Plan includes mandatory health screenings, masks for anyone on campus.
SPRUCE PINE — Mayland Community College has finalized its COVID-19 response plan for the fall semester.
MCC released its five-page response plan Monday, July 20. Rita Earley, MCC Vice President of Instruction and Workforce Development, said the plan was a group effort.
The framework was made through cooperation from MCC leadership. After the framework was established, the plan was released to faculty and staff for feedback. Some minor modifications followed based on the feedback.
All MCC faculty, staff, students and visitors will be subject to a health screening before entering the campus.
A temporary checkpoint for screenings will be located on the road into campus behind the Phillips Annex. A security guard will operate the checkpoint and no car is allowed on campus without everyone in the car going through the health check, which will include a temperature check.
The health checkpoint will be open from 7 a.m. to when evening classes are finished.
A permanent guard house will be installed at a later date on the road into campus below the entrance to Gwaltney Circle.
Anyone showing COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to leave campus.
In addition to health screenings, MCC will require all people on campus to wear a mask. Masks will not be required outdoors but individuals will be expected to follow social distancing guidelines.
All student activities on campus are suspended until further notice. Student organizations that need to hold meetings are encouraged to use technology such as Teams or Zoom.
If a group must meet in person, the meeting must have prior approval from the Dean of Students and meeting participants must abide by the same safety and social distancing guidelines that are followed in the classroom.
MCC will also close student break areas, student commons areas, drinking
fountains and common seating areas. Interior study locations will be available by appointment only and Bubba’s will be available for online ordering and takeout dining only.
The college will acquire an adequate four-week supply of various personal protective equipment before face-to-face classes are approved to begin. The supply will include hand sanitizer, latex gloves, disinfectant spray, towels and reusable cleaning gloves.
MCC faculty and staff will also utilize disinfectants to clean high-touch surfaces like light switches, door handles, seating and faculty and staff break rooms.
Earley said MCC leadership is closely monitoring the enrollment numbers. Based on those numbers, classrooms will be modified to allow for the most effective social distancing.
Some classes, Earley added, will utilize a split between in-person learning and virtual lessons.
Any MCC faculty or staff member who is diagnosed with COVID-19 must contact the MCC human resources department as soon as possible. Students who test positive must notify their instructor.
The MCC leadership team, including board members and deans, will follow standard hygiene practices, monitor the state of COVID-19 on campus, stay up to date on pandemic guidelines and compliance standards and meet regularly to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the safety practices.
Earley called the plan “very organic” and added that it could change as local and state COVID-19 cases fluctuate over time.