Effective August 18, 2021, Masks are required in all indoor spaces at BCC. This applies
to any vaccination status. For more, please see our COVID-19 Policies page.
Effective August 18, 2021, Masks are required in all indoor spaces at BCC. This applies to any vaccination status.
In addition, all students taking in person classes and all faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated by January, 2022.
PLEASE NOTE: all students in the College’s healthcare fields who will be working or
learning in long-term care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities and the
state’s two Soldiers’ Homes, must be fully vaccinated (per local facility requirements
and Governor Baker’s Executive Order) against COVID-19 by Oct. 10, 2021. Additionally,
please note anyone (including our students and faculty) working or in a clinical setting
in Berkshire Health Systems facilities must be vaccinated.
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)
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
Update, 6/4/2021:
Berkshire Community College Social suggests* SOCIAL DISTANCING while on campus.
Social distancing is recommended to be no less than 6 feet from each other.
This should be maintained in all areas of the campus.
Signs will be provided as reminders and area markings will be used to demonstrate
where and what 6 feet distancing looks like.
Berkshire Community College recommends social distancing between people who are not
from your family household indoors and outdoors.
* As of 6/4/2021, social distancing is suggested but no longer mandatory
Handwashing
Berkshire Community College Policies and Best Practices
HANDWASHING
Berkshire Community College requires handwashing as a safety measure to mitigate the
spread of Covid-19.
Berkshire Community College believes proper hygiene protocols like hand washing are
a key component to virus spread prevention.
Additional information:
Per CDC website:
Wash your hands often
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public
place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
It's especially important to wash:
Before eating or preparing food
Before touching your face
After using the restroom
After leaving a public place
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After handling your cloth face covering
After changing a diaper
After caring for someone sick
After touching animals or pets
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
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
TESTING PROTOCOLS
Berkshire Community College recognizes the need for contact tracing and testing for
any individual who may be infected or exposed to an infected COVID-19 person.
Berkshire Community College advocates for handwashing, social distancing, and the
use of masks to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Testing is a key component.
There are many resources available to staff and students who would like access to
testing.
If you are feeling sick, you may contact your primary care physician and request a
test
If you have been exposed to someone who is Covid-19 positive, you may contact your
primary to request a test.
If you are contacted by the Community Nurse as part of a contact tracing exercise,
you may request a test
If you have been in a large crowd without a mask or social distancing you may contact
your primary and request a test
The Community Health Nurse can be reached at Kayla Donnelly-Winters, kwinters@cityofpittsfield.org
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.
If a student or staff member is diagnosed positive for COVID-19:
The student or staff member will be assisted by their local health department coordinator
and community health nurse.
If reporting on the weekend, the State Health Department would be notified, then local
health department, then the local community nurse.
Local entities will coordinate with Pittsfield Health Department and Community Nurse
as Berkshire Community College is located in Pittsfield.
The Health Department and/or the Community Nurse will assist in contact tracing.
The college security department will be a resource for contact tracing based on but
not limited to:
What location on campus were visited by the individual being tested,
Who was in the location at the same time as the person, and after.
This includes classrooms and common areas.
Cleaning protocols will be reviewed per these locations and times.
A log will be reviewed based on what was cleaned and at what time.
This will help to determine rate and scope of exposure.
Those exposed and in contact with person will receive testing via the local health
department.
BERKSHIRE HEALTH SYSTEMS CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION KIOSK CALL 855-BMC-LINK, OR 855-262-5465
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
Those who are exposed to a positive COVID-19 patient, not identified by contact tracing
Will be encouraged to call BERKSHIRE HEALTH SYSTEMS CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION KIOSK
CALL 855-BMC-LINK, OR 855-262-5465.
The Kiosk will ask about your exposure.
They can order a test based on your concerns, any comorbidities, and your exposure.
Or contact your primary physician and request a test.
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
If you believe you are exposed but do not receive a test you must:
Self-quarantine for 14 days or
Contact your primary physician for testing
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
Notification
Staff:
Patients have HIPAA rights regarding their medical information.
Berkshire Community College encourages employees to contact the Human Resource Department
regarding their COVID-19 status.
The Human Resource Department will notify the appropriate departments with no disclosure
of the employee.
Once the College is notified of a positive case the following protocols will be enacted:
The area will be locked off for 24 hours.
A deep clean will occur with non-exposed staff members.
The area will be deemed sanitized and available for use.
This process will be recorded in a log to track areas of exposure.
Students:
Students have HIPAA and FERPA rights regarding their medical information.
Berkshire Community College encourages Students to contact the Dean of Students or
Berkshire Community College Human Resource Department regarding their COVID-19 status.
The Dean of Students will notify the Human Resource Department who will notify the
appropriate departments with no disclosure of the student’s name.
Once the College is notified of a positive case the following protocols will be enacted:
The area will be locked off for 24 hours.
A deep clean will occur with non-exposed staff members.
The area will be deemed sanitized and available for use.
This process will be recorded in a log to track areas of exposure.
Demographic information:
Testing will be in conjunction with local health department.
Berkshire Community College will provide demographics such as:
name,
date of birth,
full address,
gender,
race,
ethnicity,
primary language,
occupation and
disability status
NON-SYMPTOMATIC Testing protocols for Berkshire Community College:
Berkshire Community College will partner with the Local Board of Health and Berkshire
Health Systems to offer testing once every thirty days on campus.
“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."
Community Number Benchmarks:
White less than 5 cases for entire community over the past 14 days
Green less than 4 cases per daily average per 100,000 population
Yellow between 4-8 cases per daily average per 100,000 population
Red 8 or more cases per daily average per 100,000 population
Stages
Stage 1: On-site testing will not be applicable based on low community numbers, less
than 5 cases per community.
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.
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.
Benchmark Testing:
Berkshire Community College will partner with the Local Board of Health and an established
vendor to offer testing once every thirty days on campus.
The testing day will be determined by the heaviest concentration on campus based on
staff and students class schedules.
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.
Testing will be provided by a service partnership with a local vendor.
County Ambulance will conduct a baseline testing the second week of the fall semester.
A nurse or physician will be on sight to administer the testing.
The cost per test will be absorbed by the College via Cares Act funds.
What happens if a student/staff member becomes ill while on campus and suspects COVID-19?
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.
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.
The individual will leave the campus immediately.
If no mode of transportation is available the patient will wait in the isolated area
until a ride is available.
If a ride is not available the college will work to provide a safe way home for the
individual.
If it is determined the patient is COVID-19 positive the steps outlined above will
be triggered.
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.
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
Stay at home and use a separate bedroom and bathroom if possible.
Do your best to stay at least 6 feet away from other people in the house.
Do not leave your house to go to school, work or run errands.
Do not have any visitors to your house during this time.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Do not share eating or drinking utensils with anybody.
Monitor your health every day.
If you need to seek routine medical care call ahead to your doctor and tell them you
are under COVID-19 quarantine.
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
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.
If you need see your healthcare provider, do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares to get to your appointment.
Stay at home and use a separate bedroom and bathroom if possible.
Stay at least 6 feet away from other people in the house.
Do not leave your house to go to school, work or run errands.
Do not have any visitors to your house during this time.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Do not share eating or drinking utensils with anybody.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing
or sneezing.
Clean surfaces that you touch every day with a household disinfectant.
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.
If you have a medical emergency, call 911. Tell them your symptoms and that you have,
or may have, COVID-19. How long do you need to isolate? For most people who have
relatively mild illness, you will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 7 days.
You can resume public activities once you have:
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)
More information about how to self-isolate is available on the CDC website. If you have questions about isolation or quarantine, you can call your Local Board
of Health or the Department of Public Health’s On-call Epidemiologists at 617-983-6800.
*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:
Cleaning/sanitizing protocols will be place and maintained
All HVAC equipment will operate under strict 100% outside fresh air intake, 100% exhaust
of stale indoor air and exhaust fans will run during operational hours
Installed MERV 13 filters to provide maximum safety and prevention of airborne pathogens.
Periodic check of air filters will be performed
Physical and digital signage reminding people of frequent and effective hand washing
will be commonly visible at specific use areas like bathrooms across campus.
Sanitizing will be available for classrooms/labs upon request.
Cleaning/sanitizing supplies will be provided to all employees by submitting
a request to their supervisor.
Sanitizing spray bottles will be located inside each bathroom.
Hot water and microbial soap will be available in all restrooms.
Hand sanitizers will be available across campus.
Small bottles of hand sanitizers will be acquired from the facilities office by submitting
a request to their supervisor.
Glossary
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated 9/21/2021
Question 1 – I was in close proximity with someone who was a primary contact of a
Covid positive person:
You are not considered a primary contact unless you are directly exposed to someone who has tested positive for Covid. That means that you were personally
with that individual within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes.
You do not need to quarantine.
Question 2 – I was exposed to someone who is COVID positive:
If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you are fully vaccinated: you are
not required to quarantine following an exposure. However, you should still monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days following an
exposure. If you experience symptoms, isolate yourself from others, seek testing,
and contact your healthcare provider.
Were you within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more of the positive person?
If no, you are not considered a primary contact as long as you were not within 6 feet
for 15 minutes or longer
If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you are unvaccinated: you must quarantine following an exposure.
If 10 days after your exposure you have no symptoms, you can end quarantine.
You can end your quarantine after 7 days if you get tested and are negative for the
virus. Testing should occur on or after the 5th day from exposure.
Question 3 – I tested positive for Covid:
What was the date of the test?
Were you symptomatic? If so, when did symptoms begin?
You must quarantine 10 days from the positive Covid test or,
You must quarantine 10 days from the onset of symptoms
You may return to campus after 10 days of quarantine as long as you do not feel ill
You do not need to be retested as the virus may show up in your system for 90 days
after exposure (you will not test negative)
The general rule is:
If you do not feel well for any reason, stay off campus.
Covid Vaccination:
If you received both doses of the vaccine for Covid and the series was completed over
one week ago, you no longer have to quarantine for an exposure unless you become symptomatic.
Participate in many of the activities that they did before the pandemic; for some
of these activities, they may choose to wear a mask.
Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel and from self-quarantine
after travel.
Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless
required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back
in the United States.
Refrain from routine screening testing if feasible.
Infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even
with the Delta variant. However, preliminary evidence suggests that fully vaccinated
people who do become infected with the Delta variant can spread the virus to others.
To reduce their risk of becoming infected with the Delta variant and potentially spreading
it to others: CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people:
Fully vaccinated people might choose to mask regardless of the level of transmission,
particularly if they or someone in their household is immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease, or if someone in their household is unvaccinated. People who are at increased risk
for severe disease include older adults and those who have certain medical conditions,
such as diabetes, overweight or obesity, and heart conditions.
If you came into close contact with someone with COVID-19 get tested 3-5 days after the date of your exposure and
wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days after exposure or until a negative
test result.
Isolate if they have tested positive for COVID-19 in the prior 10 days or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Follow any applicable federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and
regulations.
People who are immunocompromised should be counseled about the potential for reduced
immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines and to follow current prevention measures (including wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others they don’t live with, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces) regardless
of their vaccination status to protect themselves against COVID-19 until advised otherwise
by their healthcare provider.
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.
In mid-March, staff and faculty members from all across BCC rapidly adjusted their
own schedules and formed the Continuation of Operations Committee and the Academic
Student Affairs Committee to expertly re-imagine how we all teach, learn and work
together. Building on their efforts, our Return to Campus Committee has come together
to safely and effectively coordinate ongoing work across the campus, and far beyond.
Berkshire Community College is profoundly grateful for all of the staff and faculty
on the committees that have guided and informed our decision-making. Their selfless
efforts have been a welcome source of knowledge, clarity and purpose for us all.
BCC COOP-ASA Committee
The Continuation of Operations Committee and the Academic Student Affairs Committee
have lead the College's efforts regarding class schedules, course formats, remote
learning, faculty professional development, and the myriad other crucial aspects of
delivering a high quality education to our students.
BCC gratefully recognizes,
Adam Klepetar
Andrea Robare
Celia Norcross
Ellen Shanahan
Frank Schikor
Gina Foley
Jonah Sykes
Laura Saldarini
Lauren Goodman
Laurie Gordy
Lori Moon
Richard Felver
BCC Return to Campus Committee
The Return to Campus Committee has taken the lead on practical concerns around returning
to campus, determining needs and policies for campus access, mask use, cleaning and
sanitizing, and many more often overlooked aspects of our shared lives.
