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Dear SDSU Faculty Members,

With instruction underway, we want to take this opportunity to once again thank you for your dedication to our students.

We are writing to share additional information about health and safety guidelines in place to protect our students and each of you, as you provide in-person instruction. Please read this complete message carefully, as it has important information relevant to you and requires actions.

Temperature Checks to be Conducted

Effective Wednesday, Aug. 26, instructors leading face-to-face courses must administer student temperature checks before face-to-face class sessions. We understand that some may not feel comfortable doing so, in which case please speak with your Dean’s Office as soon as possible. They will be able to assist in identifying a designee who is able to provide temperature checks.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as public health authorities in the county and state have indicated that due to the community spread of COVID-19, temperature checks should be taken as a precaution. SDSU’s health director has reviewed and approved the requirements and protocols established for temperature checks on our campus, consistent with requirements from San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

SDSU will provide infrared thermometers (NCITs) that allow you to have no contact when taking temperature readings of individuals. If NCITs have not yet been delivered, it is the responsibility of chairs and directors to provide requests to their associate deans. To obtain supplies, associate deans may then contact Associate Vice President for Business Operations Eric Hansen by emailing [email protected].

How to Use NCITs

We ask that individuals who lead the individual in-person course, whether a teaching assistant, instructional faculty member or staff member, take the temperature reading of each individual before they come into the class setting. During this process, please encourage students not to cluster together, and to maintain a distance of six feet between others. Also, as a reminder, students and employees on campus must wear a facial covering.

Temperature checks should occur with no contact infrared thermometers (NCITs). Do not encourage students to use the device to take their own temperature, as handling a common thermometer could transmit viruses. Do not record any temperature readings.

For further guidance about how to capture temperature readings follow the directions included with the thermometer. Many NCITs are pre-set to register an “alarm” at 100.4 F--the CDC standard for COVID-19 screening. Following San Diego County Safe Reopening requirements, SDSU has set a more stringent temperature standard at 100.0 F. You may use the temperature readout to assess whether a student meets SDSU’s 100.0 F standard, or you may reset the “alarm” using these directions.

After the Reading

Students can be admitted to face-to-face instructional spaces only if their temperature is below 100.0 degrees fahrenheit. If a student registers a temperature of 100.0 degrees or higher, they may rest in a low or no traffic area, ideally in a cool area, at a minimum distance of six feet and while wearing a facial covering. Recheck their temperature after 15 minutes.

If a student refuses to have their temperature taken, students should be told that they cannot attend class for the day. If the student refuses to leave, or enters the class, the instructor has the authority to end the class session and report the student to the SDSU Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities for follow-up by calling 619-594-3069. If the student refuses to leave class and displays violent or aggressive behavior, instructors should contact University Police by calling 619-594-1991.

Temperature and health screeners are considered to be Campus Security Authorities (CSA). A CSA, per the Jeanne Clery Act, is an individual on the university campus who has a responsibility to report learned crimes to either the University Police or the Clery Coordinator. To report a crime, please contact the University Police Department by calling 619-594-1991. To remain anonymous, you may contact SDSU Clery Coordinator, Kayli Singer by emailing [email protected]. Should you have any issues reporting a crime, you may also contact University Police Lt. Greg Robertson at [email protected].

Other Resources

As a reminder, the SDSU Campus Repopulation site (which is the Guide to Returning to Work Sharepoint site) has launched to serve as a centralized repository for COVID-19-related information to benefit all employees. There, you will find tools, resources and contact information. Included is the COVID-19 case reporting form, a form to report non-compliance concerns, and also a form to report student incidents, such as examples of students potentially violating public health orders.

Thank you for placing health and safety at the center of focus as we work together to provide an exceptional university experience to our students.

Salvador Hector Ochoa, Ph.D.
San Diego State University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Joanna Brooks, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Faculty Advancement and Student Success

Libby Skiles, Ed.D.
Student Health Services Director