BCC Covid-19 Policies

Masks

Effective August 18, 2021, Masks are required in all indoor spaces at BCC.

This applies to any vaccination status.

Original Content, 8/20/2020:

To keep in compliance with COVID-19 Order No. 31: Face Coverings are mandatory, except in cases where an individual requests an accommodation.

Individuals are urged to wear their own face covering.

Disposable masks are available at the entrances if necessary. Specific campus or lab experience mask protocols must be adhered to, if applicable. Students attending clinicals or co-ops must also adhere to site specific protocols. 

The fit of face coverings should be as follows:

• Fit securely and comfortably against the side of the face;
• Be secured with ties or ear loops;
• Allow for breathing without restriction; and
• Be able to laundered and machine dried without damage or change of shape.

BCC On-Campus Mask Guidelines

BCC's Return to Campus Committee has assembled the following guidelines to answer questions about mask use on campus. (PDF downloads)

• Mask Guidelines
• Mask Etiquette
• Types of Masks
• (Sources)

NO - Your chin needs to be covered	NO - The mask must cover the nose to be effective	NO - Do not wear the mask on your chin	YES - The mask is a close fit, covering the nose, mouth and chin.

Additional information:
 
Students will be held to the BCC Student Conduct Code procedures for any violations. 

Masks must be worn from the time you exit to vehicle to the time you return to your vehicle.

• Masks must be worn entering and exiting buildings
• Masks must be worn while in a class, lab, or common area
• Masks can be removed if you are in an open space and socially distanced more than 6 feet.
• Mask breaks are encouraged.
  • Mask breaks shall be outside in a well-ventilated area.
  • You may remove your mask as long as you are AT LEAST 6 feet from others
  • Best practice for a mask break is 5 to 10 minutes
  • Masks are suggested to be reapplied after break time is finished.

Exceptions for wearing face masks include situations that may inhibit an individual from wearing a face-mask safely. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Those who cannot breathe safely;
• Those who, due to a behavioral health diagnosis, are unable to do so;
• Those communicating with people who rely upon lip-reading;
• Those who require supplemental oxygen to breathe; and
• Those who are exercising outdoors and are able to keep physical distance from others.

Social Distancing

Handwashing

Campus Access

Update: August, 2021

Access to the BCC campus is currently open.

Visitors are encouraged to maintain social distance; mask use is mandatory indoors.

Testing

• What will happen if a student or staff member is diagnosed positive for COVID-19? 
• What will happen if someone is exposed to a positive COVID-19 patient, not identified by contact tracing? 
• What to do if you believe you are exposed but have not received a test? 
• What is Berkshire Community College notification process? 
• What are the Non-Symptomatic testing protocols for Berkshire Community College? 
• What is Berkshire Community College Benchmark Testing? 
• What happens if a student/staff becomes ill while on campus or suspects COVID-19? 
• Where are testing Sites in Western MA? 
• General information 

1. If you are feeling sick, you may contact your primary care physician and request a test 
2. If you have been exposed to someone who is Covid-19 positive, you may contact your primary to request a test. 
3. If you are contacted by the Community Nurse as part of a contact tracing exercise, you may request a test 
4. If you have been in a large crowd without a mask or social distancing you may contact your primary and request a test 
5. The Community Health Nurse can be reached at Kayla Donnelly-Winters, kwinters@cityofpittsfield.org 
6. If you do not have a primary care doctor to request a test you may call the Berkshire Medical Center Covid-19 help line.  A Covid-19 nurse will help direct your call.   
   1. The number is 855-262-5465 
   2. It is open from 8am to 4:30pm, seven days a week 
7. The Covid Kiosk at Berkshire Health Systems link is https://www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/coronavirus

1. If a student or staff member is diagnosed positive for COVID-19: 
   1. The student or staff member will be assisted by their local health department coordinator and community health nurse.   
      1. If reporting on the weekend, the State Health Department would be notified, then local health department, then the local community nurse.   
      2. Local entities will coordinate with Pittsfield Health Department and Community Nurse as Berkshire Community College is located in Pittsfield. 
   2. The Health Department and/or the Community Nurse will assist in contact tracing.   
   3. The college security department will be a resource for contact tracing based on but not limited to: 
      1. What location on campus were visited by the individual being tested, 
      2. Who was in the location at the same time as the person, and after.   
         1. This includes classrooms and common areas. 
   4. Cleaning protocols will be reviewed per these locations and times. 
      1. A log will be reviewed based on what was cleaned and at what time. 
      2. This will help to determine rate and scope of exposure. 
   5. Those exposed and in contact with person will receive testing via the local health department. 
      1. BERKSHIRE HEALTH SYSTEMS CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION KIOSK CALL 855-BMC-LINK, OR 855-262-5465 
   6. If testing is ordered you may return to work/school if you receive two (2) negative COVID-19 test results within 72 hours; documentation required  
2. Those who are exposed to a positive COVID-19 patient, not identified by contact tracing
   1. Will be encouraged to call BERKSHIRE HEALTH SYSTEMS CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION KIOSK CALL 855-BMC-LINK, OR 855-262-5465. 
      1. The Kiosk will ask about your exposure. 
      2. They can order a test based on your concerns, any comorbidities, and your exposure.  
      3. Or contact your primary physician and request a test. 
   2. If testing is ordered you may return to work/school if you receive two (2) negative COVID-19 test results within 72 hours; documentation required  
3. If you believe you are exposed but do not receive a test you must:
   1. Self-quarantine for 14 days or 
   2. Contact your primary physician for testing 
   3. If testing is ordered you may return to work/school if you receive two (2) negative COVID-19 test results within 72 hours; documentation required 
4. Notification
   1. Staff: 
      1. Patients have HIPAA rights regarding their medical information. 
      2. Berkshire Community College encourages employees to contact the Human Resource Department regarding their COVID-19 status. 
      3. The Human Resource Department will notify the appropriate departments with no disclosure of the employee. 
      4. Once the College is notified of a positive case the following protocols will be enacted: 
         1. The area will be locked off for 24 hours. 
         2. A deep clean will occur with non-exposed staff members. 
         3. The area will be deemed sanitized and available for use.  
         4.  This process will be recorded in a log to track areas of exposure. 
   2. Students: 
      
      1. 1. Students have HIPAA and FERPA rights regarding their medical information. 
         2. Berkshire Community College encourages Students to contact the Dean of Students or Berkshire Community College Human Resource Department regarding their COVID-19 status. 
         3. The Dean of Students will notify the Human Resource Department who will notify the appropriate departments with no disclosure of the student’s name. 
         4. Once the College is notified of a positive case the following protocols will be enacted: 
            1. The area will be locked off for 24 hours. 
            2. A deep clean will occur with non-exposed staff members. 
            3. The area will be deemed sanitized and available for use.  
            4. This process will be recorded in a log to track areas of exposure. 
   3. Demographic information: 
      1. Testing will be in conjunction with local health department. 
      2. Berkshire Community College will provide demographics such as: 
         1.     name,  
         2.     date of birth,  
         3.     full address,  
         4.     gender,  
         5.     race,  
         6.     ethnicity,  
         7.     primary language,  
         8.     occupation and  
         9. disability status 
5. NON-SYMPTOMATIC Testing protocols for Berkshire Community College: 
   
   1. Berkshire Community College will partner with the Local Board of Health and Berkshire Health Systems to offer testing once every thirty days on campus.   
      1. “The CDC's interim guidance to colleges on testing recommends testing of symptomatic students and employees and those who have known or suspected contact with an infected individual. The CDC does not recommend testing upon students' re-entry to campus, which many universities are doing, saying it is "unknown if entry testing in IHEs provides any additional reduction in person-to-person transmission of the virus beyond what would be expected with implementation of other infection preventive measures." 
         
         The agency makes no recommendation in regard to broad surveillance testing of asymptomatic students and staff over the course of a term, though it notes institutions may consider this strategy in areas with moderate to substantial community transmission "to identify outbreaks and inform control measures." 
      2. Community Number Benchmarks: 
         1. White less than 5 cases for entire community over the past 14 days 
         2. Green less than 4 cases per daily average per 100,000 population 
         3. Yellow between 4-8 cases per daily average per 100,000 population 
         4. Red 8 or more cases per daily average per 100,000 population 
   2. Stages
      1. Stage 1:  On-site testing will not be applicable based on low community numbers, less than 5 cases per community.   
      2. Stage 2:  A person on campus is positive for Covid-19.  That would trigger a reaction of tracing, isolation of area, and testing by Health Department.  Depending on need and exposure, guided by Health Department and State, testing on site could/may occur. 
         1. Stage 2A:  Community numbers increase to a benchmark that causes a community change color to yellow per DHE map coding or Health Department deemed necessary.  Testing could/may be initiated on campus OR campus could revert to Phase II. 
6. Benchmark Testing: 
   1. Berkshire Community College will partner with the Local Board of Health and an established vendor to offer testing once every thirty days on campus.   
      
      1. The testing day will be determined by the heaviest concentration on campus based on staff and students class schedules.  
      2. That day, for example, is the first Monday of each month.  Berkshire Community College will then test a random sample of 20% of the daily census. 
         
         For example:   
         • 100 staff and students are on campus on the first Monday of each month.  15 individuals will be tested.   
         • The percentage will be determined by the ratio of staff to student. 
         • Tests will be conducted on a volunteer basis.   
         • A notice will go out 24 hours before the determined sample day to request volunteers for testing. 
         • It will be a first come first serve based on receipt of email to testingcv19@berkshirecc.edu.  
      3. Testing will be provided by a service partnership with a local vendor. 
         1. County Ambulance will conduct a baseline testing the second week of the fall semester. 
         2. A nurse or physician will be on sight to administer the testing.   
      4. The cost per test will be absorbed by the College via Cares Act funds.
7. What happens if a student/staff member becomes ill while on campus and suspects COVID-19? 
   1. If a student or staff member becomes ill while on campus and suspects COVID-19 that student or staff member will be assisted by the security department.  Patient will be isolated in a separate area. 
      1. The student or staff member will be encouraged to call their primary physician and/or BERKSHIRE HEALTH SYSTEMS CORONAVISUS INFORMATION KIOSK CALL 855-BMC-LINK, OR 855-262-5465. 
      2. The individual will leave the campus immediately.   
         1. If no mode of transportation is available the patient will wait in the isolated area until a ride is available.   
         2. If a ride is not available the college will work to provide a safe way home for the individual. 
   2. If it is determined the patient is COVID-19 positive the steps outlined above will be triggered. 
8. TESTING SITES IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS: (https://www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/coronavirus)

Berkshire Community College policies and procedures of self-monitoring, wellness check, mask wearing, hand washing, social distancing, disinfecting, duration on campus, and sanitizing are key components in preventing the spread of the virus.

Self-monitoring requires staff and students to check their temperature, assess any symptoms they may have, and cross check those with a great degree of adherence to safety first.  If you are unsure of your wellness, stay home.

Wellness check requires staff and students to continually assess how they are feeling throughout the day.  If they begin to develop symptoms they need to err on the side of caution and go home.  They should leave campus immediately.

Mask wearing helps to prevent the spread of the virus.  The campus has a mask wearing policy and procedure.  You must wear a mask on campus at all time unless you are able to adequately social distance.

Hand-washing is key to preventing the spread of Covid-19.  Soap and water kill the virus.  Make sure to use soap and wash your hands at least for 20 seconds. 

Social distancing is another key prevention for the spread of the virus.  Individuals must be at LEAST six feet apart in each direction from one another.  

Disinfecting all hard surfaces, desktops, door knobs, hand rails, hand handles, and all high traffic touch points must be disinfected and wash on a regular basis.  ‘Regular’ means after every high use incident, change in occupant, and time in area.  Also, a deep clean will occur as needed.

Duration on campus is limited and will be kept to a minimum.  We do not anticipate students staying more than four hours at a time in any given day. This limited access of time will help to control any spread or exposure to the virus.

Sanitizing with a solution of 60% alcohol or higher is the accepted practice at Berkshire Community College.

Travel Restriction

COVID-19 Travel Order

Effective August 1, 2020, all visitors and returning residents entering Massachusetts must follow new travel orders. The Commonwealth has made great progress to slow the spread of COVID-19 and gradually re-open the economy, and all visitors have a responsibility to help us keep transmission levels as low as possible.

• Upon re-entering Massachusetts, travelers must fill out a Massachusetts Travel Form.
• Failure to comply and fill out this form may result in a $500 fine
• You must quarantine for 14 days unless you are traveling from a low risk state
• Or, you can produce a negative Covid-19 test performed within 72 hours PRIOR to your arrival in MA.

Low risk states are:

• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Maine
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• Maine
• New York
• New Mexico
• Vermont

Individuals traveling to Massachusetts on August 01, 2020 and after must quarantine for 14 days UNLESS they are:

• Traveling from a low risk state
• Within the 72-hour testing rule
• Transitory travel
• Persons commuting to school or work
• Patients seeking or receiving medical treatment
• Military personnel
• Workers providing critical infrastructure services

For more information visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order

revised 9/12/2020

Self-monitoring and Wellness

What happens if I am sick?

Stay Home – Stay Safe!

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

How to Self-quarantine and Self-isolate

If you are not sick but are:

• a close contact to someone diagnosed with COVID-19, or
• recently returned from any travel outside Massachusetts,

please take these steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Self-quarantine:

Separate yourself from others in case you get sick

1. Stay at home and use a separate bedroom and bathroom if possible.
2. Do your best to stay at least 6 feet away from other people in the house.
3. Do not leave your house to go to school, work or run errands.
4. Do not have any visitors to your house during this time.
5. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
6. Do not share eating or drinking utensils with anybody.
7. Monitor your health every day.
8. If you need to seek routine medical care call ahead to your doctor and tell them you are under COVID-19 quarantine.
9. Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares to get to your appointment.

Monitor your health every day:

Perform health checks every morning and every night, or anytime you feel like you might have a fever

• Take your temperature
• Be alert for any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough or shortness of breath.

If you have a medical emergency, call 911. Tell them your symptoms and that you are being monitored for COVID-19.

How to determine your last day of exposure:

Your last day of exposure is:

• The last time you were within 6 ft of someone confirmed to have COVID-19, or
• The day you arrived home after travel

If you do not show signs of COVID-19 for 14 days after the last time you were exposed, your self-quarantine period is finished.

If you:

• get sick during self-quarantine, or
• are sick and a healthcare provider tests you for COVID-19, or
• are told by a healthcare provider that you have COVID-19,

take these steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Self-isolation:

Separate yourself from others to keep your germs from spreading

1. If you get sick with fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other signs of respiratory illness, call your healthcare provider and tell them if you have been exposed to COVID-19.
2. If you need see your healthcare provider, do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares to get to your appointment.
3. Stay at home and use a separate bedroom and bathroom if possible.
4. Stay at least 6 feet away from other people in the house.
5. Do not leave your house to go to school, work or run errands.
6. Do not have any visitors to your house during this time.
7. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
8. Do not share eating or drinking utensils with anybody.
   1. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
   2. Clean surfaces that you touch every day with a household disinfectant.
   3. Make a list of everyone you have been close to (within 6 feet of for at least 15 minutes), since you first got sick. Those people have been exposed to COVID-19 and should be asked to self-quarantine. 

• gone for three days without a fever (and without taking fever-reducing medications like Tylenol), and
• experienced improvement in your other symptoms (for example, your cough has gotten much better)
  
  

*Section provided by local health department

Cleaning Protocols

ESTABLISHED CLEANING PROTOCOLS:

Berkshire Community College is dedicated to ensure proper cleaning and sanitizing protocols.  BCC will provide regular santization of high touch areas, such as workstations, equipment, screens, doorknobs, and restrooms throughout the campus.

• Cleaning/sanitizing of electronics and personal space is the responsibility of each employee.
• All food and drinks will be removed at the end of the work day. No food trash will be left in work space.
• Daily routine sanitization schedules are:
  • Classrooms/Labs: at least once a day
  • Bathrooms: Three times a day
  • Common spaces: Twice a day
  • High touch point areas and horizontal surfaces: Dedicated maintainer, throughout the day
• Between classes, if faculty deems it necessary, they can call/email facilities and maintenance staff will apply sanitizer spray.

CLEANING AND SANITIZING:

Glossary

Frequently Asked Questions

Important Contact Information

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION:

New Hire Policy

COVID VACCINATION REQUIREMENT:
Candidates for employment should be aware that all Berkshire Community College students, faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated by January, 2022. Accordingly, initial employment is dependent upon receipt and verification of full vaccination status records; details of how to fulfill vaccine record verification requirements will be provided during the hire and onboarding process.

Reasonable Accommodation Request

Reasonable Accommodation Request - Students

Student Vaccination Policy

COVID-19 Vaccine Policy of the Massachusetts Community College System for STUDENTS

INTRODUCTION

In order to provide and maintain a learning and working environment that safeguards the health and well-being of the college community, during 2021 all Massachusetts Community College members, including students, faculty and staff, have been strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

With the number of new cases of COVID-19 across the Commonwealth in unvaccinated populations, the increased access and availability of vaccines in the Commonwealth, the Food & Drug Administration’s full and pending approval of available vaccines, and consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) that the COVID-19 vaccine has been proven to be extremely safe and highly effective, the Massachusetts Community College Presidents determined that COVID-19 vaccines should be required.  Thus, in September 2021, the Presidents announced that by January 2022, all Massachusetts Community College members, including students, faculty, and staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit verification of their fully vaccinated status to the College absent an approved reasonable accommodation. 

SCOPE

The student vaccination policy applies to all full and part-time students who access campus for any reason, including taking credit or non-credit course(s) taught by the College through its employees with some face-to-face component regardless of location of course (ex. clinical site).  Students taking courses offered through off-site locations who will not access campus for any reason are only subject to the vaccine requirements of those off-site entities absent a separate agreement.

The student vaccination policy also applies to students who are required by program or activity to be vaccinated as a condition of participation (e.g. athletics, healthcare programs, clinical placements) even if they do not access campus.

The student vaccination policy does not apply to those students who are only taking online courses, whether full or part-time, credit or non-credit, and who will not access campus for any reason, including for instruction, advising, activities, clubs, and/or other purposes.

The student vaccination policy does not apply to employees who are covered under separate employee vaccination requirements; however, employees enrolled in a course at a community college must also follow the student vaccination policy and students who work at a community college (except for work study students) must also follow the employee vaccination policy.

This policy is intended to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and is based on applicable guidance from federal and state public health agencies.

COVID-19 VACCINE REQUIREMENT

Verification

Verification of full vaccination status is required for students, as defined above in Scope.  This policy relies on the CDC’s definition of full vaccination status which currently provides in its guidance that “[i]n general, people are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.” [1]

This policy shall incorporate by reference any changes in the CDC’s definition of full vaccination status, including but not limited to, booster shots.

Violations of the student vaccination policy, including but not limited to fraudulent verification, or unauthorized campus access, may subject students to interim measures and/or discipline consistent with the College’s Student Code of Conduct.

Students who are unable to submit verification of full vaccination status for any reason and seek a reasonable accommodation should direct their request to the Dean of Student’s Office (or other designated office) through a designated email address, website link, and/or other electronic platform established by the College for this purpose or by submission of the documents to such office.  Students who attend more than one Community College shall provide their request for reasonable accommodation to each College.  Students must follow their College’s instructions regarding reasonable accommodation requests, including submission of necessary documentation.

Requests for reasonable accommodation, including requests to be exempt from the vaccine requirement for religious or medical reasons, will be considered consistent with applicable laws, legal guidance, and the Board of Higher Education Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity and Diversity for the Massachusetts Community Colleges.  The College will engage in an interactive process to determine if the Student is eligible for a reasonable accommodation, and if so, whether the requested accommodation is reasonable and does not create an undue hardship for the College and/or does not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others in the learning and working environment, if applicable.   

The individualized interactive process is estimated to take a minimum of ten (10) business days following the receipt of satisfactory documentation supporting the Student’s eligibility for reasonable accommodation. Thus, Students seeking to have a reasonable accommodation approved in order to comply with this policy should submit their reasonable accommodation request and provide necessary documentation as soon as possible and without delay in order to allow adequate time for the individualized interactive process to occur in compliance with this policy.  Following the effective date of this policy, students should not expect that they will be allowed to attend classes or be permitted on campus while a request for an accommodation is pending.

In the event a reasonable accommodation request is approved, Students may be subject to additional health and safety protocols and/or excluded from campus and/or college activities including but not limited to travel, for the protection of health or safety, as determined by the College in consideration of local, state, and/or or federal laws and public health guidance and/or mandates.

[1] This guidance applies to COVID-19 vaccines currently approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson [J&J]/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines) and some vaccines used for U.S. participants in COVID-19 vaccine trials (such as Novavax). This guidance can also be applied to COVID-19 vaccines that have been listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (such as AstraZeneca/Oxford). More information is available at Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines | CDC

Employee Vaccination Policy

Vaccine Information

The Presidents of the Massachusetts community colleges announced on September 20, 2021 that students, faculty, and staff at the Commonwealth’s 15 community colleges must be fully vaccinated by January 2022. This includes Berkshire Community College.

Students who seek to register for courses that do not include any in-person component, and who do not plan to come on campus for any reason for the Spring 2022 semester, will not be required to provide documentation of vaccination. All employees will be required to be vaccinated. 

Vaccination Locations

Looking for a vaccine in Berkshire County, check out the locations here.

Vaccine Information

The staff of the Jonathan Edwards Library have created a one-page Lib Guide with facts and information about the Covid-19 vaccine.

Covid-19 Lib Guide

Tested Positive for COVID-19?

Were You Exposed to Someone with COVID-19

Download as a PDF