BCC Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
*Update please read the BCC COVID 19 plan
Blackfeet Community College (COVID-19) Policies 2021-2022
BCC COVID-19 Plan March 14th, 2020
Dear Community Members,
In response to the Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) in the United States, the Blackfeet Community College is monitoring all tribal, state and national alerts and recommendations. Currently, BCC has heightened disinfection across campus and educational materials have been distributed to staff/students about preventative healthcare. Blackfeet Community College has participated in the White House briefing call, as well as the Indian Health Services call on COVID-19. Additionally, BCC has attended the Tribal Emergency Response Committee (TERC) meeting to engage in a community response emergency plan and is currently staying abreast of any other emergency notifications. It is imperative that the BCC campus community complies with all recommended practices to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, as recommended by APIC (Association for Professionals in Infections Control and Epidemiology), as well as CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Cover your cough/sneeze with tissue or sneeze into your elbow. Throw the tissue in the garbage and make sure to clean your hands afterwards.
- Don’t touch your eye, nose or mouth, especially with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Clean high-touch surfaces often.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Avoid close contact with people who are showing symptoms of the illness.
Blackfeet Community College is in compliance with all Blackfeet Tribal Business Council safety measures regarding the health and safety of the public.
Blackfeet Community College is asking all staff and students to self disclose any medical issues that are related to lower immune system functioning. In particular, those with diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, or other related medical issues are encouraged to self-disclose, so that BCC can provide school and work related accommodations.
Students are to report to Daisy Louis Gilham (406) 338-5441 Ext 2232 or dlouis@bfcc.edu if they have any medical concerns.
The outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) may cause anxiety, stress, or concerns. If any students/staff are feeling anxious, please know that BCC has counselors on standby in the Student Success Center that are willing to provide confidential support services.
Currently, Blackfeet Community College will initiate a higher tiered level safety plan.
| Blackfeet Community College- COVID 19 Response Plan
Purpose: To Provide High Level Guidance During a Public Emergency *Subject to change
|
||||
| Phase 1
Full Operations |
Phase 2
Blended Education |
Phase 3
Online Education |
Phase 4
Closed |
|
| Campus Hours | Monday-Friday
8:30 am-4:30 pm |
Monday-Friday
8:30 am-4:30 pm |
Monday-Friday
8:30 am-4:30 pm |
Closed
Emergency Workers |
| Campus Options | *May include night classes if needed. | May reduce to a four-day work week, if needed (M-Th.)
*May include night classes if needed. |
May reduce to a four-day work week, if needed. | *Emergency workers may be on a rotating schedule |
| Academics | All classes will be offered as in-person instruction.
Safety measures implemented in classes. |
Blended courses will be offered. Combination of online and in-person instruction.
Courses with lab components and experiential learning may conduct in-person instruction, with safety precautions implemented.
|
All classes will be held online.
Special consideration will be given for in person lab instruction. However, this will be contingent on local circumstances regarding active COVID-19 cases.
If in-person lab instruction is not allowed, lab simulations will be required. |
Classes will be online if campus is closed during the semester. |
| Student Support | Student support programming will be in person.
Student internships and work- study will be regularly scheduled. |
Virtual student support services will be encouraged.
Student resources (Student Success, AES, Career Center) will be continued through a virtual platform.
Small group student support will be available if needed while practicing safety precautions.
Student internships and work study will be approved on a case by case basis. Otherwise, they will be deferred to at home completion. Develop a student communication platform. |
Virtual student support Services.
Students may work at home to complete internships and work study assignment.
Develop a student communication platform. |
Virtual Support Services.
Students may work at home to complete internships and work study assignments. Otherwise, students may be given administrative leave if the college is closed due to emergency. |
| Operations | Fully staffed on campus.
Facilities open during regular working hours.
Maintain increased cleaning procedures following CDC guidelines. Screening and face coverings will be based on CDC requirements. |
Campus buildings open to staff, faculty, and students from 9:00 am-3:00 pm. Continue to keep population on campus to a minimum.
All staff and faculty will be screened and face coverings will be worn in communal areas.
Cleaning will be increased pertaining to the high traffic areas following CDC guidelines.
Partner site operations determined on a case-by-case basis. |
Campus buildings open to essential workers and faculty.
All staff and faculty will be screened and will be asked to wear a face covering on campus.
Cleaning will be increased pertaining to the high traffic areas following CDC guidelines. Partner site operations determined on a case-by-case basis. |
Blackfeet Community College campus closed.
Essential staff may access campus using a staggered schedule, determined by their department for emergency operations only.
All staff will be screened and face coverings will be worn on campus.
Partner site operations closed. |
| Staff/Faculty | Staff return to regular schedules from 8:00 am- 4:30 pm.
Administration will monitor tribal, statewide, and regional mandates regarding COVID-19. |
Administration continues to encourage telework/working from home for those with pre-existing health conditions or for those who tasks support that type of work.
Staff/faculty will be working from their office during open hours and telework during non-open hours.
Other staff may be working regular work hours from their office due to the nature of their positions.
Each department will develop their own work schedule, identifying staff that will be on campus and those that will work from home.
Staff will need appropriate workspaces with appropriate social distancing.
All telework employees will need to be available by phone and email. Employees should sign a telework agreement and check out equipment that may be needed at home. Employees are informed of work expectations by supervisors. |
Administration continues to encourage telework/working from home for those with pre-existing health conditions or for those who tasks support that type of work.
Campus access for emergency workers and faculty. All other staff will telework from home. In the event that other staff may need to access campus, they can submit a campus access request form.
Faculty may access campus to access internet as needed. Each academic division should develop a rotating schedule, if needed.
Staff will need appropriate work spaces with appropriate distancing.
All telework employees will need to be available by phone and email during work hours. |
Campus access for essential staff only for emergency purposes. Essential staff should have a rotating schedule.
If Blackfeet Community College is closed, all staff/faculty will be placed either on administrative leave or telework assignment. This will be pending whether or not classes are in session.
Campus will be accessible for emergency operations only. |
| Cafeteria/
Bookstore/ Fitness Center |
Fully operational and will follow CDC guidelines. | Cafeteria-Take out food encouraged.
Bookstore-Limit of customers in the store at a time. Online sales.
Fitness Center-Small groups and increased cleaning of equipment. |
Cafeteria- Take out food is contingent on circumstances.
Bookstore-Online sales only. Pick up orders. Opening is contingent on circumstances.
Fitness Center-Opening is contingent on circumstances. |
Cafeteria-Closed
Bookstore-Closed
Fitness Center-Closed |
| Activities/Programs | In-person programming.
Face coverings will be based on CDC guidelines and recommendations. |
Virtual programming is preferred. In person programming would require face coverings and appropriate social distancing. | Virtual programming only. | No programs. |
| Meetings | Reinstate in-person meetings, larger groups allowable based on CDC guidelines. | Virtual meetings are recommended. If meeting in person, no more than 10 people in a meeting, and must follow social distancing requirements and wear face coverings. | Virtual meetings as much as possible. | No meetings. |
| Family/Children in the Workplace | Family and children allowed on campus. | Not allowed. | Not allowed. | Not allowed. |
| Community Member Access | Community members may access campus. | Staff, faculty, and students are prioritized on campus.
Community members (non students) access will be on a case-by-case basis. |
Staff/faculty may meet community members at administration to meet their immediate needs. | Not allowed. |
| Finance Operations | All methods of payments accepted. | Payments accepted at the Finance office, using the window for interactions. Payments will also be accepted over the phone or online, via credit card.
Drop box will be established for other payments. |
Payments accepted over the phone or online, via credit card.
Drop box also established for other payments. |
Payments accepted based on finance department’s schedule
There may be times where there are no payments accepted. |
| Transmission Mitigation | Departments will need to establish frequent disinfecting schedule of employee workstations.
All campus community members will need to get screened and temperature taken before entering a building.
All campus community members will need to practice good hand hygiene i.e. frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitizer made of at least 60% alcohol.
Campus community Members who have symptoms (i.e. fever, cough, or shortness of breath) must immediately notify their supervisor (if an employee) and stay home or get tested for COVID-19.
Employees who are exposed to someone that is positive COVID-19 will need to immediately notify their supervisor. Staff/faculty that need to quarantine for 14 days will be given paid administrative leave. Students that need to quarantine for 14 days will not be penalized in their classes. |
Departments will need to establish frequent disinfecting schedule of employee workstations.
All campus community members will need to get screened and temperature taken before entering a building.
All campus community members will need to practice good hand hygiene i.e. frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitizer made of at least 60% alcohol.
All staff/faculty who have symptoms (i.e. fever, cough, or shortness of breath) must immediately notify their supervisor and stay home or get tested for COVID-19.
All staff/faculty who are exposed to someone that is positive for COVID-19 will need to immediately notify their supervisor.
Staff and faculty that need to quarantine for 14 days will be given paid administrative leave. Students that need to quarantine for 14 days will not be penalized in their classes. |
Essential staff and faculty may access campus. Departments may develop a rotating work schedule.
All essential staff and faculty will need to get screened and temperature taken before entering a building.
Essential staff and faculty will need to continue frequent disinfecting schedule of workstations.
Essential staff and faculty will need to practice good hand hygiene i.e. frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitizer made of at least 60% alcohol.
Essential staff and faculty who have symptoms (i.e. fever, cough, or shortness of breath) must immediately notify their supervisor and stay home or get tested for COVID-19. Essential staff and faculty who are exposed to someone that is positive for COVID-19 will need to immediately notify their supervisor. Essential staff and faculty that need to quarantine for 14 days will be given paid administrative leave. Students that need to quarantine for 14 days will not be penalized in their classes. |
All non-essential staff should stay at home.
Essential staff that need to access campus for emergency operations should be on a rotating schedule. All essential staff and faculty will need to get screened and temperature taken before entering a building.
Essential staff and faculty will need to continue frequent disinfecting schedule of workstations.
Essential staff will need to practice good hand hygiene i.e. frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitizer made of at least 60% alcohol.
Essential staff who have symptoms (i.e. fever, cough, or shortness of breath) must immediately notify their supervisor and stay home or get tested for COVID-19. Essential staff who are exposed to someone that is positive COVID-19 will need to immediately notify their supervisor. Essential staff that need to quarantine for 14 days will be given paid administrative leave. |
| Travel | Travel will be contingent on Blackfeet Tribal Business Council orders. | No BCC sponsored travel approved, unless travel is permitted by BTBC.
Employees that travel for personal reasons will be required to follow tribal mandate regarding quarantine and COVID-19 testing. Quarantine: All employees arriving in Montana from outside the state must either quarantine for 14 days or take a COVID-19 test with a negative result. |
No BCC sponsored travel approved.
Employees that travel for personal reasons will be required to follow tribal mandates, regarding quarantine and COVID-19 testing. Quarantine: All employees arriving in Montana from outside the state must either quarantine for 14 days or take a COVID-19 test with a negative result.
|
No BCC sponsored travel approved. |
| Computer Labs | Computer labs available. | Computer labs available with social distancing and small groups. | Computer labs available on a case-by-case basis. | Computer labs closed. |
| Medicine Spring Library | Library fully accessible. Archives, conference room, and children’s area will be closed.
All seating will follow social distancing guidelines. Staff will offer roaming services, the front desk will be removed. All staff required to work rotating schedules to accommodate class times. |
Library will be accessible for college students and employees only at 70% capacity.
Archives, conference room, and children’s area will be closed. Staff will offer roaming services, the front desk will be removed. Curbside services (book checkout & printing) will be offered for all patrons M-F 9:00-3:00. 50% of staff will telework. |
Library will be closed. Research assistance provided by appointments online, or over the phone. Curbside services (book checkout & printing) will be provided M, W, F 10:00-2:00.
50% of staff will telework. |
Library will be closed. All services will be suspended, including curbside services. Research assistance will be offered through appointments online, or over the phone.
All staff will telework, Library Director will maintain mail pickup. |
Please see the attached letter from President Dr. Karla Bird
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, you can take simple steps to protect yourself and your family.
- Stay home if you’re sick,
- Avoid contact with sick people when possible,
- Cover your cough and sneezes with the crook of your elbow or a tissue
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and wash your hands frequently
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
Call ahead to a healthcare professional if you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently traveled to an area with ongoing spread. Tell your healthcare professional about your recent travel or contact. Your healthcare professional will work with your state’s public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19. Find out more at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html
Take steps to protect yourself
Clean 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.
- 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.
Avoid close contact
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Take steps to protect others
Stay home if you’re sick
- Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick.
Cover coughs and sneezes
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
- Throw used tissues in the trash.
- Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Wear a facemask if you are sick
- If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn what to do if you are sick.
- If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.
Clean and disinfect
- Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
- If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
To disinfect:
Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work. Use disinfectants appropriate for the surface.
Options include:
- Diluting your household bleach.
To make a bleach solution, mix:- 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water
OR - 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
- 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water
- Alcohol solutions.
Ensure solution has at least 70% alcohol. - Other common EPA-registered household disinfectants.
Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens pdf icon[7 pages]external icon claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).
You can contact your local county or tribal health department for questions regarding COVID-19, testing or what may be occurring in your community.
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