Dear SDSU Community,

As we prepare for the start of the Fall 2020 semester under our SDSU Flex plan, we are sharing important reminders for those planning to return to campus.

Before Your Initial Return to Campus:

If you will be returning to campus, we encourage you to review SDSU’s Guide to Returning to Work. This document provides comprehensive information about SDSU’s workplace policies and protocols. You should also review your college/departmental/research repopulation plan to understand the specific protocols that will be in place in your work environment. If you have not received a copy of this plan, you should contact your supervisor or department chair.

Consistent with our accommodation process, medical certification will be required if an accommodation is requested. Employees may request an accommodation or leave of absence by emailing the Office of Employee Relations and Compliance at [email protected] or if employed through an auxiliary, your respective auxiliary HR department.

Each Day Before You Come to Work:

Complete a symptom check at home prior to coming to campus. You can review SDSU’s Health Questionnaire, or you can utilize one of the many third party apps available for use on a smartphone.

• If you have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 or if you are caring for a family member who has tested positive or is presumed positive, DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS.
  
  
• If you are experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19 or if you feel ill, DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS.
  
  

If you have symptoms, contact your medical provider for assessment and possible COVID-19 testing.

If you have symptoms, are caring for someone with COVID-19, or if you have had contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, contact your supervisor via phone and/or email as soon as practical to notify them of your COVID-related absence and to receive further instructions on leave and access to testing or other support services.

You can contact Benefits Services at (619) 594-1144 if you have specific questions about available leave for COVID-19 related absences. If you are an auxiliary employee, please contact your respective HR department for assistance.

Each Day When You Arrive at Work:

Everyone must wear a facial covering while on campus or any campus property, and you must put on your facial covering before entering campus.

• If you are inside, wear a facial covering. If you are outside, wear a facial covering.
  
  
• You may remove your facial covering in the following limited situations:
  
  
• If you are alone in a private office; or
  
  
• If you are actively eating/drinking and no one is within six (6) feet of you.
  
  
• If you forget, damage or lose your facial covering while on campus, masks are widely available across campus. If you are having trouble locating one, contact your department director or college dean’s office for information on how to obtain a temporary facial covering for use while on campus that day.
  
  

Complete a Temperature Check Before Starting Work

All faculty and staff are required to complete a temperature check before starting work.

• Consult with your college or department or unit specific for protocols for temperature checks.
  
  
• If a thermometer is not available, you will be directed to conduct a health screening utilizing SDSU’s Health Questionnaire.
  
  
• If you have a temperature or if you answer yes to any items on the Health Questionnaire, you will be directed to leave campus immediately.
  
  

Wash Your Hands

When you arrive at your work location, you are encouraged to wash your hands.

• The CDC recommends employees protect themselves from respiratory illness with everyday preventive actions, including good hand hygiene.
  
  
• Employees should wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol (and no methanol alcohol) if soap and water are not readily available.

Everyday While Working On Campus or A SDSU Property:

Wear a facial covering that covers your nose and your mouth. Facial coverings are required on campus, so put it on and keep it on.

Stay at least six (6) feet away from others. Maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet from others.

• If six (6) feet physical distancing cannot be maintained due to operational need or for safety reasons, consult with Environmental Health and Safety to ensure that other practices are incorporated to increase safety.
  
  

Follow posted traffic flow signs and occupancy limitations.

• Traffic flow patterns have been posted in building hallways and classrooms and it is important to follow these directional signs.
  
  
• Occupancy limits for conference rooms and other communal areas should be posted and followed.
  
  
• Do not participate in unnecessary gatherings. Do not congregate with others. Faculty and staff should not congregate in hallways or offices. Do not eat lunch or take breaks with others unless you are maintaining at least six (6) feet physical distancing.
  
  

Wash your hands frequently. Wash your hands or utilize hand sanitizer often and especially in the following situations:

• After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing;
  
  
• Before, during, and after preparing food;
  
  
• After using the restroom;
  
  
• After touching garbage;
  
  
• Before and after the work shift;
  
  
• Before and after work breaks; and/or
  
  
• After touching objects that have been handled by customers.
  
  

Clean your workstation and shared equipment and surfaces before and after each use. Faculty and staff should utilize the provided sanitizing supplies to clean their areas before and after use.

• Faculty and students are responsible for cleaning their personal workstations (including smart classroom consoles) before and after face to face classes and labs.
  
  
• In office spaces, faculty and staff should clean any shared equipment, spaces and surfaces before and after use.

At All Times, Encourage Compliance Through Education

A shared commitment to health and safety requires a shared commitment to educating the campus community on SDSU’s policies and protocols.

We must each take daily steps, and personal accountability, to ensure individual wellbeing and community health. Consider signing the SDSU Health Commitment, a volunteer pledge to take responsibility for your own health and also demonstrate a commitment to behaviors in support of community health.

Reporting Resources

Please also report non-compliance issues and positive COVID-19 test result among those on campus:

• Individuals can report faculty and/or staff non-compliance by submitting an online report. Reports of non-compliance by faculty and/or staff will be reviewed by Employee Relations and Compliance, Academic Labor Relations, and Environmental Health and Safety, or the respective auxiliary points of contact. Failure to follow these protocols may result in progressive discipline (i.e., counseling, reprimand, possible suspension, etc.).
  
  
• Please report any positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed by a test by filling out the COVID-19 Reporting Form.
  
  

Jessica Rentto, J.D.
SDSU Associate Vice President for Administration