
• Faculty, staff, and related visitors should contact Marcy Ballew, Vice President of Human Resources, by email at marcy.ballew@navarrocollege.edu or by phone at (903) 875-7330.

 

Who reviews departmental exemption requests related to areas on campus and/or job requirements?

Exceptions to the face-covering policy based on areas on campus and job requirements, and not related to a disability or religious concern, will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Requests for departmental or location exemption should be emailed to facecovering@navarrocollege.edu and should include the reason that face-coverings are not feasible and the additional safety measures taken to further mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the absence of face-coverings. For a request asking for an exemption in a given space, also detail the space(s) where the exemption is requested and include information about signage marking the areas where face-covering requirements are waived.  For a job requirement exemption, please include information about how the waiver will be applied.  For example, while it is possible to lecture while wearing a face-covering, faculty members may request to substitute a face-shield and/or stand behind a plexiglass stand while lecturing. In this case, a face-covering waiver would only be granted during lectures.

 

Can students or employees be directed by a supervisor, instructor, or other College official to vacate Navarro College property if they refuse to wear a face-covering or to follow proper face-covering protocol?

Yes, students, faculty, staff, and visitors can be directed by a supervisor, instructor, or other College official to vacate Navarro College property if they refuse to wear a face-covering, unless they have received an exemption (described above) or the area or position has been granted a waiver from the face-coverings policy.

The agreement to come back to campus includes a requirement to follow all safety regulations. If individuals are not wearing an appropriate face-covering in a public space, the first response should be a collegial reminder and an offer of a clean face-covering, if one is available.  If the individual still refuses to wear an appropriate face-covering, a supervisor (for students this could be a faculty member or a staff member overseeing the area) may direct the individual to leave the public space. For example, a faculty member could direct a student to attend a class remotely rather than in person. If the individual refuses to wear a face-covering or leave the space, this should be reported through an email describing the occurrence to the Dean of Students at rebecca.tuerk@navarrocollege.edu for students, to Human Resources at marcy.ballew@navarrocollege.edu for employees, and by phone to Navarro College Department of Public Safety (903) 654-3999 for visitors.

 

How should I raise a concern about someone not adhering to the face-covering requirement?

Please contact the faculty or staff member who is supervising the person or the space where the infraction occurred (for example, the building proctor or department head). The department head or building leadership will be in a position to ascertain whether the person has an exemption and, if not, politely direct the person to wear a face-covering or vacate the public space.

 

Are there limits to the design of the face-covering?

In accordance with the “I am Navarro” spirit and Civility Statement within the Navarro College Student Handbook, all masks, whether solid or with patterned prints, should be appropriate and without profanity or vulgarities for a professional educational environment.

Navarro College recognizes and supports the right of free expression. In accordance with Navarro College Administrative Procedures and Board Policy, Section FKA.1, displaying a sign, gesturing, or wearing symbolic clothing or otherwise protesting silently is permissible unless it is disruptive or impedes access. “Neither acts that are disruptive to the normal operations of the college, including but not limited to classes and college business, nor acts that invade the rights of others will be tolerated.” Faculty, staff, students, or visitor engaging in a disruptive activity may be subject to disciplinary action and face criminal charges.

Also in accordance with the Navarro College Civility Statement, all individuals on campus must be readily identify themselves. Failure to identify oneself to a College official upon request is forbidden and in violation of the Navarro College Code of Student Conduct.

 

How long will this protocol be in effect?

This protocol is continually under review as more information regarding the current pandemic is made available. This protocol will remain in effect until it is safe to do otherwise and communicated as such.

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