AUCC Covid-19 Playbook

Expectations, Testing and Monitoring, Isolation & Quarantine, Contact Tracing

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Greetings Colleagues of the Atlanta University Center Consortium:

I want to thank everyone for following so diligently the protocols to maintain the health and wellness of our campus communities during this period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The news from Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, and the Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) is good. Your steadfast adherence to our protocols has resulted in an outstanding vaccination rate of nearly 90-percent across the AUCC. Additionally, COVID-19 infection rates have remained below one percent for this semester.

However, as you are aware, conditions within the larger environment of Fulton County and the State of Georgia necessitate continual attention and updates to our protocols. For instance, the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as the dominant factor in rising rates of hospitalization and severe illness. As a result of these conditions we may need to update the protocols quickly in response. This document may lag behind the actual changes. Please be patient with document updates. Your continuing compliance with our protocols to help maintain the incredible outcomes is greatly appreciated.

We ensure that protocols are up to date and based on firmly established scientific guidance by continually reviewing data from the Fulton County Department of Health, the CDC, and the information collected with support from our colleagues at the Morehouse School of Medicine. And, if there is a case of virus among an employee or student, we have trained public health professionals, contact tracers, and assistance from the Morehouse School of Medicine to engage appropriate processes to maintain a safe environment. These professionals are fully aware of all the HIPPA and FERPA regulations related to privacy of both personal health information and student records.

Again, our campus community is doing great! Please continue your diligence by properly wearing your mask where required (gently remind others), remember the simple hygiene practices, and follow our testing protocols. If you are one of the few who is not vaccinated, GET VACCINATED. You are carrying out your responsibilities not only to the campus, but also to your families as well as the larger community to combat the spread of this very dangerous virus.

Best regards,

Michael E. Hodge, Ph.D.
Executive Director

INTRODUCTION:

The Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) member institutions – Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, and the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library – has required all students to be fully vaccinated and members of their faculties and staffs to be fully vaccinated by the beginning of the 2021 fall semester. Each institution will review requests for medical and religious/strongly held convictions exemptions on a case-by-case basis.  Each campus has developed processes for documenting vaccination status.  We continue to operate with the safety and well-being of the AUCC community at the forefront of our decision making. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines guidance encouraging citizens to understand the importance of getting vaccinated to protect oneself and others as we combat the threat of COVID-19 spreading and producing new variants. At the time of this printing, the COVID-19 virus is resurging with the delta variant predominate. Additionally, the vast majority of the serious illnesses and deaths from COVID-19 are among the unvaccinated. The AUCC member institutions align with this science-based guidance in putting forth this notice.

As Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) member institutions welcome groups of students and employees back to our campuses for the 2021-22 academic year, it is important to understand health and safety protocols designed to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. These protocols are informed by guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health, Fulton County Board of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While these protocols are detailed, the effectiveness of these plans are dependent upon adherence by all members of the AUCC community who accept responsibility for their own safety as well as the safety of others. Because the public health environment may change, these guidelines may be amended should conditions and public health responses dictate.

AUCC health and safety protocols include:  

  • Faculty, staff, and student expectations
  • Vaccination requirements and exemptions
  • COVID-19 testing (pre-arrival testing, arrival testing, and frequent surveillance testing)
  • Contact tracing
  • Isolation and quarantine processes
  • Daily self-monitoring
Please review the information that follows carefully and completely.
Table of Contents

Student and Employee Expectations:

  • Students and employees, regardless of vaccination status, must properly wear face masks in all indoor (apart from their personal residential dorm room, single occupancy offices) and all outdoor spaces where groups may congregate until further guidance from our science team (expected by October 11, 2021—when students return from fall break and complete the campus-wide PCR testing protocols).  Masking is also required for the entire semester when attending large or crowded gatherings (e.g.: stadium/arena events). The mask must cover the mouth and nose. Face shields do NOT replace mask wearing. Students and employees who choose to wear a face shield, must also wear a mask that covers the mouth and nose.
  • Physical Distancing: Crowded settings still present a greater risk of transmission. Students and employees, regardless of vaccination status, are expected to observe physical distancing of at least 6 feet. In classroom settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained, masking is required for all students and employees, regardless of vaccination status. This means that no food or drinks are allowed in the classrooms and research or teaching labs—as masks must not be removed.
  • Testing: AUCC member institutions require all unvaccinated  persons and those not fully vaccinated to submit a negative Covid-19 PCR test result 5 days before their arrival for move in (residential students), the first day of classes (commuter students), or first day of work (employees).  The AUCC epidemiologist will closely monitor the incidences of COVID-19 on each campus, which includes ongoing regular antigen (rapid) and/or PCR COVID-19 testing for all campus stakeholders, with varying frequency for vaccinated and unvaccinated employees, students who live on campus, commuter students, student athletes, and others who work on campus or otherwise have a regular presence on campus. Due to the increasing hospitalization rates and increasing incidence of the Delta variant in the region and our county, we will increase surveillance testing.  All faculty, staff, and students, regardless of vaccination status must submit to weekly antigen rapid testing.  Additionally, the epidemiologist has created a procedure to gather randomized samplings of the campuses for weekly PCR testing.
  • Isolation and Quarantine: Students and employees are required to comply with institutional policies when quarantine, isolation, and/or preventative health-related measures become necessary.
  • Contact Tracing: Students and employees are expected to comply with all contact tracing efforts undertaken by their institution in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Public Health.
  • Symptom Monitoring: Students and employees are required to conduct daily personal health screening, including temperature checks.

Student Pre-Arrival Checklist

The Pre-Arrival Checklist pertains to all unvaccinated students (those individuals receiving an approved medical/religious/strongly held belief exemption) attending in-person classes, including both those living on campus and those living off campus. The checklist includes the following tasks:

Students are considered fully vaccinated:

  • 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
  • 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
  • If you do not meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated.
  • Previous infection with COVID-19 DOES NOT indicate a vaccinated status. Individuals are required to be fully vaccinated to access the campus.

Pre-arrival COVID testing

  1. In order to reduce the possibility of a student arriving on campus for the semester while they are COVID-19 positive, AUCC member institutions require that students test negative very close to their arrival for move in (residential students), or the first day of classes (commuter students).

Prior to arrival on campus for move-in, students living on campus are required to take a COVID-19 PCR test AND receive a negative result within a time period beginning no earlier than 5 days before their move-in date. To meet the requirement, the student cannot take the test prior to 5 days before they move in, and must receive and submit the result of their test before arriving on campus to move in. For example, a student moving in on Friday cannot take their PCR test before Monday of that same week and must receive and submit a negative test result prior to arriving on Friday. In the same manner, commuter students must take a COVID-19 PCR test and receive a negative result within a time period beginning no earlier than 5 days before the first day of classes.

  • What is a PCR test?
    A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test detects the COVID-19 virus by searching for the presence of ribonucleic acid (RNA), the virus’s basic genetic material, inside a person. The virus’s RNA will be present only if a person is currently infected. The PCR test differs from an antibody test. An antibody test can be used to determine if a person has had the virus in the past by examining a person’s bloodstream for the presence of a specific antibody produced by the body’s immune system to defend against the virus.
  • Where can students get a PCR test?
    PCR-based testing is generally available through many sources, including private physician offices (where there may be a charge), and county or parish departments of public health (where they are generally free). To receive testing within the required testing window, students are strongly encouraged to schedule tests well in advance, as appointment times may not be available for several days due to high demand.
    • Georgia residents may use this link to schedule a test through county health departments.
    • Non-Georgia residents may use this link to find the nearest COVID-19 testing locations.
    • If there are no testing sites available, students should contact their Office of Student Affairs to receive alternative options (i.e. instructions on mail kit to home).
  1. Students should submit pre-arrival COVID-19 PCR test results to the designated contact in the Office of Student Affairs. All results are covered under the HIPAA Privacy Rule requiring protection and confidentiality of any personal health information.
  • All AUCC institutions have committed to a zero-tolerance approach to noncompliance related to COVID-related policies.
  • Failure to submit PCR testing prior to arrival will result in a delay of the student move-in date, inability to access campus buildings and facilities until the test is complete and test results received. In this instance, the student will be responsible for identifying and paying for their own lodging, meal, and other expenses.
  • Students who have not submitted a PCR test prior to arrival will need to schedule an appointment with the Georgia Department of Health for a COVID-19 test to complete onboarding. This will delay move-in and access to campus for classes.
  1. Within the two weeks prior to campus arrival, if a student tests positive for COVID-19, has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or has been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, the student must: ) stay home and delay arrival until the recommended isolation/quarantine period is complete; 2.) receive a negative Covid-19 PCR test result; 3.) receive clearance from his/her institution’s Student Affairs Office before returning to campus.
  2. Prior to retuning to campus, all students are required to complete an online training called “Safe Start Guide” and take an AUC Safety Pledge. This training will provide information on AUCC COVID-19 guidelines and shared responsibilities, as well as strategies for limiting the spread of COVID-19. All students are required to complete the training.

Employee Pre-Arrival Checklist

Pre-arrival COVID testing

  1. In order to reduce the possibility of a faculty or staff member reporting for work during the fall semester while they are COVID-19 positive, AUCC member institutions require that unvaccinated (those individuals receiving an approved medical/religious/strongly held belief exemption) employees test negative before reporting to work for the first time during the semester.

Employees are considered fully vaccinated:

  • 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
  • 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
  • If you do not meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated.
  • Previous infection with COVID-19 DOES NOT indicate a vaccinated status. Individuals are required to be fully vaccinated to access the campus.

Prior to reporting to work, employees are required to take a COVID-19 PCR test AND receive a negative result within a time period beginning no earlier than five days before they report to work. To meet the requirement, the employee cannot take the test prior to five days before they report to work and must receive and submit the result of their test before arriving on campus for work. For example, an employee reporting to work on Friday cannot take their PCR test any earlier than Monday of that same week and must receive and submit a negative test result prior to arriving on Friday.

  • Georgia residents may use this link to schedule a test through county health departments.
  • Non-Georgia residents may use this link to find the nearest COVID-19 testing locations.
  • Employees may consult their private physician to obtain testing where insurance may or may not apply.
  1. Employees should submit pre-arrival COVID-19 PCR test results to the designated contact in the Office of Human Resources. All results are covered under the HIPAA Privacy Rule requiring protection and confidentiality of any personal health information.
  2. Within the two weeks before returning to campus, employees who test positive for COVID-19, have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 must stay home and contact the designated human resources staff member for further direction.
  3. Prior to returning to campus, all employees are required to review the AUCC COVID-19 guidelines and shared responsibilities, as well as strategies for limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Student and Employee Testing Process and Frequency

Mitigating the spread of COVID-19 means closely monitoring the incidences of COVID-19 on each campus.  This includes ongoing regular testing for all campus stakeholders, with varying frequency for employees, students who live on campus, commuter students, student athletes, and others who work on campus or otherwise have a regular presence on campus. Some of this testing may occur through self-administered tests, in which a student or employee collects specimen samples from their own bodies (usually through a nasal swab https://www.color.com/self-swab-instructions) that can be used to indicate the possible presence of COVID-19. The process for collecting and submitting specimen samples through self-administered tests is simple, not painful, and streamlined to take approximately one to two minutes (self-swab instructions will be provided in “Safe Start Guide training and AUCC COVID-19 guidelines). In general, the self-administered testing process is as follows:

  • Fully vaccinated students and employees: PCR test every 6 weeks; institutions will facilitate testing.
  • Unvaccinated students and employees: PCR test every 7 days or rapid test twice a week; institutions will facilitate testing.
  • Vaccinated and unvaccinated student-athletes should follow testing frequency established by the NCAA (or whichever are stricter).
  • Residential and nonresidential students, faculty and staff will be assigned days on which they must undertake specimen collection.
  • Test kits will be made available and instructions on how to self-administer a specimen collection will be provided.
  • Specimen collection submission locations will be available at each AUCC campus.
  • Test results are returned via email or text within 36-48 hours after a specimen has been picked up at a submission location.
  • Students and employees with inconclusive results should retest themselves within 48 hours of notification. Residential students should retest at their designated campus location and employees should contact their respective Office of Human Resources for further guidance.
  • Test results are not shared publicly and are used as data to understand overall positivity rates.
  • Testing not obtained through the AUCC must be PCR tests taken in compliance with the AUCC testing frequency protocol.

HEIGHTENED TESTING PROTOCOLS (adopted 8/25/21—COP)

Fulton County is experiencing spikes in COVID-19 cases resulting in increased hospitalizations (mostly among unvaccinated individuals) and reductions in available bed spaces for sick individuals. This raises concerns for our community in the event any of our employees or students would need hospitalization (including any circumstances unrelated to COVID-19). In order to more closely monitor and mitigate any potential spread into the AUCC campus community, we will be implementing the following testing regimen (the COVID-19 task for will continually monitor the data from these test results and make appropriate adjustments):

Student and Employee Contact Tracing

Contact tracing will be coordinated by the AUCC epidemiologist in order to share resources and related expenses which are billed to the institutions. Reporting to the AUCC epidemiologist, certified contact tracers will work as needed to perform tracing responsibilities. Additional contact tracing support will be provided if needed.

  • Contact Tracers: AUCC contact tracers will conduct contact tracing for students. Additionally, each campus should designate one or more staff members in its Office of Human Resources to coordinate contact tracing services among faculty and staff with the assistance of the AUCC epidemiologist.
  • Referral to Isolation and Quarantine: Each campus has dedicated isolation spaces for residential students should the need arise. Upon identification of an infected student, the AUCC epidemiologists’ team will notify the student’s close contacts with quarantine guidance. Upon identification of an infected employee, the human resources designee will notify the employee’s close contacts with quarantine guidance.

Student and Employees Self-Quarantine

During the semester, unvaccinated (approved religious/medical exemptions) students and employees may be required to self-quarantine. The AUCC identifies two types of self-quarantine:

  1. Exposure quarantine; and
  2. The pause and prepare period

Students and employees are required to comply with institutional policies when quarantine, isolation, and/or preventative health-related measures become necessary.

Students and Employees must strictly adhere to these requirements:

  • Exposure self-quarantine applies to unvaccinated students and employees who have come into close physical contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 and have not submitted proof of COVID-19 vaccination (please see CDCs fully-vaccinated definition). The length of quarantine will be determined by the last date of exposure.
  • The pause and prepare period applies to students only. In the event of an increase in COVID-19 cases among residential students, institution(s) may pause all non-essential activities to control the spread of COVID-19.
  1. Exposure Self-Quarantine
  • The AUCC epidemiologist will develop an algorithm to notify campuses of students needing to quarantine due to exposure.
  • Through contact tracing efforts coordinated by the AUCC, unvaccinated students who have come into close contact with someone known to have tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to quarantine in their room or move to a temporary housing assignment for minimum of 7 Student health services representatives and staff from the Office of Student Affairs will provide support to these students during this quarantine period.
  • If students must leave their room during exposure self-quarantine: they must always wear a mask and strictly follow protocols for physical distancing.
  • Each campus will provide support services such as dining, educational continuity, and counseling for students in quarantine.
  • When in quarantine, students should not return to classes, attend athletic events or gatherings of any size until they receive clearance from the designated campus staff member.
  • Students in quarantine will have daily wellness check-ins by phone, through email, or in person with institutional student health service professionals who will report any concerns to the AUCC Health and Wellness Primary Care team.
  • While in quarantine, students should monitor for symptomsconsistent with COVID-19. If symptoms develop, students should contact their institutional student health service professional to relocate to isolation housing.
  • Students should test twice per week while in quarantine; and, upon returning to campus they must provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test result. When a negative test result is confirmed, students will have completed exposure quarantine and will receive written clearance from campus personnel indicating that they can return to in-person classes and campus interaction.
  • Students may quarantine off campus; however, they must submit a negative covid-19 PCR test result upon returning to campus.
  • Vaccinated students and employees who have come into close physical contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 must take a PCR test 3-5 days after exposure and wear a mask until they have received a negative result.
  • Through contact tracing efforts coordinated by their institutions’ HR departments, unvaccinated employees who have come into close contact with someone known to have tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to quarantine off campus for minimum of 7 days.
  • Upon returning to campus unvaccinated employees must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. When a negative test result is confirmed, employees will have completed exposure quarantine and will receive notification from campus personnel indicating that they can return to campus.
  1. Pause and Prepare Period
  • During this time, all non-essential campuses activities will be suspended. All residential students will shelter in place in their rooms, only leaving for essential activities, (meals or to use bathroom facilities, etc.). If students must leave their rooms, they must always wear a mask and follow protocols for physical distancing.
  • Campuses will develop clear schedules for meals and food service during the pause and prepare period to mitigate COVID-19 spread and to assist with contact tracing.
  • Students will monitor symptoms daily using a digital symptom tracker. If symptoms develop consistent with COVID-19, the student must notify medical personnel.
  • Students will test periodically during pause and prepare using the Abbott Rapid Ag test. Results from this test will be used to establish the initial positivity rate baseline for the campus community.
  • Students may quarantine off campus, however, they must submit a negative Covid-19 PCR test result upon returning to campus.

Student Self-Isolation

Isolation differs from quarantine in that it pertains to individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have experienced symptoms consistent with COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status. With respect to the student processes at the AUCC:

  • The AUCC epidemiologist will develop an algorithm to notify campuses of students needing isolation due to positive COVID-19 test results.
  • The AUCC Student Health and Wellness Center, in consultation with the respective institutional Health Care service professionals, will provide medical care for isolated students, including counseling and emotional support.
  • During isolation, students will relocate to a temporary housing assignment for a minimum of 10 days, leaving only for an urgent medical need or a life-threatening emergency.
  • Each campus will provide support services (dining, educational continuity) for isolated students.
  • Students in isolation will have daily wellness check-ins by phone, through email, or in person with institutional student health service professionals who will report any concerns to the AUCC Health and Wellness Primary Care team.
  • When in isolation, students should not return to campus, classes, or participate in or attend any athletic events or other social or civic gatherings until they receive written clearance from a designated campus official.
  • While in isolation, students should continue to self-monitor for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 including taking temperatures at least twice daily. (It will be important to note whether symptoms are improving or degrading.)
  • No earlier than 10 days after symptom onset, a student can discontinue isolation if the following conditions are met:
  • Resolution of fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications;
  • Improvement of symptoms; and
  • Obtain negative result from a rapid Ag test

Student and Employee Medical Care

AUCC Student Health and Wellness physicians, in consultation with institutional student health service professionals, will assess and manage student medical treatment.  AUCC campus nurses will provide ongoing care to help with diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

  • The AUCC Student Health and Wellness Center’s (SHWC) Primary Care Team will have regular student health updates with the nursing staff on each campus. Services will include the following: 1) telehealth visits coordinated between the SHWC Primary Care Team and nursing staff on each AUC campus; 2) after-hours on-call answering service available to AUCC students in isolation or quarantined students; and 3) isolated and quarantine students may receive in-person follow-up visits deemed medically necessary by the SHWC Primary Care Team.
  • AUCC campus nurses will provide the initial assessment of all students diagnosed or exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection. AUCC campus nurses will notify the AUCC Student Health and Wellness Center Primary Care Team of any students needing a tele-health visit.
  • Symptomatic residential students should immediately return to their room and contact their institutional student health service professional. The medical team will determine if the student requires an in-person examination and, if necessary, will schedule a face-to-face visit with The AUCC Student Health and Wellness Center’s (SHWC) Primary Care Team.
  • If immediate medical attention is required for isolated students who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are experiencing deteriorating medical conditions, campuses will utilize their established emergency management protocols (911-EMS). This determination will be made by campus health personnel in consultation with the AUCC Student Health and Wellness Center Primary Care Team.
  • The AUCC Student Health and Wellness Center Primary Care Team will provide medical evaluation for all students who continue to test positive after completing at least 10 days of isolation.
  • Employees who test positive for COVID-19, who are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection or who are named as a “close contact” should: 1) stay home and isolate/quarantine themselves from others; 2) notify their human resources department; and 3) consult their private physician for instructions.
  • Employees who continue to test positive after completing at least 10 days of isolation must be evaluated by a medical professional. Upon returning to campus, employees must: 1) provide a note from a medical professional stating the employees can return to campus; and 2) receive approval from the institutions before returning to campus.
  • Employees and students who need to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment please call 404-752-1000 (employees), or 404-756-1241 (students).Vaccinations are available at Morehouse Healthcare – 455 Lee Street SW, 2nd Floor Atlanta, GA 30310 for employees, and AUCC Student Health and Wellness Center- 455 Lee Street SW, 3rd Floor Atlanta, GA 3031

Campus Screening Tool

Anyone accessing an AUCC campus (including the Woodruff Library) is expected to complete a web-based questionnaire relating to symptoms and possible exposure to COVID-19. This includes students, faculty, and staff. This is for educational purposes only; the objective is to ensure campus communities are aware of COVID-19 symptoms.

  • Students and employees are expected to complete a daily symptom checker prior to attending on-campus work, programming, or activities, including classes.
  • Students and employees in the AUCC community using a daily symptom checker are expected to provide truthful answers to the questionnaire.
  • Students and employees in the AUCC community who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should stay home or in their residence room and consult with their medical provider, the institutional student health service professionals, and/or the AUCC Student Health and Wellness Center.
  • Students and employees who do not have symptoms are cleared to come to campus.

Monitoring

It is imperative that we aggressively monitor our campuses to limit the potential for COVID-19 spread.  Key elements of the monitoring process are frequent testing within the AUCC community and the timely reporting of results.

  • Each AUCC institution will ensure all Rapid Ag COVID-19 test results are expeditiously reported to the AUCC data analyst every Friday by 12 pm. The analyst will help to monitor COVID positivity rates among AUCC schools and assist the AUCC epidemiologist with establishing and revising the testing cadence.
  • The AUCC data analyst will manage confidential data stored in a variety of file formats, prepare descriptive analyses and reports, calculate frequencies and rates, and manage AUCC dashboards and dashboards for each campus.
  • The AUCC epidemiologist will monitor, and track COVID-19 test results through a shared spreadsheet updated daily with data supplied by the institutions. The AUCC data analyst will update the dashboard weekly.
  • The AUCC epidemiologist will use relevant data to guide AUCC testing strategies, safety protocol modifications, and relevant interventions to mitigate the COVID-19 spread.
  • The AUCC will not have access to employee personal identifiable information (PII). Data related to positivity amongst AUCC employees will be reported to the AUCC data analyst and epidemiologist in aggregate.

Visitors and Vendors

Visitors are those who are not active members of an AUCC institution’s faculty, staff, or student populations, as defined by the institution’s human resources department. Vendors provide products and/or services to the institution and are not formally considered visitors.

  • Visitors and vendors are required to always wear a face mask and physically distance while on campuses.
  • Visitors and vendors are prohibited from being on campus if they have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past two weeks, are exhibiting signs or symptoms of illness of COVID-19 or were in close contact to someone confirmed to have COVID-19.
  • Depending on their relationship to the institution, including the extent of time they spend on campus and the type and duration of engagement with institution employees and students, some vendors (unvaccinated) may be required to participate in the testing protocols herein described (and if no mandated regular testing regime is mandated by their employer).

International Students Vaccines

CDC guidance for those fully vaccinated applies to COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. This guidance can also be applied to COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization.

  • Vaccines approved by WHO are: AstraZeneca, Covishield (Serum Institute of India) Sinopharm (Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products) Comirnaty/BNT162b2 (Fosun Pharmaceuticals, Hong Kong) and Sinovac-CoronaVac.
  • Students who have not received an FDA- or WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine by the time fall classes begin will need to be revaccinated with one of the vaccines approved for use in the U.S. once they arrive on campus.
  • Students traveling internationally into the U.S will be required to provide a negative PCR test within 5 days before their arrival for move in (residential students), and the first day of classes (commuter students).
Table of Contents – Models

Initial Testing and Frequency Model (2021-2022)

COVID-19 Student Testing Frequency
Where will you live in the Spring How will you attend classes How often will you be tested: Unvaccinated How often will you be tested: Vaccinated How often do you check your symptoms Type of Test
University housing In person and/or remotely Weekly Every 6 weeks Daily PCR*
University housing Athletics In person and/or remotely Weekly (or per NCAA) Every 6 weeks (or per NCAA) Daily PCR*
Off campus In person at least once a week Weekly Every 6 weeks Daily PCR*
Off campus Remotely No test required No test required Not required Not required

* If unvaccinated and testing with rapid ag, testing frequency increases to 2x per week

COVID-19 Faculty, Staff, and Vendors Testing Frequency
How often will you be on campus How often will you be tested:
Unvaccinated 		How often will you be tested:
Vaccinated 		How often do you check your symptoms Type of Test
In person on campus at least once a week Weekly Every 6 weeks Daily PCR*
Remotely No test required No test required Not required Not required
*If unvaccinated and testing with rapid ag, testing frequency increases to 2x per week *Note: Any student or employee who seeks to be on campus for any reason would need to be compliant with testing and symptom tracking.

Student Medical Care Model (2021-2022)

AUCC Student Health and Wellness Medical Care
Category MSM Staff/Responsibilities AUCC Staff/Responsibilities
Medical Team: Onsite • SHWC MD, NP, Nurse • Campus Health Services NP and/or Nurse and/or MA as available
Medical Services* • Consults (8am-5pm M-F); telehealth visits (MD/NP); symptomatic exam/testing at SHWC
• Select days Extended hours clinic until 8 pm (TBA) and Saturday 8am-1pm 		• Daily, in-person health checks of each student in isolation (may decrease frequency after first 5-7 days, if medically appropriate);
• Q2-3 days in-person health checks of each student in quarantine
Medical Clearance • Determines whether student may leave isolation/quarantine.
• Granted based on assessment of clinical status of student 		• Provide SHWC medical team with clinical updates on each student so SHWC may determine if student is medically cleared to leave isolation/quarantine
On-Call Medical Services • After-Hours, weekends,
• 24/7 Answering Services available to students & AUCC Health Services medical staff 		N/A
Behavioral Health Services Team: Onsite • LCSWs, Psychiatrist • Campus Counseling Services: Psychologists

*Note: Any student or employee who seeks to be on campus for any reason would need to be compliant with testing and symptom tracking.

Student Isolation Model (2021-2022)

AUCC Student Health and Wellness Isolation Care
• Initial telehealth visits by AUCC Health Services for students in isolation.
• (Recommend AUCC Health Services team provide students with COVID-19 care package if needed).
• Follow-Up by AUCC Health Services team at least daily or more frequently if needed, via in-person, phone, telehealth visits.
• SHWC available to provide Medical Services*
• In-person visits as appropriate in SHWC’s negative pressure room (following communication between AUCC Health Services and SHWC team);
• AUCC Health Services team performs on-site, in-person wellness checks for students as needed for example, if no communication from student in a few days and/or student requires additional items in care package like antipyretics, etc.)
• At least once weekly meetings with AUCC Health Services team to update SHWC team on each student’s status; daily updates as appropriate.
• On-Call/After-hours*: SHWC After-hours answering services available to students; MSM Medical Provider available to AUCC Health Services team for consults.
• Medical Evaluation by SHWC
• Emergency Care: 911

*Note: Any student or employee who seeks to be on campus for any reason would need to be compliant with testing and symptom tracking.

Student Quarantine Model (2021-2022)

AUCC Student Health and Wellness Quarantine Care
• Initial phone/email communication by AUCC Health Services team for students in quarantine
• (Recommend AUCC Health Services team provide student with COVID-19 care package if needed)
• Follow-Up by AUCC Health Services team at least 2-3 days in person or more frequently if needed; Daily phone/telehealth visits in between in-person visits.
• In-person visits as appropriate in SHWC’s negative pressure room (following communication btw/ AUCC Health Services and SHWC team);
• AUCC Health Services team performs on-site, in-person wellness checks for students as needed
• (if no communication from student in a few days and/or student requires additional items in care package like antipyretics, etc.)
• At least once weekly meetings with AUCC Health Services team to update SHWC team on each student’s clinical status; more frequently as appropriate.
• On-Call/After-Hours*: SHWC After-hours answering services available to students; MSM SHWC provider available to AUCC Health Services team.
• Emergency Care: 911

*Note: Any student or employee who seeks to be on campus for any reason would need to be compliant with testing and symptom tracking.

Student Behavior Health Model (2021-2022)

AUCC Student Health and Wellness Behavior Health Isolation/Quarantine Care
Recommend assessment for anxiety/depression by AUCC Health Services team during follow-up health checks as appropriate.
Referral to campus Counseling Services for tele-behavioral health visits.
• Campus Counseling Services team may refer student to SHWC’s Behavioral Health Services for tele-behavioral health visits if long wait times or referring to psychiatry.*
Recommend AUCC Health Services perform in-person wellness checks if no communication by student in a few days or other concerns raised about mental health.
At least once weekly communication between SHWC Behavioral Health Services team and AUC Counseling Services team to share updates on referred students’ mental health and medical status; more frequently as appropriate.
After-hours: AUCC Campus Counseling Services Protocol
• On-Call: SHWC Behavioral Health Services team available to AUC Counseling Services team for consults if established relationship exists between student and SHWC Behavioral Health Services.
• Emergency Care: 911

*Note: Any student or employee who seeks to be on campus for any reason would need to be compliant with testing and symptom tracking.

Who We Are

The Atlanta University Center Consortium, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Georgia, formed in 1929 to operate on behalf of its member institutions–Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College—is the world’s oldest and largest association of historically Black colleges and universities. The Consortium is a vibrant intellectual community with a long tradition of scholarship, service, and community engagement.

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Atlanta University Center Consortium

  • Roosevelt Hall, 660 Atlanta Student Movement Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30314
  • 404-523-5148
  • 404-525-7377

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