The College is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all students, employees, contractors, and visitors. It is our priority to keep everyone healthy. We will continue to abide by governmental guidelines as we strive to balance public health concerns with the individual needs of all our constituents.
Following the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), and the Office of the NJ Secretary of Higher Education, the college is issuing the following guidelines. Adherence to these guidelines is mandatory.
Effective Sept. 6, the college will be open for all in-person services and operations without capacity restrictions. The College reserves the right to implement capacity restrictions and/or remote operations if indicated by public health authorities.
Vaccination is the leading prevention strategy to protect individuals from COVID-19. A growing body of evidence shows that people who are up to date with their vaccines are at substantially reduced risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 compared with unvaccinated people. Pursuant to CDC guidance, MCCC recommends that all faculty, staff, and students should be vaccinated as soon as possible and remain up to date in their vaccinations, including receiving boosters when eligible. Please note that guidance regarding time spent in isolation or quarantine may differ depending on an individual’s vaccination and booster status.
Consistent and correct mask use by all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, is strongly recommended in indoor settings where there is increased risk, including during periods of high community transmission, crowded settings, settings involving activities with close contact with others who may not be fully vaccinated, settings where the vaccine status of other individuals in the setting is unknown, and where an individual is immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease. Surgical and N95/KN95 masks have been shown to offer more protection than cloth masks and are therefore recommended.
The College requires mask wearing in the following circumstances:
In general, people do not need to wear masks when outdoors. However, particularly in areas of high community transmission, individuals who are not fully vaccinated should wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings or during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people who are not fully vaccinated.
Students, employees, contractors, and visitors are asked to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout the day.
Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 should complete this form (which will notify the HR department) and contact their instructor or supervisor.
Most importantly, any individual who is experiencing fever, cough, congestion, and/or other COVID-19 symptoms should obtain a COVID-19 test before returning to campus. Home tests are now readily available at pharmacies, and free testing is offered by the NJ health department. Those receiving a positive result should follow the CDC Guidelines for Isolating and Quarantining based on vaccination status and risk factors.
Anyone who is sick with COVID-19 should also inform close contacts that they may have been exposed to the virus.
Students should contact their faculty members to request arrangements for any missed classes or course assignments. Faculty may request a doctor’s note if the student is absent for an extended period of time (3 days or more).
Employees should contact their supervisor regarding the use of sick leave or alternative working arrangements. Employees who are absent for more than five days may be required to provide a doctor’s note. In the event an employee needs to be absent from work for more than five days, they should contact Human Resource to discuss an accommodation under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Employees may return to work and students may return to class after a negative COVID-19 test or after symptoms have subsided and they are fever-free without medication for 24 hours.
Contract tracing is a useful tool; however, traditional contact tracing may not account for every individual an infected person may expose. The college will work with local health agencies to facilitate contract tracing if necessary.
College will not initiate contract tracing unless it becomes aware of a cluster of COVID-19 cases.
