COVID-19 and Public Health-Informed Campus Policies

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College intends to perform its educational mission while protecting the health and safety of its students, faculty, and staff and minimizing the potential spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, within the community.

Risks of COVID-19

In order to understand the risks that you face by returning to campus, you must understand that COVID-19 is a highly infectious, life-threatening disease declared by the World Health Organization to be a global pandemic. There is no vaccine for COVID-19 at this time.

COVID-19’s highly contagious nature means that contact with others or contact with surfaces that have been exposed to the virus may lead to infection. Additionally, individuals who may have been infected with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic for a period of time or may never exhibit symptoms at all.

Because of its highly contagious and sometimes “hidden” nature, it is very difficult to control the spread of COVID-19 on campus or to determine whether, where, or how a specific individual may have been exposed to the disease. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is taking steps recommended by public health authorities to minimize the risk of spreading this disease on our campus.

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College cannot and does not guarantee a COVID-19 free environment, and there remains a risk that you may contract COVID-19 if you come onto campus to live and/or attend class. We are providing you with the following notice as well regarding the risk of contracting COVID-19 when you enter upon our campus:

Warning

Under Georgia law, there is no liability for an injury or death of an individual entering these premises if such injury or death results from the inherent risks of contracting COVID-19. You are assuming this risk by entering these premises.

In order to minimize the risks associated with COVID-19, the policies and guidelines below are incorporated into the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Student Code of Conduct and are applicable to all students.

Your compliance with these requirements is essential to assisting the college in minimizing the risks to you and other members of the community.

General Principles

You are subject to all guidelines for individuals related to the COVID-19 pandemic establish by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In addition, the State of Georgia has issued guidelines for personal behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic and you must comply with such guidelines at all times. You understand that both sets of these guidelines may change, and it is your responsibility to ensure that you understand and comply with these guidelines at all times.

From time to time the College may implement additional requirements restricting your behavior and you agree to comply with such requirements.

You understand that these conditions and limitations on your personal behavior are necessary in order to reduce the risk of transmitting and/or being infected by the COVID-19 virus and that your failure to comply with these responsibilities may jeopardize your health and safety, as well as the health and safety of others in the campus community, potentially causing severe illness and death.

Requirements

Students will comply with governmental, state, and campus directives concerning maintaining required physical distancing (six feet) between themselves and other individuals on campus;

Students will use a face covering of their choosing that conforms to CDC guidelines anytime that they are in an indoor space where the College deems that social distancing is not practical, including but not limited to academic spaces and dining areas (except while eating) unless given different instructions by authorized College personnel;

Students will engage in frequent handwashing and follow proper sneeze and cough etiquette, as recommended by the CDC;

Students understand and agree that they may be subject to regular testing of the COVID-19 virus and contact tracing. If testing and contact tracing is available, and they agree to submit to the testing and tracing, and the confidential reporting of the results to the College, without objection;

If students develop any symptoms of COVID-19 as described by the CDC, they will immediately:

Inform the College by notifying appropriate personnel;

Remain off campus;

If required by the College, agree to remain in self-quarantine for a time period determined by the College, in consultation with public health authorities, and/or move to a different room in order to receive medical care and/or self-quarantine.

The above conditions may change, and students agree to follow all College directives relating to COVID-19 and public health requirements.

Any failure to adhere to any of the above directives is a violation of the Code of Conduct that may result in sanctions, including but not limited to suspension or dismissal from the College.