Focus on Campus

The Plan lays out a staged approach to returning activities to campus, beginning in July 2020 and continuing through until the college is able to resume all campus activities at full capacity.

STAGE 0: RESEARCH RESTART (JULY 10, 2020)
STAGE 1: FOCUS ON FALL PREPARATION (SUMMER 2020)
STAGE 2: FOCUS ON FALL RESTART (FALL 2020)
STAGE 3: INCREASING OR ADDING HIGHER RISK ACTIVITIES (SPRING 2020)
STAGE 4: FOCUS ON CAMPUS, FULL REOPENING (FALL 2021)

During this stage the college will return the full complement of on-campus activities with safety protocols remaining in place.

The plan set forward is in compliance with all NYS and CUNY guidance, including the University’s COVID-19 vaccination policy. Should this guidance change, Hunter College will adjust the capacity of approved activities, modify additional higher-risk activities, and/or implement additional safety precautions, as needed.

Decisions to modify services and capacities on campus will be initiated by the administration in consultation with the Campus Reopening Committee, with CUNY approvals and governmental approvals when required.

PHASE TRANSITIONS

Considerations for Progressing to the Next Stage

• Assessment of the phase as it progresses, with an effort to begin planning for the next phase early, as a function of assessment outcomes.
• Higher-risk activities may be taken on later in the semester, should campus and community rates show no increased rate of infection, a decline in COVID transmissions in the city and minimal transmission on campus.
• Each phase is expected to last one semester, contingent upon CUNY and NYS requirements and health outcomes, to reduce disruption.
• In-person classes and labs should be determined on a semester-by-semester basis, with the next stage planned for and announced by the middle of the preceding semester, if possible.
• Available PPE and sufficient staffing/budget to advance to the next phase.

Considerations for Remaining in the Current Stage Longer

• Incidence of COVID-19 on campus that is not successfully contained.
• Increase in COVID-19 cases in the city.

Considerations for Reverting to a Prior Stage

• Significant increasing infection rates on campus that are not successfully contained.
• Significant rise in Community Transmission rates in the city.
• See Shutdown Plan.

Responsible Parties

The Coronavirus Campus Coordinator, Lori Mazor, shall be responsible for developing the plan, affirming to having read and adhere to this guidance, and meeting the standards set forth therein. The Coronavirus Campus Liaison, Galia Galansky, shall be responsible for all monitoring activities.

Face Coverings

The Coronavirus Campus Coordinator must maintain protocols and procedures for students, faculty, staff, and other individuals to ensure appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to protect against the transmission of the COVID-19 virus when on school grounds and in school facilities.

For the time being, everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must:

• Wear a face mask inside all CUNY campuses and office buildings. This includes while working in a non-enclosed space such as a cubicle or other open seating, regardless of physical distance from others.
• Wear a mask outdoors on campus when unable to maintain physical distance from others.

The only exceptions to wearing a mask inside are:

• If a fully vaccinated person is alone in an enclosed space such as an office, conference room, or dorm room.
• In a classroom, if a vaccinated professor is teaching a class and is able to keep social distance from everyone else in the class, he or she may choose not to wear a mask.
• Briefly while eating or drinking, provided social distancing is maintained.

To be clear, anyone who is not fully vaccinated must wear a mask indoors and outdoors at all times while on campus, including in enclosed spaces, except briefly when eating or drinking (in which case they must maintain strict social distancing from other individuals). When classes begin, students who are not vaccinated will be further required to maintain social distancing between themselves and all others in a classroom.

We continue to work closely with State and City health officials to monitor the impact of the Delta and other variants on COVID-19 transmission rates and will modify this temporary mask mandate and other guidance as needed.

Hunter College shall supply all employees and students with an acceptable face covering, at no-cost to the individual, and have an adequate supply of coverings in case of need for replacement.

Hunter Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for the acquisition, monitoring, and distribution of all personal protective equipment (PPE). Inventory will be tracked weekly and quotes will be obtained from multiple vendors in the case that the State Vendors cannot fulfill requested orders. Hunter will provide single source justification if there is a supply chain issue.

Acceptable face coverings, as defined by the NY Department of Health (NYDOH). Cloth disposable or homemade face coverings are not acceptable for workplace activities that typically require a higher degree of protection for PPE due to the nature of the work (e.g. if working with flammable materials or chemicals, ensure face coverings are flame resistant). For those activities, N95 respirators or other PPE used under existing industry standards should continue to be used, as is defined in accordance with OSHA Standards.

Face coverings must be cleaned or replaced after use and may not be shared. Consult CDC guidance for additional information on cloth face coverings and other types of PPE as well as instructions on use and cleaning.

Hunter College will allow their employees and essential visitors to use their own acceptable face coverings but does not require their employees and essential visitors to supply their own face coverings. In the case where it is necessary for employees or essential visitors to wear more protective PPE due to the nature of the work, Hunter College will supply it and employees and essential visitors will be required to use it. Hunter College will comply with all applicable OSHA standards, and expect vendors, contractors, and third-party employers doing work at Hunter to do so as well.

Physical Distancing

Vaccinated Individuals will not be required to physically distance.

Unvaccinated Individuals will be required to maintain 6’-0” physical distance at all times. It is the responsibility of the unvaccinated individual to maintain this distance and to notify their supervisor/instructor if they are unable to self-administer the distancing requirement. If the supervisor/instructor is unable to make the necessary modifications within the work or instructional environment, they should notify the Coronavirus Campus Coordinator to seek an alternative measures, which may include the addition of physical barriers and/or supplemental PPE.

Any physical barriers will be installed between individuals that do not adversely affect air flow, heating, cooling or ventilation, or otherwise present a health or safety risk; or individuals will be supplied with supplemental PPE. If put in place, physical barriers must be put in place in accordance with United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, and May include strip curtains, cubicle walls, plexiglass or similar materials, or other impermeable divider or partition.

Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection

Hunter College will adhere to and promote hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection guidance set forth by New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hunter College will maintain logs that include the date, time, and scope of cleaning and disinfection, as well as identifying cleaning and disinfection frequency for each facility and area type and assign responsibility to staff.

Hunter Custodial Staff will be providing cleaning and disinfection services to all general-purpose instructional spaces, gathering spaces, and public spaces on a regular scheduled frequency. Public spaces include, but are not limited to, the entry, exit, stairs, elevators, restrooms, corridors, and shared public spaces.

Cleaning services include the removal of trash, sweeping, dusting, and mopping. This will be completed at least once per day in the public spaces.

Disinfection services include the disinfection of high touch surfaces in public spaces using an EPA approved quaternary cleaner. Services are scheduled multiple times per day up to once an hour in high traffic areas, such as elevators and entrances.

Restrooms will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected every 90 minutes. All high touch surfaces, including sinks, faucets, stall handles, toilet bowl seats and door handles will be sprayed with EPA approved quaternary cleaner.

Custodial assistants and custodial supervisors will log the completion of cleaning and disinfection services. The administrative superintendent responsible for custodial services will review and confirm the accuracy of the log daily. The log will be maintained by Facilities.

Disinfecting wipes or spray disinfectant and paper towels will be provided to all classroom, laboratory and shared spaces.

Frequent Hand-washing with soap and water for 20 seconds upon arrival and during the day is strongly encouraged to reduce contact transmission.

Hand sanitizer dispensers will be installed in public areas and in areas deemed to be high touch, such as elevators and door handles. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to use hand sanitizing stations before and after using high-touch facilities.

Water fountains will not be in use. Bottle refilling stations will be available in some locations; students, faculty and staff will be encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

The hours of operation for Hunter College will be posted prominently and stated on the website.

Hunter will initially adopt a staggered approach for onsite presence beginning August 16, 2021. Employees are expected to come to the campus based on the needs of the operation.

Corridors shall be kept clean, orderly, and clear in compliance with FDNY and NY State law. Only non-flammable materials can be stored in hallways in designated areas. Passageways must be kept totally clear at all times, as not to obstruct emergency personnel and persons evacuating the building. Additionally, corridors shall be kept clear so custodial staff are able to clean, sanitize, and disinfect the floors on a regular basis.

Visitors, including vendors, essential visitors, and invited guests are allowed by appointment or RSVP only, except for in Art Galleries. Essential visitors include all approved licensees of the space for the duration of their lease term. Request for vendor services or visitors should be sent to the Visitor’s Center. Anyone entering the college campus must show proof of vaccination or a valid negative COVID test. Public Safety will be responsible for informing all visitors of the code of conduct on campus, for maintaining a log of essential visitors expected to enter the site, and for coordinating screening.

Request for vendor services or visitors should be sent to the Visitor’s Center (visitors.center@hunter.cuny.edu) at least 48 hours prior to arriving on campus. Please provide names and email addresses of each visitor. Visitors will receive an email with a link to upload proof of vaccination or a valid negative PCR COVID test taken within 7-days prior to their visit Upon approval, visitors will receive an email or text message providing a GreenPass to enter the campus.

Shipping and receiving is operational and arrangements can be made for pick-up and delivery of necessary supplies.

Hunter has begun preparations to safely reopen facilities and grounds, such as cleaning and disinfection, and restarting building ventilation, water systems, and other key facilities components. Facilities has ordered materials and supplies in preparation for planned capacity.

Hunter College Facilities shall increase ventilation, either via open windows or mechanical means, to maximize the use of outside air and reduce the amount of recirculated air to the extent that reasonable building comfort levels and safe operating systems can be maintained.

In high-occupancy, high-frequency used spaces, such as classrooms and shared offices:

Where windows are the means for introducing outside air, windows should be opened when the room is in use.

Where mechanical ventilation is the means for introducing outside air, windows should remain closed and one of the following enhanced particulate filtration systems should be installed:

• MERV-13 Filters; or
• Portable High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) Air Filtration Devices

For rooms with portable filtration devices, please note that these produce ambient noise. Filtration devices will be set by Facilities and should not be removed, adjusted, or turned off by unauthorized persons.

The College will allow open windows during operating hours and run mechanical ventilation and portable filtration devices, where located, 24 hours per day to increase airflow wherever possible, weather permitting.

Consistent with State-issued public transit guidance, individuals must wear acceptable face coverings at all times in Hunter College vehicles, and unvaccinated individuals must maintain appropriate physical distancing, unless they are members of the same household.

World Cup Café will resume operations at the Library Café, West Lobby, Brookdale, and other pop-up locations around the campus.

The Faculty Dining Hall will be available for vaccinated individuals only.

Shared food and beverage (e.g. self-serve meals and beverages) is prohibited.

The cafeterias, designated lounges, and outdoor spaces will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for dining. When in these spaces and eating, individuals are permitted to remove masks.

Hunter College Custodial staff will be cleaning dining spaces regularly. Sanitizing wipes and/or disinfectant spray will be available for patrons to wipe surfaces and equipment before and after use.

Vaccination Policies & Encouragement

Students, Faculty, Staff and Visitors planning to come to a CUNY campus or office for any reason or length of time who are eligible to be vaccinated will be required to be fully vaccinated or possess an up-to-date, valid negative COVID-19 test. All students living in residence halls will be required to be vaccinated. In accordance with the CUNY vaccination policy, students taking in-person classes will be required to be vaccinated. Health or Religious exemptions will be made.

Hunter College is participating in the White House COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge and is committed to taking the three key actions to help get our campus community vaccinated: engaging every student, faculty, and staff member; organizing our college communities; and delivering vaccine access for all. Some of these efforts include:

• Incentivizing Vaccination through giveaways. For example, every Public Safety Officer who is vaccinated receives a Hunter sweatshirt.
• Promoting #VaxUpCUNY through Hunter’s Social Media Channels and communication to faculty, staff, and students
• Coordinating with CUNY to offer vaccination on campus in the Fall Semester.
• Collaborating with student government to do additional outreach, including videos, e-blasts, and student-led social media campaigns.
• Targeted outreach from advising staff to their students to encourage vaccination.
• Enclosing information about the vaccine and how to get vaccinated with employee paystubs.

Campus Access

Vaccinated individuals who wish to be waived from the mandatory COVID testing program may voluntarily upload proof of vaccination to CUNYFirst. Accepted vaccination proof will activate ID card for expedited entry to campus, allowing individuals to enter through any available building entrance. Anyone not registered in CUNYFirst must enter at the primary screening entrance for the campus.

Testing Protocols

An individual, who does not meet the requirements for proof of vaccination must show proof of a valid negative COVID-19 test to enter the facility. Faculty, students, and staff will be required to participate in CUNY’s on-site testing program. Information on on-site testing locations as well as local healthcare and testing resources is available on the CUNYwebsite and through the Coronavirus Campus Liaison. Valid negative test results will activate ID cards for 7 days, allowing individuals to enter through any available building entrance.

Early Warning Signs

At the community level, the Coronavirus Campus Liaison will monitor the critical key metrics developed for the NYS Regional Unpause Dashboard to ensure the prevalence of the disease is low enough to continue operations.

Contact Tracing

The Coronavirus Campus Liaison will notify the New York City Department of Health Track and Trace Program immediately upon being informed of any positive COVID-19 diagnostic test result by an individual within school facilities or on school grounds, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors. They will also notify the SVC for Institutional Affairs and the Campus Reopening Committee.

In the case of an individual testing positive, Hunter College has developed and will maintain plans to support local health departments in tracing all contacts of the individual, in accordance with the protocols, training, and tools provided through the New York City Contact Tracing Program. The local health department must be notified of all individuals who meet the definition of a close contact dating back to 48 hours before the individual first experienced COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive, whichever is earlier.

Confidentiality must be maintained as required by federal and state law and regulations. Hunter College will cooperate with all state and local health department contact tracing. All positive tests are also reported to the NYS COVID dashboard.

Individuals who have come into close contact with a person with COVID-19 will be alerted via tracing, tracking or other mechanism, and are required to self-report to their employer at the time of alert and shall follow the protocol referenced above.

Symptomatic Individuals

Students, Faculty or Staff who have symptoms prior to arriving on campus should stay home. Anyone who develops symptoms while on premises will be directed to leave the premises safely and seek appropriate healthcare. Such individuals will be directed to the school’s website for information on healthcare and testing resources.

Return to In-Person Activities

Hunter College has established protocols and procedures following NYSDOH guidelines when people screening positive for COVID-19 symptoms can return to the in-person learning environment. This return to school protocol shall include, at minimum, documentation from a health care provider following evaluation, negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result, and symptom resolution, if COVID-19 positive, release from isolation. Hunter College shall refer to the DOH’s “Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure” regarding protocols and policies for faculty or staff seeking to return to work after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or after the faculty or staff member had close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19. See Infected Individuals below for details.

Infected Individuals

The Coronavirus Campus Liaison will remain the central point of contact responsible for identifying all close contacts on campus. The Coronavirus Campus Liaison shall be prepared to receive notifications from individuals of positive cases and communicate with the Office of Public Safety, Facilities and EHS, to initiate the respective cleaning and disinfection procedures.

Should an individual who has been on campus test positive for COVID-19, they should notify the Coronavirus Campus Liaison. The Coronavirus Campus Liaison must immediately notify CUNY and local health departments about the case if test results are positive for COVID-19.

The Coronavirus Campus Liaison shall consult with the NYC Department of Health regarding protocols and policies for employees seeking to return to work after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or after the employee has had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and follows them explicitly.

The return to campus protocol will include at minimum documentation from a healthcare provider evaluation, negative COVID-19 testing, symptom resolution, or if COVID-19 positive, release from isolation.

Exposed Individuals

Unvaccinated individuals who were exposed to the COVID-19 virus must complete quarantine having not developed symptoms before returning to campus. Discharge from quarantine and return to school will be conducted in coordination with the local health department.

Hunter College will communicate with students, faculty and staff through email and the COVID-19 website. Updates will be posted regularly, and all are encouraged to visit the website to access planning and health and safety management resources.

A robust signage program has been developed for students, faculty, staff and visitors to communicate instructions on-site for safe practices. Additional public service announcements will be posted on digital screens throughout the campus and via existing PA systems.

Students shall be informed of the Covid-19 Student Conduct Protocol “For Students” section, which states:

The City University of New York takes the well-being and safety of our students, faculty and staff very seriously. During the pandemic, we all have an obligation to behave in a responsible manner per the guidance approved in your campus’ re-opening plan to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Responsible behavior extends to your off-campus and personal lives, which can affect your ability to transmit the virus on campus.

Article XV of the CUNY bylaws requires that each student obey policies, regulations, and orders of the University/College. Students are reminded that the Rules and Regulations for the Maintenance of Public order pursuant to article 129a of the education law (“Henderson Rules”) prohibits:

• behaviors that recklessly or intentionally endangers the health of others
• behavior that interferes with the institution’s educational processes
• failure to comply with the direction of a University official

The University is committed to adhering fully to current and future directives about social encounters from the federal, state and local public health officials. Any student found in violation of these directives may be subject to discipline under article XV of the CUNY bylaws.

Similarly, employees are expected to follow applicable health and safety protocols as described above. Employees who are found to consistently violate the protocols may be subject to discipline.

The Safety Plan is available on the college’s Focus on Campus website.

While every effort will be made to keep the campus safe, Hunter College is prepared to act and communicate quickly in the event of large-spread community contagion that necessitates a rapid shutdown of the campus.

All communications will happen in close coordination with CUNY and state and local agencies and led by the President’s direct email communication with faculty, students and staff informing the details of the shutdown and impact to instructional plans and building operations.

In the case of an emergency, Hunter would trigger the CUNY Alert system to send a message to all registered users at their preferred mobile and/or email address. Returning and new employees and students will be reminded to update their CUNY Alert contact information. CUNY Alerts and Updates to Focus on Fall Plan will be features in a high-profile banner on every page of the Hunter College website with links to more details, including timely messages from President Raab to faculty, students and staff and necessary information and resources. Hunter staff will share information with respective essential visitors and service providers.

Hunter would supplement these communications with the Hunter Navigate system that sends text messages to students. Students in Residence will receive further instructions from the Residence Hall Staff.

Should any member of the Hunter community, including vendors and essential visitors, fail to receive any outreach and arrive on campus, public safety officers will guide them to the safest departure possible.

Operational Activity

Hunter College will follow thresholds set by CUNY, NYSDOH, and the CDC and will work in close communication to understand what community and local metrics trigger closure and shutdown. Detailed shutdown procedures are included in each of the Restart Plans.

Closure Triggers

In the event an individual is confirmed to have COVID-19, the COVID liaison will notify the COVID Coordinator, who will dispatch Public Safety, Facilities, and Environmental Health and Safety. Public Safety will secure their space and Facilities, in consultation with EHS, will arrange disinfection. Upon completion of disinfection, Facilities will notify Public Safety and Human Resources that the area has been disinfected and prepared for occupancy.

While Hunter’s intention is to move forward and bring more activity back to campus over time, Hunter College will also be prepared to reverse the reopening if the situation dictates. The Closure Committee, in consultation with the President and CUNY, will monitor a range of internal and external criteria when assessing whether a ramp down or closure of campuses is required.

External monitoring criteria will include:

• Federal, New York State, and New York City regulatory guidelines and mandates
• Infection/health system status at the local, state, regional and nation-wide level
• Status of resources and infrastructure to combat contagion including PPE, health system capacity, testing and tracing;
• Compliance of greater public with COVID-19 protocols (e.g., group gatherings, social distancing)
• Re-closing status of neighboring schools;

Internal monitoring criteria will include:

• Spread of infection on campus via data reported by Campus Coronavirus Liaisons – metrics on current caseload, new flu-like symptoms, spread
• Status of resources and infrastructure to combat contagion on campus, including school health system capacity, PPE resources, Testing & tracing resources;
• Campus internal monitoring will be informed by the requirement for students to self- diagnose/report symptoms and faculty/staff to complete the daily screening questionnaire.
• Hunter College will monitor health conditions using the criteria above and look for warning signs that infection may be increasing.

CDC Higher Education Decision Tree

Hunter College shall reference the above CDC decision tree and develop the following closure and ramp down plans.

With a confirmed COVID-19 case on campus, the campus will consider a short class suspension for areas in which the positive occupant was present along with select building and facility closure to clean and disinfect. Hunter College will notify Human Resources who will also contact the NYS Contact Tracer Initiative in consultation with local/State officials.

Ramp-down activities will align with the level of community spread, with minimal or moderate spread requiring higher levels of cleaning and potential closure.

Extended closure will be determined based on substantial community spread, defined by CDC as large scale immunity transmission, healthcare staffing significantly impacted, multiple cases within communal settings.

Hunter College will only close buildings/areas within its particular campus if the suspected exposure or positive findings that occur reflect confidence in a low level of risk to the wider campus community. To allow for deep-cleaning and disinfection of buildings, premises or grounds. This will be coupled with notifications to potentially impacted students, faculty and staff, and ramp down measures being applied including testing referrals to City testing sites and tracing of members of the campus community, moving classes to remote learning, asking employees to work remotely, for the short duration of such limited closures.

Should there be a return of substantial community transmission, the campus community –students, faculty and staff– shall act as if they have been exposed: staying home and monitoring for symptoms. This would require a ramp down or shutdown of campus buildings to ensure Hunter College does its part to protect the most vulnerable members of the community. Such decisions will be made in consultation with Hunter/CUNY and local/State officials.

The ramp down response to the local and community health situation within the campus, a community or the city as a whole, will be made following the governance process set out in Part 1, Section B, of the CUNY Guidelines for Safe Campus Reopening. Final decisions on shutting down particular buildings/areas within campuses, individual campuses, or multiple campuses, as appropriate, will be made by the CUNY in consultation with local/State authorities.

The reopening plan for the CUNY campuses proposes five stages, moving from a soft reopening to full operations as described in the Phasing Section of the CUNY Guidelines for Safe Campus Reopening. Hunter College will be ready to deploy distance learning modalities with as few employees on campus as possible, to instruct only those who have been designated as essential staff to report to work, and to transition to distance working for all non-essential staff. This will include readiness to deploy targeted distance learning modalities if necessary due to targeted shutdowns of particular buildings/areas impacted by COVID-19.

Hunter College will have effective approval processes to enable staff to request supervisor approval for telecommuting, in accordance with campus telecommuting policies. Hunter College supervisors will maintain structures and channels that will enable employees to do their jobs remotely, and to ensure that all hardware and software is fully functional. Supervisors will implement remote check-in plans, and all employees will receive details about their work schedules and other expectations of job performance for the duration of the arrangement.