Employee Resource Portal

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

While we are all so happy to be back together and be physically present on campus, Health Services would like to remind you of the steps we all need to take to avoid exposure to the COVID-19 virus:

• Wear a mask to protect yourself and others and stop the spread of COVID-19.
• Masks needs to fit properly and cover mouth and nose.
• Wash your hands often,
• Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from others.
• We are careful to keep you 6 feet apart while in class and on campus. Remember to stay 6 feet apart when you are off campus, walking to your cars, or studying in groups. 
• Mandatory COVID Assessment is to be filled out by all students and faculty on campus every day.

By following these simple guidelines, we can do our best to protect each other and enjoy a healthy semester on campus. If you have any questions or concerns about COVID-19, please call Health Services at 337-9300 ext 2243.

Paige McIntyre MSN.FNP-C

Director of Student Services

1-11-21: NY State Makes In-person College Instructors Eligible for Vaccination 

Dear Colleagues,

I want to make you aware that as of this morning, New York State has added “in-person college faculty and instructors” to the list of populations eligible to make a reservation to be vaccinated. 

Visit https://vaccinepod.nyc.gov/ where you can create an account and follow the prompts. You may also call 877-VAX-4NYC or 877-829-4692 to schedule an appointment. 

I encourage you to review the vaccine FAQ section at the New York State website, where you’ll find a wealth of detail about safety and effectiveness, timing on the actual availability of the vaccine for eligible populations, and more. The College encourages all employees to receive the vaccine as soon as they are able. 

Thank you for your dedication as we work through this challenging time together.

Dr. Rachel Eells

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Good Afternoon Concordia Community,

Is It Covid19?

It is so easy to think your runny nose and occasionally cough are the start of the Covid19 infection you have carefully avoided. It is hard to remember that there are other illnesses besides Covid19  that make us sick.

At this time of year, where allergies abound, colds are ramping up and the flu is looming, how do we tell the difference between the symptoms and when do we get tested? So many symptoms overlap in all these conditions. Here are some facts that will (hopefully) make you feel better:

Seasonal Allergies: very rarely will you have a fever with allergies. OTC sinus medications and other allergy medications will relieve your symptoms. It is rare to experiences shortness of breath. You will also not experience body aches and pain or gastrointestinal problems.  Unlike the flu or Covid, sneezing is a common symptom of allergies.

Common cold: besides making you feel awful and seeming to last forever, a common cold will rarely if ever cause a fever, shortness of breath, (that stuffy nose does not count as “shortness of breath”) or gastrointestinal problems. OTC meds will give you relief. A cold usually eases its way into your life, unlike the flu that usually comes on quickly. Sneezing is a common symptom that you will not experience with the flu or Covid.

Flu: Flu symptoms usually occur 1-4 days after exposure unlike Covid which can span 2-to 14 days after exposure. Many of the symptoms overlap, but it is rare to have a loss of taste or smell or sneezing with the flu. Getting the flu vaccine is safe way to reduce the odds you will get the flu. There are many symptoms of the flu that overlap with the Covid19 virus, so getting tested is important if you develop signs and symptoms. While the flu doesn’t usually cause shortness of breath, the flu is an upper respiratory illness so having the flu increases your chances of developing pneumonia. Getting tested if you develop flu-like symptoms is crucial.

Covid19: Very often starts with a fever over 100.4.  Very often, the virus causes a loss of taste or smell. Very often people describe a feeling of having “ an elephant sitting on their chest”. Very often one will experience a sever headache. Or, you will experience none of these symptoms and still be positive! – such is the insidiousness of this virus.

One thing that all these illnesses share is that regardless, if you have signs and symptoms, please stay home and consult your primary health provider if you have any concern, and DO NOT WAIT if you experience shortness of breath.

Sources: Center for Disease Control, The Journal News, Intermountain Healthcare

Susan G. Crane, RN, BSN
Director, Student Health Services

Dear Concordia Community,

As we navigate together through this most unusual semester, our commitment to the Concordia Cares Covenant guides us to recognize that we are all responsible for keeping one another safe.

For each of us, that responsibility includes staying aware of the many measures the College and its service providers have taken to provide a safe and healthy environment and manage expected cases, as outlined in the COVID-19 Reopening and Preparedness Plan.

In the spirit of that shared responsibility, please be aware that you can use the platform Concordia provides for submitting Incident Reports and Complaints to submit reports regarding compliance with the College’s COVID-19 protocols.  

There is a link to the form at the top of the Digital Quad (Incident Report Form), and at the bottom of every page on the Concordia website (File an Incident Report/Complaint). On the form, select “COVID-19 protocols” at the “Nature of this report” tab.

Reports may be made anonymously, and will be routed to the appropriate department.  

Thank you all for doing your part in showing that Concordia Cares.

Dr. Mark Wahlers
Chief Administrative Officer

Dear Concordia Community,

Concordia College New York remains firmly committed to timely and transparent communication around the health and safety of our entire community. 

This weekend, Concordia has launched our COVID-19 dashboard which will provide regular updates about the presence of COVID-19 positive tests within our Bronxville on-campus population. This includes students, faculty and staff statistics.

The dashboard will be updated daily (Monday through Friday) by 12pm EST and is accessible on our public website. View Now

Your health and safety remain Concordia's high priority.  It is important that you participate actively in the Concordia Cares initiative by staying aware, asking questions, and adhering to safety protocols.

We continue to work closely with the Westchester Department of Health (DOH) on the COVID-19 situation.

Please continue to check your email regularly.

Thank you.

Dr. Mark Wahlers
Chief Administrative Officer

Dear Campus Community,

We are committed to providing timely communications regarding COVID-19 cases and potential exposures to our students, faculty and staff. 

Today, a student tested positive for COVID-19 and has left our campus. We have contacted the Westchester Department of Health for further guidance and they will be working closely with Concordia on this rapidly evolving situation.

We have quarantined and tested students who may been exposed as identified through contact tracing. Employees who have interacted with this individual have also been contacted. We understand that this is a challenging situation at several levels. We ask that you respect the privacy of all individuals.

Your health and safety remain Concordia's utmost priority. Throughout the summer, we have spent countless hours to ensure the safety of our community. The procedures we are following were developed in our COVID-19 Reopening & Preparedness Plan in accordance with all Centers for Disease Control (CDC), New York State and local government guidelines. Concordia is following and exceeding all federal and state requirements.

We must be attentive, flexible, serious, and engaged regarding the steps we need to take as a community to care for ourselves and for one another.  View CDC COVID-19 prevention guidance here.   

If you are an employee with additional questions, please contact:

Terry Vidal, Director of Human Resources
Terry.Vidal@concordia-ny.edu
914-337-9300 x2116

Please continue to be attentive to all communications addressing COVID-19 and the additional steps we will be taking. 

We ask you to keep in your prayers all of our students during these unprecedented times. 

Dr. Mark Wahlers
Chief Administrative Officer

Dear Concordia Community,

Earlier this week, select administrative offices began to open across campus. We are purposefully taking a gradual approach to this process, and employees who can work from home are encouraged to continue to do so. A few reminders for employees who are back on campus:

• The College’s Workplace Safety Policy and Procedures Related to COVID-19 was attached to an e-mail that was sent from Human Resources on 7/1.  Due to the on-going rapid changes with COVID-19, the College has revised the Workplace Safety Policy and Procedures Related to COVID-19 as of July 7, 2020, to make clear that students will be required to wear masks and to add a section regarding traveling to “hot spots". The revised policy is below and it has also been posted at S/HR/COVID-19 Resources and at S/HR/Policies folders. 
• You must have approval from your supervisor for you to work on campus.
• The Self-Assessment Questionnaire has also been revised to remind employees to complete all questions, to complete the questionnaire daily, and to include a section regarding travelling to a “hot spot”.  The link to the revised questionnaire is below.  You must complete the Self-Assessment Questionnaire on a daily basis but only if you are going to be working on campus.  Please do not complete the questionnaire the night before you are to report to work on campus.
• When you arrive on campus, check in with security and when you leave check out.
• Your cooperation on completing the questionnaire and checking in with Security is important for the College’s attendance records, especially in the event we need to conduct tracing.

The tireless work of the Concordia Forward Team has made the reactivation of our campus possible, and I am grateful for their commitment to our bright future. The team’s task force groups have been working through new protocols and plans across multiple areas including health and well-being, academic program delivery, student experience, facilities and more. The dedicated faculty and staff of this cross-functional team continually consult with state and local officials as well as peer institutions as they work to bring Concordia through these unprecedented challenges.

The Concordia Forward Plan is guided by two main priorities:

• Protecting the health and well-being of the entire Concordia community.
• Ensuring that all students have access to Concordia’s educational experience as soon as possible in compliance with official guidance. 

Key to our plan for the reactivation of campus is our Concordia Cares initiative. A successful upcoming year depends on each of us. I know that we are more than ready to meet this challenge. In fact, it’s been Concordia’s way since 1881: we care for one another as we care for ourselves. When we wear a mask, when we keep our distance, when we show we care, we are doing as we know we’re meant to do. We are all responsible for keeping each other safe. Thank you in advance for making Concordia who we are - a community that cares.

There will be more information in the weeks to come. All plans are contingent on several factors, including the continued spread of the coronavirus, and direction from state and local officials.

Please continue to check your e-mail and visit www.concordia-ny.edu/Fall2020. 

Dear Colleagues,

We hope you are doing well during these extraordinary times.

As you may have heard, we entered Phase 3 for our region, the Mid-Hudson Valley Region, on June 23, 2020.  While certain areas of specific businesses and/or industries were allowed to be open as of Phase 2, including administrative offices, the College has elected to gradually open administrative offices as of July 6, 2020.  The reason that soft date was chosen is to allow the College to work on plans to gradually open our Administrative Offices on July 6, 2020, pursuant to guidelines from New York State.

Attached is the Workplace Safety Policy and Procedures Related to COVID-19 (the “Policy”).  We ask that you take the time to read the Policy in its entirety.  Below are important points:

1.       As of July 6, 2020, you must complete the Self-Assessment Questionnaire referenced in the Policy daily if you are going to work on campus.  Note that completing the questionnaire is not a suggestion, but a mandate.  A link to the fillable PDF Self-Assessment Questionnaire is also attached to this email.  If you have technical issues in filling this questionnaire, please contact humanresources@concordia-ny.edu. 

2.       You must have approval from your supervisor for you to work on campus.

3.       You must wear your College ID while working on campus.  If you do not have a College ID, please contact Joe Castaldo, Director of Security, at joseph.castaldo@concordia-ny.edu.

4.    All employees are required to remove all non-essential items (excludes computers and components, telephone, lamp) from their desktops at the end of each workday in order to facilitate the daily cleaning and disinfection of offices and workspaces.  Papers should be stored in closed cabinets or drawers, not maintained on the desktop, in order to maintain cleanliness and preserve confidentiality.  Sanitizing wipes dispensers will be available in all buildings to facilitate additional daily intermittent cleaning of computers, electronic devices, telephones, and other surfaces. If you have a concern regarding the cleanliness of a work area, kindly contact Paul Schulz, Director of College Facilities, at paul.schulz@concordia-ny.edu.

5.    You can wear your own facial covering or obtain facial coverings from the Security Office.  Please contact Joe Castaldo, Director of Security, at joseph.castaldo@concordia-ny.edu. 

Also, a mandatory training on the reopening of the administrative offices will be conducted on July 16, 2020; please look out for additional information.

The College’s plans will be closely monitored and adapted as often as necessary. Naturally reopening the College is completely contingent on the implementation of Phase 4 of New York State’s Moving New York Forward Plan.

Additional information can be found at S:\HR\COVID-19 Resources, including FAQs related to COVID-19.

If you have any questions regarding this email or other concerns, please speak with your supervisor, President’s Council member, or Human Resources.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you on campus in the near future! 

Terry Vidal, MS, HRM, SHRM-CP, PHRi

Director of Human Resources | Human Resources

Concordia College New York

Academic Calendar
The Fall semester for our traditional undergraduate students will open August 24 in a blended format of traditional classes integrated with web-enhanced content and technology. Classes will continue through November 23 without a break. After the Thanksgiving holiday, classes will be fully online for the remaining two weeks of the semester. Recognizing that some students require the optimal learning spaces campus provides, resident students will have the option to remain on/return to campus after the break. Commuting students will also have access to campus after the Thanksgiving break. Exams for the fall semester will be administered online. Nursing students will also begin their courses on August 24 and the program will include online lectures and lab simulations in the lab in small groups. Accelerated Degree Programs will begin in early July. Further decisions on the spring semester calendar will be made at a later date. 

Academic Program Delivery
Concordia has engaged an Instructional Design Team to build courses that can shift as needed along a range of delivery methods, from fully in-person to fully online. Extensive resources and training ensure that Concordia’s faculty can maximize face-to-face time while fully supporting learning that happens virtually. This means that students can expect uninterrupted academic progression throughout a range of potential scenarios. 

Student Experience
The College is committed to a vibrant campus life. Administrators, the Student Experience Team and the Student Government Association have been working together on plans to safely engage students with activities, athletics, clubs, and residence life. Physical distancing protocols will alter the format of some programming as the College follows local, state and national guidance. 

Athletics
Concordia is working with the NCAA Division II governance and is in support of the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) recommendation to pursue no changes to the 2020 Playing and Practice Seasons and D-II Championships schedule for fall sports, allowing seasons to be planned (including start dates) as legislated if public health conditions allow. Our primary objective is to develop guidelines and protocols to ensure safe competition.

Events
While large public gatherings will not take place this fall, other formats for many of Concordia’s community events are being planned. Details will follow as available.  

Health and Safety Measures
Concordia is committed to protecting the health and safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors. To that end, the College is working with local public health officials, state associations and health care providers to develop testing, monitoring, and contact tracing protocols, while reconfiguring classrooms, residence halls, public areas and dining spaces to enable social distancing. Some highlights include:

• A deep cleaning over the summer will be followed by an accelerated regular cleaning and disinfecting schedule. Cleaning processes and products have been enhanced.
• Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes will be available throughout campus. 
• Additional cleaning protocols have been developed to support the student move-in/move-out process while keeping Concordia community members and their families safe.
• Signage will guide and encourage compliance with health and safety protocols. 
• The Commons and Brickyard will have changes to best ensure the health and safety of our community.
• All hand dryers will be shut off in restrooms and paper towel dispensers will be available.
• Masks will be required in public spaces; masks will be provided to students, faculty, staff and visitors at no cost. As is current policy, visitors will be required to check in at the Security Office. Staff and faculty will wear identification at all times. 
• Concordia’s offices will be limited to 50% capacity as many staff continue to work from home. Staff will follow a variety of health screening and safety protocols. 

Further details and information will be released over the summer as guidance from New York State is disseminated. Please continue to check your email for important updates.

Questions from Safety Training Related to COVID-19

Q: Is there any information that can be shared specific to Concordia’s international student population this coming fall?

A: Concordia is following all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html

Based on the policy for the United States:

·       Students who are abroad and cannot return to the United States for official or personal reasons will not be able to remain in active status

·       Students who are elsewhere in the United States will have to return to campus as we do not offer an option to study 100% remotely

·       New, initial status students: If unable to travel to Concordia, you have to be deferred to the spring semester

Q: Will international students have to arrive on campus 14 days prior (if we need to fulfill a quarantine) to school start?

A: No, but international students will have to follow the same CDC guidelines that Concordia is following (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html,) which means these students would have to meet any identified quarantine requirements off-campus.

Q: How are students going to be put in quarantine if they live on campus?

A: Students who are subject to the travel advisory quarantine will need to make their own arrangements prior to arriving on campus. Students will be asked to complete an entry questionnaire, and will be tested as they arrive on campus. Information about the travel advisory quarantine can be found here: https://www.concordia-ny.edu/StudentInfo

If a student lives within a certain radius of Concordia, we will ask them to quarantine at home. If that is not possible, there will be eight quarantine locations available on campus away from the rest of the residential populations as well several off-site locations where Concordia will help to provide food, health services, and private bathrooms and bedrooms. These locations will meet the CDC standards.

Q: Has the 2020-21 traditional undergraduate academic calendar already been shared with all traditional students?

A:  Yes, it is posted on our website and can be found here:  https://www.concordia-ny.edu/academics/undergraduate/catalog.

Q: Security checks have been mentioned several times, does that mean commuter students have to check in every day? If residents leave campus and come back do they have to check in? Will food delivery people have to check in? How will this even be enforced?

A: Students do not need to check in with Security. All deliveries and visitors must be directed to the Security Office.

Q: Where will the security check-in be located? The current Security Office does not seem well-suited to do this (small space and up a set of stairs).

A: The Security Office is located in Sieker Hall and is ready to manage check-in processes. The main door is locked to control the flow of people and the floor is labeled with reflective markings for distancing. Any overflow will socially distance into the Student Experience Lounge.

If anyone finds the stairs a challenge, Security personnel will come out and check you in at the bottom of the steps.  We will also be setting up an additional security table in the lobby of the Scheele Memorial Library to allow for security check-ins.

Q: How will you enforce visitors to check in, with the campus being very open and public? Anybody can come in without passing the security office? Will there be stations by Romo, entries of parking area, etc.?

A: Concordia will have extra security personnel around campus gently reminding individuals to wear a mask and proceed to the Security Office if they need a mask and to check in. Together as a community and as part of the Concordia Cares Covenant, we must work together to keep our community safe. This includes letting guests and visitors know the procedure when they arrive on campus.

Q: Will there be social distancing guidelines within Scheele Memorial Library? Will the hours of operation change or will we have to set up an appointment to enter?

A: The Library has been set up for safe use, with plastic dividers between computer stations, and tables marked for safe distancing. Hours have been modified slightly, but the Library will be available for study and services. Online services and virtual appointments will also be available.

Q: Will classroom doors be allowed to be propped open to limit door handles as touch points?
A: Yes, we will check all classroom doors to ensure the propping device works. Every morning, we will open the doors and turn on the window air conditioner. Every evening, the classrooms will be detailed cleaned, closed and locked.

Q: Who is responsible for cleaning classrooms between classes?

A: Students and instructors will have the opportunity to clean their area using sanitizing wipes available in the hallways outside classrooms.  Each classroom will be detail cleaned by our cleaning company at the end of every day.

Q: In addition to monitoring best practices for hand washing, will Concordia also monitor hand drying?

A: Paper towel dispensers will be available in every bathroom on campus.

Q: Will Concordia allow a mobile testing site to come on campus for both student and employees?

A: No. There are no plans for mobile testing sites at this time.

Q: COVID-19 is carried in fecal matter. Toilet seat covers are not on all toilets.  How are we addressing the airborne fecal matter from bathrooms?

A: We are doing routine cleaning.

Pursuant to the CDC:

“How is the virus spread? The virus that causes covid-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Spread is more likely when people are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).”

Concordia is following CDC guidelines regarding routine cleaning.

What is routine cleaning?  Routine cleaning is the everyday cleaning practices that businesses and communities normally use to maintain a healthy environment. Surfaces frequently touched by multiple people, such as door handles, bathroom surfaces, and handrails, should be cleaned with soap and water or another detergent at least daily when facilities are in use.

Q: Will student workers (mentors, tutors, RA’s) also have to fill out the COVID questionnaire every day, or is that just for staff? 

A: All employees, including student workers, are required to complete the daily self-assessment questionnaire if they are not working remotely.

Q: Will we still have to do finger printing to log in for payroll?
A: We will be changing the login process that employees can enter hours via online.

Q: Is the Employee Training presentation available online?
A:   Yes, it is posted in the Resources found on this page, on the Digital Quad and at s/hr/covid-19.

Q: Will requirements for visitors on campus extend to community dog-walkers, etc.?

A: These individuals are remaining outdoors. All individuals walking, jogging or just passing through campus will be reminded they will need to wear a mask.