Tag: COVID

COVID: Fall 2021

On August 20th, the Friday before fall classes began, Representatives from TAUP’s Health and Safety committee met with members of the administration who are overseeing the university’s F2021 plans.  In addition, the committee had sent several questions received from members to Human Resources at the end of July. 

Below are questions, answers and information that was shared. 

Vaccines

What percentage of the campus community has uploaded their vaccine status?

As of the date of the meeting (8/20/21), 80% of the faculty and staff had submitted their proof of immunization, and over 60% of the whole campus community (students and employees) had reported, with about 8,000 submissions that they were still processing.  With each submission, they confirm information to ensure that it is authentic and accurate. They process approximately 1,200 per day, and at that time they were prioritizing immunization reviews for incoming students.  Reporting was very high even before the City’s mandate.

 

One of the biggest challenges in assessing the data is determining the denominator. There are constant changes in the number of people in the campus community, particularly at the beginning of a semester when adjuncts are being hired for the term.

 

Vaccine exemptions and accommodations

The City’s is requiring colleges and universities to offer one or more of these accommodations to those with exemption:

  1. PCR testing once per week or antigen testing twice per week, or
  2. Those colleges and universities with 90% or more of their population vaccinated could choose to offer those with exemptions the option of double masking and keeping at least 6 feet of social distance in indoor public spaces, or
  3. If feasible, colleges and universities may choose to offer those with exemptions a virtual option as their accommodation.

 

Will faculty and staff know whether students they are working with have been vaccinated?

Faculty and staff won’t know this information and the university is advising that they don’t ask.

 

Though you shouldn’t ask a student if they are vaccinated, if someone in a class volunteers that information, have them leave the room and report them to the Student Conduct office.

 

What happens to employees if they don’t vaccinate?

HR is reviewing options, including suspensions and potential termination.

Mask Compliance

With cloth masks, what is effective?

The administration’s health and safety representatives are recommending a 2 to 3 ply mask as ideal. They will be provided to students and are designed to primarily protect others, not the person wearing them.

 

Will KN95 or N95 masks and other PPE be provided for Temple employees?

Temple’s representatives recognized KN95s and N95s as not just masks, but as respirators.  They are designed protect the person wearing them.  The representatives implied that these masks were overkill, that they need to be fitted, and that they are not worn throughout the day even in clinical settings. 

But there are readily available disposable masks which are NIOSH certified and have simple instructions for wearing (“fitting”) properly.  The College of Public Health at Temple is providing KN95 masks to employees. These masks are worn throughout the day by people in workplaces where there are airborne risks. 

If you would like to purchase N95s or KN95s for protection, look for models that do not have a valve. The valve makes it easier for the wearer to exhale, but it only filters when they inhale, and thus it may may present a risk to others if the wearer has the virus.

 

What if someone isn’t wearing a mask safely?

In the fall, Temple announced “The 5Rs” as guidelines for handling situations where someone is not masking properly.  The following information was published for students here

 

As we gear up for the fall semester, you might have some questions about how we’re holding each other accountable and enforcing healthy behaviors that are especially relevant in the classroom, such as physical distancing and properly wearing facial coverings. 

All faculty and staff have been trained how to compassionately enforce healthy behaviors using a method we’re calling the Five Rs: remind, request, refuse, reschedule and refer. You, as a student, are never responsible for confronting other students about behaviors you feel are not following safety guidelines. Faculty and staff will take this on, using the Five Rs as their guide. It’s important, though, to know what to expect and what’s expected of you in the classroom and in other spaces across campus. 

When do students need to wear a facial covering? They’ll be reminded

First things first: Students are required to wear a mask indoors and in all other areas where physical distancing cannot be maintained. This includes sitting in class, grabbing food from the dining hall or using a study space. Your professors and other staff members will be there to remind you of these guidelines if they see you or other students not properly wearing a facial covering. Remember that your mask must be covering your nose and your mouth at all times. 

Some students and members of the Temple community are not able to wear a facial covering because of a health concern or disability. For students with health concerns or disabilities, check with Disability Resources and Services for remote learning options.

What if a student isn’t wearing a mask? It’ll be requested to put one on, properly. 

If a student isn’t wearing a mask, then the reminder will be changed to a request. Our faculty or staff will formally request that the student put on a mask. As a student, it is your job to worry about yourself—Temple employees have been trained to handle the situation if this issue arises. 

What if a student doesn’t listen? Professors can refuse to move forward with the class. 

Professors cannot effectively teach class without compliance from all students. Your professor could refuse to move forward with the class until everyone present is practicing safe behaviors. Students will have the opportunity to step out of the classroom and come back when they are ready to adhere to these new guidelines. Again, it is your professor’s job to handle this situation.

What if class ends early because students won’t comply? Your class could be rescheduled

If students are refusing to comply with the safety guidelines, the professor will have to reschedule the class meeting, whether that be a real-time Zoom meeting or a recording of that day’s content.   

If you are opting for in-person classes, you are valuing the agreement to follow the social contract between you and the university. If one student refuses to wear a mask in the classroom or other spaces, it will negatively impact the experience of other students. If you aren’t comfortable with in-person classes, we are offering alternative online learning methods.

What consequences will students who don’t comply? They could be referred to Student Conduct.  

If class meetings need to be rearranged due to problematic student behavior, faculty and staff will report students to Student Conduct for further review and possible disciplinary action. “

What if symptoms appear?

What are common Covid and Delta variant symptoms?

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

 

If someone is experiencing symptoms, what should they do?

Neither students nor employees should come to campus when sick. The protocol if you have symptoms: stay home and leave only to get tested or to get medical care.  From Temple’s guidance

If you are sick—especially with symptoms of cough, difficulty breathing, fever or chills, sore throat, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell—contact your healthcare provider, Student Health Services (215-204-7500) or Employee Health Services (215-204-2679). Be sure to tell them your symptoms and inform if you believe you may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19. They can further screen you for COVID-19 and, if needed, help you get tested and recommend the next steps you should take.

It is important to note that a positive test will not affect your standing with the university. Our main goal will always be the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, so that you can continue to work toward your learning goals.

At the recent meeting, Temple’s representatives suggested that symptomatic people go to the Health Portal or go to the Health Services office on the 4th floor of 1700 North Broad Street. A staff member will reach out to schedule a rapid test at Morgan Hall. 

 

What if I think a student is exhibiting symptoms?

If you are concerned about a student who exhibits symptoms, handle it privately. Pull them aside without drawing the attention of others (classmates, etc.) and ask if they’re not feeling well, suggest they follow the above recommendations.

 

 

Testing

TU’s symtomatic and non-sympomatic Covid Testing page,

Testing protocols

Vaccinated people will not undergo regular testing.  

 

Employees and students who do not upload vaccination verification will be contacted via email by Employee/Student health with regard to testing requirements and information on scheduling appointments.

 

Unvaccinated students and employees are required to be tested from day 1. Students are tested twice a week with the exception of students who commute and only come to campus once per week – they are tested once per week. Unvaccinated employees will test once per week. Health and science clinical employees had been tested once per week and are now tested twice.

 

They have the capacity to give thousands of tests a day and are hoping to expand appointment hours into evenings.  For those with lab experience, they are hiring additional lab assistants.    

 

Will faculty and staff know whether students they are working with have been tested positive?

Faculty and staff may be contacted by contact tracers if they have been exposed. The university is advising to not ask students if they have tested positive.

 

Though you shouldn’t ask, if they volunteer that information while in class, have them leave the room and report them to the Student Conduct office.

 

If a student informs you that they have tested positive, they may have tested at a CVS or non-Temple facility.  Let your Covid Liaison know that the student contacted you with this information and that you want to make sure that they are on Temple’s radar so contact tracing and other protocols can be confirmed.

 

If a positive case is detected in a classroom, what happens?

A faculty member will often be notified but not always if a student in their class has tested positive.

 

Unvaccinated people will need to quarantine if they’re in a classroom with a positive case.  Vaccinated “close contacts” will need to be tested but will not need to quarantine.  

 

A whole classroom is not considered a “close contact”. Close contact is defined as being 6’ or closer for 15 minutes or more. Every close contact should be tested and proximate notification will be sent to these people but they do not have to quarantine.  

 

It isn’t always possible to confirm everyone who has been a close contact. In a situation like that people in the class, including the instructor, will be given a proximity notification.  Decisions about notification are made by contact tracers and each school’s Covid Liaison.

Contact Tracing

Close contacts, defined as an individual who has been 6’ or closer for 15 minutes or more to someone who has tested positive.  Every close contact should be tested and proximate notification will be sent to these people. Vaccinated close contacts do not have to be quarantined.  

 

Tracers can access class registration information and room sizes, card swipes and wifi logins.  The person who has tested positive is interviewed though they don’t always know who they sat next to in class etc.  It’s not possible to chase down every person at times. When that happens, a proximate notification is sent to everyone in the class or  group setting. Decisions about notification are made by contact tracers and each school’s Covid Liaison

If a positive case is detected in a classroom, what happens?

A faculty member will often be notified but not always if a student in their class has tested positive.

 

Unvaccinated people will need to quarantine if they’re in a classroom with a positive case.  Vaccinated “close contacts” will need to be tested but will not need to quarantine.  

 

A whole classroom is not considered a “close contact”. Close contact is defined as being 6’ or closer for 15 minutes or more. Every close contact should be tested and proximate notification will be sent to these people but they do not have to quarantine.  

 

It isn’t always possible to confirm everyone who has been a close contact. In a situation like that people in the class, including the instructor, will be given a proximity notification.  Decisions about notification are made by contact tracers and each school’s Covid Liaison.

What should someone who has had close contact do?

Here is the notification sent out by contact tracers to individuals who they have determined should be concerned about exposure:

Dear Student/Faculty/Staff,

Temple University Student Health Services Contact Tracing Unit is providing you notification that on [exposure date] you shared a space [building, classroom, or course name] with a known COVID-19 case during their infectious period. If you were not in this space during this date or time, please disregard this notice.

 

Student health has evaluated your exposure, and you are considered LOW RISK at this time. This notice means you do NOT have to quarantine at this time. If you are identified as a close contact, you will be contacted by the University separately and provided with guidance.

 

What do you need to do?

 

1.       Monitor your symptoms daily regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. If you develop new, worsening, or continuing symptoms associated with COVID-19, immediately isolate, and contact the appropriate health service for guidance. 

a.       Student Health Services at 215-204-7500 if you are a student to receive testing. 

b.       Employee Health Service at 215-204-2679 for screening and guidance on testing if you are an employee.

2.       Upload your vaccine information to the student health portal to ensure you are following Temple University policy.

3.       Continue to wear a mask when in high risk transmission settings.

4.       Wash your hands frequently.

 

We must work together and follow these instructions to limit the spread of COVID-19 and keep our community safe and healthy.  Student Health Services can be reached at 215-204-7500 and Employee Health Services can be reached at 215-204-2679 (Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm). Visit the Temple University Student Health website to stay updated.

Thank you for your cooperation.

 

Distancing, Buildings and Ventilation

There will be no distancing, though the City recommends an option to accommodate those with medical or religious vaccine exemptions. At colleges and universities with 90% or more of their population vaccinated, those who are exempt have one option to double mask and keep at least 6 feet of social distance in indoor public spaces.

 

HVAC systems have been optimized/maximized for over a year now, and those that have  central filter banks have been equipped with MERV 13 filters. Fresh air intake has been increased to the maximum possible without over-taxing the system. 

 

The upper floors in Anderson/Gladfelter are not being used for classrooms. The building specialist felt that elevator rides are short and the only individuals allowed into the buildings will be vaccinated and masked. “It’s as safe as we can make it and use an elevator at this point.”

 

Due to construction in Ritter Annex, people will not have access to stairwells and will need to use elevators. There are classes taking place throughout the building. 

 

The CDC has stated that in environments where everyone is vaccinated, masking and distancing are not required.,

Guidance for working with students

What responsibility do faculty have to students who miss class because they are not vaccinated?

The Temple representatives stated that faculty have the same responsibility now as any other time when a student is sick, and students have the same responsibility as well.

 

The university isn’t using the attendance tracker that was developed last year. It is now up to faculty to accommodate students who are sick. Faculty who have strict attendance policies should consider whether it will encourage students to come to class when they are sick. Talk with your school’s Covid Liaison when questions come up.

 

Does Temple consider it a violation of HIPAA to ask students about vaccination status?

 While not a technical HIPAA violation, Temple’s legal counsel believes that asking students to identify their vaccination status could result in claims under the ADA and other laws, risking complaints internally and to outside agencies. 

 

Can faculty or staff ask students they are working with if they have been tested or are vaccinated?

Faculty and staff won’t know if someone is vaccinated and the guidance from the administration is that students shouldn’t be asked about their vaccine or testing status.  

 

Employees may be contacted if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.

 

Though you shouldn’t ask a student if they’ve tested positive if they volunteer that information and are not quarantining, putting others in risk for exposure, have them leave the room/building and report them to the Student Conduct office.

 

If a student reports to you that they have tested positive, they may have tested at a CVS or non-Temple facility.  Let your Covid Liaison know that the student contacted you with this information and that you want to make sure that they are on Temple’s radar so contact tracing and other protocols can be confirmed.

 

If someone is experiencing symptoms, what should they do?

Neither students nor employees should come to campus when sick.

 

If a student exhibits symptoms you’re concerned about, handle it privately. Pull them aside without drawing the attention of others (classmates, etc.) and ask if they’re not feeling well. 

 

Common symptoms for the Delta variant are

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

 

Symptomatic people should go to the Health Portal or go to the Health Services office on the 4th floor of 1700 North Broad Street. A staff member will reach out to schedule a rapid test at Morgan Hall. Protocol if you have symptoms: stay home and leave only to get tested or to get medical care.

 

Can an employee decide to hold office hours online instead of in-person without having to ask a supervisor for permission? 

Faculty should check with their chair/dean to find out what the school or departmental policy/requirements are regarding office hours.

Accommodations

HR has a page on their website dedicated to workplace accommodations for information. Temple is considering accommodations based on an individual’s job responsibilities and their disability, what a doctor’s note says and how it’s supported.. They seem to be primarily following ADA, which does not take into account the concerns of individuals or their families with covid vulnerabilities, such as individuals who are immunocompromised, over 60 or those who are caretakers for vulnerable individuals such as seniors or unvaccinated children.  We were told “There have been many things that don’t fall under ADA.”

 

What about employees with unvaccinated children at home or who are caregivers for vulnerable individuals?

Talk to your supervisor/chair/dean.  It is ultimately a dean’s decision and needs to be considered on a case by case basis.  Though the union strongly disagrees, HR feels that it is the same as dealing with a sick family member at home in a non-covid situation..

The timeline for a response to an ADA request varies, as at times there can be a lag in additional information they need from doctors, etc. 

Important Temple Links F2021

Temple’s COVID-19 information page contains official announcements from the university and is the place where new announcements are placed. Scroll down and there is a helpful FAQ section with answers to important questions.

Temple Info on testing and tracing

TU Dashboard: Active COVID cases

The Center for the Advancement of Teaching is offering tremendous support to faculty moving online with their courses

The Fox School of Business has a web page offering helpful links for faculty and students working in an online environment, including sections on working from home, Zoom and Canvas guides, proctoring tests and more.

Important CDC information, F2021

F2021 CDC Interim Public Health recommendations for those who are fully vaccinated

F2021 CDC info for colleges and universities

Other Resources

The AFL-CIO is maintaining a page with links for resources that are industry-specific

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) web page for workers and employers to offer interim guidance on avoiding exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace

City and State information and services

Daily updated information from the City of Philadelphia

The PA state site for the latest information on COVID-19

The PA state site for Services available to Pennsylvanians affected by COVID-19

Receive updates on your phone from the City of Philadelphia by texting COVIDPHL to 888-777

Information on accessing city services in Philadelphia

TAUP’s Formal Statement on Vaccinations

As a union, we believe that Temple University has an obligation to protect the health and well-being of its faculty, staff, and surrounding communities. While case counts of COVID-19 are decreasing, it remains a continuing public health threat in the Philadelphia area and the nation at large. Vaccines provide the highest assurance of safety for our members as we return to in-person work, as well as for the students we teach, and are now widely available. Therefore we as a union—in conjunction with Temple’s Faculty Senate—call on the Temple administration to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for all faculty, students, and staff before returning to campus at the start of Fall Semester 2021.

 

We understand that some students, faculty, and staff may be hesitant about COVID-19 vaccination. Students, faculty, and staff have real concerns about the interaction between their communities and the public health establishment, and we must acknowledge the racist history of the medical community and the American healthcare system. These decades of mistreatment have real and lasting impacts on public trust around vaccination. Additionally, some students, faculty, and staff may have concerns about the fact that the vaccine has been granted Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA, but not yet full approval.

 

However, both medical expertise and large amounts of data have shown that the vaccines currently available are both effective and safe. The risks to faculty, staff, and students from a partially unvaccinated population are high enough that TAUP feels that concerns raised by individual faculty, staff, and students must operate on a case-by-case basis within a general mandate.

 

Therefore, TAUP calls on Temple University to require proof of immunization from COVID-19, subject to exception for medical conditions, religious belief or strong moral or ethical conviction, for all faculty, students, and staff before returning to any campus beginning at the start of Fall Semester 2021, unless working remotely or participating in online learning.

The 2021 American Relief Plan Act: What you should know

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 signed by the President last Thursday is an extensive document that will assist schools, our students, their families, neighbors and businesses in the community surrounding TU campuses, alums, and most (if not all) of us. 

There are significant provisions highlighted below that members of the TAUP bargaining unit should be aware of.  You can search for further details in the Act’s full text and see a summary of all of the provisions here.

 

State Funding

“The bill requires each state receiving K-12 funds to maintain spending in fiscal year 2022 and 2023 on higher education, at least at the proportionate levels of the state’s spending on those categories relative to the state’s overall spending, averaged over fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019.”  The American Association of Public and Land Grant Universities Analysis of the ARPA 2021

 

Funds for Institutions of Higher Ed and Students

This chart compares funding from past relief acts to the American Rescue Plan Act and clarifies how funds are to be spent.

Temple should be receiving about $78M from the ARPA

    1. Half of the funds will go directly to students
    2. The other half can be used to defray expenses associated with coronavirus including: 
      1. Payroll, including re-hiring furloughed and laid off employees 
      2. Reimbursement for expenses already incurred 
      3. Technology costs associated with a transition to distance education
      4. Faculty and staff trainings
      5. Lost revenue 
      6. Make additional financial aid grants to students
    3. Institutions must use a portion of their allocation for: 
      1. Implementing evidence-based practices to monitor and suppress coronavirus in accordance with public health guidelines; and 
      2. Conduct direct outreach to financial aid applicants about the opportunity to receive a financial aid adjustment due to the recent unemployment of a family member or independent student, or other circumstances

 

Funding for Research and Creative Work

The National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and LIbrary Services are among a number of organizations where funding has been increased and the usual spending timelines for the use of these funds have been extended.

 

Stimulus Payments

Cutting to the chase: you can calculate your stimulus payment here. The ARPA’s stimulus includes dependents regardless of their age.

 

Student Loan Forgiveness Support

The ARPA provides additional tax relief for those who have their student loans forgiven between December 31, 2020 and January 1, 2026.

When certain student loans are forgiven, the “forgiven” sum may be added to the individual’s gross income for that year, creating an extraordinary tax burden.  The ARPA removes that tax for loans forgiven within the stated five year period.  All federal student loans, and certain private education and institutional loans, will be eligible.

 

 Changes in Eligibility and Premiums for Obamacare and Help with COBRA

If your health insurance is provided through the ACA (Obamacare), your premium rates will decrease due to ARPA’s increased subsidies detailed here. The changes are retroactive to January 1, 2021, so those who are already enrolled should receive compensation for their 2021 payments.

You can calculate what your premium would be under the current plan here.

To sign up or to change your plan, go to Healthcare.gov.  Even if you earned too much to qualify in the past, you may qualify now. 

For individuals who will lose work and want to maintain their current health plan between April 1st and September 30th of 2021, employers or insurers must cover 6 months of COBRA benefits and will receive a tax credit to offset the costs. More info here.

 

Child Tax Credit

The expanded Child Tax Credit will reduce child poverty in the U.S. by more than 40% and will be available to most people who need help to pay for the care of children under 13 or other dependents.  You can calculate your tax credit here.

The credit for the first six months of the year will be applied to income taxes at the end of the year. In July, checks will be sent monthly.  Credits range from $500 to $3600 per child depending on their age, and the credit begins to decrease for those with incomes above $112,500. More helpful information here.

 

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

To help people work, the Child and Dependent Care Credit can offer 50% of up to $8,000 in caregiving expenses and up to $16,000 for the care of two or more dependents.  Certain family members do not qualify as caregivers for the credit. Child care is for children under 13 and dependent care must be for a dependent who has lived with you for more than six months and is physically or mentally incapable of self-care. More info here.

 

Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts

ARPA offers an increase from $5000 to $10,500 as the maximum amount that can be contributed on a tax-free basis to a Dependent Care Reimbursement/Flexible Spending Account.  For married individuals filing separately, the increase is from $2,500 to $5,250. Follow the link for Information on Temple’s Dependent Care/Flexible Spending Account Benefit.

 

Unemployment

The ARPA extends Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits and programs.  

In the past year, the PEUC benefit (Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation) extended UI benefits for those who had exhausted their initial claim. With the ARPA, individuals may now receive up to 79 weeks of benefits.  

The new PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) program for self-employed individuals, gig workers and others who have not qualified for assistance in the past will be extended from 50 to 79 weeks, until September 6th.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) has been the federal government’s weekly unemployment supplement. It will continue to be $300 per week until September 6th.  

Individuals who have received Unemployment in 2020 will not have to pay taxes on $10,200 of the funds received. Couples who file joint returns can each receive this benefit if they have been on UI.  Those with an adjusted joint income above $150,000 will not qualify for this tax benefit.

 

For Veterans and Members of the Military Interested in Higher Ed

The Act closes what is known as the 90/10 loophole.  It pertains to for-profit institutions who are obliged to show their viability as businesses by earning at least 10% of their revenue sources outside of student aid.  

Since GI benefits were not considered to be student aid, for-profits have been generating their 10% through aggressive recruiting of veterans and individuals currently serving in the military.  Closing this loophole will protect servicemembers and veterans from predatory admissions. It will be implemented starting January 1, 2023