Social distance markers will be placed at 6 feet and chairs have been removed to remind students of distancing for each of the following:

• All common student lounge areas including campus tables, chairs, couches, and benches
• Outdoor lounge areas
• All computer stations in computer labs
• Locations where students interact with staff including
  • Student Affairs offices
  • Bookstores
  • Pocahontas finance window
• Cafeteria seating

Masks

• Provided in common areas for students to utilize if needed
• Required of all students, faculty, staff, and visitors when 6-feet social distancing cannot be achieved

Multiple temperature check stations will be located on both campuses for temperature self-check

Other Protective Measures

• Plastic sneeze guards will be utilized in offices where student interaction often occurs.
• Signs around campus remind students of health and safety guidelines
• Hand sanitizer will be placed around campus
• Videos and information will be emailed to BRTC students explaining the semester health and safety rules
• Director of Student Development will remind students of health and safety guidelines in common areas during first the 2 weeks of class

COVID-19 Student Health and Safety Plan

• For on-campus classes, instructors will pass out to their students
• For online classes, a digital copy will be posted for students to access
• Available to all students on myBRTC
• Available to the public on the Campus Health page of the BRTC website
• Posted outside each classroom and in common areas

Self-Report

Students must self-report using the COVID-19 Student Health and Safety Form if they experience any of the following:

• A positive COVID-19 test result.
• Close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 within the last week. Close contact constitutes within 6 feet or less for more than 15 minutes.
• Close contact with someone who is suspected of having COVID-19 in the last week. Close contact constitutes within 6 feet or less for more than 15 minutes.
• Experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 which include the following:
  • Temperature greater than 100.4 degrees.
  • Fever or Chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Contact

Coming in contact with someone who has COVID-19 will result in your being contacted by a contact tracer and having to quarantine.

• Does not mean you have a possibility of getting COVID-19.
• You have simply been within 6-feet of someone who is COVID-19 positive, even if you did wear a mask.
• You will be contacted by a contact tracer
• You must quarantine

Quarantine

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, quarantine is separating and restricting the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. These people may have been exposed to a disease and do not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms.

If a student is quarantined, they must remain at home away from others in order to avoid spreading COVID-19.

Isolation

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, isolation is simply separating sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.

Students, check out the following decision tree picture to decide if you need to self-report.  If you have questions, contact Neal Harwell, Director of Students, at (870) 248-4158 or at neal.harwell@blackrivertech.edu.

COVID-19 Student Decision Tree Chart — Printable

If a student is diagnosed with COVID-19, has symptoms, or has been in close contact in the last week with a person diagnosed or suspected of having COVID-19, the student must adhere to the following procedure:

1. Fill out COVID-19 Student Health and Safety Form.
2. Required to socially distance from the BRTC community until a health and safety evaluation has been completed.
3. Visit with BRTC representative when contacted
4. Depending on the nature of the contact, be tested or self-quarantined until an appropriate time has passed.

BRTC will notify the student’s instructors if the student is diagnosed with COVID-19, has symptoms, or has been in close contact in the last week with a person diagnosed or suspected of having COVID-19.

COVID-19 Student Health and Safety Form Locations

The COVID-19 Student Health and Safety Form will be available as follows:

• From QR codes posted at campus health stations
• On the BRTC Campus Health page
• On myBRTC

Students are expected to adhere to all of the following during the COVID-19 pandemic:

1. Wear facial masks whenever the appropriate 6-foot social distancing requirement cannot be kept.
2. If diagnosed with COVID-19, has symptoms, or has been in close contact in the last week with a person diagnosed or suspected of having COVID-19, the student must follow the Process for Self-Report listed above.
3. If suspected of having COVID-19 because of displaying common symptoms
   • Visit with a BRTC representative when contacted.
   • If the student is determined to be a potential health and safety risk to the BRTC community, he or she may be required to be tested or self-quarantined until an appropriate time has passed
4. If caught willfully violating the COVID-19 BRTC health and safety rules, the student must
   • Visit with a BRTC representative when contacted
   • May be subject to a student conduct hearing for violating the student code of conduct in the student handbook and the appropriate measures will be will be taken by BRTC to protect the health and safety of the BRTC campus community

notice]Students who are quarantined or miss class for COVID-19 related reasons will still be responsible for communicating with their instructors regarding their missed assignments.[/notice]

As part of BRTC’s regular administration, campus officials keep a close eye on influenza during flu season.  For more information about flu, visit the following resources:

• Arkansas Department of Health
• Arkansas Department of Health Unit Locations
• CDC — Prevent the Flu