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COVID-19 Campus Guide for Students
 

AVC Do Your Part Logo Students,

The health and safety of the entire AVC community is our top priority, guiding each decision we make about campus operations. The information in this COVID-19 Campus Guide will answer many questions about personal and shared responsibilities. We all need to DO OUR PART in keeping each other safe and healthy.

We expect any student who visits campus for any reason to follow the guidelines below. All student services can be accessed remotely (there is a link below to those contacts), by appointment or walk-in.

We will continue to make additions to the guide and urge all of you to review this Guide in its entirety, then return to it as needed.

Personal Protocols

Please report all positive COVID-19 cases for students to avc@pubseg.com or (661) 749-9900.

The health and wellness protocols implemented are based on federal, state and local guidance.

  • Students must not come to campus if they are sick.
  • Students are required to conduct a self-screening as per the protocols listed below.
  • Face coverings are strongly recommended, especially in congested indoor areas.

If you have been exposed to COVID-19 it is important to note you may not become sick nor show symptoms. Symptoms vary with some people experiencing no or very mild symptoms while others experience very severe symptoms. These symptoms usually appear in 2-14 days after exposure and include:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever greater than 100.4 F, or feeling feverish
  • Chills or repeated shaking with chills
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle pain or body aches
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Diarrhea
  • New loss of taste and/or smell

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, stay home. Contact PubSEG at avc@pubseg.com or (661) 749-9900 and your primary care provider to discuss next steps. COVID-19 Testing is available through the county and your healthcare provider. Additionally, tests are available on campus at the Facilities Services office and the Student Health Center.

Please remember that student health issues are confidential.

Please complete the self-screening form before arriving at an AVC facility if any of the following apply to you:

1.    You have tested positive for COVID-19.

2.    You are currently under isolation or quarantine orders.

3.    You are experiencing any of the following new or worsening symptoms consistent with COVID-19: Fever of 100.4° or higher, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose or congestion, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, or new loss of taste or smell.

4.    You have recently been in the same indoor air space for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period with someone who had a lab-confirmed, positive case of COVID-19 or who was experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19 listed in the previous section.

The survey is a tool based on generally-available information related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). It is not intended to provide official medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. The information gathered through this tool is kept confidential and will only be viewed by the Contact Tracing team. Please answer all questions to the best of your ability.

Per CDC, individuals with certain conditions may have a higher risk for COVID-19 infection. Those conditions include: over 65 years of age, severe asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes, serious heart conditions, chronic kidney disease being treated with dialysis, severe obesity, liver disease, pregnancy, and immunocompromised – HIV, AIDS, chemo-therapy patients, transplant recipients, on immune-suppressing medications, etc. If you think you are considered high risk and need assistance, please contact your health care provider.

Face coverings are strongly recommended for all students:

The best way to prevent infection is to practice good hygiene. The main routes for a virus to enter your body are through eyes, nose, and mouth. Students are encouraged to:

  • Wash your hands with soap often throughout the day for at least 20 seconds and/or use sanitizer often while on campus.
  • Avoid touching your face, whenever possible, especially with unclean hands. If you touch your face, wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
  • If handwashing facilities are not available, hand sanitizer with 60% or higher alcohol content is a good substitute. Make sure to continue to rub your hands on all surfaces, just as you would if washing, until the hand sanitizer has evaporated completely.
  • Avoid touching surfaces like door knobs and elevator buttons, whenever possible, with bare hands. Use a clean tissue, shirt sleeve, or your elbow.
  • If you cough or sneeze, do so into your elbow or cover your nose and mouth with a tissue. Tissues must be thrown in the trash, followed by hand washing.

At this time social and physical distancing is not a requirement. There are several exceptions that may apply:

  • Additional protective measures may be implemented, including the use of physical distancing and barriers to prevent transmission of disease. These exceptions will be assessed as necessary and communicated with the campus community.
  • During an outbreak (3 or more students in an exposed group), we are required to evaluate whether physical distancing or barriers are necessary to control the transmission of COVID-19.
  • Physical distancing and barriers must be used in a major outbreak (20 or more students in an exposed group) for all students.

Location-Based Protocols

Students are encouraged to respect everyone's space in common areas, if feasible. Common areas include public corridors, lobbies, indoor seating areas, etc. Please adhere to the following guidance:

  • Limit what surfaces you touch in common areas.
  • Wash your hands often with soap for at least 20 seconds. You may use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol as an alternative if handwashing is not available.
  • Wash hands with soap before and after touching common area surfaces.
  • It is suggested that you disinfect common area phones or computers before and after use.

Barrier recommendations have been removed.

Occupancy limit recommendations have been removed.

Facilities Services will provide cleaning services for the campus, focusing on public areas such as public restrooms. Students shall assist in keeping spaces clean and disinfected. Disinfection supplies should be supplied by Facilities Services in order to ensure products meet EPA criteria for COVID-19 disinfection.

If you have any questions, concerns or comments related to campus cleanliness please contact Facilities at (661) 722-6499.

Spaces or areas of specific use; such as, classrooms, offices, public areas, the library, labs, common facilities, etc., are open.

Instructional Protocols

There are multiple instructional delivery methods and modalities:

  • Live Online (OLI) - These are fully remote instruction lecture classes with specific days and times that will meet via Zoom or other electronic method (also known as synchronous distance education).
     
  • In Person Face-to-Face (F2F) - These are 100% face-to-face courses.
     
  • Online Distance Ed (DEd) - These are traditional online courses that typically list as "Online" on the schedule and are also known as Asynchronous Distance Education, where you work alone. There are no live meetings and you work entirely online and independently.
     
  • In Person Blended (BLE) - These classes will include in-person and online instruction. When not in the classroom, students will also learn and participate online.
     
  • Hybrid (HYB) - These classes have an in-person orientation and may also have in-person tests. All instruction will be held online.

Administrative services and support services are all taking place on campus following all protocols.

Student Services and Student Life are all taking place on campus following all protocols.

Student Support Services are currently being provided:

Chrome books, hot spots and laptops are available to students on loan through ITS. Assistance will continue to be offered, as available. Contact help@avc.edu or 661-722-6605.

Resources

Having basic needs met and being safe and secure has been shown to have a direct impact on the mental-emotional-physical health, wellness, academic performance, professional development, and success of students. AVC works with community partners to increase accessibility to food, housing, hygiene needs, financial resources, mental health and other basic needs for our students. Please visit www.avc.edu/basicneeds for more detail. Students can contact the Dean of Student Life and Services office at studentlife@avc.edu for on and off campus resources to help students be successful. 

CVC.edu

  • California Virtual College is an additional online academic resource. As a student of AVC, Antelope Valley College is your home college, but if you are unable to take the course you need in a preferred format due to COVID-19, this could serve as a secondary option.
     

The LA County Hot Spot Locator is an interactive map that shows WiFi locations throughout LA County.


Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

  • If you are feeling alone and/or anxious during this time, county residents can call Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health 24/7 Access Helpline at (800) 854-7771 for mental health support, resources and referrals.


Free Mindfulness Exercises, Meditations & Courses


Additional Resources:


Telehealth and Nurse Advice Line Guides

Valuable information for both clients with and without Primary Care Providers.


Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event

During and after a disaster, it is natural to experience different and strong emotions. Coping with these feelings and getting help when you need it will help you, your family, and your community recover from a disaster. Connect with family, friends, and others in your community. Take care of yourself and each other, and know when and how to seek help.

People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment plans during an emergency and monitor for any new symptoms. Additional information can be found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSAexternal icon) website.

Click here to explore resources to help cope and take care of yourself and each other during an emergency


Health & Wellness Resources

For Online Health and Wellness Resources please visit Wellness Central.

Be prepared for online learning with these resources.