COVID-19 Ongoing Response
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 provide 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.
All members of the Lewis & Clark community–students, faculty, staff, and employees of our long-term, on-campus partners–are required to be up-to-date (as defined by the CDC) with their COVID vaccinations. This includes original series and booster dose(s). 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. Community members may meet this requirement though vaccination with any vaccine listed by the World Health Organization.
Community members who are eligible for their booster dose are expected to obtain that dose as soon as possible. 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 for vaccination (including booster dose) must receive their vaccination prior to the first day of classes. As soon as students receive their vaccination, they must follow these steps to document their compliance with vaccination requirements. Students who have experienced COVID-19 in the 90-day window prior to the start of classes may be eligible for an extension of time to meet the vaccination requirement. These students must e-mail covid19info@lclark.edu to request an extension.
Employees are required to upload proof of their booster shot to Workday. Employees who have experienced COVID within the 90 days prior to beginning employment with the college may be eligible for an extension of time to meet the vaccination requirement. These employees must e-mail Heyke Kirkendall-Baker (hkirkendall-baker@lclark.edu) to request an extension..
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.
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 up-to-date on their vaccinations 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 up-to-date on their vaccinations against COVID-19, or obtain an approved exemption. 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 (including booster dose) 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.
Governor Kate Brown JD ’85 lifted Oregon’s statewide indoor mask requirement effective Saturday, March 12.
Mask-wearing is now optional on the Lewis & Clark campus, except in areas where masks are specifically required. Places where mask-wearing continues to be required, such as particular classes or labs, will be clearly communicated by the relevant dean, vice president, office, or faculty member.
Masks remain required for anybody who has been exposed as a close contact of a person with COVID within the last ten days, and for anybody who has tested positive for COVID in the last ten days. Based on state and federal guidance, masks are also required in health and wellness services offices and on the Pio Express and other public transportation.
We encourage anyone who wants or needs to maintain a high level of protection to continue masking based on their own needs and judgment. For members of our community who are themselves vulnerable or live with people vulnerable to severe illness, proper masking is an essential way to minimize the risk of transmission.
In addition, masks may continue to be required in certain additional situations on campus even when the campus mandate is lifted. This may include:
- Large gatherings and classrooms where sustained and close physical contact is likely.
- Indoor settings where there is a significant likelihood of close contact with high-risk individuals.
- In classes that include students who have practicum or internship placements in the community, as communicated by the relevant dean or faculty member.
Masks are available in various locations on campus and can also be obtained by contacting covid19info@lclark.edu. Surgical or cloth masks are generally satisfactory for compliance with such requirements, although KN95 or equivalent masks remain more effective.
The college returned 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, is necessary 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) may be 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 face covering requirements that might apply to specific events or locations on campus.
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.
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 Health Promotion Office offers free COVID testing for community members who have been exposed as a close contact. 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.
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.
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:
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- 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 guidance 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.