DCAD COVID 19 Procedures

DCAD COVID-19 + Monkeypox Procedures

IMPORTANT COVID-19 + MONKEYPOX UPDATES FOR DCAD COMMUNITY MEMBERS

(UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2022)

In August 2021, the Delaware College of Art and Design announced that all new and returning students, staff, and faculty are required to be fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

Following Delaware public health laws, the College will allow medical and religious exemptions from DCAD’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Students, faculty, and staff who cannot be vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance may request an exemption through the College.

DCAD will accept all COVID-19 vaccines that have received Emergency Use Authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization. Vaccines must have been administered on or after December 1, 2020.

The College recommends that community members receive their first dose before arriving on campus. If you live in Delaware and have not received your vaccination, you can find information on vaccination sites here. Proof of vaccination and/or completed exemption documents must be submitted as soon as possible.

The College will also require and provide access to weekly COVID-19 testing. Information on the testing schedule and protocols will be available soon.

Following review of new CDC and State guidance, DCAD will no longer require masks on campus effective Monday, March 14th. Members of the community may choose to continue to wear a mask; it is expected that everyone will be respectful of those choices.

Daily symptom monitoring through the CareVio texts and regular COVID testing will continue through the end of the semester. DCAD’s health & safety committee will continue to frequently monitor local and regional COVID-19 transmission rates reported by the CDC and State of Delaware and align our campus masking guidelines accordingly.

Questions regarding this policy and requests for exemption documentation should be directed to Students Services, or to Kristen Blanchard, Executive Assistant, for faculty and staff.

Additional information about upcoming vaccination events, testing, and other COVID-19 questions will be added to this page as it becomes available.

DCAD’s priority is protecting the health and safety of our community. We want to provide the safest environment possible for in-person learning.

We understand that you will have questions and we will continue to provide updates as we receive new information. We are grateful for your understanding during this time as we do our very best to provide an excellent education for our students.

Sincerely,

Jean Dahlgren

President, Delaware College of Art and Design

Current Policies for the 600 Building and 707 Residence Hall

The Delaware College of Art and Design continues to place the highest priority on the health, safety, and well-being of its students, faculty, staff, and campus community. All community members are requested to follow these rules diligently to sustain a healthy and safe environment on our creative campus. 

Masks

DCAD is not currently requiring masks on campus. Community members may wear them at their discretion.  

DCAD’s health & safety committee will continue to frequently monitor local and regional COVID-19 transmission rates reported by the CDC and the State of Delaware and align our campus masking guidelines accordingly. 

Vaccine Mandate 

In August 2021, DCAD updated the College’s immunization policy to require all faculty, staff, and students to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. “Fully vaccinated” at this time means a completed two-dose course of the Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  

Students should provide proof of vaccination to the Director of Student Life; faculty and staff should submit theirs to the Executive Assistant and Director of Special Projects.  

Vaccine Exemptions

Under certain circumstances, DCAD will allow medical and religious exemptions from the vaccine mandate.

DCAD students, faculty, and staff who cannot be vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a medical reason should provide a detailed explanation on letterhead signed by their treating physician. 

DCAD students, faculty, and staff who cannot be vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance must complete the religious exemption form. 

More information on COVID-19 can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html 

Monkeypox 

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, part of the same family of viruses as the variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox.  

Symptoms 

People with monkeypox get a rash that can be located on or near the genitals or anus and could be on other areas like the hands, feed, chest, face, or mouth. The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing. It will initially look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy. 

Other symptoms can include: 

  • Fever 
  • Chills 
  • Swollen lymph nodes 
  • Exhaustion 
  • Muscle aches and backache 
  • Headache 
  • Respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough) 

You may experience all or only a few symptoms 

  • Sometimes, people have flu-like symptoms before the rash. 
  • Some people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. 
  • Others only experience a rash. 

Prevention 

  • Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox
  • Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox 
  • Do not kiss, hug, cuddle, or have sex with someone with monkeypox 
  • Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used 
  • Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox 
  • Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox 
  • Wash your hands often  
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom 

More information available here: https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html 

 

 

Current Policies for Community Education

The Delaware College of Art and Design continues to place the highest priority on the health, safety, and well-being of its students, faculty, staff, and campus community. All community members are requested to follow these rules diligently to sustain a healthy and safe environment on our creative campus. 

Masks 

DCAD is not currently requiring masks on campus. Community members may wear them at their discretion.  

DCAD’s health & safety committee will continue to frequently monitor local and regional COVID-19 transmission rates reported by the CDC and the State of Delaware and align our campus masking guidelines accordingly. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate 

In August 2020, DCAD updated the College’s immunization policy to require all faculty, staff, and students to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. “Fully vaccinated” at this time means a completed two-dose course of the Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  

CE students should provide proof of vaccination to the Director of Continuing and Professional Studies [email protected] prior to the start of your course.  

Vaccine Exemptions 

Under certain circumstances, DCAD will allow medical and religious exemptions from the vaccine mandate. 

DCAD students, faculty, and staff who cannot be vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a medical reason should provide a detailed explanation on letterhead signed by their treating physician. 

DCAD students, faculty, and staff who cannot be vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance must complete the religious exemption form. 

CE students and instructors who cannot be vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance must complete one of the following forms and submit it to [email protected].

CARES Act Funding Disbursement Information

DCAD remains committed to supporting its students. For remaining questions concerning the disbursement of CARES Act funds, please email Kristen Blanchard ([email protected]) for assistance.  

For questions concerning your tuition billing and payment plans, please contact the Bursar, Muriel Mhloyi ([email protected]), for assistance. If you have questions concerning your Financial Aid, please contact our Financial Aid Department, (financialaid@dcad.edu), for assistance.

CARES Act Reporting

Emergency Financial Aid Grant to Students

Institutional Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting

Combined Report

Prevention and Self-care

Please remember, the following precautionary measures may aid in defending against the flu and COVID-19: 

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or upper arm/elbow. 
  • Clean hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 
  • Regularly clean and disinfect shared surfaces and objects that are touched frequently (faucets, doorknobs, phones, etc.). 
  • Avoid contact with sick people. 

We are committed to taking action now so that we can decrease risk to our community. We will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 through the most reliable medical experts, as well as state and federal agencies. You will be updated immediately with additional information and procedures as we have it available. 

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, it will be important for you to self-report to the institution, via your supervisor. It is important to note that DCAD seeks to prevent any form of stigma and discrimination in our work and learning environment and uphold the guidance provided by the CDC and the DOH of Delaware. The institution will make no determinations of risk based on a DCAD staff, faculty, or student’s race or country of origin. DCAD will also maintain the appropriate confidentially of individuals suspected or confirmed with COVID-19 as required by federal law and guidance by the CDC. 

If a student is sick

  • If a student is diagnosed with COVID-19, the student will need to self-report to Student Life. If a student lives in the Residence Hall, they must quarantine within their room for the duration of their sickness until a doctor’s note can be provided clearing them to resume in-person activities, before they are able to return to college buildings. Commuting students will need to quarantine at home for the duration of their sickness until a doctor’s note can be provided clearing them to resume in-person activities before they are able to return to college buildings.

In the case of a state-wide shutdown

  • For Residents of the 707 Residence Hall, the College will follow an emergency move-out plan which would be communicated to students as soon as possible. 
  • The College would resume online delivery of all courses. Hybrid course would pivot to online delivery as well. 
  • Guidelines and procedures from the state, CDC, and WHO will be followed at all times to maintain the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. 

Questions?

For academic questions: Katy Ro, Dean [email protected]
For financial aid questions: [email protected]
For Billing questions: Muriel Mhloyi, Bursar [email protected]
For health-related questions: Please contact your personal healthcare provider
For housing-related or any other student life questions: [email protected]

Financial Aid:

Federal Student Aid – Real-time up to date information from the Department of Education 

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/coronavirus 

Remote Instruction:

Students and parents can use Federal and Private Educational Loan funding to purchase a laptop. Please contact financial aid at [email protected] for more information. 

Students Who Complete a FAFSA:

Your Financial Aid for the 21-22 Academic Year did not change; you did not lose any financial aid in response to the distance learning initiative. 

Direct Loan Response: 

Direct Loan funding may still be available to any student who previously declined the use of a Federal Subsidized or Unsubsidized loan. Please contact Financial Aid at [email protected] for more information. 

Change in Household Resources: 

Contact Financial Aid at financialaid@dcad.edu if you or your parent(s) received an employment layoff or loss of pay from work. 

FEDERAL WORK STUDY (FWS) 

Payroll

Contact your supervisor for any payroll-related questions or concerns.

Remote Work

Contact your supervisor for remote work opportunities to complete work remotely.

Email [email protected] if you are unable to work remotely and you were anticipating returning to work on Campus. 

DCAD will follow the most current guidelines and procedures from the CDC, WHO, and the State of Delaware. 

Yes, DCAD has updated the College’s immunization policy. It requires all students, faculty, and staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Proof of vaccination can be submitted via this form.

Proof of vaccination or completed exemption documents must be submitted by as soon as possible.

To be determined.

In August 2021, DCAD and the Delaware Department of Public Health hosted a vaccination event during new student orientation.

Any news about future vaccination events will be communicated to all students, faculty, and staff.

Under certain circumstances DCAD will allow medical and religious exemptions from the vaccine mandate.

Students, faculty, and staff who cannot be vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a medical reason should provide a detailed explanation on letterhead, that is signed by their treating physician.

Students, faculty, and staff who cannot be vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance may use the following forms to request an exemption.

Questions regarding this policy should be directed to:

We are developing a comprehensive plan to have in place if a student, staff, or faculty member becomes sick. We will work with students to provide a virtual learning delivery should they need to isolate or quarantine.

Office hours will be posted on each syllabus. Check your syllabi at the beginning of the semester to know when your instructor’s office hours will be.   

No. DCAD’s commitment to its students to deliver a quality art and design education that will enable them to meet their Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree requirements and course outcomes has not shifted or changed as a result of the pandemic. Although the education delivery has had to adjust to support our community’s health and safety, students are engaging with the same DCAD rigor and expectations in their assignment work and portfolio development as any other academic year. Change of course delivery to comply with state and federal guidelines and support our educational community’s safety does not require an adjustment to tuition and fees. If a student has specific questions about their financial aid or bill, they can reach out to the appropriate office for assistance: