In order to limit the number of individuals and interactions among those present on campus, departments should schedule partial staffing on alternating days. Such schedules will facilitate social distancing, especially in areas with large, common workspaces.

Face Mask Requirement

Face coverings are required in all indoor spaces and all enclosed or partially enclosed outdoor spaces. Face coverings will be required in all outdoor spaces where social distancing is not possible or difficult to reliably maintain. The face-covering requirement applies to all Salish Kootenai College students, employees, and to all visitors, including service providers, contractors, vendors, suppliers, alumni, families, and community members.

Campus face-covering requirements will supplement measures such as social distancing, frequent handwashing, and frequent cleaning of office, work, and living spaces, already in place.

What Counts as a Face Covering?

Appropriate face coverings are those that cover the mouth and nose of the wearer. Effective face coverings include simple cloth masks, scarves, or bandanas.

Following CDC guidance, face coverings should:

• fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face;
• be secured with ties or ear loops;
• include multiple layers of fabric;
• allow for breathing without restriction; and
• be able to be laundered and machine-dried without damaging them or changing their shape.
• Cannot have an “exhale valve,” as those allow droplets to escape the mask

Plastic face shields may be used in instances where an individual can consistently and reliably maintain appropriate social distancing or where a cloth mask is otherwise impracticable. Such instances may include, but not be limited to, ADA and other medical accommodations. If an individual chooses to use a plastic face shield the shield should cover from above the eyes to below the chin and wrap around the side of the wearer’s face to reduce the risk of the spread of respiratory particles. However, it is important to note that cloth face masks are preferred. Disposable face shields should only be worn for a single-use. Reusable face shields should be cleaned and disinfected after each use. Plastic face shields for newborns and infants are NOT recommended.

Disposable, single-use paper masks are also acceptable when another face-covering option is not available. 

Exceptions

The following exceptions apply to students, employees, and visitors regarding face coverings:

• when alone in an office, enclosed study area, or other space where permitted by official notice;
• when inside campus residence hall rooms or apartments; however, face coverings are still required in common areas such as hallways, common restrooms and when visiting other rooms;
• when working or spending time outdoors (e.g. walking, exercising) and at least a six-foot distance can be consistently and reliably maintained;
• in instances or spaces (such as welding labs, nursing labs, etc.) in which other requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) make it either impractical or unsafe to wear an additional face covering;

• when alone in a vehicle or utility vehicle used for Salish Kootenai College business, however, face coverings are required in vehicles used for Salish Kootenai College business when there is more than one person inside the vehicle; and

• when an accommodation is necessary as indicated by a medical professional and granted by express written permission of the College.
• Children under the age of five and those who cannot physically remove a face covering without assistance. All children between the ages of two and four, however, are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering. Children under the age of two should not wear a face covering;

Accommodations

Individuals whose unique and individual circumstances require an exception to the face-covering requirement, as indicated by a medical professional, may request one in accordance with the campus ADA policies. Employees should contact Human Resources. Students should contact the Office of Disability Services. Students must make contact prior to arriving on campus in order to provide adequate time for their requests to be evaluated.

Responsibility and Accountability

The goal of the face mask requirement is to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. At Salish Kootenai College, we believe that the universal adoption of this measure will lead to better results when implemented in a civil and cordial environment. Therefore, Salish Kootenai College will communicate and promote the importance of compliance for the benefit of our faculty, students, staff, and visitors.

In the event of willful non-compliance, existing campus policies apply. Employees, students, and visitors engaging in sustained, willful non-compliance may be directed to leave campus spaces, taken off duty, and in certain cases subject to disciplinary action in accordance with existing campus policies applicable to policy violations and disruptions on campus.

Building use

Occupants are expected to follow signs in buildings regarding traffic flow, building entrances, exits, elevator usage, and similar common use areas.

Visitors and guests should be limited to those who are directly related to an individual’s or unit’s work.

Elevators

The use of elevators by multiple individuals will be limited to avoid close proximity with others in a confined space. Elevator riders will wear a face mask or face covering regardless of whether they are traveling alone, Employees should also avoid touching the elevator buttons with exposed hands/fingers and should wash their hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers after touching any surface.

Meals

Before and after eating, SKC strongly encourages students and employees to wash their hands thoroughly to reduce the potential transmission of infectious diseases. Employees are encouraged to take food back to their office area or eat outside, if reasonable. Employees eating in their work environment (break room, office, etc.) must maintain social distancing. Employees must wipe all surfaces, including tables, refrigerator handles, coffee machines, etc. after use in common areas.

Meetings

Convening in groups increases the risk of viral transmission. Where feasible, meetings should be held in whole or part using the available online collaboration tools. In-person meetings are limited by the restrictions set in Tribal, state, and federal orders, and employees shall maintain social distancing. All attendees must wear a cloth mask or face covering while sharing space in a common room. Employees, whether on-site or remote, are encouraged to communicate with colleagues and supervisors as needed electronically rather than in-person.

Office environments

• SKC employees working in an open environment should maintain social distance from co-workers.
• SKC employees are required to wear a cloth face mask or face covering at all times while in a shared workspace/room, when more than one person is in a room, and when inside any SKC facility where others are present. That includes while walking in hallways where others travel and in break rooms, conference rooms, and other meeting locations.
• Cloth face masks or face coverings are required to be worn by any staff in a reception/receiving area.
• Departments should assess open work environments and meeting rooms to institute measures to physically separate and increase the distance between employees, other coworkers, and visitors.
• SKC employees will not use anyone else’s personal protective equipment, phones, computer equipment, desks, cubicles, workstations, offices, or other personal work tools and equipment.
• In situations where work tools must be shared, employees will take precautions to sanitize tools between use, as well as wash their hands before and after use.
• In areas where shared/split workspace is in use, cleaning supplies will be made available by the individual unit. SKC employees are expected to wipe down a shared/split workspace prior to and after using it.

Public health habits while at work

SKC employees should:

• • Remain home if they are sick.

 

• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

 

• Keep a supply of hand sanitizer.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Regularly clean all high-touch areas in homes and workplaces.
• Do not touch eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

Restrooms

The number of individuals in restrooms will be limited based on the size of the restroom to ensure social distancing. SKC employees are expected to wash their hands thoroughly afterward to reduce the potential transmission of the virus.

Foot traffic

Students and faculty will not enter a classroom until the previous occupants have exited. Where two doors to a classroom exist, one will be labeled as the entrance and the other as the exit.

Directional pathways that increase one-way traffic flow in buildings will be identified and posted.

Personal sanitization

Faculty will sanitize the teaching technology and podiums or lecterns. Students will sanitize their chairs and desks. Supplies will be provided in each classroom.

Employee and Student Awareness

Prior to the start of the Fall Quarter 2020, Salish Kootenai College will develop and implement a training strategy for all employees that ensures they have a clear understanding of the campus’ face-covering requirement and accountability policies. In addition, through sustained communication, students will be made aware of the ways in which the face coverings policy will be enforced by employees prior to the start of the Fall Quarter 2020.