COVID Updates

Frequently Asked Questions from Employees

What do I do if a student reports they have been exposed to COVID-19 or are positive for COVID-19?

Refer to the Student/Employee Protocol for COVID-19 Reporting and Return

If the student is positive and has been on campus with symptoms (please verify this), contact Rob Semas at rsemas@laspositascollege.edu for contact tracing.

What do I do if I was exposed to COVID-19, have COVID-19 symptoms, or tested positive for COVID-19?

Refer to the Student/Employee Protocol for COVID-19 Reporting and Return

If you are positive and have been on campus with symptoms, contact Rob Semas at rsemas@laspositascollege.edu for contact tracing.

I need to take a COVID test, but can’t get an appointment with City Health. What should I do?

Use language from Tricia, in which students and employees can show ID an drop in for testing with CityHealth. You may also contact your healthcare provider to request a COVID-19 test. Other locations for COVID-19 testing may be found by searching on the internet. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, were exposed to COVID-19, or tested positive for COVID-19, refer to the Student/Employee Protocol for COVID-19 Reporting and Return.

Do employees need a blue pass? Where can I get an employee ID card?

Employees are not required to have a Blue Pass or a Clearance Sticker, but you are encouraged to wear your College Name badge or have your Employee ID card visible. If you don’t have an Employee ID Card, you can obtain one from Admissions & Records. If you are not available during their service hours, please contact your dean/supervisor to make other arrangements for you to obtain your Employee ID card.

Am I required to ask students and visitors for proof of vaccination?

You are not required to ask students or visitors for proof of vaccination. This will depend on your comfort level. There are measures in place, including vaccine verification tables, and registration requirements for in-person classes, to check the vaccination status of students and visitors.

Do I need to verify vaccination status for visitors to campus for special events?

Coordinators of events, including performing arts, athletics, career fairs, transfer days, etc., are required to verify the vaccination status of those individuals coming on campus. Exemptions are not to be given to non-employees or non-students.

What are the proof of vaccination check-in stations on campus and where are they located?

Vaccine verification check-in stations will assist in verifying that the individuals entering certain buildings are vaccinated. Students will be asked to show their “blue pass” and visitors will be asked to show proof of vaccination. Once proof of vaccination is shown, students (without a blue pass) and visitors will be given a vaccine verification sticker and be allowed to enter. The check-in stations will also provide “way finding” assistance for new students and visitors to the campus.

Vaccine verification check-in stations are currently located at the south entrance to Building 1600 and in front of the Library. A third station will be added in front of Building 800. Check-in stations are scheduled to be staffed Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Campus Safety Office will assist in verifying vaccination status as needed. Should a student or visitor arrive in a classroom or service area without proof of vaccination, that student or visitor should be sent to one of the check-in stations or to the Campus Safety Office.

What are some de-escalation techniques or words that I can use in response to a student, visitor or employee not wearing a mask?

Start with empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Tips for approaching someone without a mask:
- Remain calm, rational, and professional
- Use nonthreatening, nonverbal communication
- Respect personal space
- Be empathic and nonjudgmental

View presentation that will provide additional information on de-escalation techniques, COVID and Masking Safety Response for Employees, a PowerPoint presentation given by Patricia Gonsman, Stanford Health Care ValleyCare Nurse Practitioner and LPC Student Health & Wellness Center Coordinator, on February 25, 2022.

What do I do if a student refuses to wear a mask?

If a student or member of the public fails to wear a face covering after being asked politely to do so, contact Campus Safety and Security for assistance. Campus Safety will respond to the area to communicate expectations and use de-escalation language to ask the individual for cooperation in light of the potential spread of the virus to others.

Campus Safety Dispatch: (925) 424-1690
Campus Safety Emergency: (925) 424-1699
Campus Safety Officer on Duty Cell: (925) 525-0765

There is a student in my class who informed me they have a vaccine exemption. What do I need to do as the instructor? How do I know they are meeting the requirements for their exemption?

If you have a student in your class with an approved vaccine exemption, there is nothing for you to do as the instructor. Instructors are not required to verify if a student has a medical or religious vaccine exemption. Students with an approved exemption as their accommodation are required to wear a fitted N95 mask and have weekly COVID-19 testing. The Student Health & Wellness Center is monitoring the submissions of these weekly tests to ensure compliance. If there is non-compliance, students will not be allowed to attend class and you will be contacted by the Office of the Vice President of Student Services. The student will be put through the Student Code of Conduct Process where ultimately they will be removed from all in-person classes should they not adhere to the requirements of their accommodation.

Am I required to wear a mask indoors and outdoors?

Properly worn masks are required at all times, unless you are alone in an enclosed office or you are outdoors and six feet away from another individual. Students or members of the public who fail to wear a face covering will be reminded of the District policy and asked to wear one. Masks are available in all scheduled classrooms as well as in buildings 1600, 1700, and at the check-in stations. The District is not granting mask exemptions for staff or students.

What mask should I be wearing?

You will want to consider fit, filtration, and comfort when selecting a mask. Per CDC guidelines, masks are ranked below from best to fair:

Best: N95
Better: KF94/KN95 Surgical + Cloth
Good: Surgical Mask
Fair: Cloth Mask, one that fits well and has at least 3 layers; a cloth mask is better than no mask.

Please refer to the following for more information:

Proper Use of Face Coverings

Is it safe to reuse a KN95 mask?

KN95 masks may be reused after decontamination. Place the mask in a sealed plastic bag for three days to decontaminate it. Do not reuse dirty or wet KN95 masks.

Where can I get an N95 mask and are there different sizes available?

To obtain an N95 mask, contact your Administrator/Dean. N95 sizes include small and medium/large. LPC does not currently have a source for extra-large N95 masks. N95 masks will be provided for voluntary use and are not required to be fit tested in accordance with the CDC and CAL-OSHA guidelines. N-95 masks do not provide an effective seal for individuals with facial hair.

CDC: Facial Hairstyles and Filtering Facepiece Respirators

Can employees get fitted for an N95 mask even if they do not have an exemption?

At this time, only employees and students with exemptions may be fitted for an N95 mask.

Where can I find the policies around mask-wearing and vaccination?

Visit the "Face Coverings Guidance" webpage for face covering requirements.

Are masks located in classrooms? Who do I contact if the classrooms needs to be replenished with PPE supplies?

M&O has placed PPE stations in every classroom based on the list provided by Academic Services. PPE materials in classrooms include surgical masks, sanitizer, gloves, disinfect bottle and paper towels. Computer Labs also include wipes and N95 masks.

Should additional supplies be needed, please use the following emails. Should you need immediate assistant, please call cell phone:

LPC Custodial Supervisor (day shift) Allan Napagao
anapagao@clpccd.org, 925-200-5897 (cell)

M&O Sr. Admin Assistant Betty Castano
bcastano@clpccd.org, 925-424-1765 or (510) 714-0296 (cell)

M&O Custodial Manager Art Valencia
avalencia@clpccd.org, 925-424-1766 or (510) 453-0209 (cell)

LPC Custodial Supervisor Alvin Ablaza (night shift)
aablaza@clpccd.org

Can a family member come with an LPC employee to be COVID tested?

Yes, staff, students, and members of the community (including family) may be tested at LPC’s CityHealth location.

City Health’s LPC testing site in Parking Lot P will do drop in PCR testing for any LPC student, faculty, and staff, Sunday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Please bring your LPC ID, drivers license, and insurance card. It is recommended that appointments be made ahead of time, but walk-ins will be accepted for our community. Visit LPC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program web page for CityHealth appointments and walk-in hours. You may also contact your healthcare provider to request a COVID-19 test. Other locations for COVID-19 testing may be found by searching on the internet. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, was exposed to COVID-19, or tested positive for COVID-19, refer to the Student/Employee Protocol for COVID-19 Reporting and Return.

My in-person class converted online until February 6th, can’t I just keep it online?

LPC is committed to offering face-to-face options for students and honoring, as best we can, the modality selected by the students. LPC cannot accommodate permanent requests for modality changes due to technological and regulatory issues as well.

May I hold office hours on campus? Any restrictions?

If a faculty member follows masking safety protocols, faculty may hold office hours in-person or conduct remote office hours on campus. According to a Memorandum of Understanding between the District and Faculty Association: For Spring Semester, 2022, Full-time instructional faculty teaching or working 100% of their load online may conduct all their office hours remotely. Full-time instructional faculty teaching up to 20% of their load on campus shall conduct one (I) of their office hours on campus. Fulltime instructional faculty teaching more than 20% of their load on campus shall conduct at least two (2) office hours on campus.

I tested positive and have been told to isolate. I have a face-to-face class. May I teach this class synchronously, and for how long?

If a faculty member has tested positive and is well enough to teach, the class may be temporarily taught synchronously for the duration of the isolation period communicated by LPC Contact Tracers, but should not extend beyond that period. If you switch to remote instruction, please communicate the change to your dean. The synchronous class periods should meet for the entirety of the scheduled time published in the schedule. Classes may not be temporarily taught in an asynchronous format.

There is no expectation that someone who is feeling unwell must teach remotely for a face-to-face or online class. If you are not well enough to work, please report your absence and make arrangements to cancel class, or work with your Dean regarding a substitute/swap depending on the length of time you will be absent.

I have a household member who tested positive. I have a face-to-face class. May I teach this class synchronously, and for how long?

A temporary shift to the synchronous format may only occur if the employee has tested positive. It does not extend to the conditions of family members or the employee's exposure to COVID. If you have a family member that needs your care, personal necessity leave is an option.

If a student has COVID-19, are there any modifications to attendance or late work policies? Can they participate remotely in an in-person class temporarily?

We encourage faculty to be as compassionate and flexible as is reasonable and to offer grace to attendance and assignments deadline when warranted and within reasonable limits. Faculty members should demonstrate care for students but also stay mindful of their own wellness and self-care. Faculty are not expected to create on-demand, fully functioning HyFLEX or asynchronous environment for students recovering or isolating at home. It may be possible to open a zoom session while teaching on campus for a student or students to listen in at home. The student(s) will need to be understanding that the classroom may not be set up to capture the white board, the instructor's movements, or even class discussion or in-class activities. This decision is left to the instructor's discretion.

Are social distancing rules in place? May we hand papers to one another? How will small groups be handled in full classrooms?

For fully vaccinated staff or staff accommodated with a fit tested N-95 masks, social distancing is not required. Classes that are at full room capacity do not need to social distance. In classrooms that are not full, the instructor may allow for social distancing if desired. Small group work and handing out papers can take place. Respect the distancing needs of other staff members. Others may prefer to still maintain social distancing, please respect their space. More distance and more physical barriers between people are better. Follow your supervisor’s guidance aimed at reducing the need for physical interaction.

Are field trips allowed now?

After February 7, 2022, Field Trips, campus events and activities, theater/performing arts events, and athletic/sporting events are allowed as long as faculty and students adhere to the published CLPCCD vaccination guidelines/requirements.

May I conduct a class outdoors?

Instructors may conduct classes outdoors. Students may remove masks outdoors as long as they are six feet away from another individual. This applies to exempted approved individuals as well.

Are room capacities the same as before? Where can I find that info?

Due to the CLPCCD vaccine mandate and the accommodations (fit tested N-95 masks) in place for exempted individuals, room capacities have returned to pre-pandemic capacities as social distancing is not required.

Are functional microphones available in the classes so students can hear me through my mask or will we have access to voice amplifiers?

Yes, functional microphones are available in the classroom. If you have any instructional technology needs or requests, please visit the Technology Department web site and place a ServiceNow Request or call (925) 424-1660.