CCAC COVID-19: FAQ

Updated COVID-19 information is distributed to students, via the CCAC portal and their student email address, detailing health and safety protocol and procedures including the steps students will need to take prior to arriving on-site at any CCAC location. Please check the COVID-19 Student Resource Page for more information.

Employee information is available on the COVID-19 Employee Resource Page via the CCAC portal and their employee email address.

CCAC works in close coordination with the Allegheny County Health Department and will continue deferring to the public health agency regarding disclosure of positive test results and related information. Public health officials will advise CCAC if additional disclosure measures are necessary.

CCAC requires all students, faculty, staff and administrators to follow the CDC recommended guidelines for travel. The CDC provides information on both Domestic and International Travel for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. All community members are required to follow the CDC guidelines. It is required that a COVID-19 Reporting Form is completed if CDC guidelines indicate a need to quarantine or isolate due to exposure or travel.

Students, employees, contractors and vendors who test positive or were exposed to COVID-19 must immediately report this through the COVID-19 Incident Report Form. Employees should also contact the Office of Human Resources 412.237.3001. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) current guidelines will be utilized to determine appropriate next steps and establish a return to campus plan for the individual.

Students, employees, contractors and vendors exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID-19, or whose health screening indicates potential symptoms of or exposure to COVID19, are not permitted to come to campus and will be sent home if on campus. Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19, even mild ones such as a sore throat, should get tested. Please stay home and limit your contact with others while you wait for your test results. A negative test does not mean you don’t have the virus, especially if you are symptomatic.

Symptoms and guidance are changing often, please review the most current guidance from the CDC to check your symptoms at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/index.html.

Students should contact a Dean of Students and Employees should contact the Office of Human Resources to address any questions and/or concerns related to CCAC’s COVID-19 testing protocols and reporting.

More information regarding COVID-19 mitigation measures is available via the CDC and ACHD websites.

Students should contact a Dean of Students and Employees should contact the Office of Human Resources to address any questions and/or concerns related to CCAC’s COVID-19 testing protocols and reporting.

More information regarding COVID-19 mitigation measures is available via the CDC and ACHD websites.

All CCAC students, employees, contractors, visitors and guests are required to review the CCAC Self-Screening Questionnaire prior to entering CCAC buildings and facilities.

Coming to a CCAC campus or center sick or with symptoms puts the entire campus community at an unnecessary risk for spreading the novel coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID–19. By working together, we can maintain a healthy environment for all.

Free COVID test kits are available to students and employees and are available in the Student Accounts offices at each campus/center location.

Masks are optional for employees, students and guests, but still strongly encouraged.

Although the College has developed a return to campus health and safety plan in accordance with state and federal guidelines, the College cannot guarantee that these mitigation efforts will eliminate all risks of contracting COVID-19 for those attending classes at College campuses and facilities. Students who have concerns about contracting COVID-19 are therefore encouraged to contact their health care provider to discuss the risks of attending classes at or visiting CCAC’s campuses and facilities and make a decision, prior to enrolling, that best meets the needs of themselves and their families. Students who are pregnant, have underlying health conditions or who are otherwise considered to be in a high risk category relative to potential exposure to COVID-19 are further encouraged to consider enrolling in one of the many course options available through online or remote delivery.

If the student is exposed in a healthcare setting, they should do the following to be permitted to return to clinical or on-site instruction:

• Advise the clinical coordinator or faculty member immediately if they suspect that they may have been exposed to a patient who is COVID positive.
• Follow the direction of the clinical coordinator or faculty member.
• Follow all recommended infection prevention and control practices, including:
  • Wearing a facemask for source control while in class, clinical or at work
  • Monitoring themselves for fever or symptoms consistent with COVID-19⁶ (and reference the CCAC Self-Screening Questionnaire found at the COVID Response page)
  • Not reporting to class, clinical or work when ill
  • Undergoing active screening for fever or symptoms consistent with COVID-19⁶ at the beginning of their shift

**Any student who develops fever or symptoms consistent with COVID-19⁶ should immediately self-isolate and complete the COVID-19 Incident Report Form.

Academic Advisory are available by virtual drop in service Monday through Thursday 8:30 am to 7:00 pm, Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and second Saturday of the month 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Additional Saturday hours are available – click here for those dates and times.  Limited in-person appointments are now available at Allegheny, Boyce, North, South and West Hills Center.  For available appointments, please call 412.237.2700.  If you just have a quick question, please email Academic Advising.

Registration procedure information is located on the CCAC website.

Students can use any form of textbook. To see if your required textbook is available digitally, search the Get your Textbook section on the CCAC Bookstores webpage.

The bookstores will have limited operating hours at all locations. Click here to view current Bookstore hours on campus.

Information regarding computer and/or internet access at home is available on the student portal under COVID-19 Student Resources (requires login).  Under the Documents section, look for "Off Campus Computer and Internet Resources".

Students should reach out to the Information Center to connect to resources in order to meet their needs.

Contact CCAC to connect with us about your educational future or the next step on your path!

412.237.CCAC Email now! Chat now!

Students should review the CCAC Recommended Technology found on the CCAC Bookstore website.

If you must take public transportation, wear a mask before entering a bus, train, or light rail system (T), and avoid touching surfaces with your hands. Upon leaving, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

CCAC Counselors are available. To contact a Counselor email counselingservices@ccac.edu. A Crisis Text Line is available by texting HOME to 741741 or message on Facebook Messenger. A resource guide (requires login) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is located in the Student COVID-19 Resources on the CCAC portal.

There are a variety of support resources available to you. Click on the Blackboard for Online Learning page on the portal.

On the CCAC Blackboard site, there is also a course called “Start Here: Getting Started in Blackboard”, which will show you how to use Blackboard for your classes.

Please speak with an advisor to help you select classes that align with your preferred delivery of instruction. A limited number of face-to-face classes will be offered. Students are encouraged to register early to secure a seat in a face-to-face class. We are also offering courses via Zoom - which allows the schedule and live interaction of a face-to-face course, but is delivered online. You can also email the CCAC Navigators for assistance.

During the suspension of on-campus instruction due to COVID-19, The Office of Supportive Services will be available remotely. All are welcome to take advantage of Virtual Chat Monday through Friday at 2pm to meet online.

Online resources can be found at the CCAC Library web page.

All students are required to meet the attendance requirements established for each course in which they are enrolled, whether the course is delivered in an online, remote or on-campus instructional modality, or through a combination of remote and live instruction. However, in the event that a student is unable to meet the attendance requirements for a course due to a COVID-19 related reason after the published add/drop and/or withdrawal dates for the course in question, the student will be permitted to elect one of the following options:

1. The student may elect to develop a plan for completion of the course requirements, in collaboration with and subject to the approval of the student’s instructor and the Department Head. If approved by the student’s instructor and Department Head, the student will be issued an “I” (incomplete) grade in accordance with College policy so that the student may finish the course objectives at a later time without having to repay for the course; or
2. In the alternative, the student may elect to withdraw from the course for medical reasons, in accordance with the College’s medical withdrawal policy as set forth in the CCAC Student Handbook. Medical withdrawals received before the end of the drop period will result in a drop of courses (no entry on the student's transcript). Medical withdrawals received after the drop deadline until the last day of classes will result in course entries with a "W" grade(s). Adjustment of tuition and fees follow the stated dates in the academic calendar.

For purposes of the foregoing, a “COVID-19 related reason” refers to any one or more of the following circumstances which causes the student to be unable to meet the attendance requirements of a particular course(s):

1. The student has tested positive for and is undergoing treatment for COVID-19;
2. The student has been advised or directed to self-quarantine by a health care professional or governmental authority as a result of a potential exposure to COVID-19;
3. The student is seeking or awaiting the results of a diagnostic test for, or a medical diagnosis of, COVID–19;
4. The student is needed to provide care for their minor child who is unable to attend school due to a COVID-19 related closure or illness;
5. The student is needed to provide care for a family member with a COVID-19 related illness; or
6. The student is obtaining immunization related to COVID–19 or recovering from any injury, disability, illness, or condition related to such immunization.

The COVID-19 Student Resources section of the portal lists resources for financial, food and housing assistance.

At the beginning of the pandemic, we reinvented many of our processes. Every aspect of the College has improved over time, including the arrival of a new centralized phone system. Call management is now more effectively handled and more improvements are forthcoming.

The Alternative Work Arrangement policy that was in effect for the 2020-2021 academic/fiscal year has been removed.  Going forward, employees that want to request reasonable accommodations due to COVID concerns must do so through Human Resources.  Employees can find additional information on this process on the HR portal page or by contacting Human Resources.

In addition, Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Lytle can also assist with most any kind of problem that affects your personal well-being and your ability to perform your job.

Employees should contact Lytle EAP Partners 800.327.7272 for support and additional resources.

All CCAC students, employees, contractors, visitors and guests are required to review the CCAC Self-Screening Questionnaire prior to entering CCAC buildings and facilities.

Coming to a CCAC campus or facility sick or with symptoms puts the entire campus community at an unnecessary risk for spreading the novel coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID–19. By working together, we can maintain a healthy environment for all.

According to the CDC, vaccination is the leading prevention strategy to protect individuals from COVID-19 disease. The College therefore strongly encourages all students, faculty, staff and partners to get one of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States prior to returning to on campus classes, work or activities. The College has and will continue to provide opportunities for all members of the College community to obtain the vaccine, at no cost, through both on-campus clinics and off-campus providers through the 2021-22 academic year. In addition, participation in certain athletic and extracurricular activities where masking and physical distancing are not possible may be made contingent upon each participant providing proof of vaccination.

According to the CDC, you should get a COVID-19 vaccine, even if you have already had COVID-19 because:

• Research has not yet shown how long you are protected from getting COVID-19 again after you recover from COVID-19.
• Vaccination helps protect you even if you’ve already had COVID-19.

No. People with COVID-19 who have symptoms should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation; those without symptoms should also wait until they meet the criteria before getting vaccinated. This guidance also applies to people who get COVID-19 before getting their second dose of vaccine.

People who have had a known COVID-19 exposure should not seek vaccination until their quarantine period has ended to avoid potentially exposing healthcare personnel and others during the vaccination visit. This recommendation also applies to people with a known COVID-19 exposure who have received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine but not their second.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html

No. People with COVID-19 who have symptoms should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation; those without symptoms should also wait until they meet the criteria before getting vaccinated. This guidance also applies to people who get COVID-19 before getting their second dose of vaccine.

People who have had a known COVID-19 exposure should not seek vaccination until their quarantine period has ended to avoid potentially exposing healthcare personnel and others during the vaccination visit. This recommendation also applies to people with a known COVID-19 exposure who have received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine but not their second.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html