COVID-19 Metrics Used in Campus-Wide Analysis
Since March 2020, Highland Community College recognizes our role in slowing the spread of COVID-19. To help ensure a safe and healthy learning and working environment, the College continues to review and update guidelines following updates from:
- Illinois Governor’s Office Executive Orders,
- CDC guidelines and recommendations,
- Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidelines and recommendation, and
- County health guidelines and recommendations.
All decisions about implementing strategies such as campus moving to remote learning and/or work, closing campus, and/or other health and safety measures are made by the College Emergency Management Team’s COVID-19 Task Force or Task Force designee in collaboration with the Stephenson County Health Department (SCHD) and State orders.
About the Metrics
This document outlines metrics related to decisions about campus-wide operations. This document is reviewed and modified as the pandemic continues to change throughout the district. This document exists with the COVID-19 Dashboard, Campus Safety Guidelines, Student Resources, and employee communications available at highland.edu/hcc-advisory and the Staff Portal at highland.edu.
For decisions related to transitioning campus to remote learning/work and/or closing the campus, the College, in conjunction with SCHD, monitors, the following data to assess the conditions in our region, county and at the College:
- Regional positivity rate (9 counties)
- Stephenson County positivity rate
- HCC-specific metrics, defined below
- Possible campus outbreak determined by the SCHD
The following chart includes measurements, responses and mitigations that may be taken (please note, these are not listed in a particular order and these metrics are considered in conjunction with one another). The College will not take a more lenient stance than recommended by the SCHD, Governor’s Executive Order, and/or other relevant agencies. In the unusual situation when the SCHD cannot be reached immediately, the College will take preventative action until such time we can receive direction from the SCHD:
| MEASURE: | RESPONSE: | MITIGATION (including but not limited to): |
| Governor’s Executive Order | · Review orders. · Update campus guidelines. · Implement mitigations. | · Follow state guidelines. |
| Regional positivity rate > 8% | · Review needed adjustments to operations with the SCHD. · Implement mitigations. | · Reduce size of gatherings. · Further limit travel. · Transition to increased remote learning/work. |
| County positivity rate > 8% | · Review needed adjustments to operations with the SCHD. · Update campus guidelines per any new state restrictions. · Implement mitigations · Consult with the SCHD about when to transition back to in-person learning/work. | · Reduce size of gatherings. · Limit access to campus by outside groups. · Further limit travel. · Transition to increased remote learning/work. |
| On HCC campus, two or more positive cases in a classroom, lab, or work space | · Review needed adjustments to operations with the SCHD. · Implement mitigations. · Communicate with those impacted as determined by the SCHD. | · Transition specific areas to remote learning/work. · Pause campus work/learning in specific areas temporarily. · Quarantine as directed by SCHD. · Temporarily close a classroom, work area, or building. · Additional cleaning if needed. |
| On HCC campus, two or more positive cases in classes or work spaces in the same building with an outbreak determined by SCHD | · Review needed adjustments to operations with the SCHD. · Implement mitigations. · Communicate with those impacted as determined by the SCHD. | · Transition specific areas to remote learning/work. · Pause work/learning in specific areas temporarily. · Quarantine as directed by SCHD. · Temporarily close a classroom, work area, or building as directed by SCHD. · Additional cleaning if needed. |
| On HCC campus, campus-wide outbreak as determined by SCHD | · Review needed adjustments to operations with the SCHD. · Implement mitigations. · Communicate with those impacted as determined by the SCHD. | · Transition campus to remote learning/work. · Pause work/learning temporarily. · Quarantine as directed by SCHD. · Temporarily close campus as directed by SCHD. · Additional cleaning if needed. |
| On HCC campus, a week to week spike in positive cases of > 100% (2x the prior week) | · Review needed adjustments to operations with the SCHD. · Analyze in relation to HCC’s trend in the number of new on campus cases. · Implement mitigations. · Communicate with those impacted as determined by the SCHD. | ·Transition specific areas to remote learning/work. · Pause work/learning in specific areas temporarily. · Quarantine as directed by SCHD. · Temporarily close a classroom, work area, or building as directed by SCHD. · Additional cleaning if needed. |
Communication on Guidance Changes
COVID-19 confirmed campus cases are displayed at highland.edu/covid19dashboard. Students and employees are notified of official guidance and the above metrics by Highland email, student/staff web portal, text messaging, and/or Campus Connections bi-weekly Zoom meetings. In compliance with HIPAA and FERPA, private communication with departments and individuals directly impacted with a case are completed on a case by case basis by Human Resources or the Vice President of Student Services and Development.
For additional guidance and communications, see Phase 3 and Phase 4 Campus Safety Precautions .
