Phase One Instructions
In accordance with the advisement of the State of Florida and the City of Jacksonville authorities, EWC Administration has scheduled EWC staff the phased return to normal on-campus operations, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday beginning Monday, July 6, 2020. EWC faculty will return to campus on August 6, 2020.
As we transition back to campus, we ask for your patience, understanding, adaptability and flexibility, as this is a new experience for us all. It is imperative that all faculty, staff and students actively commit to adhering to the new processes that will be implemented to ensure the safety and wellbeing for one another, our families and our communities. It starts with each one of us and I believe together as a team we can rise to the challenge.
Consideration will be given for the implementation of alternative work arrangements for those employees who fall within the following parameters. These self-identified individuals are asked to contact the Office of Human Resources as soon as possible via email at humanresources@ewc.edu for further instructions:
- Aged 65 and above
- Pre-existing health conditions
- Pregnancy
- Chronic medical conditions or immunocompromised conditions that may prohibit their immediate return to on-campus work.
As previously communicated, EWC is continuing to adhere to all recommended regulations and guidelines from government authorities related to the containment of COVID-19. As an attempt to ensure safety, we will be distributing personal protection equipment (PPE) along with cleaning/sanitization supplies to all faculty and staff for the purpose of minimizing cross-contamination and maintaining individual work space in between Sodexo scheduled cleaning protocols. Laptops and webcams will also be assigned to support on-campus virtual meetings during this process. Employees are required to wear their ID badges and should contact the IT Helpdesk via support@ewc.eduto obtain an ID badge prior to July 6, 2020. All employees are required to properly wear the face mask provided by EWC or pre-approved face masks covering the nose and mouth when on campus. Masks are not required when the employee is in the office alone.
ALL employees are asked to respect this process. Employees resistant to complying with wearing face masks and all other precautionary protocols will be sent home. We have proactively implemented several preventative measures outlined below.
Preventative measures currently in place include:
- Utilizing no-touch thermometers to check for existing fevers.
- Deep cleaning and Sanitization Protocols: We have implemented deep cleaning and disinfection protocols for the entire campus community. These protocols will be enforced in addition to our already rigorous sanitization standards in place. Please be advised that Sodexo will need to access your office, so please be prepared to provide access if they do not have keys to your area. To contact cleaning facilities directly, please email cleaning@ewc.edu or call 904-470-8164.
- We have placed posters that encourage wearing personal protection equipment (PPE), social distancing, staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and hand hygiene at various building entrances and other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.
- Provided no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.
- To enforce social distancing, we have altered direct access with employees, continuing with virtual meeting orders, closed bathroom stalls, minimized the elevator use, placed floor marking and provided directional signage to control the movement throughout the campus.
- Directed employees to clean their hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol, or wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
- Provided soap and water in the workplace. We have ensured that adequate supplies are maintained.
- Best Practices for Personal Health: Human coronaviruses are usually spread from an infected person to others through the air by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact (such as shaking hands), touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth nose or eyes before washing your hands, or (rarely) fecal contamination.
To reduce your risk of infection: Always wear provided masks unless you are in your office space alone. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, and avoid close contact with people who are sick. Please refrain from gathering in groups. Please continue to practice appropriate social distancing, 6 feet.
Employee Travel: Travel for faculty and staff is suspended indefinitely, with exceptions authorized by the President & CEO only.
Travel: If any faculty or staff have traveled to any areas (nationally or internationally) where cases have been reported, please immediately notify the College of such. If exposed to the virus, we are asking those individuals to self-isolate as recommended by the CDC, the World Health Organization and the U.S. State Department.
Meetings: Staff and other meetings should be conducted by phone or video conference per the advisement of the area Vice President.
Classes: As of now, EWC requires all summer courses are to be delivered online. As such, students and faculty will remain off-campus.
Lunch: When leaving campus for lunch, please remain mindful of social distancing, proper hygiene and the risks of contracting COVID-19.
The safety and well-being of EWC students, faculty and staff members is our top priority. We are closely monitoring guidance by the CDC, World Health Organization and other public health authorities, taking proper health precautions where warranted. We are also encouraging the college community to take any signs of illness seriously and seek medical attention as needed.
Guidelines for Suspected Illness and When to Stay/Go Home:
- Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C] or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
- Employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e. cough, shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or become sick during the day will be sent home immediately to seek medical consultation.
- Employees who are well but who have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 should notify their supervisor, the Office of Human Resources, and refer to CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure.
To protect EWC from COVID-19 while ensuring continuity of operations, all sick employees should stay home and away from the workplace, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene should be encouraged, and routine cleaning of commonly touched surfaces should be performed regularly.
In the next coming weeks, you will be receiving an influx of information to guide us through this process. We ask that you please utilize it as requested. Please check periodically for updates and information via the College website at www.ewc.edu, campus email, and the College’s social media outlets, as these are the primary means of communication. Further, you may also follow updates from the local news affiliates.
The Edward Waters College administration thanks you for all you are doing to respond to the coronavirus. We will continue to reassess our practices based on developments and will advise you of any changes. Additionally, we encourage all of you to reach out to your immediate supervisor with any questions that may arise. Understandably, this is a time of uncertainty and stress; however, we appreciate your commitment to EWC in the face of these unprecedented challenges.
Chauncy Maurice Whaley, a sophomore and native of Jacksonville, Florida is the only son of Clatertha Kirtsey. He is the last child of the late Sylvester Canady, Sr. He is a passionate humanitarian and a licensed preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Asa Philip Randolph was a groundbreaking leader, organizer, and social activist who championed equitable labor rights for African American communities, becoming one of the most impactful civil rights and social justice leaders of the 20th century. His activism spanned 60 years, and included the organization of the largest labor union for Black workers in the United States and the coordination of two Marches on Washington (1941 and 1963).
About The Author: Justin Walker
More posts by Justin Walker