Ithaca College

Dear Ithaca College Faculty and Staff, 

Today marked the first day of classes for the fall 2020 semester and we could not be more excited!  As you are aware, a lot of work has been completed over the past several months to prepare our campus community for the new academic year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Details regarding this work are updated regularly and can be found on the Return to Campus website.  As the work continues, the college’s Public Health Task Force will continue to review and develop appropriate policies and procedures to protect the health and wellness of our college community. 

This communication serves as a reminder about the testing and daily screening requirements for those planning to access campus this fall, plus the Community Agreement which all members of our college community must sign regardless of whether you plan to have an on-campus presence this fall. Please review the communication in its entirety so that you are aware of the details associated with each of these requirements. 

COVID-19 Testing
Thank you for your continued participation in the weekly COVID-19 testing required for all employees planning to regularly access campus this fall. We know that testing is a disruption to your daily schedule. We appreciate that you are prioritizing testing as it is an important contribution to our collective goal of maintaining the health and well-being of our campus.   

As promised, we have moved our weekly testing to mid-week to better accommodate employee schedules.  Our next testing dates for employees are Tuesday, September 15 from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm and Wednesday, September 16 from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm at the A&E Center.  A schedule of upcoming weekly testing dates can be found on the COVID-19 testing webpage. Registration for testing is available approximately one week prior to the scheduled testing date.  Please note, employees should NOT register for testing on September 10th as that date is being held for students only. 

To pre-register for next week’s testing, click HERE. 

Please contact the Office of Human Resources at humanresources@ithaca.edu if you require accommodations for the testing process. 

Daily Health Screening
To comply with New York State guidelines, Ithaca College is requiring all faculty, staff, and students complete an electronic screen every day that they come to campus.  All campus community members will receive an email reminder every morning, 7 days a week, prompting them to complete the electronic screening. Employees must complete the screening prior to accessing campus. No screening form is required on the days that an individual does not come to campus.  Individuals who will not be accessing campus at all in the fall will be able to opt-out of receiving the daily screening emails.  Please visit the Daily Health Screening webpage for more information about this requirement. 

Community Agreement
Ithaca College aims to deliver its mission while taking reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff members and the broader Ithaca community. As a member of the Ithaca College community, you are required to sign the Community Agreement. In signing the Agreement, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by the applicable public health instructions and guidelines as required by local, state, and federal law, as well as all subsequent health and safety requirements implemented by Ithaca College. You also agree to act in a manner that demonstrates respect and consideration for the health and safety of all community members. 

To read and acknowledge the Community Agreement, click HERE. 

Once again, we appreciate your patience as we prepare to support the health and safety of our campus community.  Please contact the Office of Human Resources at humanresources@ithaca.edu if you have any questions regarding these requirements. 

Sincerely,
Hayley Harris
Vice President for Human Resources and Planning