What overall safety measures are in place for students at Parkland College?
General Information - Parkland is enforcing the governor’s Executive Order 2020-32 and working with Champaign Urbana Public Health Department (CUPHD) to attempt to keep all of its constituents safe.
Does Parkland College require a self-assessment every day before I come on to campus?
Yes. All members of the Parkland College community are required to complete a self-assessment prior to each visit to campus. If you answer yes to any of the questions, then you should consider staying home. If you stay home, then you will need to follow your normal notification procedures for classroom absence. If the expected absence is more than one day, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at
deanofstudents@parkland.edu or
217/353-2048, or contact your instructors directly using your syllabus contact information.
Self-Assessment: - Have you felt feverish?
- Do you have a cough?
- Do you have a sore throat?
- Have you been experiencing difficulty breathing or a shortness of breath?
- Do you have head or muscle aches?
- Have you noticed a new loss of taste or loss of smell?
- Have you been experiencing chills?
- Have you been experiencing any other symptoms (runny nose, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain)?
- For reported headaches, consider if the headache is: new or unusual onset; not related to caffeine or dietary reasons, such as hunger; if you have a history of migraines, cluster, or tension headaches (if headaches are typical for you).Is anyone in your household displaying any symptoms of COVID-19?
- To the best of your knowledge, have you come into close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 (close contact includes household contacts, intimate contacts, or contacts within six feet) for 15 minutes or longer?
Does Parkland College require the use of face masks indoors?
Yes. To reduce the transmission of COVID-19 infection, all Parkland College students, employees, and visitors must wear a face covering in any college building, facility, and classroom. The only exception would be an employee alone in their private office space.
Does Parkland College require the use of face masks outdoors?Yes. Face coverings must also be worn in all outdoor public places and settings on campus where social distancing of six feet cannot be maintained like sidewalks, the bus stop, etc.
What do I do if I am a student or employee and I have a medical condition or disability that prevents me from safely wearing a cloth face covering?Students will need to contact the Office of Accessibility Services
accessibilityservices@parkland.edu or call
217/353-2338 to begin the accommodation process BEFORE coming onto campus.Employees should notify Human Resources at
hr@parkland.edu to begin the accommodation process BEFORE coming on to campus.
What kind of face covering is required?An appropriate cloth or disposable face covering that covers both the mouth and nose completely meets the requirement. Face shields are NOT acceptable face coverings. If you have any questions about acceptable face coverings, please send your questions to
wellnesscenter@parkland.edu.
What advantages are there to wearing face coverings?Wearing a face covering offers protection for you and those with whom you interact. Research has shown that wearing a face covering can reduce the spread of respiratory droplets that may contain the virus, which is especially important as those with COVID-19 can be asymptomatic and still infect others. Face coverings for yourself can help protect essential workers who may be in situations where they encounter many people throughout the day and have a much higher risk of getting exposed and spreading the virus.
Why are face coverings required if I am social distancing?Until there is a COVID-19 vaccine developed, there is no 100% effective way to completely stop the spread of the virus. But there are measures available that have been proven to help slow the spread and guard against infection, such as social distancing, wearing face coverings, and washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as often as possible. For the best protection possible at this moment, it is important that we use all the tools available to us.
Why am I required to wear a face covering when outside?Governor Pritzker’s Executive Orders requires that face coverings be worn in all public settings where social distancing cannot be maintained. Examples on our campus would include traveling to and from classes, public transit, and sidewalks, among others. Other examples include local businesses and travel throughout the state and community.
Do these safety requirements apply when working off-campus, such as college facilities or properties?Yes. Parkland employees and students are required to follow the same safety measures in any college-owned or operated facility that they are following on-campus, regardless of proximity to campus. Students are expected to follow any facility rules when attending off-campus clinicals, internships, or other educational-affiliated component.
What if a student refuses to wear a face covering inside Parkland College or its facilities?If a student does not wear a face covering, a member of Parkland’s faculty, staff, or administration will ask for them to put on one. If the student does not comply, they will be asked to leave campus or be escorted out, and may face disciplinary action according to Parkland’s Student Conduct Code.
How do I report someone who is not wearing a face covering or following the social distancing requirements?If you have any safety concerns, you should reach out to your faculty, supervisor, or Dean of Students office at
deanofstudents@parkland.edu.
Will the College provide masks for students?Parkland is not providing masks for every student, as most individuals have a particular style or type that works well for them. If a student is on campus and has an issue with their personal mask, the college may be able to provide them with a disposable mask for the day. These individuals should inquire with the nearest faculty or staff member or the Office of Public Safety about a disposable mask.
Will the College provide masks for employees?Employees required to be on campus will receive two employer-provided face coverings.
What other safety practices should students and employees follow to reduce the transmission of COVID-19? - Practice social distancing of more than six feet whenever possible (required on Parkland’s campus).
- Practice frequent hand washing or hand sanitizing (though washing is preferred, and sanitizer must be at least 60% ethanol).
- Practice self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms daily, especially of temperature, cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing (required for visiting Parkland’s campus).
- Monitor the health of individuals in your household.
Will there be extra hand sanitizing stations on campus?Yes. Physical Plant will try to provide hand sanitizing stations at many of the campus entrances while supplies last.
What plans are there if an individual on campus tests positive for COVID-19?Parkland College will continue to partner with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) as we have before for infectious diseases on campus, and they will have oversight of all contact tracing efforts. An infected individual is expected to isolate at their place of residence, as will faculty and staff. Employees will use their sick leave benefits and expanded leave benefits under the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) available to maintain pay status. If an infected employee is able to work remotely during their isolation period, they can continue to do so.
Q: How will Parkland address safety in the classroom?
Social distancing and safety guidelines will be enacted. Students may be divided into small groups for on-campus meetings to allow for social distancing. Courses with larger enrollment may require staggered scheduling for on-campus meetings.