Important Information on Travel due to COVID-19

Email sent to ACC employees on March 11, 2020

Good day,

We continue to closely follow developments related to Coronavirus (COVID-19).  The health and safety of our college community is our highest priority as we coordinate our planning and response.  It is receiving the highest level of attention by our college and system administration.  We recognize spring break is right around the corner and in response to COVID-19 issues, we would like to remind you that although you may not be in a high-risk category for COVID-19, one of your colleagues or students may be. We want to work with all employees and students to prevent exposure at the college where we can. We ask that everyone is respectful of this need and that employees keep their supervisors apprised of their travel plans and adhere to established Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) guidelines while the COVID-19 virus is active. You can keep up to date on travel advisory issued through the CDC and the CDPHE.

Below is current information regarding employee travel outside of Colorado as of today. Information about COVID-19 is regularly changing and these guidelines are subject to change, potentially while you are on vacation. We will keep you informed of our requirements but we ask employees to maintain open communication with supervisors prior to and upon return from leave, before returning to the office.

College Sponsored Travel

Until further notice, ACC has suspended sponsored international travel to countries that have been assessed at Level 2 or Level 3 by the CDC. This includes any required layovers in Level 2 or Level 3 areas, even if this is not your final destination. ACC will also prohibit sponsored travel to areas of the U.S. that have declared a “State of Emergency”. Additionally, conferences and other events outside of these areas are cancelling on their own.  Should you have any ACC sponsored travel, please monitor the status closely.

The Governor has issued a “State of Emergency” for Colorado but ACC has not suspended in-state travel. For in-state travel, please work with your supervisors and use your best judgement.

Employee Personal Travel

You and your supervisor should work with the Office of Human Resources to identify the most appropriate response to your return to the office, based on the applicable CDC and CDPHE guidelines on quarantines and restrictions.

International Travel- If you are planning to travel to a country that has been assessed at a Level 2 or Level 3, you must disclose your travel plans to your Supervisor and the Office of Human Resources immediately. The CDC recommends quarantines when an individual returns from one of these countries and ACC will not allow you back at work during the required quarantine period. Quarantine following your scheduled leave will be addressed as follows:

  • Where possible, you will be allowed to work remotely during the necessary quarantine period beyond the end of your scheduled leave.
  • For any time during the quarantine period you cannot work remotely, you can use sick leave.
  • If you do not have sick leave available, you can use annual leave.
  • If you are not benefit-eligible or do not have available sick or annual leave, and cannot work remotely, please contact your supervisor and the Office of Human Resources.

Domestic or International Travel, with exception to the Level 2 or Level 3 Countries - You should research the CDC travel advisory for your destination. Because risk assessments are changing rapidly, share your travel plans with your Supervisor and check in prior to returning to the office in the event new or revised advisories are issued.  If the CDC or CDPHE requires quarantine, ACC will not allow you back at work during the quarantine period. Quarantines after your scheduled leave will be addressed as follows:

  • Where possible, you will be allowed to work remotely during the necessary quarantine period beyond the end of you scheduled leave.
  •  For any time during the quarantine period you cannot work remotely, you can use sick leave.
  • If you do not have sick leave available, you can use annual leave.
  • If you do not have available sick or annual leave, and cannot work remotely, please contact the Office of Human Resources.

Your safety and that of our students is a priority for ACC and we want to work with you to do whatever we can to prevent the spread of illness in the workplace. Thank you for your cooperation in helping to maintain a healthy environment, being considerate of your colleagues and their personal situations, and for your part in preventing the spread of illness in the workplace. Please be aware that students are being provided with similar information as is outlined above.  Also, due to the seriousness of this situation, if it is identified you have violated this directive, you may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
 
Remember, if you are sick please stay home and communicate with your supervisor. If you have any questions, or need to discuss accommodations due to your personal situation, please contact me (Angela Johnson) or Jennifer Matthews.

Angela M. Johnson, MSM, IPMA-SCP
Director of Human Resources EO Officer/Title IX Coordinator
5900 S. Santa Fe Drive / PO Box 9002
Littleton, CO 80160-9002
303.797.5715 (o) / 720.660.3230 (c)
angela [dot] johnson [at] arapahoe [dot] edu

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