FAQs: COVID-19

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The Champlain Community Health Pledge describes the College’s expectations of you—and our expectations of one another—as we work together to establish and maintain the health of our campus community and our Burlington home. All students should plan to review the Community Health Pledge before arriving on campus. 

Our summer operations are in full swing, including hosting our pre-college summer programs and events with external guests. Our Event Center works closely with external groups to convey our health and safety expectations, and build risk mitigation requirements into the contractual obligations for these groups.

The Whiting Hall Testing Center will be open on a reduced schedule this summer, Mondays and Wednesdays 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. If you are notified of a Champlain workplace exposure and would like to take a precautionary COVID test, you are welcome to use the Testing Center during these hours.

Our test results are hosted on our testing dashboard page. Last summer the State of Vermont lifted the requirement for colleges to operate a COVID dashboard in its guidance for Higher Education during COVID-19. Champlain decided to continue this practice throughout the 2021-2022 academic year.  Due to the low numbers of students and employees on campus this summer, we will pause this practice for the summer and re-evaluate the utility of this tool prior to the start of the fall semester.

Students: Please do not go to classes or other activities if you are feeling sick. Stay put, self monitor, and call Student Health. Symptomatic COVID testing is also available daily, Monday – Friday by appointment. Please call the Student Health Center at (802) 860-2711 or email healthservices@champlain.edu to speak with a nurse and schedule a COVID test. If you test positive for COVID—on campus, in the Burlington area, or at home—please self isolate and contact the Student Health Center. 

Employees: Employees who are not feeling well and/or are experiencing symptoms, including mild symptoms, should get tested and stay home. If you test positive or are identified off-campus as a close contact, please let the College know by filling out this form so that a member of the Employee Health team can conduct contact tracing, assess potential impact to the campus community, and provide you with information. Employees should contact their primary care providers with medical questions. Do not come to campus if you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19.

Champlain is partnering with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard for our COVID-19 testing. Broad is using a PCR test, which is designed to detect the presence of the genomic material of the SARS-CoV2 novel coronavirus, the pathogen responsible for the disease known as COVID-19. 

The test uses a short swab to collect a sample from the lower nasal cavity. This method is less invasive than the upper nasal cavity (nasopharyngeal) swabs used in other tests.

The Student Health Center and a select group of student support staff will receive test results.

Positive results are also reported to the Vermont Department of Health, as required by state law.

The College will work with the Vermont Department of Health to complete robust contact tracing for any positive results. Contact tracing includes informing contacts of their exposure and educating those exposed on quarantine requirements and health monitoring. It does not reveal the identity of the positive contact.

Under federal law, we will not share health information with a family member. It is the student’s responsibility to share health information, unless the student is under 18 years of age. 

If the student is under 18 years of age, the Student Health Center will share positive test results with the student’s legal guardian. Please note that we will require the legal guardian sign consent for and testing and treatment prior to arrival on campus.

Testing is required for students and employees on campus who are not fully vaccinated (have not received their final dose of vaccine more than 14 days prior). This monitoring testing will be required and help us quickly identify and respond to any positive cases on our campus.

As part of our plan to sustain an open and interactive student experience, including in-person instruction and on-campus activities, it is required that all students returning to campus, including those studying abroad, be fully vaccinated with an FDA-approved or authorized vaccine. We will work with individual students who have qualifying exemptions, including for medical or religious reasons. Read more here. If you have questions, please contact Student Health Services at (802) 860-2711.

No. The CDC and the Vermont Department of Health strongly encourages vaccination in all individuals, including those with a documented history of COVID-19 infection.  

As announced in a September 14, 2021 update, all employees who access campus at any time are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (with exemptions for health and religious reasons).

For questions about Champlain’s requirements, please contact the People Center at peoplecenter@champlain.edu or contact feedback@champlain.edu.  

Please refer to vaccines.gov for information on how to find and schedule a vaccination in your area.

Students seeking exemption for the COVID-19 immunization requirement for qualifying medical or religious reasons should contact Student Health to learn more about the exemption process.

If you have had a severe allergic reaction (e.g. anaphylaxis) or an immediate allergic reaction to any ingredient in the vaccine you are scheduled to receive, you should not get that vaccine. If you have been instructed not to get one type of COVID-19 vaccine, you may still be able to get another type. Learn more about vaccination for people with allergies. Students should consult with their healthcare provider about vaccine options and any specific individual recommendations.

Employees with questions about Champlain’s vaccination requirements, including how to seek exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons, should contact the People Center at peoplecenter@champlain.edu.

Students will be asked to submit information detailing the COVID-19 vaccination received and date of vaccination(s) and will upload a copy of their vaccination card directly into our Electronic Health Record. Please find detailed information here describing how to provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination to the Student Health Center. 

For employees Champlain has partnered with Sentry MD, a company that specializes in managing organizational health records, to create a confidential, secure system for collecting and recording COVID-19 vaccination information.

The data shows that the vaccine is safe and highly effective in preventing the spread of COVID and in reducing severe illness and hospitalization from COVID, including the Delta variant which has caused a surge in cases worldwide, primarily in unvaccinated populations. Those with concerns should consult with their healthcare provider about vaccine options and any specific individual recommendations.  Further information on vaccine effectiveness can be found here.

If you have been fully vaccinated (14 days after your final dose), you will no longer need to participate in weekly COVID testing on campus.

Students will be required to have a final dose of vaccine 14 days prior to arrival on campus.

Employees will receive detailed information soon about timing for vaccination. Employees who are not yet vaccinated should plan to get their initial vaccination as soon as possible. For employees, the Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Policy requires employees to be fully vaccinated no later than January 4, 2022. Employees are required to get a booster shot within four weeks of eligibility.

Yes.

Our masking requirement was updated on May 31. As we shift to summer operations, masking is now recommended but not required.  This aligns Champlain with current masking protocols in our external community. We thank you for your diligence in masking through the end of the semester as we worked to ensure the health and safety of our students, employees, and guests at Commencement.

The first thing you can do to hold others accountable is to politely ask them to change their behavior if it poses a risk to the individual or community. This can be as simple as asking an individual if they are aware of the facial covering requirements if they are not wearing a mask in a space where they should. Simply approach the individual or group and use the same tone you would when speaking with a friend. How you say it matters. Phrases like “Hi! It seems like you forgot to put your mask on,” or “Sorry, I’m afraid of getting sick. Can we please both take a step back?” strike a balance between friendliness and firmness.

It is important to note that shaming isn’t likely to work, but being respectful and kind will de-escalate potentially volatile situations and help ensure the safety of everyone involved. If an individual refuses to comply with guidelines or becomes combative, put your own safety first and remove yourself from the situation. If you identify a pattern from a particular person or group, or a particularly serious incident occurs, you should report your concerns by:

• Safely contacting your RA if the violation occurs within your residence hall; or
• Filling out this Incident Report Form; or
• Calling Campus Public Safety at 802-865-6465 if the situation presents an immediate danger.

Once you make a report, the appropriate people will look into the potential violation to maintain the safety and health of our community.

We recommend all students bring a batch of masks to campus. During summer 2022, masks are not required, but are recommended. If wearing a mask, neck gaiter-style and exhalation-vented masks are not recommended. The CDC and the Vermont Department of Health do not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for face coverings. 

The College has purchased surgical masks and a limited supply of KN95 masks for distribution to students, faculty, and staff. KN95s are recommended but not required. We do expect supplies to run out, so please have your own masks ready to use and supplement as needed. Students may request KN95 masks at the testing center while supplies last.

If a community member has an accommodation request regarding the use of a face mask, please contact Erin Ferrara, Associate Director of Accessibility Services, to discuss your needs and the accommodation process. Erin can be reached at (802) 865-5764 or by email at eferrara@champlain.edu.

The Community Health Pledge can be found here. All students and employees should review the Champlain Community Health Pledge and participate fully in all health measures.

Students on campus and employees who access campus at any time are required to be fully vaccinated and boostered for COVID-19 (with exemptions for health and religious reasons).

The College recommends the use of a face mask (cloth or disposable) for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, when in shared indoor spaces.

Weekly surveillance testing is required for students and employees on campus who are not fully vaccinated (have not received their final dose of vaccine more than 14 days prior).

All students returning to campus (including those studying abroad) must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have completed the exemption process due to medical or religious reasons.

Custodial staffing and sanitizing protocols are being updated to include increased cleaning of bathrooms and high-contact surfaces like doors, desks, and shared technology. Signage will be in place to indicate when all bathrooms and classrooms were last disinfected.

All students and employees are required to sign and agree to a Community Health Pledge. The pledge defines our expectations of Champlain students in areas such as quarantine procedures, vaccination requirements, testing expectations, participation in contact tracing efforts, mandatory mask wearing, and more. The goal of this commitment is to maintain the health of our campus community and our Burlington home.

Yes. We have defined quarantine and isolation areas for students who test positive for COVID-19, have been exposed to the virus or have symptoms and are awaiting a test result.

If you are living on campus, the Student Health Center would like you to be in touch to discuss any symptoms and assure you have the information and resources to remain healthy. If you are living off campus, please contact your primary care provider. If you are off campus and in the Burlington community and identify the Student Health Center as your local health care, please be in touch to discuss any changes in your health.

Symptomatic COVID testing is available for students daily, Monday – Friday by appointment. Please call the Student Health Center at (802) 860-2711 or email healthservices@champlain.edu to speak with a nurse and schedule a COVID test. 

As a reminder, please do not go to classes or other activities if you are feeling sick. Stay put, self monitor, and call Student Health.

Self-quarantine is required of people who reasonably believe to have been exposed to a communicable disease (like coronavirus) but are not yet symptomatic to prevent the possible spread of the disease.

Self-Isolation is directed by public health agencies and medical providers and refers to those who are ill and suspected to have an infection or known to have an infection.

It’s understandable that you may feel stressed and anxious about the situation. If anxiety or fear is overwhelming you, please get in touch with the Champlain College Counseling Center in Skiff Hall:

Email: counselingcenter@champlain.edu
Phone: 802.865.5731

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need to speak to someone immediately, please call the on-call counselor at (802) 865-5745 or Campus Public Safety at (802) 865-6465.

People who contract COVID-19 usually develop symptoms that affect their respiratory system, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Learn more about COVID-19 symptoms from the CDC.

If you become ill or suspect that you are ill, stay home. Please review these guidelines, contact your health care provider and seek medical care in your location. If COVID-19 is suspected, you should self-isolate for 14 days if you live or work on campus, or if suggested by your healthcare provider.

If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, follow the steps at this link to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community.

The CDC reports that COVID-19 is a respiratory virus that is thought to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Learn more from the CDC.

Research continues to show that vaccination and masking are the two most effective tools against COVID-19. CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially when entering a new area, after being in a public place, or after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing, or touching your face. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. 
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, and do not touch any personal items (keys, cell phone, etc.) or eat with unwashed hands. 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Do not share drinking glasses, bottles, makeup, boxes of food, finger-foods, instruments, or anything else that could possibly transmit the virus from one person to another.

Learn more about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from the CDC.

Hours of Operation are listed here and above under Campus Operations. Hours will be subject to change so keep checking back online or at the front door of the IDX Dining Hall. 

Yes. All meals will be provided to students quarantining on Main Campus.

During campus quarantine breakfast, lunch and dinner will be available for take-out only at the IDX Dining Hall. You are welcome to leave your residence hall to visit the dining hall. Please take your meals back to your residence hall or to an outdoor location. Remember to keep at least six feet from other students and wear your mask.

As announced in a September 14, 2021 update, all employees who access campus at any time are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (with exemptions for health and religious reasons).

For questions about Champlain’s requirements, please contact the People Center at peoplecenter@champlain.edu or contact feedback@champlain.edu.  

Enhanced Cleaning

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we primarily focused on general cleaning, but pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic to “cleaning for health.” Moving forward, we will continue to clean for health (disinfecting) while also maintaining overall cleanliness. Janitech team members are on campus daily throughout the summer on their regular schedule. In addition, we have increased sanitizing stations around campus, which will continue to be maintained. If your space needs attention or supplies, submit a Physical Plant Workorder for “Custodial” and it will be addressed. 

Air Quality Upgrade

Last summer we upgraded the air systems in all campus buildings that have them, such as Perry and Lakeside, to allow for increased air flow and circulation. FAll filters were upgraded to higher quality HEPA filters in all buildings to continue to promote the best possible air quality and circulation. We plan to continue this higher level of air quality and filtration. Additionally, air systems will continue to operate 24 hours a day as part of our new normal.

Please see our Working During COVID-19: Resources for Faculty & Staff section of this website for the most recent People Center communications and all our relevant policies.

The Student Emergency “Angel” Fund is designed to support those in the Champlain learning community with acute, unexpected needs. Champlain’s move to remote study has created new time-sensitive needs and we ask you to consider a donation of any size to this critical-need Fund.

While our team is working each day with students one on one to help navigate the transition to remote instruction and ensure student success, the Student Emergency Angel Fund will allow your gifts to be put to immediate use in support of needs like these.

Share Your Ideas & Resources  Do you have an idea for ways we can stay connected and engaged with each other? Do you have access to resources that could help others? Please keep the good ideas coming by sharing them here.

Neighbors who experience issues should contact Campus Public Safety at 802-865-6465, email community@champlain.edu, or fill out a Community Concerns Form here.

Students who are living on campus or who are living off-campus and participating in any aspect of on-campus life are required to comply with the Student Conduct Policy, the Champlain Community Health Pledge, as well as all state and local health and safety measures related to COVID. Champlain’s Community Standards team will address all reports involving students and, if it is determined that a student has violated the Champlain Community Health Pledge or any other COVID-19 related policy, the team will evaluate the potential impact of the violation on the health and safety of the community and determine appropriate sanctions, including potential removal from the College. The technology tools we are using to support testing and daily health monitoring will allow us to track compliance very closely. The College will use this data to inform a robust follow up plan with all students and ensure quick response to a failure to comply with the Health Pledge.

Students living off-campus are required to commit to the same protocols regarding testing, health screening, and other health and safety measures as those living on campus.

From this point forward, if there is a bathroom in your building labeled “Restroom Reserved: For Use with Permission by Health Services Only” please do not use this bathroom until/unless directed to do so.  This bathroom should be considered off-line from the general residents of the building.

Quarantine means that you limit your exposure to only those people that are simultaneously quarantining with you. You must stay at home or on-campus during the full duration of your quarantine. Students quarantining on campus will be offered structured outdoor activities with their quarantine group, following strict social distancing practices. Travel to stores, restaurants, parks, etc. is not allowed.

Yes, the College has reserved space on campus for students to quarantine as needed throughout the semester.

Commuter Students may now park in ANY pay-per-use lot for as long as you need. Keep in mind:

• You still need to display your valid Champlain College parking permit at all times (order at champlain.thepermitstore.com if you haven’t yet!)
• Payment is still required between 8am-4pm using Parkmobile

See all the pay-per-use lots (and their Parkmobile Zone Numbers) on the parking map. They are the ones with the dark green $ icons and corresponding number. Find all the parking details at champlain.edu/parking.

Permits are on sale for $175 for the semester for residential students.

Commuter students can obtain a free permit and pay-per-use.

Visit champlain.thepermitstore.com to order a permit.

Please visit our Transportation website.