From the 8/21/22 Health and Safety Committee update:

Some of you are concerned about Temple’s plans for the fall semester and the university’s decision not to require masks. On Thursday, TAUP’s Health and Safety Committee brought those concerns to the administration, seeking answers to questions about COVID-19 and Monkeypox.

Below, we relay the information provided.

First though, let us be clear. TAUP believes you should have a say in decisions about your workplace environment, particularly as it relates to health and safety. If you have a concern, please contact the union as soon as possible.

For three years, we have navigated issues of health and safety on the job. Some are comfortable discussing these concerns with chairs or deans. Others are advised to speak with human resources, if there is information you don’t want disclosed to your supervisor.

As always, the union is here to assist you in the process.

We encourage you to continue to practice safety precautions by wearing a mask when you can, washing your hands, not touching your face, and using hand sanitizer.
 

1. In regard to masking the administration stated that:
   1. Members can ask students to mask in workplaces, but cannot require it.
   2. If a student refuses to mask and wants to meet with you during office hours, you can schedule a Zoom meeting rather than meeting in a confined office.
   3. A distinction was drawn between the need for masking for several reasons.
      1. High quality N95 or KN95 masks are now readily available to everyone. These masks, unlike cloth masks, protect the wearer, giving individuals more control over their own safety.
      2. There’s a high vaccination rate on campus (97%) and many unvaccinated individuals have contracted the virus.
   4. Mask availability:
      1. Surgical masks will be available at the guard desk upon entering any building.
      2. A limited number of KN95 masks will be available on Main Campus at the Charles Library, the Bell Building, the Howard Gittis Student Center information desk and the TECH Center security desk.
2. COVID-19
   1. Information has been updated on the university’s website.
   2. Every school has a point person for COVID concerns. They can answer questions and help if a student is behaving in ways that may increase risk for others. There is a list of COVID liaisons on the faculty guidance link in the TU Portal which will be updated on Sept. 6.
   3. The university is following CDC guidelines for quarantine and isolation
      1. 5 days of isolation are required
      2. A person can return to class day 6 if they are fever-free and symptoms are improving. They must wear a mask through day 10.
      3. If they have a longer case of covid they should continue to isolate until their symptoms are improving. After 10 days they would generally be considered to not be infected and could return to class or work. If an employee is still ill after 10 days, Human Resources suggests reaching out to them.
   4. If someone feels well enough to teach online and if the course material can be taught effectively that way, shifting from in-person to online may be an option, but the decision would need to be approved by your chair and/or dean. The administration stated that if a member runs into a lack of flexibility can reach out to Human Resources, and if you need advocacy reach out to the union.
   5. If a student is ill, faculty are expected to help students in any way they can to ensure their ability to succeed in the work for the course.
      1. Students do not need to disclose whether they have tested positive. It would violate HIPAA to ask.
      2. Students need to test negative to return to the dorms after day 5, but do not have to show proof with a negative test to return to classes, though they do need to mask through day 10.
   6. Testing
      1. If you test positive with a home test, contact Student Health Services (215-204-7500) or Employee Health Services (215 204-2679), your healthcare provider, or the Temple University Hospital COVID-19 triage hotline (215-707-6999).
      2. Symptomatic and asymptomatic testing will continue.
      3. Testing capacity
         1. They can do 250 tests a day in the asymptomatic clinic for faculty, students & staff (with appointments). The testing is free and available and for everyone on campus
   7. Contact tracing will continue.
      1. Anyone who believes they have been exposed should test 5-6 days after the exposure.
      2. If you were in proximity of a student who tested positive, you’ll be told that you’re a close contact, but you won’t be told the name of the student.
   8. Vaccines
      1. As of right now there’s no plan to require boosters.
      2. They will continue to encourage and supply them.
         1. Large booster clinics will occur on the 29th and 30th of August.
         2. If a new booster comes out, they will be administering it
   9. The Dashboard
      1. Due to home testing, the data on the dashboard is an undercount of cases on campus. They are monitoring hospitalizations, but the dashboard will likely be discontinued.
   10. Air Quality
       1. The union has received concerns from people working in small, stuffy rooms as well as from people who teach things like voice and music about air circulation. The University has done testing and can conduct more tests on specific spaces. We have requested data from these results from the University. If you have concerns about the space you are working in please contact us.

1. Monkeypox:
   1. There’s been a clinical plan in place for months for addressing campus incidents of the virus.
   2. This article provides information about the virus, its symptoms and what students should do if they’ve contracted it.
   3. The Philadelphia Health Dept. has told the University that it is unlikely that there will be vaccines available this semester.
   4. They have plans to house people in isolation while they have Monkeypox. Since it seems to be spreading most often through sex between men, to protect students who may not be out to their families, there are no plans to insist students move home, even if they are out of class for several weeks.
   5. Faculty are expected to help students in isolation in any way they can to ensure their ability to succeed in the work for the course. That said, there are students who may need to consider a medical withdrawal.
   6. Faculty, librarians and academic professionals should reach out to their supervisor if they need to miss work or be temporarily accommodated due to Monkeypox.
   7. If a full time teacher, librarian or academic professional contracts the virus, things will be addressed on a case by case basis.
      1. If someone feels well enough to teach online, and if the course material can be taught effectively that way, shifting from in-person to online may be an option, but the decision would need to be approved by your chair and/or dean.
      2. Full-time employees can go on FMLA. The union contract offers paid FMLA with full salary for the first two months and half salary for the next four months of sick leave. During this period, all benefits will be continued in the normal manner.
      3. Adjunct faculty will be treated on a case by case basis. During the meeting we pushed very hard to ensure that an adjunct would not lose pay if they fall ill and cannot teach.  Adjunct faculty should contact the union for help if you contract Monkeypox and would like support in securing income while recovering.