Students and employees must conduct symptom monitoring every day before coming to campus and/or leaving their place of residence. Members of the campus community must be free of ANY symptoms related to COVID-19 to be on campus or to leave their on-campus residence. Students/employees are responsible for informing their professor/supervisor if they are unable to be in class or at work.

In being a part of Bushnell University, our community has been asked to adhere to our Beacon Pledge.

Symptoms to Monitor

According to the Center for Disease Control, symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. These symptoms or combinations of symptoms include:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • New loss of taste or smell

Students/Employees who have symptoms, including a fever of 100.4 degrees or greater, must be tested and self-isolate until the testing results are back.

Scenarios

If you think you may have contracted or been exposed to COVID-19, isolate away from others, do not come to campus, and carefully review the guidance below to determine what to do next.

The following guidance is for Bushnell University students and employees. It has been created following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Oregon Health Authority guidelines, and in consultation with Lane County Public Health.

 

I have tested or have been confirmed positive or presumed positive by a health care provider.

*NOTE: One’s vaccination status is not relevant in this scenario.

Stay home and isolate. Do not come to campus. Contact the appropriate Bushnell representative:

  • Commuter/non-residential students: contact your academic advisor
  • Residential students: contact your RA or RD
  • Athletes: contact athletic trainers in addition to advisor or RA/RD.
  • Employees: contact your direct supervisor.

When can I return to campus?

If you do not experience symptoms, you may return to campus 5 days after you were tested and remain masked when around others for an additional 5 days. If you experience mild or moderate symptoms, you may return to campus 5 days after your symptoms began if your symptoms are improving and you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the help of medication. You must remain masked when around others for an additional 5 days.

*NOTE: Until 10 days have passed since your symptoms began or you tested positive (whichever is earlier), you should only be around others when you can be fully masked. On-campus students should take meals to-go and those with roommates will be housed in their quarantine space but may attend class, work, etc.

Close contacts who may have been exposed to COVID-19 do not need to quarantine but must wear a mask around others for 10 days following your exposure. It is recommended that you test 5 days after exposure. 

If you have specific questions about what you should do, please contact the appropriate Bushnell representative:

  • Commuter/non-residential Students: contact your academic advisor
  • Residential students: contact your RA or RD
  • Athletes: contact athletic trainers in addition to advisor or RA/RD
  • Employees: contact your direct supervisor

Stay home and contact your faculty and/or supervisor if you need to miss class or work. Students without a confirmed positive case that have no known contact with a positive case should use the absence policies in their syllabi. Consider consulting a health care provider and getting a COVID-19 test.

Residential Students should take food to-go and wear a mask in the cafeteria while sick.

When can I return to campus?

If you are sick, you should remain at home until your symptoms have resolved and you have been fever free for 24 hours. If you get a positive COVID-19 test, please refer to that scenario for next steps.

Testing

Find Testing in Lane County or contact your health care provider to determine if and where you should go to be tested.

Stay home and get a COVID-19 test. 

Contact the appropriate Bushnell representative: 

  • Commuter/non-residential Students: contact your academic advisor 
  • Residential students: contact your RA or RD 
  • Athletes: contact athletic trainers in addition to advisor or RA/RD. 
  • Employees: contact your direct supervisor. 

You will be referred to a COVID-19 Task Force Case Manager who will answer questions, give additional information and provide clearance to return to campus.  

When can I return to campus? 

You will be cleared to return to campus only after ALL the following conditions have been met: 

  • Your symptoms have resolved 
  • You have been fever-free for at least 24 hours 
  • You have a negative COVID-19 test 5 days after exposure

You should mask around others for 10 days following your most recent close contact with a positive case., even with a negative test on day 5. 

Until the person you were in contact with receives a positive Covid-19 test result, you are not considered a close contact of a positive case and do not need to quarantine. However, you should be vigilant about masking, washing your hands, and not sharing meals or spending time around others unmasked until they receive a negative test.

If their test is positive, you are now a close contact of a positive case and should refer to the appropriate guidance. You may also get a COVID-19 test if you wish.

Support and Care

Accessibility Services/High Risk

Students or Employees who believe that they fall into a high-risk category may seek accommodations through Accessibility Services (students) and Human Resources or their respective Vice President, Dean, or Director (employees).

Mental Health

The University offers a number of support systems for the mental and emotional well-being of all members of our community. These support systems include free counseling at the Clinical Mental Health Center (counselors in the master’s program, supervised by licensed therapists), the provision of pastoral care through our Campus Pastor and other key employees on campus, and work with members of our student support team including members of the Office of Student Life staff.

COVID-19 Testing

Students who have symptoms related to COVID-19 or have determined that they need to be tested based on potential exposure are encouraged to immediately contact their respective advisor or resident director. Employees should contact their direct supervisor. Individuals who need emergency care should contact 911 for ambulance transport to the nearest Emergency Department. Individuals should not visit the Emergency Department for mild symptoms or to obtain a COVID-19 test unless emergency care is needed.

Individuals who need testing should contact their primary care provider for COVID-19 testing locations in their area. Persons without a Primary Health Provider are referred to the COVID-19 Testing in Oregon website, which allows for search of local health care facilities that are providing COVID-19 testing.

If an Employee believes they have contracted COVID-19 after exposure to a known COVID-positive person on campus and/or while providing job duties, they are asked to immediately return to their residence and/or remove themselves from campus, even if they are not showing symptoms and to notify their respective supervisor.

When a Student or Employee Feels/Is Ill

Students and Employees are asked to complete a self-assessment each day and to not come to campus or leave their residence if they are feeling ill/experiencing a potential symptom related to COVID-19. Employees who feels ill should contact their direct supervisor. If a student feels sick and lives on campus, they are to contact their Resident Assistant or Resident Director, and if they live off campus, they are to contact their Academic Advisor. Students must also directly inform their instructors to determine alternate arrangements for making up missed classes and/or assignments. Students should use the absence policies in their syllabi for non-COVID sickness. Academic accommodations are available to students with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. If a student must quarantine on campus due to a positive case, we will move them to a designated quarantine space until quarantine is complete. Results of positive COVID-19 tests should be reported to a COVID-19 Task Force Case Manager who will work with Lane County Public Health on steps to take for positive results.

Quarantine/Isolation

Starting March 12, 2022, Oregon Health Authority guidance announced that close contacts who have been exposed to someone with a positive COVID-19 case will not be required to quarantine regardless of vaccination status as long as they remain asymptomatic. They should monitor their health closely and test if they have symptoms. Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 may be moved into/placed in a separate location if they share a bedroom or bathroom with others. Quarantine spaces on campus include designated apartments or rooms that have been reserved for such a need. Any student who wishes to leave isolation/quarantine and go to a home address off campus is encouraged to do so but cannot return to campus until the isolation period is up and the student has been cleared to return. While in isolation/quarantine the Office of Student Life will have a representative check-in to ensure students have everything needed during their stay in isolation. Students in an isolation/quarantine on campus will be provided food for the duration of their stay.

Students in quarantine or isolation must be cleared to return to campus by a COVID-19 Task Force Case Manager.

If an Employee believes they have contracted COVID-19 after exposure to a known COVID-positive person on campus and/or while providing job duties, they are asked to immediately return to their residence and/or remove themselves from campus, even if they are not showing symptoms and to notify their respective supervisor.

Campus Space & Cleaning Guidelines

General Cleaning Protocols

The Bushnell University Custodial Team has received COVID-19 cleaning certification and will continue to clean classrooms, restrooms, office spaces, workspaces, and public spaces based on protocols developed with CDC guidance in mind. Students/employees are asked to take additional care to wipe down commonly used surfaces after use and always wash hands before eating or touching their face.

The campus custodial team will clean and disinfect at least daily (or more, depending on use patterns) frequently touched surfaces and objects such as:

  • Doorknobs and handles
  • Classroom desks and chairs
  • Cafeteria tables and chairs
  • Handrails
  • Light switches
  • Buttons on vending machines and elevators

Shared Computers

In campus spaces where shared computers exist, ‘keyboards’ and ‘mice’ will be considered a shared surface. Keyboards and mice will be treated as if they have been handled by others and every user ought take care to wash their hands before and after use, as well as avoid touching their face or eating while using the shared computer.

Office Spaces/Reception Counters

Common surfaces will be wiped down nightly by the Custodial Team. Where possible, multi-user touchpoints have been eliminated. Users will be mindful of shared objects in their office space that they touch. Copy machines and other technology equipment will not be wiped down by users, but rather after using a device a user should consider their hands contaminated and wash them.

Sanitizing Stations

The entrance of each building/key high-traffic areas are equipped with a hand sanitizer stations. We encourage frequent hand washing. Offices allowed public visitors continue to provide desktop bottles of sanitizer in meeting/reception areas.

Face Masks/Coverings

Beginning March 12, 2022, face masks will not be required at University events and in most indoor and outdoor spaces. Masks may be required in specific ‘medical settings’ such as the Athletic Training room and the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Center.

We do expect that many in our community will choose to continue to wear face coverings some or all of the time.  Let us continue to work together to ensure that everyone’s personal choices are met with respect and we each make the choices that are right for us as individuals.

NOTE: Specific guidelines may be given to specified employees/students associated with key programs and activities with regard to the wearing of a face mask/covering.

Handwashing/Sanitizing

Students/employees are asked to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after they have been in a public place or used the restroom; after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing; and before and after eating. If soap and water are not readily available, the expectation is to use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Sanitation stations are located at the main entry of every campus building.

Coughing/Sneezing Hygiene

Students/employees in a private setting not wearing a face mask/covering are asked to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze or use the inside of their elbow, throw used tissues in the trash, and immediately wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.