Sharing updated information with the Simpson College community is vital in ensuring the health and wellness of the Simpson Family. You can visit the Simpson College COVID–19 webpage for additional information and updates.
Protocol Education
Simpson College realizes that one key to the entire Simpson community adhering to the guidelines and protocols that have been implemented below is understanding how COVID-19 is spread, the symptoms and risks of COVID-19, and being familiar with Simpson’s new protocols. Therefore, a mandatory Moodle Course has been created that will speak to these areas as well as bystander intervention practices to help empower everyone to directly address situations in which we see people not following guidelines. For our protocols to be effective, the entire Simpson community must come together and move forward as #ONESimpson.
General
All current information and timely updates can be found at simpson.edu/covid19. Information will also be posted on the college’s social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
The college also maintains and responds to all questions submitted the email address: COVIDResponse@simpson.edu.
Health and Well-Being
Wash your hands often
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- It’s especially important to wash:
- Before eating or preparing food
- Before touching your face
- After using the restroom
- After leaving a public place
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- After handling your cloth face covering
- After changing a diaper
- After caring for someone sick
- After touching animals or pets
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact
Inside your home/residence hall:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
- Outside your home/residence hall: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
- Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
- Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people.
- Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk.
Cover your mouth and nose with a face cover when around others
- You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
- The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
- Everyone should wear a cloth face cover in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
- Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
Cover coughs and sneezes
- Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
- Do not spit.
- Throw used tissues in the trash.
- Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Clean and disinfect
- Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.
- If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
- Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work.
Monitor Your Health Daily
- Simpson College will require all students, faculty and staff that will be on campus to monitor and report their health via a Moodle Check-in.
Academics
Simpson College plans to return to face-to-face instruction for fall 2020. Various protocols to protect the safety of the students, faculty and staff are in place, including:
- All classrooms have been assessed to indicate available seating to ensure social distancing can be met.
- Classrooms must be at 50% of fire code capacity while in Orange phase.
- Hand sanitizer stations have been installed in all classrooms.
- Cleaning products are stocked in each classroom to be used in addition to twice daily scheduled cleanings.
- Masks or face shields are required in classrooms.
- Non-teaching computer labs will be closed during Orange phase.
- Students will be able to remote in to needed software to complete coursework.
- Students may contact Information Technology Services if they do not have a computer to explore loaner options.
Campus Activities and Events
No gatherings of any size are allowed if six-foot. social distance is not possible, unless explicitly approved by the Crisis Management Team.
- Meetings/events, even one-on-one, will happen virtually.
- Student organizations are encouraged to host virtual events, meetings and speakers.
Housing
- Prior to move-in, all rooms are being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected following CDC guidelines.
- Move-in protocols have been developed to limit the number of guests that can be in the residence hall at one time.
Dining
Orange phase:
- All meals will be grab-and-go from both Pfeiffer Dining Hall and Kent Campus Center.
- In Pfeiffer, a set traffic pattern, including separate entrance and exit, and queuing pace will be laid out to ensure social distancing.
- Kent will be arranged to maximize the greatest possible social distancing.
- In all venues, self-serve options such as fountain soda will be replaced by pre-packaged or served foods and beverages.
- No personal, refillable containers will be allowed.
- All students and employees are required to wear masks while in the dining facility to obtain meals.
Yellow phase:
- Grab-and-go options will remain available
- Limited seating in Pfeiffer and Kent will be available for family units
- Dining groupings of family units will remain at least 6 feet apart.
- All students and employees are required to wear masks except when dining at a table with family unit.
Isolation/Quarantine Protocols
We know that, even with everyone in the Simpson community closely adhering to our health protocols, there is a chance that someone will contract COVID-19. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you will be required to isolate. If you have been exposed to someone that has tested positive for COVID-19, you will be required to quarantine. Key elements of isolation/quarantine include:
- Students required to isolate/quarantine will be encouraged to do so at home. If unable to return home, for any variety of reasons, student will follow the on campus protocol explained below:
- Temporarily move to a space on campus set aside for isolation/quarantine.
- Spaces set aside for isolation/quarantine provide access to private or minimally-shared bathrooms.
- Food will be delivered to students at their on-campus place of isolation/quarantine.
- Health Services will provide basic supplies as needed including Tylenol, disposable thermometers and sanitizers.
- Regular check-ins with Health Services will be required including assistance with medication and insurance issues.
- Students will receive support from Health Services during isolation and quarantine.
- ALL PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.
Other
Yes, we welcome prospective students and their families to campus for visits. All visits must be pre-arranged by calling 515-961-1624. Face masks must be worn while visiting campus.