NWTI & COVID-19

While there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution, we are moving forward in careful consideration with plans to reopen Northwest Technical Institute’s campus.  Our goal is to reopen the safest and best ways we can based on Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and protocols within our NWTI operations.

What does this mean for reopening our campus to start in the fall? What issues should be considered to ensure the safety of students and faculty and still provide quality instruction?  This working plan allows NWTI to reopen with all programs on August 24, 2020.

This plan will hopefully minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19, and allow more flexibility to operate without sacrificing the quality of education.

1. Levels of operation-Plans A, B, and C
2. Plan A- Normal operation of students attending class for face-to-face learning
3. Plan B -Allows students to have both classroom and virtual learning (Blended learning)
4. Plan C- Allows for all virtual learning platforms if COVID-19 increases in our area and the governor closes institutions  Returning to campus for lab hours will be addressed when needed and it is safe for students to return to campus

• Fall Learning Platform- The fall schedule will allow students to use PLAN B, the blended and synchronous learning models. Most of the lab activities will be performed using Plan A. Some programs may use virtual simulation.
  Students will divided into two (2) groups A and B.  One week, group A students will be in class three (3) days a week and group B will be in class for two (2) days.  The following week, group B will be in class for three (3) days and group A will be in class for two (2) days. Both will be synchronous and blended learning platforms.
• Synchronous Learning– all students receiving classroom information at the same time
• Blended learning– Combination of virtual and in class learning

• Program Orientation- Each department will deliver program orientation in groups or virtual platform. The Student Services Director will announce how general orientation will be delivered.

• Attendance- Students will follow the attendance policy of their department.  Department chairs will decide on a case-by-case basis due to COVID- 19.  Each instructor will make every effort to make sure students receive information needed to complete the program.  There will be extenuating circumstances due to the virus. Instructors are asked to meet with the VP of Instruction and Student Services Director before terminating students due to COVID-19.

• Illnesses– Students may not enter the building if they have a temperature of 100.3 or greater. They will be asked to leave the building, and not return until they have been tested.

• Designated areas– – All instructors are asked to limit access of areas to their students by designating restrooms and to stay in their program areas while on campus. 

• Instructors
• Number of students– Each department will accept the maximum number of students for their programs.
• Classroom/Labs– Each instructor will use the plan model for didactic/lecture and labs. 
• Instruction will be divided into two (2) groups. Groups A and B
• Live lectures will be taught to  group  A while group B will stream by Zoom/Google meet
• Labs will be open to students and scheduled by instructors. Instructors will coordinate all lab times
• Masks must be worn at all times
• Extra practice time in labs must be approved by the instructor
• Stagger class periods to limit movement
• Computer access- Students who do not have computers or internet access will be allowed to:
• Use a computer in the computer lab. Social distancing will determine the capacity of students in the room at a time
• Use a computer in the Learning Resource Center. The LRC should be limited to six (6) students at a time
• Social distancing- Students and staff will be asked to stay 6 ft. away from each other while on campus
• In the classroom when possible
• In the laboratories when possible
• Walking down the hallways
• In gazebo areas.
• Two students allowed in the restroom at one time
• Face Shield– Instructors should wear face shields and masks while teaching.
• If special accommodations are needed by students, a requests should be made through student services

Entrance Doors

All doors will remain locked, and only the doors listed below will be used to enter each building.

1. Administration- north, side door -one side
2. Collegiate – Front door – one side
3. Walter Turnbow – North side door
4. Diesel – South door – instructor parking
5. Ammonia Refrigeration – Front door – one side
6. Industrial Maintenance –  Front door – one side
7. Ammonia Refrigeration – Front door – one side
8. Automotive- Back door between bays

• Safety and welfare of students and staff: Our first priority is to our students and staff.  NWTI will use the following protocols for our campus in order to reopen.
• Temperature:  Both students and staff’s temperature will be checked upon entering the building each day.
• Masks – Must be worn by both staff and students in the building, at all times. Both staff and students will bring their own mask.
  • If students are unable to wear masks for medical reasons, they should contact the instructor before class starts (now mandatory in state)
  • If staff or student forgets their mask, NWTI will supply one for the day
• Handwashing– Should be encouraged by all instructors.  Hands should be sanitized upon entrance to all classrooms and when exiting.
• Contact Tracing– An electronic system will track the students and staff’s name, address, time, date and phone numbers.
• Screening log– An electronic log records daily the staff and student’s name, temperature, questionnaire, date, questionnaire answers at the time of check in.
• Wrist bands- Will be worn every day of the week. The day of the week will be printed on the wristband.
• Entry and Exits/Signage/ Traffic Flow– Signs around each building will indicate reminders to social distance, to wear masks, to direct the flow of traffic and to tell students where to stand.
• The PA system– An overhead announcement will be made at least once a day as a reminder to check positions in relation to social distancing.
• Water fountains– All water fountains will be closed off.  Students will be encouraged to bring their own water bottles/containers to school.
• Microwave use– Students are encouraged to bring lunch items that do not require microwave usage.  Microwaves will not be accessible for students.
• Student Center– Closed for any type of gathering for all students.  Food machines may be accessible, but no one will be permitted to sit in the student center at any time.
• Influenza vaccination– All students will be encouraged to have a flu shot for the school term.

1. Staff:
2.  May not enter the building if they have a temperature of 100.3 or greater. They will be asked to leave the building, and not return until they have been tested.
3.  Should practice social distancing at all times.
4. Should schedule meetings with Zoom or Google meet.  Staff should not meet in closed areas. 
5. Do not to share telephones, pens, pencils, desks and limit exchange of documents.
6. Keep office doors closed.
7. Do not enter other staff or faculty offices.  Stand outside the doorway.
8. Do not meet with students in small offices that cannot maintain a 6 ft. distance.
9. Only one person in mailroom or copy rooms at a time. 
10. Spread out when eating in room 128. Rotate lunch hours if possible.
11. All staff will be encouraged to have an influenza vaccination in the fall.

• Public Access– NWTI will remain closed to the public until September or a designated date by the president. Non-essential persons such as visitors, family, or guest speakers will not be allowed on campus.  Vendors must be cleared to come into the building by administration after screening protocols are completed.
• Parents/Spouses/Significant others should contact the main number to set up an appointment to speak with an instructor or president if necessary.
• All UPS/FEDEX deliveries will be delivered to the student center. 
• Only students applying to the nursing, program will be allowed to take the ACCUPLACER test for spring 2021. These students should contact the front desk to make an appointment. Vouchers will also be available for students to take the ACCUPLACER online virtually.  Masks and temperature checks are required. Social distancing is required in the testing center.  No more than (3) individuals should test at a time and testing should be staggered.
• All guests and visitors meeting with administration should wear masks and have a temperature check entering the building.

•  Sanitation and Disinfection- The building will be cleaned and sanitized daily.
• All classrooms and labs will be fogged with Fresh15 daily.
• All offices will be cleaned, doorknobs wiped, keyboards and light fixtures wiped down.
• Bathrooms will be fogged, surfaces wiped, toilets scrubbed, and floors mopped.
• Common areas, including fax machines, copier machines, keyboards, screens and phones wiped daily.  Employees are encouraged to wipe their own equipment daily and not to share. 
• Kitchen area will be wiped down including countertops, tables, fridge, microwave, water cooler and surrounding areas daily.
• The reception area will be wiped down and mopped daily.
• Food machines in the student center will be wiped down daily.

• Bookstore Protocol- The bookstore will follow the same guidelines as NWTI in social distancing.  Students will be asked to maintain social distancing while in the bookstore line.  Students can purchase books from the bookstore in person and online from the school’s website. They can pay by phone. A plexiglass shield is set in place to avoid direct contact between the student and bookstore personnel.
• Students can purchase books and needed supplies by coming into the bookstore in person.
• Students may go to the NWTI website to order books.  All purchases must be made over the phone.
• The bookstore will have books ready for students who ordered online and paid by phone.
• Students can pick up books in the bookstore, or can come to express pickup to get books. Curbside pickup may be available as staffing allows.
• A limited supply of masks can be purchased from the bookstore.

• Learning Resource Center (LRC) – All students must sign in when they enter the LRC.

• Gazebos–
• No more than two (2) students in gazebos at a time. 
• There should be no smoking in this area.

• Managing Communication– Administration will continuously keep in contact by either email, Zoom or Google meet of any information that changes during this time.
• President- will notify the board of any decisions orchanges that affect scheduling, classes or closing of NWTI.
• VP of Instruction- will notify instructors of any changes, decisions that affect schedules, classrooms, labs, COVID-19 cases, or temporary closings of programs, etc.
• Instructors– will keep students notified of any changes that affect scheduling, classes or closing of NWTI.
• Public Health Officials– will be notified of any contact tracings that occur at NWTI.

Student or Faculty Illness Protocol

For COVID- 19

It someone becomes ill with any symptoms, send them home immediately.  Do not ask nursing to evaluate unless an emergency exists.  SEND THEM HOME!

1. Any students, faculty or staff with respiratory symptoms regardless of the cause or claim must not be allowed in the building
2. Active coughing or sneezing will be sent home
3. Complaints of shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and fever need to go home and be quarantined for 14 days unless has negative COVID-19 test results
4. Students, faculty or staff found with confirmed case of COVID-19 will cause the CDC institutions of Higher Education Decision Tree to be launched
   1. May require temporary shutdown of building and facility
   1. Will require clean/Disinfect protocol
   1. Consultation with local health department for contacts and tracing
5. Those who have been in direct contact with someone with COVID will be required to stay home for 14 days and be tested.    
   1. If test comes back negative and there are no symptoms, they may return to school.  They must be symptom- free and free of fever three (3) days prior to returning. 
   1. If the test comes back positive, a 14 day quarantine is required and can only return to campus free of all symptoms, including fever free 3 days after last fever, without any medication. Two negative test results are required.
6. Those who have indirect contact. (Child’s teacher tested positive and your child lives with you). 
7. No test is required for you unless the child (direct contact) has a positive test.  You will need to be tested and quarantine until you get results.
8. If results are negative, you can return to work.
9. If results are positive, you must test and quarantine for 14 days.  You cannot return on campus until all symptoms are gone and fever free for 3 days, without any medication. 

We are in constant monitoring of the CDC website. Changes to this policy will be updated as the recommendations change from CDC.

Occupational Risk for COVID-19

Lower Exposure Risk (Caution)

Jobs that do not require contact with people known to be, or suspected of being, infected with SARS-CoV-2. Workers in this category have minimal occupational contact with the public and other coworkers. Examples include:

• Remote workers (i.e., those working from home during the pandemic).
• Office workers who do not have frequent close contact with coworkers, customers, or the public.
• Manufacturing and industrial facility workers who do not have frequent close contact with coworkers, customers, or the public.
• Healthcare workers providing only telemedicine services.
• Long-distance truck drivers.

Medium Exposure Risk

Jobs that require frequent/close contact with people who may be infected, but who are not known to have or suspected of having COVID-19. Workers in this category include:

• Those who may have frequent contact with travelers who return from international locations with widespread COVID-19 transmission.
• Those who may have contact with the public (e.g., in schools, high population density work environments, and some high-volume retail settings).

High Exposure Risk

Jobs with a high potential for exposure to known or suspected sources of SARS-CoV-2. Workers in this category include:

• Healthcare delivery and support staff (hospital staff who must enter patients’ rooms) exposed to known or suspected COVID-19 patients.
• Medical transport workers (ambulance vehicle operators) moving known or suspected COVID-19 patients in enclosed vehicles.
• Mortuary workers involved in preparing bodies for burial or cremation of people known to have, or suspected of having, COVID-19 at the time of death.

Very High Exposure Risk

Jobs with a very high potential for exposure to known or suspected sources of SARS-CoV-2 during specific medical, postmortem, or laboratory procedures. Workers in this category include:

• Healthcare workers (e.g., doctors, nurses, dentists, paramedics, emergency medical technicians) performing aerosol-generating procedures (e.g., intubation, cough induction procedures, bronchoscopies, some dental procedures and exams, or invasive specimen collection) on known or suspected COVID-19 patients.
• Healthcare or laboratory personnel collecting or handling specimens from known or suspected COVID-19 patients (e.g., manipulating cultures from known or suspected COVID-19 patients).
• Morgue workers performing autopsies, which generally involve aerosol-generating procedures, on the bodies of people who are known to have, or are suspected of having, COVID-19 at the time of their death.

COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice (e.g., while shouting, chanting, or singing). These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Recent studies show that a significant portion of individuals with COVID-19 lack symptoms (are “asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (are “pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings when around people outside of their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Why it is important to wear a mask

Masks may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others. Wearing a mask will help protect people around you, including those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and workers who frequently come into close contact with other people (e.g., in stores and restaurants). Masks are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings. The spread of COVID-19 can be reduced when masks are used along with other preventive measures, including social distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

The masks recommended here are not surgical masks or respirators. Currently, those are critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders. Masks are not personal protective equipment (PPE). They are not appropriate substitutes for PPE such as respirators (like N95 respirators) or medical facemasks (like surgical masks) in workplaces where respirators or facemasks are recommended or required to protect the wearer.

Wear your Mask Correctly

• Wash your hands before putting on your mask
• Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
• Make sure you can breathe easily
• CDC does not recommend use of masks or cloth masks for source control if they have an exhalation valve or vent

Wear a Mask to Protect Others

• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect others in case you’re infected with COVID-19 but don’t have symptoms
• Wear a mask in public settings when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when it may be difficult for you to stay six feet apart
• Wear a mask correctly for maximum protection
• Don’t put the mask around your neck or up on your forehead
• Don’t touch the mask, and, if you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer to disinfect​

Take Off Your Mask Carefully, When You’re Home

• Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops
• Handle only by the ear loops or ties
• Fold outside corners together
• Place mask in the washing machine (learn more about how to wash masks)
• Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing and wash hands immediately after removing.