COVID-19 Ongoing Response
Spring 2022
Lewis & Clark is committed to providing in-person education and support to students in a close-knit campus community. We are also committed to the health of our community, and will take necessary steps to promote public health and protect members of our community whenever possible. Although no college campus can guarantee a COVID-free environment, we can greatly minimize the risks of COVID with appropriate mitigation measures, such as widespread vaccination. Our approach to COVID is based on Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance to colleges and universities, as well as guidance from the Oregon Health Authority and county public health officials. As the pandemic continues to evolve, and relevant guidance changes, we will update these policies and provide necessary information to the campus community.
Spring semester on all three campuses will begin as previously scheduled: January 10, 2022, for the Law School and Graduate School of Education and Counseling and January 18, 2022, for the College of Arts and Sciences. However, all classes, on all three campuses, will be conducted fully remotely until Monday, February 7. In-person classes for all will resume on Monday, February 7. This will allow time to complete COVID testing for returning students, faculty, and staff, provide more time for those eligible to receive their mandatory booster shots, and allow the return of students to be spread out over the first few weeks of the semester.
Residential students have the flexibility to return to campus as late as Wednesday, February 2, 2022, in order to be back in time for an entry testing clinic on Thursday, February 3, 2022. . Between your arrival time and your receipt of negative test results, social gatherings should be minimized and social distancing will be required.
Because there will be several days between when residential students arrive and when they are able to be entry tested, all residential students are required to provide evidence of a negative COVID test administered within the 72 hour-period PRIOR to coming to campus. The only exceptions to this requirement will be:
- Residential students who are tested early on campus (e.g., athletes who are in season, RAs, students participating in Winterim)
- Residential students who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days
Residential students can find full details of the testing requirement here. Residential students will receive more detailed communication regarding expectations, safety precautions while in the residence halls, etc. from Campus Living in the coming days.
All members of the Lewis & Clark community are to observe social distancing and to limit their social interactions to their roommate/housemates until they have received a negative COVID test. Visitation between residence halls during this time is strongly discouraged, and external visitors to residence halls will be prohibited (except as necessary for move-in). In addition, all dining on campus will be grab-and-go only through at least February 7.
Staff members should plan to work remotely to the extent possible until after they have been tested, as described below. Once you receive your test results, those with negative test results should plan to return to the work schedule they had established with their supervisor prior to winter break. This means that most staff should plan to work remotely, to the extent possible, until February 7. However, some units will need to return to campus sooner, and testing for some essential employees will be made available throughout January. Managers in those units will be in contact with impacted employees.
All members of the Lewis & Clark community–students, faculty, staff, and employees of our long-term, on-campus partners–are required to get a COVID booster shot as soon as they are eligible. The only exceptions are community members who either: 1) have an approved COVID vaccination exemption, or 2) are exclusively engaged in distance learning or working and will never be on campus.
Per CDC recommendations, you need to get a booster before returning to campus in January 2022 if:
- You are 12 or older and received your second Pfizer dose at least five months ago.
- You are 18 or older and received your second Moderna dose at least five months ago.
- You are 18 or older and received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.
- You are 16 or older and received your last dose of a WHO-listed vaccine (other than Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J) at least six months ago. (See here for more information about which booster dose you qualify for.)
Community members who are eligible are expected to obtain their booster dose as soon as possible. You should plan to receive your booster dose two weeks prior to your first day on campus in January, if at all possible, as it takes two weeks for the booster dose to offer maximum protection. If you are not yet eligible to receive a booster because not enough time has passed since your last dose, you are expected to obtain your booster dose as soon as you are eligible.
Students who are eligible must receive their booster dose prior to the first day of classes. Students who are eligible but who cannot access booster doses in this timeframe should inform Wellness Services at covid19info@lclark.edu so staff can clear the student for class attendance and ensure the student has access to a booster dose as soon as possible. As soon as students receive their booster dose, they must follow these steps to document their compliance with the booster requirement.
Employees are required to upload proof of their booster shot to Workday.
This policy also applies to employees of long-term, on-campus partners assigned to work at Lewis & Clark, such as Bon Appetit, A&A Maintenance, Barnes & Noble, and Ricoh. Such employees are to work with their employer regarding compliance with this policy.
Information about boosters shots, including how to locate a booster shot provider, is available for Oregon residents on the Oregon Health Authority webpage, and is available for others on the CDC website. Employees with health insurance through Kaiser can also find information on the Kaiser webpage. As you seek out your booster dose, remember that, per the CDC, it’s OK to get a booster of a vaccine type (e.g., Moderna, Pfizer) that is different from your original vaccine type.
For individuals who are unable to access a booster prior to their return to campus, we plan to offer booster clinics on campus in mid-January, although you should get your booster shot prior to coming to campus if at all possible.
Vaccination is the leading prevention strategy to protect individuals from COVID-19 disease and end the COVID-19 pandemic. Current COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States are safe and effective, widely accessible in the U.S., and available at no cost to all people living in the U.S. Learn more about the Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine.
All Lewis & Clark students are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, or obtain an approved exemption, in order to attend classes. Our Student COVID-19 Vaccination Policy and Vaccination Policy FAQ provide further information. Students who are unable, prior to campus arrival, to access a vaccine listed by the World Health Organization must contact covid19info@lclark.edu for individualized guidance.
Lewis & Clark employees and volunteers are also required to be vaccinated. Our COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for Employees, Contractors and Volunteers provides further information. Employees may use work time in order to get vaccinated. COVID vaccines are readily available at pharmacies and other locations throughout the area. Information about vaccination sites is available from the Oregon Health Authority.
All employees are required to provide the College with information regarding their vaccination status in Workday. If you have already uploaded proof of full vaccination in Workday, there is nothing further you need to do.
This policy also applies to employees of long-term, on-campus partners assigned to work at Lewis & Clark, such as Bon Appetit, A&A Maintenance, Barnes & Noble, and Ricoh. Such employees are to work with their employer regarding compliance with this policy.
Based on our student vaccination policy and very high level of vaccination among employees, Lewis & Clark follows the CDC’s guidance for fully vaccinated college campuses.
All persons—vaccinated and unvaccinated—are required to wear a KN95, N95, or equivalent grade mask in public indoor areas on campus. Public indoor mask wearing on campus is required by the governor and by Multnomah County. This applies to all classrooms, as well our libraries, recreation facilities, and other public areas. This also applies to buses and other forms of college-provided transportation, including the Pioneer Express.
If you are unable to secure KN95 or equivalent masks, contact covid19info@lclark.edu to arrange to obtain a limited number of masks from the College’s supply.
These requirements do not apply while engaged in an activity that makes wearing a face covering impracticable (such as swimming, eating, or drinking), when engaged in athletic or other physical activities during which use of a face covering is unsafe, in fully enclosed private offices, or in your own living area.
Masks are not required outdoors. However, consistent with the recommendation of the Oregon Health Authority, individuals who are unvaccinated, immunocompromised, who are at risk for severe COVID-19 disease, or who live with someone in one of these categories, are advised to wear a mask in crowded outdoor areas or large outdoor gatherings, and to maintain physical distancing of at least six feet from other individuals in such situations.
The college will return to full capacity in-person learning and student service in Fall 2021.
Our vaccination and booster requirements also apply at Lewis & Clark events. Proof of vaccination and booster (if eligible for a booster), or proof of a negative COVID test conducted within the previous 72 hours, will be required for visitors attending college events, such as athletic events, lectures, performances, and receptions. This applies to persons 12 years of age and older.
Previous campus-wide restrictions on events and crowd sizes are no longer in effect. Individual departments or event organizers may establish limits as necessary.
Crowded settings present a greater risk of transmission among people who are not up-to-date on vaccinations. People who are not up-to-date on vaccinations should continue to avoid large gatherings. All events on campus are subject to the requirements above regarding KN95 or equivalent face coverings.
The Lewis & Clark campus is open to members of the public.
All visitors to campus are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated and boosted, and proof of vaccination and booster (if eligible for a booster) is required for visitors attending college events, such as athletic events, lectures, performances, and receptions. Visitors should self-monitor for COVID-like symptoms before coming to campus, and should not come to campus if they have any of these symptoms.
All visitors are also subject to the requirements above regarding KN95, N95, or equivalent face coverings.
There are no modifications to Lewis & Clark’s standard travel policies at this time.
Federal requirements for international travelers recently changed and further modifications may occur in the coming weeks. The State Department and CDC provide current guidance on vaccine and testing requirements, along with important safety recommendations for travelers.
Those traveling are responsible for understanding and complying with any testing requirements associated with their upcoming travel. Those traveling internationally or by cruise ship (including river cruise travel) are required to comply with CDC recommendations before coming to campus.
All students, faculty, staff, and contractors who will be on campus at any point in January 2022 will be required to undergo COVID testing after returning to campus from winter break. Testing clinics offering PCR saliva tests will be scheduled and offered at no cost to community members.
In addition, students, faculty, and staff members who have not provided the College with evidence of full vaccination and boosting (for those eligible for a booster)—whether for medical, religious or other reasons—are subject to surveillance testing for COVID-19 at any time at the discretion of the College. The College will require all unvaccinated students, faculty and staff on campus to be tested for COVID-19 once a week, at the College’s expense.
Any student, faculty, or staff member who fails to comply with a request from the college to undergo COVID testing is subject to disciplinary action
For students with symptoms of COVID, the Lewis & Clark Health Service offers medical consultation for COVID, and providers can refer students for rapid testing (nasal swabs) conducted on-site using Abbott ID-NOW testing technology.
All members of the Lewis & Clark Community, including those who are vaccinated, are expected to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms each day before coming to campus. Individuals are to stay at their residence if they have COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. COVID-19 symptoms may be slightly different, depending on the variant involved, but will include one or more of the following:
- Cough, fever or chills, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, fatigue, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, nasal congestion or runny nose.
- Emergency signs and symptoms that require immediate medical attention:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
- Those who have a chronic or baseline cough that has worsened or is not well-controlled with medication should stay at their place of residence.
More information about COVID-19 symptoms can be found on the CDC webpage.
Students with any of the symptoms identified above are expected to self-isolate in their residence, following the College’s guidelines for self-isolation; complete the COVID Self-Check and Reporting Form (SCARF), available through the Health Information Portal; consult with a healthcare provider; and follow the directions of that healthcare provider. Resources for medical consultation include the on-campus Health Service; the after-hours nurse consultation line (1-877-617-9531, free to all students whenever the Health Service is closed); and off-campus providers.
Employees (including student employees and staff from contracted vendors such as A&A, our custodial services provider, and Bon Appetit, our food services provider) are also expected to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID on a daily basis before coming to work. Regardless of vaccination status, employees with symptoms of COVID should self-isolate in their residence and obtain medical consultation through their health care provider. Employees who are self-isolating with COVID symptoms are expected to notify their supervisor and Human Resources. The College provides health insurance to benefits-eligible employees through Kaiser Permanente. Information regarding COVID testing is available on Kaiser’s website. In addition, information about COVID testing locations in the state is available from the Oregon Health Authority, in both an English language version and a Spanish-language version.
In the event of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in our community, Wellness Services staff will work to identify “close contacts.” Generally, these are persons who have been within six feet of the infected person for 15 minutes or more. Wellness staff will work with County Health Department personnel to notify anyone who is deemed at risk because of exposure as a “close contact,” whether the site of that contact was in a residence hall, a classroom, office, or elsewhere. Such persons will be notified as soon as possible after the College becomes aware of the situation.
Community members with confirmed cases of COVID will be expected to enact an isolation period. For students, the duration of that period will be determined by Health Service staff. For employees, the duration of isolation will be determined by their healthcare provider. Unvaccinated persons who are identified as a close contact of a person with COVID-19 will be required to quarantine per applicable CDC guidelines. Persons who are up-to-date on vaccinations will not be required to quarantine.
Upon arrival to campus and regularly throughout the day, all members of the LC Community are expected to wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Show respect for your colleagues: cover coughs and sneezes with an elbow, or a tissue, especially when not wearing a mask. Tissues should be disposed of and hands washed or sanitized immediately.
Please review this short video from the World Health Organization about how to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19.
Students with underlying health conditions or who are immunocompromised and who believe they may require an accommodation are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the Office of Student Accessibility. Employees with underlying health conditions or who are immunocompromised and who believe they may require an accommodation are encouraged to schedule an appointment with Human Resources.