COVID Protocols for Instructors

Jan 20, 2022 | Intercom

Dear Instructors,

With Spring semester underway and the prevalence of the omicron variant in our region, we’re experiencing an increase in reported COVID-19 cases in our campus community. In an effort to maintain a safe learning environment and improve the efficiency of contact tracing, we’d like to review our current protocols for what to do when a student or instructor tests positive:

If a student tests positive for COVID-19

• Report all positive (student) cases through NMC’s Red Flag incident reporting system:
  • Check “Health Concerns” in the questions section. 
  • Please include:
    • The best contact information for the student (cell and/or email)
    • The room number of your class
    • The time class met
    • Any other information related to unusually close or lengthy contact with additional students (i.e. lab partner)
• Please ask the student to contact NMC Health Services to expedite reporting and follow-up.
• To maintain student privacy, we strongly discourage notifying an entire classroom if a student in your classroom tests positive. 
• Health Services is responsible for contact tracing, focusing on close contacts since they are most at risk. Should the instructor choose to notify an entire class of a case in their classroom, it’s very important not to identify the student who tested positive. Exclude their name and other personally identifiable information.
• If Health Services is made aware of or discovers a student case before an instructor, they will notify the instructor as soon as possible. 
• If Health Services identifies multiple classroom cases, they will notify the instructor and arrange a meeting to assess the need to pivot to virtual instruction or cancel for a period of time.
• Instructors should contact Health Services immediately (via the Red Flag process outlined above) if multiple student cases are discovered by the faculty member first. (Please note this process will be discussed and refined at the Reimagining Committee meeting scheduled for 1-24-22.)

If an instructor tests positive for COVID-19

• The instructor should notify their supervisor and Human Resources (include Hollie DeWalt and Mark Liebling).
• Coursework may be temporarily cancelled, adjusted or shifted online at the discretion of the instructor during quarantine (generally 5 days unless symptoms persist).

Rapid testing resources

• Health Services provides free rapid testing services for all students. 
• Health Services also provides testing services to faculty and staff who experience on-the-job exposures. Due to limited resources, testing services are not available for employees who are exposed elsewhere in the community. 
• Free COVID-19 rapid-testing sites near you can be found here and are also available through COVIDtests.gov

Please also note the dates and locations of potential campus exposures are posted to NMC’s COVID-19 dashboard by 4 p.m. weekdays.

Thank you,

Troy Kierczynski
Vice President of Finance & Administration
Administrative Services
(231) 995-1147 | www.nmc.edu

COVID testing for NMC employees

Jan 17, 2022 | Intercom

New regulations for access to coverage on over-the-counter COVID-19 tests

Jan 14, 2022 | Intercom

Good afternoon,

The recent regulation that provides that the cost of over-the-counter-at-home tests be covered by health insurance providers came as a surprise. Our provider, Priority Health, is still working out the details for how this will be implemented for NMC and other employers Priority serves. The guidance we have at this time is “please advise members to keep a copy of their receipt and UPC code for any purchases of FDA approved at home COVID19 tests purchased from 1/15 on.”  We have been informed that Priority is working on a point-of-sale solution in order to provide us a better customer experience.  

We (HR) will provide updates to you as the situation progresses and information becomes available.  Thank you!

Mark

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Mark Liebling
AVP of Human Resources
1701 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 995-1342

New regulations introduced for access to coverage on over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for Commercial Group and Individual Market members.

To expand Americans’ access to COVID-19 testing, new regulations were introduced by the Biden-Harris Administration this week. Beginning January 15, 2022, individuals with private health insurance coverage or covered by a group health plan who purchase an over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic test (FDA approved) will be able to have those test costs covered 100% by their plan or insurance as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, as long as the emergency order remains in place.

What is covered under the regulations?

• Insurance companies and health plans are required to cover at no cost to the member 8 individual over-the-counter at-home tests per covered individual within a 30-day period without a prescription from a health care professional. This means a family of four, all on the same plan, can purchase up to 32 of these tests covered 100% by their health plan per month.
• COVID testing ordered by a health care professional when the test is medically necessary to diagnose and treat a patient’s symptoms continues to be covered 100%, with no member cost sharing applied and no limit to the number of tests.
• Workplace mandated testing is not covered.

How will this coverage work for Priority Health members?

• Priority Health is working on solutions including point of purchase with no upfront member out-of-pocket costs; however this is in partnership with our Pharmacy Benefits Manager, Express Scripts Intl (ESI) along with their network of pharmacies and will not be operational immediately.
• In the meantime, we’re also developing a direct member reimbursement solution that we’ll communicate more details soon.

Who is this for?

• All Individual Market and Commercial Group members, including self-funded and grandfathered. If an employer does not have pharmacy benefits through Priority Health, they’ll need to work with their Pharmacy Benefits Manager separately.

When can members start to purchase over-the-counter Covid tests for no cost?

• Coverage starts on at-home tests purchased as of Jan. 15, 2022. We anticipate availability of tests will still be limited based on the nationwide shortage and strain on the healthcare system, including pharmacies.

How will members know about this solution?

• Once we have a solution finalized, members will be able to access the most current information on COVID testing and coverage on http://www.priorityhealth.com/covid-19.

We are carefully reviewing and evaluating the new regulations to determine impact and implications. We’ll continue to keep you updated as we know more and finalize solutions.

COVID-19 updates & reminders

Jan 13, 2022 | Intercom

As we begin the spring semester, we’d like to provide you with updates and reminders regarding COVID-19 safety precautions. Our goals remain the same as they have since the pandemic began in March 2020: Keep our campus community safe while limiting the disruption to learning.

Masks:

• NMC’s requirement that everyone wear face masks while indoors on campus continues into the spring semester. We highly recommend students and employees use N95 or KN95 respirators.
• N95 or KN95 respirators will be made available for the campus community at the following designated locations during regular business hours:
  • Main Campus – Health Services (LB106)
  • Aero Park Campus – Parsons-Stulen Welcome Desk (PS104)
  • Great Lakes Campus – GLMA front desk or GLCI faculty suite
  • University Center – Extended Educational Services suite (main entrance)
• Surgical masks are provided at the entrances to all buildings and signage also informs students, faculty and staff and visitors.
• This video shows how to properly wear a face mask and other simple COVID precautions.

Cases on campus reporting:

• As announced in December, cases on campus will be reported via the COVID-19 Dashboard and no longer through campuswide emails. Links to the dashboard may be found on the NMC homepage, MyNMC page (top left corner) and in every issue of the Intercom and Student News email.
• A flowcharts for what to do if a student tests positive has been updated with the newest CDC-recommended quarantine criteria (generally, reduced from 10 to five days). The chart is available on the MyNMC page (top left corner) and on NMC’s COVID hub page.
• NMC will monitor cases on campus and take further action as necessary, such as the temporary shift to online learning that occurred for both Maritime and Law Enforcement programs in the fall semester.

Vaccination and testing:

Vaccines remain the best protection against COVID-19, especially against severe illness. Vaccines are widely available for ages 5 and up.

• NMC will host a free vaccination clinic from 1–4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24 in the Innovation Center. Visit vaccines.gov to find other locations.
• Testing is available by appointment from NMC Health Services if you are having symptoms or were exposed. Call 231-995-1255. Find other testing locations here (scroll to get tested if you have symptoms).
• We are awaiting the U.S. Supreme Court decision on vaccination and testing requirements for employers. NMC has been working with legal counsel to ensure the college remains in compliance with state and federal requirements. NMC is developing a system to obtain employee vaccination status so we will be ready to proceed when the requirements are confirmed.

Other resources:

• Updated 1/6/22 with the latest CDC guidance:
  • What to do if you test positive for COVID-19
  • What to do if you’re exposed to someone with COVID-19
  • How to count quarantine or isolation days after a positive test or exposure

nmc.edu/covid19 is NMC’s hub for all COVID information. Please use the feedback form found there if you have questions.

Release date: JANUARY 13, 2022

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Associate Vice President of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019

Sabbatical & Professional Development Leave Priorities

Jan 13, 2022 | Intercom

Dear colleagues:

It is encouraged to link your sabbatical and professional development leave proposals to one or more of the college strategic goals listed below, which have been presented to the Board of Trustees for their approval at their meeting on January 24, 2022, and/or the college mission.

Faculty Sabbatical Leave Requests – Faculty must submit endorsed requests electronically to the Center for Instructional Excellence (CIE) by January 17, 2022.  Endorsements required: three peers and the appropriate academic chair. The application form can be found here. Download the Guidelines/Criteria for Faculty Sabbatical Requests here.

On February 15, CIE forwards the applications to the Vice President for Educational Services, for prioritization by ESIMT.

Staff Sabbatical Leave – Salaried staff must submit endorsed requests to Mark Liebling, Associate Vice President of Human Resources, by January 31, 2022.  Endorsement required: appropriate executive staff officer.

The Associate Vice President of Human Resources will review staff applications in consultation with executive staff by March 1, 2022.

Final Disposition of Sabbatical Requests – By April 11, 2022, the Vice President for Educational Services will submit faculty recommendations and the Associate Vice President of Human Resources will submit staff recommendations to the President’s Office to include as a consent item on the Board agenda at their April 25, 2022, meeting.

Professional Development Leave Requests – Faculty must submit endorsed requests electronically to CIE by February 15, 2022.  Endorsement required:  the appropriate academic chair. Staff requests should be reviewed as a part of annual goal planning. For both faculty and staff, professional development activities may only be approved as funds are available and budgeted for this purpose.

For more information regarding sabbatical and professional development policies and procedures see Staff HR Policies D-753.00, D-753.01, D-753.02, and D-753.03 and Faculty Chair and Faculty Collective Bargaining Agreements Articles XVII and XVII.

Any additional questions can be addressed to Human Resources (ext. 5-2612) or the Center for Instructional Excellence (ext. 5-1046).

Strategic Goals

Future-Focused Education
Enhance offerings through flexible academic pathways, innovative instructional delivery models and relevant, hands-on educational experiences to empower global learners for the future.

Student Engagement and Success
Develop and deliver comprehensive support services, robust engagement opportunities and a vibrant collegiate experience to foster learner success, goal completion and employability.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Cultivate an inclusive environment that fosters a sense of belonging and delivers equitable opportunities so all are able to thrive and succeed.

Community Partnerships and Engagement
Enhance collaborations that advance community engagement, economic and workforce development and innovative opportunities for lifelong learning.

Institutional Distinction and Sustainability
Leverage distinctive programs that strengthen institutional sustainability and expand global connections for our learners and communities.

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President’s Office
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI
Phone: (231) 995-1010