Raven Safety Plan (Archived from 2020)

“In responding to the pandemic, Benedictine College has had two overarching priorities: The health and safety of all students, faculty and staff who comprise the College community, and maintaining the continuity of its mission of community, faith and scholarship.”

Table of Contents

Background Information

Raven Safety is the Benedictine College plan to address the Coronavirus pandemic and to protect the Raven community for the coming academic year. The plan includes recommendations regarding under what conditions the college will begin the fall semester in person and with sports. The college recognizes that Raven Safety is a flexible/fluid plan, dependent on federal, state and local guidelines. Thus, what is expected today may not be expected at a later time.

Raven Safety has been developed by the Benedictine College Coronavirus Task Force in consultation with health care experts from around the country. In addition, the Task Force drew on a wide range of resources in developing its recommendations. This includes guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Atchison County Health Department, and other government agencies and professional organizations. Task Force members have also been in contact with other academic institutions in the state, including the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Kansas Independent Colleges Association (KICA) institutions, and various Cardinal Newman Society colleges in order to review plans and white papers from other universities across the country.

Guiding Principles

Benedictine College is committed to protecting the health and safety of its students and employees and minimizing the potential spread of COVID-19 within our community. The College expects all members of the community to act in a manner that demonstrates respect and consideration for the health and safety of all community members.

Benedictine College will remain steadfast in the constant pursuit of its mission of community, faith and scholarship. Our goal is to provide a reasonable and doable plan that supports our mission. Different ways of deploying campus resources will be necessary as part of establishing a new normal. As we move forward, flexibility will be critical.

Task Force Framework

The Coronavirus Task Force used a project management approach that included twelve subcommittees addressing the following areas/tasks: Return to Work; Liaison with Atchison Hospital; Academics; Student Life; Faith; Athletics; Health Services; Quarantine Facilities; Campus Events; Communications; Education; Travel; and Traffic Flow. Each of these subcommittees were assigned specific tasks, team members, goals, deliverables, and deadlines for completing their work. The College Cabinet then approved the plan.

Timeframe

Raven Safety will take effect immediately and will remain in effect until further notice.

Shared Responsibility

Creating a safe and healthy environment at Benedictine College for students, faculty and staff is a shared responsibility that will require each of us to do our part and be accountable to one another for our behavior both on and off campus.

As a condition of returning to campus, community members are required to follow the COVID-19 related policies and requirements established by Benedictine College.

Among the key responsibilities of each community member are:

All members of this community are expected to read the COVID-19 related health and safety communications sent to them and to visit the College’s website regularly for updates and additional information. Flexibility and adaptability are essential, and the College community must be willing to immediately adapt to changing circumstances.

Mitigation, Identification, and Care

The three areas of emphasis for Raven Safety are: Mitigation; Identification; and Care. The following are current plan specifics:

Mitigation

Mitigation procedures will follow recommended CDC, state and local guidelines and should be flexible enough to adapt to current situations.

Academic Schedule

Benedictine College is committed to providing the highest quality education to our students, emphasizing face-to-face instruction on campus. To that end, Benedictine College will begin the semester a week earlier than usual and end early to guard against the possible reoccurrence of the Coronavirus pandemic during the usual outbreak of the flu season, which normally starts in late November. Therefore, Benedictine College will host its first day of class on August 19, 2020. The college has canceled Fall Break, scheduled for October 22-23, 2020, and will hold its last day of classes in Atchison on November 24, 2020. Finals Week will be conducted online during the week of November 30-December 4, 2020. 

In accordance with advice we have received from local medical professionals,  we strongly believe the two weeks before students arrive on campus and first several weeks through Labor Day will be crucial times for the college community to practice established health and safety protocols.

Academic Considerations

To stay in alignment with the various official guidance that is promulgated, while at the same time providing the most robust academic experience possible, the Academic Coronavirus Task Force focused on the following general mitigation strategies:

Recognizing that different departments have dramatically different needs in these scenarios, each department has met to develop a plan of how the department will implement decreased density in the classes they are offering this fall and what is needed to be prepared in case we did have to transition back to fully online. To begin the semester, the following guidance has been developed:

Specific Academic Department Guidelines

While there will be some exceptions, the dominant mode of instruction for the fall will be in-person, face-to-face classes. A small number of faculty have indicated that they or someone in their household have risk factors that make it imprudent for them to teach in person this fall; they will be able to hold their classes online. Faculty who are teaching hybrid classes or remotely because of classroom capacity issues (rather than personal or family risk factors) should be on campus as usual.

Both maintaining physical distance and ubiquitous masking are important. Wearing masks in public (which includes areas on campus outside faculty offices) is now required by state regulation. The college will comply with this regulation as long as it is in effect, and, because we are in a high-density environment, we may well continue a masking requirement even if the state-wide requirement is lifted.

While we will not be able to maintain a full 6’ radius between students in every classroom, we are reducing classroom density by removing some chairs and arranging furniture to maintain distance and expect all students to wear masks during class.

We will need to be vigilant and enlist the aid of our students in keeping classrooms and shared surfaces clean. Faculty and students will be responsible for maintaining a level of sanitation that will help ensure the virus is not being spread through surface contact.

Personal Actions: Face Masks/Coverings, Hand Washing, Physical Distancing Guidelines

Based on the advice from the CDC, KDHE, and our local public health officials, Benedictine College has implemented requirements related to the use of face masks/coverings, physical distancing and decreased density in campus facilities and on college property, hand washing, and other protocols in response to health and safety concerns.

Education

Education for students, faculty and staff about ongoing health care, prevention and self-monitoring will be critical for a successful plan. Some areas that have been developed include a COVID-19 Symptoms Chart; proper hand washing procedures; physical distancing education; importance of proper face masks/coverings; and self-reporting symptoms protocol, among others. Raven Safety COVID-19 training will be developed to educate our college community.

Pre- and Return Quarantine Guidelines

Benedictine College recommends that all students self-quarantine for 10 days prior to returning to campus. This would include quarantine at home with limited exposure to outside environment. Students are encouraged to use proper face masks/coverings and maintain healthy physical distancing.

If a student is identified as returning from a Covid-19 “Hotspot” as indicated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) or have traveled internationally, that student must quarantine in the State of Kansas for 10 days before being allowed to move freely about campus. Further evaluation may be conducted by the Student Health Center staff.

In accordance with advice we have received from local medical professionals, the two weeks before students arrive on campus and first several weeks through Labor Day will be crucial times for the college community to practice established health and safety protocols.

Return to Work

On July 15, all staff returned to working on campus full-time with the following exception:

Employees with questions about when they should return to working on campus should discuss their individual situation with their supervisor.

Office Preparation and Mitigation Guidelines

In compliance with federal, state, and local guidance, Benedictine College has developed the following Office Preparation and Mitigation guidelines. This provides guidance for offices and their respective managers to, as much as possible, maintain the health and safety of the campus community. While these guidelines provide suggestions based on current information about COVID-19, it is important that the college community stay aware of and continue to follow the ever-changing guidelines outlined by federal, state and local officials. Managers and employees should follow basic public health guidelines as outlined by WHO, CDC, KDHE, OSHA, State of Kansas and Atchison County that will slow the spread of COVID-19.

For most managers, protecting employees will depend on emphasizing basic infection prevention measures. All managers and employees should implement good hygiene and infection control practices, including:

Managers should openly communicate with their employees about expectations for working in the office and what they should do to protect themselves and the greater college community. As appropriate, all managers should implement workplace flexibility, including:

Managers should consider modifying how their office completes its work to minimize unnecessary traffic to and from the office. As appropriate, all managers should modify office procedures, including:

Employees are required to report if they are experiencing any symptoms of, are being monitored for exposure to, or have been tested for Coronavirus. While this report will be used to communicate potential exposures to the campus, the individual’s identity will remain confidential. Employees should report this information to their supervisor.

Student Life, College Ministry and Dining Services

Staff members in the areas of Student Life, College Ministry and Dining Services have developed reasonable protocols based on recommended guidance from the CDC and other government agencies as well as guidance from our sponsoring communities and professional organizations.

The plan for Benedictine College housing, Dining Services and College Ministry this year is to be student focused. Given COVID-19 conditions, this means they will require face masks/coverings in public areas, decrease density in common spaces, encourage healthy physical distancing, implement health and safety policies and protocols, increase frequency of cleaning and additional disinfecting procedures, and identify self-isolation and quarantine locations for the residential community.

These areas are committed to providing programming and support that enhance the college mission of community, faith and scholarship. Offices across campus will be connecting with student groups to develop new strategies for creative socializing and virtual programming.

The Student Life Office will follow the College’s Office Preparation and Mitigation Guidelines (6.23.20), noted above, as much as possible, to maintain the health and safety of the students we serve as well as those who work in the office.

Physical distancing will be incorporated into the various programs as well as operating procedures for SGA/CAB meetings and office space. Move-in procedures for new and returning students include physical distancing and other procedures to promote both safety and hospitality.

The Student Health Center will be relocated to a temporary facility located across the street from St. Michael Hall. This new facility will provide increased space for additional health center staff as well as two separate entrances, one for students experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms and one for students experiencing other health concerns.

The facility will allow Student Health Center staff to be separated from the Counseling Center staff and will provide additional spaces within the Counseling Center to accommodate counseling needs.

Residence Life has established beginning-of-the-year training for RDs/RAs that maximizes safety for all students and staff:

Residence Hall Operations

Residence hall protocols have been an area of careful study, given that we will have over 1,500 students living on campus in a variety of room configurations. Living in community matters deeply to us, but we also recognize that it requires extra precautions during this pandemic. Students should feel fully at home in their rooms, so there is no need to wear masks in assigned rooms or with roommates. All residents and guests must, however, wear masks in all other rooms and common spaces, including hallways and lounges. During the early weeks of the fall semester, students should use hall common spaces to gather with other students who are not their assigned roommate(s). Residence Life can make shared kitchens available through appointments.

Residence halls will operate at standard occupancy, though enhanced cleaning and other adjustments in our common life will be necessary to keep one another safe. As the medical situation changes, we will re-evaluate accordingly.  Adjustments to residence halls and their operations include:

Faith life on campus is vital and essential, thus we must all work together to observe practices that are proven to minimize the spread of COVID-19. To ensure this, College Ministry will follow the most current safety guidelines set forth by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Our archdiocese, subject to local county directives, offers very specific guidelines concerning Sunday obligation, persons exhibiting symptoms, density, sanitation, hygiene, Holy Communion, adoration, reconciliation, etc. Benedictine College will implement the archdiocesan and local county guidelines across all religious services and activities.

So that the members of our campus community do not feel compelled to attend Mass during the ongoing pandemic, they will be made aware of the dispensation given by the Archbishop from the obligation for Catholics to attend Sunday Mass until this dispensation has been revoked.

Local governments may impose phased-in density restrictions for gatherings. Benedictine College worship gatherings should observe the following density restrictions:

The Archdiocese has provided a video tutorial on how to properly arrive at church, sanitize hands, observe the prescribed physical distancing, use face masks, approach for Holy Communion, etc. The tutorial, along with other messages and updates, can be found on the Archdiocesan website.

Those who attend Masses and other religious services should observe the following:

The following practices should be employed by ministers and pastors:

The following practices should be employed by confessors:

Out of charity and concern for the welfare of others, anyone with any kind of COVID-19 related symptoms, a fever, or recent exposure to an infected person should not attend religious services.

Considering the impact of COVID-19, Dining Services as we know it will fundamentally change, however, they are poised to provide solutions that support all individuals within the campus community. Dining Services plans incorporate the latest guidance from the CDC as well as state and local guidelines.

The Dining Services plan addresses five key areas: focusing on students, engaging staff, maintaining safe environments, adapting operations, and collaborating with students, faculty and staff to ensure success, now and into the future.

Several changes to our Dining Services program are planned for the fall with current safety guidelines in place include:

Athletics

The Athletic Department is working hard to develop Mitigation, Identification, and Care strategies and protocols to keep our teams safe and healthy throughout the year. Various forms have been created to assist staff, such as COVID-19 screening, facility screening, participation log, and contact tracing.

In addition, staff members are communicating regularly with representatives from the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) and the NAIA to determine and meet established criteria.

It is Benedictine College’s goal to ensure that the entire athletics department, student athletes and staff are provided with the highest level of care, which includes following all national, state, and local healthcare guidelines and medical practices.

It is important to be aware that during the COVID-19 pandemic we will follow these same guidelines and will continue to evolve our standards of practice following medical advances, procedures, and treatment plans as they develop. Plans and contingencies will be created to help provide flexibility as guidelines from these supervising entities develop.

During this time of development and implementation, we will engage the Athletic Department and anyone that would be included in these areas of providing care or have access to our department and facilities. Besides our student-athletes, coaches, staffs, support staffs, and administration, we will include – but not limit to – medical professionals, maintenance, food services, shipping and receiving along with Benedictine College campus resources and others that may be identified in the future.

By including all areas and people that are associated with the implementation of return to athletic activities, we will be able to limit any exposures and provide a plan to mitigate any concerns that may arise. We will coordinate with the Benedictine College Coronavirus Task Force to make sure everyone understands and has access to procedures put in place during our return. We will also be continuously monitoring all the medical resources and update our plans and procedures accordingly, with the assistance and guidance of local medical professionals and county health officials.

Presented by staff Athletic Trainers and its Athletic Department Medical Professionals

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

Emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

What to do if you experience any of these:

Pre-Return Quarantine and Return Quarantine

“How Can I Protect Myself?”

Self-report or suspected case protocol

Confirmed positive case protocol

A full team roster and the state from which the student-athlete and staff are returning to campus from will be established to evaluate, prepare, and identify potential various levels of risk that each person presents.

This advanced review will help better prepare for individuals returning to campus. It is recommended that teams plan accordingly based on date of return, within the approved Benedictine College Athletic calendar. Students returning to campus from identified “Hot Spot” locations are required to quarantine for an additional 10 days in Kansas before joining his or her team.

You may find the list of “Hot Spot” locations online at: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/175/Travel-Exposure-Related-Isolation-Quaran

COVID-19 Testing - Initial Screening Upon Arrival

COVID-19 Testing - Ongoing Screening After Arrival

Upon entering a facility for practice, meeting, film review or strength and conditioning these steps will be followed:

Murphy Recreation Center

The following mitigation guidelines have been established for all users of the Murphy Recreation Center (MRC):

Campus Events

Participation in traditions and campus-wide events are a central component of a Benedictine College experience. Traditional signature events, convocations, lectures, sporting events, and others create opportunities to strengthen the community, faith, and scholarship of our Raven family.

Learning, connecting, and finding gratification through these experiences contribute greatly to the academic, spiritual, physical, and mental health of our community. To provide such opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Events Management Team is taking into consideration the following points, among others, when determining if and how an event should be held:

Visitors

All visitors are expected to be clear of any COVID-19 symptoms and follow Raven Safety protocols. Conferences and groups will be approval by the Cabinet on a case-by-case basis.

To maintain lower density in residential spaces, students will only have access to their assigned residential hall. Guests must be accompanied by the resident of the hall.

Building access will be limited to only the students assigned to live in that space so students may not have overnight visitors in their room. It is possible that access regulations may evolve as we move through the semester.

Building Traffic Modifications

To maintain an efficient traffic flow in campus buildings during busy timeframes, the following modifications to the ‘normal’ traffic flows have been made:

The modified flow chart for traffic into, out of, and through the Dining Hall is as follows:

The modified flow chart for traffic into, out of, and through St. Benedict Hall is as follows:

The modified flow chart for traffic into, out of, and through Ferrell Academic Center is as follows:

The proposed flow for people traffic into, out of and through Westerman Hall is as follows:

The proposed flow chart for people traffic into, out of and through the St. John Paul II Student Center is as follows:

Travel Policy

In compliance with Federal, State and Local guidelines put forth, the following plan has been devised to ensure the safety of staff, faculty, and students at Benedictine College. Current CDC guidance is to “stay home as much as possible, especially if trips are non-essential.” This may change as we progress towards new phases in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Defining “Essential Travel”

Travel is essential when:

It assures the continuity of the long-term operations of Benedictine College and/or is imperative to achieve mission-critical goals.

When travel in and around the U.S. is deemed essential for Benedictine College, the following things should be taken into consideration:

When travel outside the U.S. is deemed essential for Benedictine College, the following things should be taken into consideration:

Pre-travel health screenings are recommended for domestic and international travel. Travelers must be enrolled in adequate health insurance coverage.

In case of essential travel, it is best to practice the following behaviors to ensure that travelers stay healthy and do not spread the Coronavirus:

Students, faculty, and staff returning to campus from any kind of trips must comply with the most recent KDHE Travel-Related Quarantine Guidelines. Students, faculty, and staff should include in their plans the potential to be quarantined before returning to campus for up to 10 days.

Protecting Our Community

Certain populations are more vulnerable for severe COVID-19 infections and may need special considerations to reduce their risk of exposure. Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. The CDC identifies “older adult” to be 65 years of age or greater.

In a pandemic like this we all have a moral obligation to not just look out for our own well-being, but to protect the health of others. Students most likely realize they are not part of the true at-risk population, but the monks, the sisters, members of the faculty and staff, older parishioners at St. Benedict’s Parish, and many others you will come in contact with in Atchison are among the most vulnerable. Thus, everyone will need to fully commit to protecting our collective health and well-being as much as possible and play our individual part in managing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Identification

The ability to accurately identify college faculty, staff and students suspected or infected with COVID-19 and isolate them along with tracing their close contacts is critical for limiting the number of cases on campus.

Questionnaire

A questionnaire form is being created for students, faculty, and staff to complete, indicating locations they have traveled in the past month and whether they have had contact with others who have COVID-19, or have experienced any of the symptoms in the past few weeks. This questionnaire will be reviewed for risk with the possibility of some students or employees tested based on risk, if tests are available.

Identifying At-Risk Individuals

The College plans to communicate with all faculty, staff, and students through email and Benedictine FYI to identify potential at-risk individuals and offer accommodations. An accommodation form will be provided to assist in this process. Additionally, the Student Health Center staff will provide instructions and advice to actively monitor for symptoms of illness and answer questions regarding the Raven Safety plan.

Self-Monitoring of Symptoms

Campus-wide approaches to safety and the practice of physical distancing are important as individuals can be without symptoms and still be COVID-19 positive. Individuals who have been authorized to return to campus must conduct symptom monitoring daily before coming to campus or leaving their residence hall room. It is the individual’s responsibility to comply. It is our shared duty as a community to act responsibly. A student who does not live in Benedictine College housing must be free of any symptoms related to COVID-19 to be on campus or participate in activities on campus.

As a safeguard, it is recommended that all students monitor their temperature and symptoms on a daily basis. Students should bring a digital thermometer with them.

According to the CDC, symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. These symptoms or combinations of symptoms include:

A student who has any symptoms, including a fever of 100.4 degrees or greater, must call the Student Health Center (913-360-7117) for assessment and possible COVID-19 testing. If Student Health is not open and symptoms are severe enough, the student should go to the Atchison Hospital Emergency Room.

If symptoms are not severe enough to require the Emergency Room, then for the safety of others, it is extremely important to avoid contact with others, wear a face mask/covering, and practice strict hand hygiene while awaiting the Student Health Center to open and receive an assessment. Anyone with symptoms must self-isolate until the testing results are back as directed by the Student Health Center staff. If the results are negative, the person may return to his/her normal activities.

Contact Tracing

The KDHE in collaboration with the Atchison County Health Department is responsible for contact tracing. If symptom checking indicates further attention is needed, a virtual visit with our school nurse or designated person will include questions to assist with contact tracing. This contact data will be shared with KDHE and the health department.

Contact tracing allows for the identification and monitoring of contacts of infected people so that they can be notified of the contact and to support the safe, sustainable, and effective quarantine of close contacts to prevent additional transmission. The Atchison County Health Department staff will methodically identify those on campus who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for the virus. Exposed individuals will be given the name of the individual who tested positive so that their risk can be assessed but will respect and adhere to best practices for patient confidentiality.

Testing

Regarding COVID-19 testing, the Coronavirus Task Force has consulted with medical experts and local doctors to gain a better understanding of the methods, availability, costs, and benefits of testing our Raven community. Students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 as assessed by the Student Health Center or Atchison Hospital staff will likely be tested for COVID-19. The college continues to investigate the cost and availability of COVID-19 tests in an effort to find a more broad-based solution.

See COVID-19 Testing FAQs.

Communication Plans

COVID-19 Communications Plan in Response to Known Cases

Along with detailed plans for mitigation, identification and care of community members related to COVID-19, the College’s Coronavirus Task Force anticipates that communications with community members directly impacted by COVID-19 may be necessary.

The purpose of this document is to provide a detailed plan for communication with community members when the College becomes aware of a community member who has been exposed to COVID-19, has symptoms of the virus or has tested positive for the virus.

The College—guided by President Minnis, his Cabinet and the Coronavirus Task Force—will maintain on-going communications with the community about health and safety related to COVID-19. Plans for implementing on-going communications about College mitigation and expectations for student and employee safety and reporting are addressed in other internal documents.

The College is committed to protecting the health and safety of its students and employees and minimizing the potential spread of COVID-19 within our community. The College expects all members of the community to act in a manner that demonstrates respect and consideration for the health and safety, as well as privacy, of all community members. Despite significant efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, the College cannot guarantee that members of its community will not become infected with COVID-19.

Should a community member become directly affected by COVID-19, the College will provide timely information about particular cases in a specific manner and consistent with legal obligations. The College will protect personal health information of affected individuals consistent with Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, and will maintain privacy as required by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act; in the case of COVID-19, some information will need to be released to some entities or individuals in the interest of health and as permitted by law. The College is committed to providing accurate and timely information about COVID-19 to students, staff, and faculty to inform the community and to minimize stigma.

The College will make deliberate determinations, in consultation with local health officials, about notifying individuals in limited categories who need to know more specific information about potential exposure to COVID-19 through contact with an affected individual. In addition to these specific communications that may be required to protect the health of community members and reduce the spread of the virus, the College will continue its ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on campus.

When the College is notified that a community member has symptoms of, has been exposed to or has tested positive for COVID-19, the College will notify local health officials to obtain specific guidance about responsive actions and communications to the community. Local health officials will be a key partner in making determinations about information sharing.

In consultation with local health officials, the College will make determinations about communications:

Communication required by Clery Act – Emergency Notification

A confirmed COVID-19 infection on campus, or a confirmed case of exposure to an infected individual may call for an “emergency notification” under the Clery Act. The College will follow then-current guidance regarding making any required emergency notifications, and will cross-reference to communications about COVID-19 available on the College website, as well as directing community members to obtain information from health care providers, state and local health authorities and the CDC.

General communications to the College community

When drafting communications to the broader community, the College will carefully consider the purpose of the communication and identify the following, while protecting the confidentiality of the sick or exposed individual:

If the College is informed of several confirmed cases at once and there are data-based concerns about community spread, the communications about such a situation will need to be consistent with the responsive action to address the known cases. Communications will vary depending on whether there is:

The College will consult with local health officials to determine what level of transmission is occurring. The CDC has guidance for operational decisions related to community spread in its Interim Guidance for Administrators of U.S. Institutions of Higher Education.

In some situations, positive cases or exposure may require the closure of certain buildings, cancelling in-person classes, implementing housing relocations, and other changes to campus schedules or functions. Obviously, this will result in the need for more specific communications to the broader community. These determinations will be made in consultation with local health officials, and communications should be drafted and published to explain these actions, as well as requirements for students and employees.

These incidents will likely require frequent communications, all of which should refer to the College’s commitment to addressing the situation and provide specific guidance about action items.

The college will use the following methods to promote the plan:

Community Engagement

Benedictine College plans to collaborate with the Atchison County Health Department, Atchison Hospital, City/County of Atchison, and businesses by sharing ideas and plans to ensure the college’s community is continuing to practice healthy and safe behaviors on and off campus.

Care

It is important that all individuals on campus understand their responsibility for their personal health as well as other members of the campus community and the risks associated with participating in various types of campus activities.

Student Health/Counseling Services

To address an expected rise in physical and mental health needs of our student body, the College increased the hours of our Atchison Hospital provider (nurse practitioner) from 12 hrs./wk. to 20 hrs./wk. and hired an additional part-time registered nurse for the Student Health Center. Likewise, the College increased the available counseling hours for students from 108 hrs./wk. to 119 hrs./wk. and hired a part-time office manager for the Counseling Center.

To safeguard the health and well-being of students, the Student Health Center and Counseling Center staff ask that students call their office first rather than walking in to make an appointment or ask a question. New telehealth and tele counseling options will be provided to all Benedictine College students.

Additionally, Student Health Center staff will provide health monitoring for students who are in quarantine and isolation and provide periodic symptom monitoring for all students.

Positive Cases

Students who test positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate as directed by the Student Health Center staff until they have recovered. To help determine the risk of potential exposure to others on campus, the Atchison County Health Department (with the assistance of Student Health, if needed) will conduct contact tracking with the individual who has tested positive.

Recovery Strategy

Benedictine College is following the CDC’s recommended recovery strategy. If an individual had symptoms, recovery status is assigned when: 1) the individual remains fever-free without the use of fever reducers for 72 hours, 2) symptoms have improved, and 3) it has been at least 10 days since their symptoms first appeared. If an individual tested positive for COVID-19 but had no symptoms, the individual can be cleared to return 10 days after the test if the individual does not develop symptoms. If the individual develops symptoms, then the individual must follow the recovery strategy for those with symptoms. Notification for return to on-campus activities is directed through Student Health.

Quarantine and Isolation

The College is committed to ensuring all students can be cared for if they are ill or need to quarantine. Locations have been identified and protocols developed to properly care for students who have been exposed. These measures will allow the College to continue on-campus instruction while living within an environment where COVID-19 cannot be eliminated.

The CDC provides the following information about quarantining and isolation:

See Quarantine and Isolation FAQs.

Students will be asked if they are able to return to their permanent home for quarantine or isolation needs. If they are unable to do so, three area hotels in the City of Atchison (off-campus properties operated within the City of Atchison near campus) will be used for student isolation and quarantine spaces.

Student Health staff will work closely with students who are waiting on COVID test results. Students will be assigned to diagnostic quarantine and self-isolation housing, if needed, and monitored daily. Students will be relocated to facilities reserved specifically for this purpose if they are unable to return to their permanent home.

All isolated or quarantined students will be referred to the Student Success Center for accommodations and classroom support, including monitoring of exams. Additionally, Student Life and Student Health Center staff will work closely with Dining Services to deliver three daily meals to students in isolation and quarantine.

While off-campus students will likely complete any necessary isolation or quarantine time in their homes, College staff will check in with these patients daily as well and ensure the students have access to food and supplies.

Should an outbreak occur or public health conditions change significantly, the college will rely on our colleagues at the Atchison Hospital, as well as local, state and federal officials and public health guidelines, to help assess if we must send some or all students home.

Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfecting

The Benedictine College Operations department has augmented its normal cleaning procedures to address the additional cleaning needs brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic. This includes increased frequency of cleaning as well as deploying additional disinfecting procedures in high traffic areas, classrooms, campus dining facilities, and residence halls. High-touch surfaces are routinely disinfected, including door handles, restroom facilities, tables, desks, and chairs.

Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to regularly clean their residence hall rooms, offices, workspaces, and backpacks or briefcases. Wipe down commonly used surfaces: keypads, coffee makers, printers, anything with a handle, phones, etc. At a minimum, clean at the beginning and end of your workday or school day.

Together we can make a difference and reduce the risk of exposure to Coronavirus for all members of the Benedictine College Community.

Supplies

As the college welcomes students, faculty, and staff back to campus, it is vital to protect the health of everyone who returns. Each college department can request supplies to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19.

Assumption of Risk Notice

While the College is taking reasonable measures consistent with guidance from the CDC and local health officials to manage the risk of COVID-19, it is important for students and parents to understand that the College cannot eliminate the risk of COVID-19 exposure and infections on campus. With COVID-19 transmission continuing throughout Kansas, the Midwest, and nationally, it is possible that some students will be exposed to COVID-19 during the upcoming academic year and that infections will result. We are doing our best to prevent this, but students who attend the College this upcoming academic year must appreciate, understand, and accept that these risks simply cannot be eliminated.

For these reasons, we need students take responsibility for their own health and safety by following CDC and local health guidance regarding social distancing, hand-washing, and other measures students can personally take to mitigate the risk of exposure and transmission of this disease. Students who have an underlying condition that makes them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection should contact the College’s Student Success Center to discuss accommodations.

While we hope all of our students will be able to engage fully in our programs, students who are suspected or confirmed to have a COVID-19 infection may be required by the College to quarantine or isolate if recommended by guidance from the CDC or local health officials or as required by a medical provider. Such quarantine or isolation may require the student to leave campus and not participate in certain College programs and activities during the period of the quarantine or isolation. Whether to give refunds for room, board, tuition, or other fees based on quarantines, isolations, or campus closures will be in the College’s discretion.

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