Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources

Sent to LWTech College Employees

Plans for Fall Quarter as a Vaccinated Campus

Good Afternoon Colleagues:

As I mentioned earlier this summer, Executive Cabinet and I were planning to meet after Labor Day to finalize plans for Fall quarter. Yesterday, we held an all-day retreat where we put our plan in place, in accordance with Governor Inslee’s proclamation for higher education. First and foremost, the college will be open and providing classes and services on campus and online fall quarter. I’ll share more specifics about what that looks like below, next week in Amy’s Update, and Opening Day.

Per the proclamation and mandate, the requirements for state employees and students differ slightly from each other; however, one requirement that is the same for both groups is that the Governor has removed the vaccine requirement exemption for philosophical reasons. The only vaccine exemptions will be for medical reasons and sincerely held religious beliefs.

Vaccine Deadlines

Per Meena Park’s recent email, all college employees, and volunteers (including student employees) must complete the LWTech COVID-19 Self Attestation. This is required for all employees and volunteers, whether you are attesting to the vaccination or filing a medical or religious exemption. The deadline for doing this is the end of the day on Friday, September 24^th.

Technically there are no deadlines for students imposed by the Governor’s mandate, but the intent was clear that students should be vaccinated or have exemptions approved before Fall quarter. Based on when we notified students, that would not give them enough time to go out and get the vaccine, therefore we’ll be flexible. The Attestation link is currently live under the student toolbox on our website. We may prevent students from registering for Winter 2022 classes if they have not finished the attestation/vaccination process by late October.

Door Monitoring, Campus Access, and Operating Hours

As a vaccinated campus, and with self-attestation, we will no longer have door monitors and limited access to campus. Building doors that were open pre-COVID will once again be open during regular business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. We will be sharing plans for Saturdays in the coming days. With that said, there will be some changes to when specific offices will be open for in-person support. Next week in Amy’s Update, I’ll be sharing more information about updated office hours.

Masking and Social Distancing

Masks are required indoors at all times unless you are alone in an office with a door that can be closed. Masks will need to be worn if you are in a cubicle area. This is a new change. Previously, we said that if everyone in a meeting was vaccinated masks could be removed. Now, masks must be worn indoors at all times due to the severity of the Delta variant.

Per the Governor’s guidance, LWTech’s status as a vaccinated campus removes any physical distancing requirements. The college’s upgraded HVAC system and the vaccine mandates are eliminating the requirement for physical distancing.

If you don’t feel comfortable meeting with more than one person in your office, please feel free to schedule time in a conference room or use other public areas of the college.

COVID Exposure Protocols

The college continues to have contact tracing, although it looks slightly different. If you have been exposed to COVID and have tested positive, you will need to contact the COVID supervisor at 425-403-6228. At that time, they will assess the type of notifications that must occur.

1. If someone was determined to be within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes of someone who tested positive, they will be contacted directly by the COVID Supervisor.
2. If a classroom or entire work area is affected due to someone testing positive for COVID, an email will be sent to college employees.

Individuals who are experiencing symptoms of any contagious illness should remain home and work with their supervisor to see if working from home is possible. Individuals with an illness (contagious or not) experiencing symptoms that make it difficult or impossible to work remotely should use sick leave.

Updated HVAC System

Two upgrades have been made throughout the entire campus:

1. The air filters have been replaced with filters that trap viruses.
2. The recirculation of air has been eliminated or reduced to a minimum, while the exhaust of used air and replacement with fresh air has been maximized.

Throughout campus, CO₂ levels are monitored by automatic sensors. While CO₂ is not COVID, it is an indication of breath. The sensors’ set points have been decreased by 30 to 40% to automatically open the fresh air damper. Less CO₂ means more fresh air is brought in. We adjusted the minimum sensor setpoint of the fresh air dampers to allow as much fresh air as possible and reduce recirculated air. Even with few occupants in a room there is fresh air circulating.

We upgraded all the filters on our rooftop units to Merv 13 filters. Merv 13 filters sift out 85% of COVID particles. All filters in interior spaces were upgraded to Merv 10. These are not quite as good as Merv 13, but they still filter COVID and other viruses. The air the HVAC system is delivering throughout the entire campus is filtered by these two filters.

We have changed the temperature levels across campus to allow more fresh air for longer. This fresh outside air may be colder or hotter than normal, meaning spaces may be slightly colder or hotter than normal, but with fresh air.

Campus Custodial Plans

The custodial team will regularly clean high-touch areas using CDC-approved supplies. Cleaning supplies will be available for individuals to wipe down areas in classrooms and offices.

Custodial team emphasis will be placed on:

• Doors and hardware
• Light switches
• Tables, chairs, counter surfaces
• Podiums
• Monitors, keyboards, mice (see additional clarification below)
• Sinks, faucets
• Kiosks
• Handrails
• Water fountains
• Elevator push buttons and doors
• ADA push buttons
• Vending machines

Custodians will conduct a two-part cleaning and disinfecting process:

• Wiping down surfaces with a microfiber cloth and a neutral cleaner
• Spraying surfaces with a neutral disinfectant and left to air dry

This two-part process will occur:

• In classrooms, labs, and conference rooms at the end of the day
• In restrooms and in common areas throughout campus, daily while campus is occupied, on a rotating basis

Sanitation of individual office areas will be the responsibility of the employee occupant. Proper sanitation will be the responsibility of instructional programs where there are:

• Regulatory requirements  
• Programmatic requirements as part of curriculum
• Programmatic and or high value equipment 

Updates in Instruction

There is one change to the previously published class schedule. Some English Language Learner (ELL) and Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes will be moved online. Faculty will receive a letter mailed to their home that includes information about Opening Week and classroom COVID protocols for Fall quarter.

Updates in Student Services

As mentioned above, there will be some changes to in-person support hours in Student Services. I’ll share out that information next week. We’ll be providing a balance of in-person and virtual support to students and hours will be clearly posted on department webpages.

As I mentioned above, I’ll have more information next week in Amy’s Update as we continue to finalize plans for fall. As we’ve done during the pandemic thus far, we will remain nimble and flexible if/when more information becomes available. I, along with our Trustees and the members of Cabinet, are incredibly proud of your continued support of our students and each other.

Please stay safe, take care of yourselves, and each other.

Amy

Sent to the LWTech College Community

As I mentioned in my most recent Amy’s Update, Executive Cabinet and I continue to discuss plans for Fall quarter on campus. Since our last correspondence, we have learned that the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) will provide a simple technology solution for students and employees to provide self-attestation information to the college. With this technology solution, our primary concern regarding the burden of managing a vaccine requirement to our existing staff has been removed, and with that, Executive Cabinet and I have made the final decision that LWTech will now require vaccines for faculty, staff, and students for Fall quarter.

While we are in the process of working through the details of what this will look like, I want to share with you what we know now. We will have more information in early September.

What We Know Now:

• Students and employees coming to campus must be vaccinated, with exemptions allowed. This includes legally-required medical exemptions, as well as religious or philosophical exemptions.
• Employees will be required to complete the online survey regarding their vaccination or exemption status by September 17.
• Students will be required to complete the online survey vaccination or exemption status by September 24.
• Colleges must record the vaccination status of students who are taking in-person classes.
• We will require masking in all public areas and large group settings whether vaccinated or not. We will have more information on the specifics of where you can be on campus without a mask in early September.
• As a campus that requires vaccinations, we are no longer required to maintain 3-foot physical social distancing.
• We will no longer have door monitors. However, online daily health attestations may still be required before students, faculty and staff come to campus.

We will continue to keep a close eye on any changes to from the Governor’s Office, and updates coming from the Department of Health and Labor and Industries; as well as the Department of Health guidance to K12 schools given our high school programs.

While we would like to be able to have everything in place now for Fall quarter, realistically, that won’t happen until after Labor Day due a variety of factors. Executive Cabinet and I will continue to update you with any changes. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me or your Executive Cabinet representative.

Finally, as a reminder, Amy’s Update is on an abbreviated summer schedule. The next issue will be out after Labor Day.

Please stay safe, take care of yourselves, and each other.

Amy

Good Morning:

Yesterday afternoon, Governor Inslee extended the Stay Home, Stay Healthy Proclamation until May 4. When the college moved to remote operations a few weeks ago, the plan was to hopefully return to campus on April 27^th.

With the extension of Governor’s proclamation, and classes being delivered online for Spring quarter, we are extending remote operations for the college until the end of Spring quarter.

Our teams in Instruction and Student Services will continue to provide the same incredible support to students, as they’ve done in-person.

Faculty, additional information is forthcoming this afternoon from the vice president for instruction.

A general instructional update will be provided later today for students and specific course information will be provided via Canvas early next week.

I am extremely proud of the creative and innovative ways all of you, our faculty and staff, have come together to serve our students remotely.

Thank you all for hanging in there with us. It means so much. We will get through this, together.

Stay well, take care of yourselves, and each other, and please stay in touch.

Amy

Dr. Amy Morrison 
President, Lake Washington Institute of Technology

The safety of our students, faculty and staff is our priority. If we need to close the college we will do so. Everyone’s health and safety is our highest priority.

Unlike our local decision making with weather-related closures, our President will follow the advice and direction from King County Public Health, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and state officials. 

If we have suspended operations, you will be notified through our FlashAlert and Omnilert systems that send out calls, emails and text messages. Now is a great time to make sure that your notification settings are correct.

Sign up for LWTech's Flash Alert and Omnilert Notifications

Human coronavirus is most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:

• The air by coughing and sneezing, or close person-to-person contact
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands 

Symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Symptoms of coronavirus may include:

• Fever
• Difficulty breathing
• Cough

If you have traveled to/from any of the countries with travel alerts or outbreaks, and have symptoms, contact a healthcare provider. 

If you have been notified by public health authorities that you might have been exposed, please follow instructions provided by the Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus. The CDC recommends everyday prevention measures, including: 

• Everyone get a seasonal flu vaccination if possible. While it will not prevent the novel coronavirus, influenza is currently in widespread circulation, and initial symptoms can be similar to novel coronavirus.
• Wear a face covering.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home from school or work if sick.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Don’t share food and drinks.
• Clean and disinfect shared surfaces and objects that are touched frequently. 

Stay home when you are sick. Do not report to work or attend classes if you are ill. Instructors, consider providing students with ways to complete work from home. This is good advice no matter what illness is going around. If you are concerned about your flu-like illness, call your health care provider for advice and share any travel history. Stay home, rest, and stay hydrated.

To prevent the spread of any respiratory diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw the tissue away
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water

The proper way to wash your hands is for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after going to the bathroom and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

Keep some basic supplies at home. The US Department of Homeland Security recommends that people should keep some basic supplies at home in case they get sick or in case it is difficult to get supplies at a store. Here is what they are recommending:

• Store a two-week supply of food. Select foods that do not require refrigeration, preparation or cooking. Ensure that formula for infants and any child’s or older person’s special nutritional needs are a part of your planning. Plan for your pets as well.
• Store a supply of nonprescription drugs, such as pain relievers, cough and cold medicines, stomach remedies and anti-diarrheal medication, as well as vitamins and fluids with electrolytes (such as sports drinks).
• Store health and cleaning supplies, such as bleach, tissues, a thermometer, disposable gloves, soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Periodically check your regular prescription drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your home.
• Get copies and maintain electronic versions of health records from doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other sources and store them, for personal reference.
• Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your home.

Make a plan now for how you, your household and your neighbors might need to adapt, rely on each other if there is a significant outbreak. Here are some things that could occur:

• Major events, church and community services and many businesses may be temporarily closed.
• Public transportation might be reduced or suspended.
• Childcare centers and schools may be closed.
• It could be difficult to buy basic supplies.