The UNC System Office has provided additional return to work guidance related to the
ongoing pandemic. This guidance will be incorporated into the Return to Work booklet
and the FAQs on the Employee Resources webpage. Please be aware that face shields are not an acceptable substitute for a cloth face
covering.
Updated Guidance on Phase Group 3 Vaccine Prioritization
Last week, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) provided additional
information on priority phase Group 3 and interim essential industry employer guidance in preparation to activate Group 3 of the state’s vaccine prioritization framework.
As a reminder, North Carolina vaccination efforts remain focused on Groups 1 and 2
in the priority listing. We have not been informed of when Group 3 will be activated.
Group 3, in the prioritization framework, targets the vaccination of frontline essential
workers. In short, frontline essential workers are considered those who work in one
of eight essential sectors (including education, which incorporates child care, K-12,
and higher education) and are required to work on-site in person.
Individuals who work in one of the eight essential sectors (such as education) but
are not required to work on-site will be eligible for vaccination as part of Group
4.
At WCU, we consider faculty and staff who normally interact with students; other faculty
and staff; and/or the local, regional, state, national or international community
to be frontline essential workers. Examples of frontline essential workers include,
but are not necessarily limited to:
Faculty members who teach an in-person or hybrid course in which they are present
in a classroom with students or whose duties require them to meet face to face with
students, staff, and/or the community.
Staff members who clean and disinfect community spaces or who sit in a community space
and interact with students, staff, faculty, and/or the community.
Staff members whose duties require regular in-person interaction with others, such
as dining staff or other service or customer-service activities.
Given the myriad of tasks completed by individual Western Carolina University faculty
and staff, the University does not plan to designate specific faculty or staff members,
or specific job categories as ‘front line’ beyond that outlined above. Currently,
there is no requirement for verification of employment or of frontline essential worker
status on the employer or employee’s part as part of the vaccine registration process.
When NCDHHS activates Group 3 for vaccination, we will notify the WCU campus community
and provide any additional information at that time.
January 15, 2021
Dear WCU Campus Community,
Like you, we have had many questions about the vaccine administration plans in North
Carolina. We have been working with the UNC System to gain clarity about where and
when vaccines will be available and who falls into the various prioritization groups.
Yesterday, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) updated
their vaccine prioritization framework. We are using that update to provide a FAQ
for our faculty, staff, and students. See more information
It is important to note that the planning, distribution, and administration of COVID-19
is incredibly complex and is evolving on a daily, and sometimes hourly basis. With
that in mind, please remember that the information we provide can change rapidly.
We will continue to work with the UNC System and NCDHHS to gain clarity and will provide
updates to the campus as needed.
Sincerely, Chancellor Kelli R. Brown
January 13, 2021
From Chancellor Brown
This week, senior campus leaders and I have reviewed state and regional COVID-19 activity
with UNC System leadership, public health officials, and local hospital representatives
in anticipation of the beginning of the spring semester. Due to record COVID-19 cases,
strain on critical health care resources related to COVID-19 hospitalizations, and
a projected peak in cases in Western North Carolina within the next two to three weeks,
we have made the decision to adjust our spring operations with the health of our campus
and surrounding community as our guiding principle.
A message from Chancellor Brown and an update for COVID-19 vaccines, testing, reporting and spring operations and
procedures.
COVID-19 and Catamounts Care
COVID-19 continues to grip our state and nation. Infection rates are at all-time highs
statewide as are hospitalizations. Many of us and our fellow North Carolinians are
suffering. Our campus community will see the impact of the surges in COVID-19. In
the fall, we had no reported transmission of COVID-19 in the classroom, but we MUST
NOT let up on our diligence of mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing,
which includes avoiding unauthorized mass gatherings. In fact, it will be more important
than ever that all of us adhere strictly to our principles of Catamounts Care.
COVID-19 Vaccines
While vaccines are beginning to become available, the distribution and administration
across the State is an incredibly complex process and supplies remain very low. WCU
is working with Jackson County Department of Public Health and Harris Regional Hospital
on ways we can partner to ensure that all in our community can be vaccinated. WCU
has applied to become a vaccine provider and we are awaiting approval of our application.
With the help of the UNC Collaboratory, WCU will receive 3 ultra-cold freezer storage
units, two large units and one portable unit. This will allow us to store over 114,000
vials of vaccine. These freezer units should begin arriving in late January and early/mid-February.
Until then, we ask for your patience and grace amid the vaccine rollout. Jackson County
and Harris Regional Hospital, as well as other regional health departments and hospitals,
are prioritizing the vaccination of the elderly and front line healthcare workers.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working to clarify the
role of higher education faculty and staff in the vaccine prioritization framework.
And we will almost certainly see ongoing shortages of vaccine supply, which may mean
that even individuals who qualify for Phase 1A or 1B vaccination will experience delays
on receiving shots. While everyone will eventually have an opportunity to receive
a vaccination, the timeline may be delayed or lengthened.
We have added a page on WCU’s website to provide information on vaccines. The site will be updated as information becomes
available. I have also charged a task force to develop our campus prioritization framework
for vaccine distribution at WCU once our application is approved and we receive vaccine
supply.
Spring 2021 Schedule and Operations
At this time, we expect to begin the Spring semester on January 25th as scheduled.
However, Academic Affairs leadership are continuously monitoring conditions and we
will issue additional guidance in the next few days. Spring 2021 Operations and Procedures
Free COVID Surveillance Testing for Faculty and Staff
You can help the Spring semester get off to a safer start by taking advantage of the
free COVID surveillance testing for faculty and staff that our partners at Harris
Regional Hospital will be conducting on January 20th and January 21st. Information
will be forthcoming for faculty and staff at Biltmore Park. The deadline to register
for this free testing is January 15th. Learn More
WCU COVID-19 Dashboard
Western Carolina University’s COVID-19 dashboard will resume its weekday updates,
beginning midday today (Monday, Jan. 11). It has been revised to include additional
information. By default, the dashboard shows spring data (collected starting Jan.
1). Dashboard users also can view fall/winter data, in addition to spring, using the
filters at the top of the dashboard. A new element of the dashboard shows cumulative
cases, and of those, how many are currently active. The dashboard can be found at info.wcu.edu/covidreporting.
January 6, 2021
Spring 2021 Operations and Procedures
For the latest information on spring 2021 operations and changes to campus operations
related to the ongoing pandemic, please visit the spring operations website.
Revised COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms Protocols for Employees and Supervisors
If an employee has tested positive or been diagnosed with COVID-19, exhibits any coronavirus
symptoms (other than symptoms related to a pre-existing medical diagnosis unrelated
to COVID-19), is awaiting COVID-19 test results, or has been confirmed as a 'close
contact' exposure, the new protocols should be followed.
Reminder - Updated COVID-19 Work and Leave Provisions Effictive Jan. 1
Revised COVID-19 Special Faculty and Staff Work and Leave Provisions went into effect
on Jan. 1, and will remain in place through March 31 or until further revised or rescinded.
Key revisions to the current guidelines include:
Removal of “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” (FFCRA) coverage provisions.
Events that would have been covered by FFRCA are now eligible for inclusion in the
COVID-19 Leave Bank Program.
Interchangeability of leave (vacation, sick, bonus) is allowed through March 31 but
limited to COVID-19 related absences (child/elder care, cannot telework, etc.).
COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave is available if the employee is subject to a quarantine
order, has been advised to self-quarantine, or has had exposure to someone who tested
positive for COVID-19 and is awaiting a diagnosis. For leave earning employees, this leave is up to 80 hours (cumulative for these reasons from March 2020 to March
2021) and can be used before an employee uses personal leave. Once this 80 hours is
exhausted and the leave employee’s personal leave is exhausted, then up to another
80 hours of paid administrative leave can be provided for these absences. For temp hourly employees and students, this leave is up to 160 hours (cumulative for these reasons from March 2020 to March
2021).
To request pre-approval to utilize COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave, please complete
the request form and submit to Trisha Ray at trisharay@wcu.edu
Community Service Leave (CSL) for tutoring and mentoring continues to allow for broader
use of the 36 hours of tutoring/mentoring leave.
An additional 80 hours of CSL has been provided (effective Jan. 1) for volunteering
with not-for-profit organizations on COVID-19 related service projects.(Any remainder
of the 80 hours of CSL that was provided for this same purpose in 2020 will be forfeited
as of Dec. 31)
Spring 2021 COVID Entrance Testing Policy for Students Living on Campus
All WCU students residing on campus in the residence halls are expected to take a
COVID-19 test within 3 to 5 days of their scheduled move-in date and receive a negative
test result.
Students should submit their test results to Residential Living before returning to
campus for the Spring 2021 term. If a student does not submit a negative test result,
for a test taken 3 to 5 days before their move in, they will not be permitted to return
to the residence halls and access to University services will be denied. Residential
Living will disable CatCard access to residence halls and meal plans until students
have successfully submitted their negative test results. Students that violate this
policy will be held accountable pursuant to the Code of Student Conduct and consistent
with COVID-19 related violations.
Students should take the following steps for testing before their Spring 2021 scheduled
move-in date:
Identify where you will take a COVID-19 test. The NCDHHS test site finder website can help in-state students find testing sites in NC. For out-of-state students, we
recommend you contact your primary care physician’s office, a local pharmacy, urgent
care, or your local health department for testing resources. Results from either a
rapid or PCR test will be accepted.
Two weeks prior to your COVID-19 test, and after being tested, please take steps to
minimize your potential exposure to COVID-19 and carefully monitor your health. For
example, avoid parties and other large gatherings of people, monitor your health for
symptoms, and check your temperature daily before you test to be sure you are symptom
free. If you are experiencing symptoms, you should quarantine until you have your
test results.
After you have received a copy of your test results, you can complete the Spring 2021
COVID-19 Test Report form at go.wcu.edu/sp2021covidtestreport. To complete the form, you will need to upload a legible picture or screenshot of
your test result. Residential Living will review each test result submission.
Positive results:
If your test result is positive, you CANNOT return to the residence halls.
Follow the instructions of your test provider and c
ontact Residential Living to reschedule your move-in date.
Negative results:
If your test result is negative, complete the Spring 2021 test report submission form
including uploading your test result documentation.
Residential Living will clear you to return to the residence halls (e.g., activate
your
CatCard, etc.) and email your final confirmation of move-in time to your Catamount
email.
Call Health Services at 828.227.7640 if you have any questions about testing or COVID-19
related symptoms. Call Residential Living at 828.227.7303 if you have any questions
about test result submission and/or move-in for Spring 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
Residential Living is implementing the entrance testing requirement for the residence
halls to help conserve the limited on-campus quarantine and isolation facilities at
the start of the term. As part of our commitment to keeping our campus community healthy
and well, we strongly encourage all students and employees to test in their local
area before returning to campus in the spring. Local Public Health Departments, pharmacies,
primary care medical provider, and individual insurance companies can provide specific
information.
For faculty and staff, information will be forthcoming about WCU sponsored testing
options similar to the options offered in November and December. As part of our commitment
to keeping our campus community healthy and well, we strongly encourage all students
and employees to test in their local area before returning to campus in the spring.
Local Public Health Departments, pharmacies, primary care medical provider, and individual
insurance companies can provide specific information.
Either test will be acceptable.
Negative test result documentation should be obtained 3-5 days before the student’s
scheduled move-in date.
As in the 2020 fall semester, WCU Health Services will offer no-cost surveillance
testing to students who make an appointment at the start of spring 2021 classes and
throughout the semester.
This entrance testing policy also applies to student athletes living on campus.
Local Public Health Departments, pharmacies, primary care medical provider, and individual
insurance companies can provide specific information about pricing and insurance coverage.
Communication will come directly from Residential Living to students’ Catamount email
accounts regarding the date and time to return to campus.
By providing test results to Residential Living, students are providing that information
as a student record which are subject to confidentiality and privacy policies.
Residential Living is prepared to accommodate move-in dates. Please contact them at
828-227-7303.
November 25, 2020
Today (Wednesday 11/25) will be the last day for daily COVID dashboard updates in the fall. The dashboard will be updated weekly on the following Fridays: Dec.
4, Dec. 11, and Dec. 18.
Spring daily updates will resume on Monday, Jan. 11.
November 11, 2020
COVID-19 Winter Holiday and Travel Recommendations
As we continue to see increases across our state and region in COVID-19 infections,
we strongly encourage all faculty, staff, and students to continue diligent adherence
to the Catamounts Care community standards going into the fall/winter holiday season.
Wear a face covering. Practice physical distancing. Wash hands frequently. Stay away
from large gatherings. This will be especially important as we enter Thanksgiving
break and the winter holiday season. While we all look forward to seeing friends and
family this time of year, you should carefully consider your preparations and personal
circumstances to lessen the risk. Let’s all show our Catamount compassion and do everything
we can to limit the spread of this dangerous disease that continues to wreak havoc
in our communities. Now is not the time to let down our guard.
FREE COVID-19 Testing for Faculty, Staff, and Students
Beginning the week of Nov. 16, WCU will begin offering free COVID-19 surveillance
testing for faculty, staff, and students in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday. See
below for more information:
For Faculty/Staff:
Who: All current WCU employees are eligible. Unfortunately, we cannot cover dependents
in the surveillance testing.
When: Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 19, from 1 p.m.
to 4 p.m.
Where: Harris Regional Hospital at 63 Healthcare Drive (this is the former WNC Internal
Medicine Building located at the first left after turning in to the main Harris Regional
campus entrance)
How: Faculty and staff interested in exit testing MUST preregister before 3 p.m. Friday,
Nov. 13, by contacting one of the Harris Hospital representatives below and provide
the following information:
Name
Date of birth
Address
Phone number
Insurance card
Preferred date of testing
Cindy Whitlock: 828.586.7398 (leave message for callback if necessary)
Meg Balamut: 828.586.7100 (leave message for callback if necessary) or email at Megan.Balamut@westcare.org
For Students:
When: Monday, Nov. 16, through Friday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Who: All current faculty, staff, and students at Biltmore Park. Unfortunately, we cannot
cover dependents in the surveillance testing.
When: Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: MAHEC mobile testing site at WCU Biltmore Park Offices, 28 Schenck Parkway, Asheville,
NC, 28803
How: No preregistration required, but all those requesting tests must provide the following
on site:
Name
Date of birth
Address
Phone number
Insurance card
September 1, 2020
Western Carolina University and the Jackson County Department of Public Health have
identified a cluster of 17 active COVID-19 cases involving WCU students residing in
Harrill Hall. A cluster is defined by the North Carolina Department of Health and
Human Services as a minimum of five cases with illness onsets or initial positive
results within a 14-day period and plausible epidemiologic linkage between cases.
Please read this message in its entirety for important information.
Western Carolina University and public health authorities will not identify any individual
patients, and we will not provide information that may compromise their confidentiality.
While these steps are outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA), it is also a matter of personal safety because individuals can become
targeted, threatened or harassed should this information be shared.
“We expected there to be cases related to our campus as more than 9,000 students returned
for residential in-person instruction this fall,” said Kelli R. Brown, WCU chancellor.
“We have extensive protocols in place and will continue to execute our quarantine
and isolation procedures.”
University personnel are working in conjunction with the Jackson County Department
of Public Health to identify individuals who may be close contacts. Persons who have
been in close contact have been instructed to quarantine and will be provided with
testing during their time of isolation. A close contact is defined as someone who
has been within six feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes.
“Public health is a shared responsibility – and it is one that we take seriously,”
Brown said. “We’ve implemented a series of standards including a mask mandate, lowering
classroom density, extensive PPE and cleaning procedures and many other protocols
through our Catamounts Care initiative. Additionally, we have erected outdoor tents throughout campus for student,
faculty and staff use. We continue to evaluate conditions that may influence our ability
to deliver residential operations.”
WCU is prepared for many possible scenarios if local conditions warrant, including
a change of instructional modalities, and is strongly encouraging the WCU campus community
to continue embracing the Catamounts Care prevention strategies – avoiding mass gatherings,
wearing face coverings, practice physical distancing, etc. – for a successful semester.
After today, the university will share information about COVID-19 clusters exclusively
on the WCU Coronavirus website and on the university social media handles. Today’s message will be our only
use of the Emergency Notification system to report clusters. This communications strategy
in no way diminishes the university’s sense of urgency in ensuring that this information
is shared in a timely, transparent and accessible fashion. The Emergency Notification
system is meant to communicate the most critical and urgent information for the safety
of the campus, and the university is following best practices in its use.
WCU is taking all reasonable precautions on its campus and in the community to best
promote the health and safety of the campus community. The university is working closely
with Jackson County Public Health officials to ensure that proper notifications are
taking place.
It is important that students, faculty and staff, whether on campus or off, continue
to monitor their own health and take appropriate physical distancing measures. This
is vital to slowing the spread of the virus and protecting the most vulnerable in
our community.
Additional safety measures include (consistent with CDC Guidelines):
Stay home when you are sick.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after
going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%
alcohol
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household
cleaning spray or wipe.
Practice physical distancing
If you are not feeling well, immediately contact your healthcare provider orWCU Health Services.
COVID-19 dashboard updated to provide more detailed information.
The newly updated WCU COVID-19 dashboard includes additional information about testing,
positivity rates, isolation and quarantine and to provide a more in-depth look at
how the pandemic is affecting the campus community.
The initial dashboard was rolled out on Aug. 7, and since then more collaboration
with offices on campus and with the UNC System office has occurred to define and access
more information about WCU’s COVID activity. The changes make for a more robust, easily
understood snapshot of our data.
In addition to a daily count for new positive cases and a cumulative count of cases
going back to July 1, the updated dashboard includes a weekly count of new confirmed
positive cases, information about the number of tests administered and a weekly positivity
rate. The revamped dashboard now includes cases involving subcontractors (in addition
to employees and students). The site also has a section providing information about
the number of isolation or quarantine spaces in use.
This page will be updated with the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic on
an as needed basis. For the latest information about Western Carolina University's
fall operations and procedures, please visit go.wcu.edu/fall2020
