APU Response
What is APU doing to minimize the risk of infection to students, faculty and staff?
In addition to moving most classes to distance delivery, we have added hand sanitizer dispensers to all classrooms and common areas, purchased face masks, face shields, and sanitizing wipes for all employees, revised classroom setups to ensure social distancing, and removed all unnecessary touchable objects. We are installing plexiglass barriers in key areas. Buildings will remain locked to the public. Meetings will need to be invite-only and visitors to campus must be escorted to their destination. There will be attendance sheets for all in-person classes and sign-in sheets for visitors to ensure contract tracing. Buildings will be disinfected using Hypochlorous Acid (approved by the CDC) to supplement APU's janitorial cleaning services.
What about events and large gatherings?
Conferencing events and other group meetings will be permitted with limited capacity based on Municipality and CDC guidelines for group sizes. Events and meetings will be required to submit a risk mitigation and cleaning plan. Conference partners are required to maintain attendance sheets, open doors, and direct their own attendees.
I am concerned about getting COVID-19 through recirculating air at APU. How will APU address this? Will there be air filters for the offices with multiple staff working in them?
APU has consulted with public health engineers who have advised that no changes to the HVAC system are necessary. The airflow supply of the buildings on campus are designed to draw outside air into the buildings, which is a recommendation of the CDC. In July 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a non-peer-reviewed scientific brief that discussed the possibility that COVID-19 may be spread through airborne transmission. However, the WHO acknowledges that rather than airborne transmission, infectious transmission is more likely to be explained by other droplet or fomite transmission methods. A summary of the WHO’s scientific brief that discusses the possibility of airborne transmission can be found here.
Will classes be offered on campus during the spring semester?
The Campus Reopening Plan is a dynamic, changing document. We will assess our operations throughout the fall and we aim to announce spring semester plans in November.
What will APU’s response be should someone test positive for COVID-19?
Individuals who know or suspect they have contracted or been exposed to the coronavirus are required to self-isolate. If the individual is a campus resident, they should notify the Office of Campus Life so that an alternative housing plan can be implemented. APU will work to isolate the area(s) of exposure and follow CDC guidelines to clean and disinfect areas used by ill employees.
APU will work to protect the privacy of all employees as well as the health and safety of the campus community.
APU will assist health officials for contact tracing.
Will there be masks available for guests/visitors who do not bring one with them?
Yes, there will be disposable masks available for guest/visitors. N95 masks are not provided. All guests/visitors should be reminded prior to coming to campus to bring their own mask.
Disability Support Services
Yes. Students approved for accommodations through DSS receive those accommodations regardless of the delivery method of their courses. However, specific accommodations may not transition equitably to a distance-delivery format. Yes. If a student chooses to register with DSS, they will go through the same accommodation request process. If approved, the student will notify the faculty with a final accommodation letter if they are planning to apply any accommodations to the course. Students may need modified ways to participate (i.e., voice only, limited or no video) depending on their disability. If you or a student has any questions or specific concerns, please contact the DSS coordinator at kamartin@alaskapacific.edu. Accessibility resources with Blackboard Learn are available at: https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Accessibility/Accessibility_Features. FAQS for accessiblity with Zoom are available at: https://zoom.us/accessibility/faq Do approved accommodations through the DSS office apply to distance delivery courses?
Will I receive an accommodation letter from students showing their approved accomodations?
One of my students is unable to participate in class and meetings via Zoom or Blackboard due to a disability. What should I do?
Return to Work
Will there be masks available for guests/visitors who do not bring one with them?
Yes, there will be disposable masks available for guest/visitors. All guests/visitors should be reminded prior to coming to campus to bring their own mask.
Will there be on-site childcare?
On-site childcare will not be provided. Please contact your supervisor with any scheduling concerns.
Is Expedition Alaska happening?
The Yukon River trip component of Expedition Alaska has been cancelled. However, the associated courses will still occur during Block.
General Questions
Is Ground Theory Coffee Cart open?
Yes, but only for APU students and employees. APU badges are required to access Grant Hall.
Will Moseley Sports Center and Atwood Gym stay open?
The Moseley Sports Center and the Atwood Gym will reopen, with revised scheduling and procedures for students and employees only. Public access to the gyms will not occur at this time, unless prior reservations have been made.
What if my question isn't listed here?
Send any additional questions to askAPU@alaskapacific.edu and they may be considered for posting in this section. We will try our best to respond to your question in a timely manner.
Individual Expectations
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. The most recent symptoms are available here. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#Symptoms-&-Emergency-Warning-Signs)
What precautions can I take to stay healthy and prevent the spread of infections?
APU requires face coverings and social distancing in all our buildings. Additional ways to protect yourself and others can be found on the CDC website at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
Avoid close contact with others.
Wear a face mask when indoors, unless alone in your office or room/suite, and outdoors when unable to social distance six feet.
Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If water is not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid contact with people who are sick.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
If you have cold or cough symptoms, cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing. Immediately throw the tissue in the garbage.
Monitor your health for symptoms. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html)
Where can I go to get the latest APU information about coronavirus?
Visit alaskapacific.edu/coronavirus for the latest information.
What should an employee do if they suspect a co-worker of being ill and reporting to on-campus work?
Employees who suspect an employee is ill should encourage the employee to go home as soon as possible and ask them to notify their supervisor. Employees should not assume a diagnosis of any sort but merely inform one another of safe practices in "staying home" when not feeling well.
Any concerns should be reported directly to your supervisor even if the employee is not in your department. Your supervisor should contact Human Resources if the employee reports outside of their department or, if within the same department, request the employee to go home until confirmation from a medical provider is obtained that a return to work is possible.
Employees may be asked to follow the potential exposure protocol for COVID-19, which is staying home until they are without symptoms, – including being fever-free for at least 72 hours without fever-reducing medication – before returning to work.
What should an employee do if they suspect a co-worker of being high-risk and reporting to on-campus work?
Employees are entitled to protections against discrimination based upon age, disability, and a number of other protected categories. Others should not presume to determine if someone is in a high-risk category. Each individual should assess him or herself with the CDC guidance and/or their healthcare provider to determine if she or he believes it is safe to come to work. If a co-worker learns of a high-risk factor, they must maintain confidentiality of that information, only reporting it to Human Resources or a supervisor, or sharing it with permission of the individual with the risk factor.
Is it safe to come to campus?
APU asks all students and employees to self-monitor daily before coming to work. APU requires students and employees to stay home when not feeling well and to follow return-to-campus protocols of being symptom- and fever-free for at least 72 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning to work.
What is self-monitoring?
Self-monitoring means to assess your physical health, checking temperature, and ensuring that you have no known COVID-19 symptoms before leaving your home or residence room. If you feel ill or are exhibiting symptoms, then please consult with identified resources to make accomodations for missed classes or work. Do not come to campus.
What should I do if I am ill or have been diagnosed with COVID-19?
If you are ill, APU requests that you stay home and self-isolate and/or get tested for COVID-19. If you receive a positive test, APU requests you notify HR or the Provost as soon as possible. Additional steps can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html
Travel
Are there any restrictions in place for travel?
Yes. No out-of-state APU-funded travel is permitted until further notice. Personal out-of-state travel is discouraged in the strongest terms. Students, faculty, and staff who are returning from out-of-state travel are expected to comply with state guidelines for travelers and should plan their return to Alaska accordingly.
Can students or employees return to campus if they have recently spent time out of state or out of the country?
Not immediately. The college now requires any student or employee returning from CDC level 3 countries to self-quarantine and remain symptom-free for a minimum of 14 days before returning to campus, or receive a negative COVID-19 test. If returning from a CDC level 3 country, students should contact the Dean of Students, and employees should contact Human Resources.
Can I still receive mail on campus?
Yes. Mail will still be delivered to campus. Mail delivered to residential students using the North Atwood mailboxes will continue as usual. Other residential mail and packages will be available for pick up at Base Camp in Grant Hall.
Where can I find information about state or local restrictions on travel?
For travellers coming from out-of-state, the State of Alaska has travel restrictions and testing requirements in place. Please review the latest guidelines at https://covid19.alaska.gov/travelers/
Testing
Where can I get tested for COVID-19?
In Anchorage, students can be tested for free at ANTHC. Prior to arrival, please check with your healthcare provider or local public health department. Students arriving from out of state should follow the State of Alaska interstate and international travel health mandates. Testing for travelers is available at the Ted Stevens International Airport. For additional locations, the State of Alaska DHSS has an interactive Testing Site Locator webpage found here.