COVID-19

Proclamation 21-14.1 requires contractors who have goods, services, or public works contracts with a Washington state agency to ensure that their personnel (including subcontractors) who perform contract activities on site comply with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements, by requiring such personnel to be fully vaccinated, unless properly exempted for disability or sincerely held religious beliefs, as set forth in the proclamation.

All entities executing work on an SPSCC campus are required to develop and provide a complete COVID-19 exposure control and mitigation plan to the department contracting the work or services before beginning said work.

The plan must include policies regarding the following control measures:

• PPE utilization;
• on-site social distancing;
• hygiene;
• sanitation; and
• incident reporting.

A copy of the plan must be available on each job site during any work activities and available for inspection by state and local authorities. Failure to meet posting requirements may result in sanctions, including the job being shut down.

Contractors of covered entities are largely included in the requirement for staff to be fully vaccinated to perform work on the site of the covered entity.

Included:

• State agencies: all contractors working onsite at executive cabinet agencies of the state of Washington if the work is required to be performed in person and on site, regardless of frequency, whether other workers are present, or any contingent nature of that requirement, including indoor or outdoor worksites.
• Educational setting: In places where students or people receiving services are present.

Not included:

• Workers who are present at a site for only a short period of time and have a fleeting physical presence with others. Examples include contractors delivering supplies by truck to a construction site where they remain physically distanced from others on the site, refuse pickup, or a driver for a contracted shipping and delivery service briefly entering a site to pick up parcels for shipping.
• Work performed at a school or institution of higher education in a location removed from student instruction or services.

SPSCC will ask all contractors planning to be on site for longer than 15 minutes to review this Contractor Vaccination Policy and document their compliance via an online Contractor Vaccination Confirmation form.

Contractors who have a statewide master contract for goods and services that require on-site work should verify their compliance directly with DES. A complete list of master contracts and their current compliance status is available on the DES COVID-19 webpage.

Vaccination – SPSCC is a fully vaccinated campus. In order to participate in on-campus activities, all students, employees, and contractors are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or properly exempted from vaccination for medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs. 

Encouraged masking – Masks are welcome and encouraged inside SPSCC buildings, but not required in most areas. There may be some instances where students or staff are required to wear masks, such as in clinical settings or in certain class sections (with approval from HR and the Vice President for Instruction).

Maintain social distance – There are no social distancing requirements for vaccinated individuals. However, for maximum safety and comfort of everyone on campus we recommend that you stay at least 3 feet away from other people whenever possible.

Wash your hands often – Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If you’re not able to use soap and water, there are numerous hand sanitizer dispensers throughout our campuses and facilities.

Stay home when you are sick – If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 you should stay off campus, isolate from others, and follow the CDC's Isolation guidelines.

Physical Modifications – In many areas where students and visitors receive face-to-face services or gather with small groups, SPSCC has installed plexiglass barriers, increased distance between furnishings, and reduced seating capacity.

To the greatest extent possible, these modified spaces are available to employees and students to make face-to-face meetings and services safer and more comfortable.

Additionally, we have installed inline air purification systems in all SPSCC-owned facilities that are currently being used for instruction or college operations. We have also supplemented these systems by placing additional portable purification units in areas with high air flow demands such as music rehearsal and performance spaces.

Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting – SPSCC’s custodial team is working diligently to keep all SPSCC facilities cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected. Their general practice is:

• Daily Cleaning: Areas being used for instructional activities, childcare, or in-person services, spaces open to visitors, restrooms, employee kitchen/break areas. Special sanitizing and disinfecting attention given to high-frequency touch surfaces like light switches, countertops, stair handrails, and door handles.
• Infrequent, Regular (1-2 times weekly) Cleaning: Shared office areas.
• Infrequent, As Needed Cleaning: Individual offices, areas not being used for classes and labs (empty classrooms).

Departments who need urgent custodial services can request emergency custodial support by calling extension 5493 or non-emergency custodial attention via a Facilities Work Request.

High traffic departments may supplement this cleaning schedule by using sanitizing wipes to clean surfaces such as desks, counters, door handles, etc, in their area throughout the day as students and staff come and go. Facilities can provide training on proper ways to clean and disinfect frequently touched areas as needed. Supervisors can request protective equipment, wipes, and other cleaning supplies for their staff directly from Facilities via a Facilities Work Request.

Virtual Services – Many SPSCC services and operations are now offered virtually ("virtually" includes online, telephone, email, or through a video conferencing service such as Zoom.) Links and hours of virtual services are kept up-to-date on the Hours page.

Virtual Learning – SPSCC classes are currently offered in four formats:

• Face-to-Face classes meet at a planned time and location. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required.
• Online classes do not have a set meeting time. Students complete their course work through Canvas.
• Virtual classes meet regularly via an online meeting space. Students are expected to log in on the days and times listed in the class schedule.
• Hybrid classes are a mix of online and face-to-face learning on the days and times listed in the class schedule. Hybrid classes with a face-to-face element require proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Each class’s format is indicated in the quarterly class schedule.

Teleworking – SPSCC’s Telework Procedure encourages and supports telework for positions that are suitable for being done from a remote worksite for a portion of the time. This procedure provides flexibility for employees, better work-life balance, and is a means to achieve administrative efficiencies.

Telework is a voluntary workplace alternative available through a mutually agreed upon arrangement between an employee and their supervisor. Employees interested in teleworking should talk with their supervisor and, if approved, complete a Telework Agreement specifying their telework schedule.

SPSCC recommends that anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or learns that they have been directly exposed to COVID-19 follow the most current CDC Isolation or Quarantine recommendations.

Washington State Department of Health maintains up-to-date information on testing options including testing locations near you and information on ordering or purchasing over-the-counter COVID-19 tests.

If you learn that you have been exposed to COVID-19, current CDC quarantine guidelines recommend that you take precautions (including masking around others) for at least 10 full days and get tested 5 full days after your last exposure.

SPSCC recommends that all staff and students utilize WA Notify on their smartphone to alert them of potential COVID-19 exposures and to report their own positive test results.