FSCares Plan
Plan Details

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Update

Thank you for your continued diligence in keeping our community as safe as possible during the most recent COVID-19 wave that has fortunately declined in our area and on campus. After consultation with medical experts, the campus will be mask optional in all places except for classrooms, labs, and performance spaces. After Spring Break on March 14, all of campus will be mask optional if conditions remain as they are now or further decrease.

As part of FSC’s Cornerstone of respecting all people on the campus, we ask that if someone wishes to continue to mask that you show that person the utmost respect. In addition, if a member of our community asks you to mask for their safety, please comply. For example, a person may be at high risk, or have a family member at high risk, and every person deserves the respect of us masking without further explanation.

  • All testing for COVID-19 non-vaccinated students will conclude on February 25 as communicated earlier.
  • Student-athletes are to comply with NCAA rules and will continue to test as communicated earlier.
  • If you have COVID-19 symptoms, students should go to the Student Health Center to get tested. If positive, Campus Safety staff will initiate their standard positive student procedure with Student Life.
  • Please report any positive test results to Rapid Trace at 813.699.3551 and Campus Safety staff at 863.680.4305.
  • There are no changes to the quarantine space or charges as announced earlier.

COVID-19 has come in waves, and at some point, we may need to reinstitute masking and other measures to protect our community.

We will all be exuberant when we can treat COVID-19 as an endemic virus. Some believe we are at that point, and some do not. We will continue to be vigilant if other waves necessitate a different protocol.

Please be respectful of ANYONE who asks you to wear a mask in their presence. We are Mocs, and we respect one another.

Go Mocs!

FSC Cares

Spring 2022 Plan Details

Table of Contents

Questions?

The College has created an email address to answer your COVID-19 questions. Please email FSCares@FLSouthern.edu and a staff member will respond.

Back-to-Campus Testing

Students Who are Vaccinated With a COVID-19 Vaccination

  • If you have already uploaded your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination card to the FSC Portal, you do not need to upload it again.
  • If you have received a COVID-19 vaccine and have not uploaded your card to the Portal, and want to avoid non-symptomatic surveillance testing, please upload your card to the Portal prior to arrival on campus.
 

Students Who are Not Vaccinated With a COVID-19 Vaccination

  • A negative COVID-19 test is required and must be uploaded to the Portal within seven days prior to arrival on campus. Accepted tests include Diagnostic or PCR test or Active Antigen Tests. At-home and Antibodies tests will not be accepted.
    • For example, if you are planning to arrive on campus on January 10, then you need to have a negative test result from an approved test administered on either Jan. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, and that negative result must be uploaded to the Portal prior to arrival on campus.

When Masks are Required

  • Masks will be worn by everyone in all College residence halls, apartments, and houses during the move-in period.
  • Masks are required in residence halls and dining facilities.
  • Masks will be worn at all indoor events.
  • Masks will be worn in all academic and all administrative buildings at all times (e.g., classrooms, labs, financial aid offices, Fannin Ministry Center, Simmons Multicultural Center, and Carlisle Rogers Building).
  • Masks will be worn in the Wellness Center with some exceptions due to social distancing for heavy cardio activities. (See signs in the Wellness Center or speak with the Wellness Center staff).
 

When Masks are Not Required

  • Masks are not required outdoors.
  • Masks are not required when by yourself in your own office or workstation.
  • Masks are not required in a student’s own residence room.*
* Non-FSC guests will not be allowed in residence halls for visits. Admissions will conduct brief tours for potential students and their families. Students will be notified in advance if their residence hall floor/area will be utilized for tours. Visiting guests participating in tours will be masked.

Testing:
Unvaccinated, Unvaccinated/Symptomatic, Vaccinated/Symptomatic

The College requires scheduled COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated students. The student will be notified of the time and location of testing by email or text message. All students who are symptomatic will need to be tested. If symptomatic please call 863.680.4305.

Students With Positive Tests

  • Unvaccinated COVID-19 students who receive positive test results will be instructed to quarantine at an off-College facility. Administrative staff will work with the student to make arrangements for pick-up for departure of the student within a reasonable amount of time.
  • Students who receive a positive test result must quarantine for at least a 5-day period. Afterwards, the student may be cleared to return to normal campus activity.
    • In case of a fever, continue to quarantine until the fever resolves. Then, the student may be cleared to return to normal campus activity.
  • Students are required to have a quarantine plan in place before arriving on campus.
  • Vaccinated COVID-19 students who utilize College quarantine space will not be able to bring emotional support animals with them and must arrange to house them separately when quarantining in College-supervised accommodations.
 

Contact Tracing

To help limit the spread of COVID-19 on our campus and ensure the safety of our community, the College has partnered with Rapid-Trace.

Rapid-Trace will provide contact tracers who will work collaboratively with the Health Center and the College to notify students, faculty, and staff in the event that they have had close contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Students, faculty, and staff may also self-report a positive test or exposure to COVID-19 by calling Rapid-Trace at 813.699.3551.

  • The College will follow local, state, and federal guidelines for contact tracing and notifying individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 positive students, faculty, and staff.
  • Students, faculty, and staff who test positive will identify all areas where they were physically present within three days prior to the onset of symptoms.
  • If you are unvaccinated and are identified as being in close contact through contact tracing with a positive person and are asymptomatic students, faculty and staff are required to quarantine at an off-college facility for five days and should test off campus on day five. If symptoms appear, get tested immediately.
  • Testing locations to utilize off campus: COVID-19 testing locations in Lakeland
  • If you are vaccinated and are identified as being in close contact through contact tracing with a positive person and are asymptomatic, vaccinated students, faculty and staff are required to wear a mask around others for 10 days.
We will continue to monitor virus patterns, including the Delta and Omicron Variants, and may need to apply different guidelines at any time. Please refer to the FSCares Protocol for updates.

Quarantine Procedures for Students Exposed to a Positive Case

Quarantine Venue

Students who have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual may be required to quarantine until cleared to return to campus. Students are required to have a quarantine plan in place prior to arriving on campus. Quarantining must be at an off-College facility.

  • If you are vaccinated and have uploaded your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination card to the Portal and are identified as being in close contact through contact tracing with a positive person and are asymptomatic, you will not be required to quarantine unless symptoms appear.
  • If you are unvaccinated, both commuter and residential students will need to quarantine off campus until cleared to return.
  • Students are required to have a quarantine plan in place before arriving to campus.
  • Vaccinated-COVID-19 students who utilize College quarantine space will not be able to bring emotional support animals with them and must arrange to house them separately when quarantining in College-supervised accommodations.

There are limited spaces for quarantining at Warren Willis United Methodist Camp and Conference Center, 990 Picciola Road, Fruitland Park, FL 34731. There is a charge for staying at Warren Willis United Methodist Campus and Conference Center. Rates can be shared with students if there are vacancies.
 

Academic Expectations

  • Students will need to communicate with professors directly to establish a plan for keeping pace with course material and submission of assignments during the quarantine period.
  • As with any absence from class, students are responsible for contacting all of their professors to make arrangements for keeping pace in courses. The same holds for students who have to quarantine.

Faculty and Staff

Faculty and Staff Back-to-Campus Testing

Faculty and Staff Who are Unvaccinated With a COVID-19 Vaccine

  • Unvaccinated faculty and staff will be tested for COVID-19 beginning January 3, 2022. Please see your email for instructions about on-campus testing prior to the start of classes.

Faculty and Staff Testing:
Unvaccinated, Unvaccinated/Symptomatic, Vaccinated/Symptomatic

Faculty and Staff With Positive Tests

Faculty or staff members who show COVID-19 symptoms should not come to work and should immediately contact their healthcare provider. Faculty and staff must then immediately alert their dean/supervisor and the Office of Human Resources (HR@FLSouthern.edu or 863.680.5079). If tested positive for COVID-19, faculty or staff members will be asked to provide a copy of the positive test result that includes the date of test. Please call Rapid-Trace self-report line at 813.699.3551.

  • Faculty and staff are required to quarantine for at least a 5-day period. Afterwards, the faculty or staff member may be cleared to return to normal campus activity.
    • In case of a fever, continue to quarantine until the fever resolves. Then, the faculty or staff member may be cleared to return to normal campus activity. 

Faculty or staff members who test positive for COVID-19 will work with Rapid-Trace to identify all work areas where they were present three days prior to the onset of symptoms. The affected faculty or staff member will identify individuals they encountered within the workplace in the three days prior to the onset of symptoms.

If symptoms were not present, the faculty or staff member will identify individuals they contacted from the known or estimated exposure date. In accordance with privacy laws, the College cannot personally identify infected persons.
 

Faculty and Staff Contact Tracing
 

Faculty and Staff Exposed to a Positive Case

Employees who have been identified through contact tracing as having been exposed in the workplace to close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual will be sent home to quarantine.

  • If exposed in the workplace, the employee may be asked to be tested in the on-site testing center. An appointment will be arranged through Human Resources.
  • Employees who believe they have been potentially exposed to a positive COVID-19 case in their household or other non-work related event may be sent home to quarantine.

If required to quarantine, faculty and staff may be cleared to return to normal campus activity after quarantining for a 10-day period.
 

Hand Washing and Social Distancing
 

Frequent hand washing is still a very important tool to use to stop the spread of COVID-19 and many other viruses. If you are unable to wash your hands properly with warm water and soap, please use hand sanitizer located throughout the campus. Social distancing continues to be another very important way to stop the spread of COVID-19. In meetings, residence halls, dining halls wherever possible stay three to six feet away from your friends, colleagues, or members of the public.

Campus ​Cleaning Procedures

Academic Areas, Residence Halls, Administrative Buildings, Shuttles

All buildings, classrooms, residence halls, shuttles, etc. are cleaned according to best hygiene practices as informed by the CDC and State of Florida health and hygiene guidelines. All buildings have been upgraded with antimicrobial air filters.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information on our policies and procedures, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page on our website.

Additional Resources

Next: Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: January 3, 2022