Face Coverings
As of July 27, 2021, the CDC recommends that everyone, including fully vaccinated people should wear a mask in public indoor settings if they are in an area of substantial or high transmission. As a result, Richmont requires everyone to wear a mask while inside university buildings.
This updated mask requirement will be in effect until the CDC and/or our local health departments change their recommendations.
Libraries
Tables for quick pickup and drop-off of books and printed materials will be outside each main entrance of the library. For students who need extra help, appointments for research consultations with the librarians can be arranged.
Many services and questions can be answered online by contacting libraries@richmont.edu.
Use of Technology
Classes will be taught as offered – either on-ground or fully online.
The use of virtual attendance, which allows on-campus courses to be attended via Zoom in real-time, will only be available for time-limited, case-by-case situations including the following:
- A student is ill or experiencing symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, etc.) but would still like to attend 1-2 class meetings live via Zoom.
- A student’s child (or someone else in the student’s care) is ill OR is at home in quarantine and the student would like to attend 1-2 class meetings live via Zoom.
- Other similar or related reasons, subject to approval by the course professor.
Students who would like to attend a class meeting via Zoom need to request virtual attendance in writing (i.e., via email) directly from their professor prior to the start of the class meeting and at a time that allows the professor reasonable time to ask questions or gain clarity regarding the student’s request.
In order for a student’s attendance to count as “present” on Zoom, students will need to have their camera on for the entire class meeting.
Student Lounges and Student Spaces
The student lounge and other student spaces will offer the Honor Bar and kitchen appliances for shared student use. Students are asked to bring only enough food for one day and not to store personal food/condiments/etc. items in the lounge area or refrigerators.
Disinfecting Wipes and Hand Sanitizer
Disinfecting wipes will be available in all classrooms and high touch areas. Students and professors are encouraged to pick up a wipe on the way into classrooms and wipe down their work areas and classroom technology such as wireless microphones, keyboards, and podium touchpads. Hand sanitizer will be conveniently located in all classrooms.
If I test positive for COVID-19, what should I do?
- Alert your designated COVID campus coordinator:
Atlanta: Amanda Blackburn – ablackburn@richmont.edu
Chattanooga: Roxie Shellabarger – rshellabarger@richmont.edu
- You will be asked to complete a Positive COVID Form online. Please do so promptly.
- Alert your professors and find out details about how to proceed with your current assignments. This information will remain confidential per FERPA and HIPAA standards.
- You can return to campus 10 days after symptom onset if :
- You have been fever-free for at least 24-hours without the use of fever-reducing medications AND other symptoms have improved.
I was exposed to someone with COVID-19 – What do I do? ?
I am fully vaccinated for COVID-19, but am experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. What should I do?
- Although the risk that fully vaccinated people could become infected with COVID-19 is low, any fully vaccinated person who experiences symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should isolate themselves from others, be clinically evaluated for COVID-19, and tested if indicated. The symptomatic fully vaccinated person should inform their healthcare provider of their vaccination status at the time of presentation to care.
What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?
Richmont realizes the information surrounding COVID-19 is constantly updating. The university will continue to follow the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and our local public health departments.
Quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus away from others. If you have been exposed to COVID-19, please follow the recommendations of the CDC and quarantine for the recommended time. If you need to quarantine, please reach out to your professors and request to attend your classes virtually during the quarantine period. Please plan not to come to campus until your full quarantine period has ended.
Isolation keeps someone who is infected with the virus away from others. If you test positive for COVID-19, please follow the recommendations of the CDC. If you need to isolate, please reach out to your professors and request to attend your classes virtually during your isolation period. Please plan not to come to campus until 10 days after symptom onset, you are fever-free without the use of medication, and other symptoms have improved.
A person that lives in my home has been diagnosed with COVID-19, and I am not fully vaccinated (i.e. I have ongoing exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID 19). How long do I have to quarantine?
- Based on CDC recommendations, you must be quarantined for 14 days after the person you live with has completed their (minimum) 10-day isolation period (whether they are symptomatic or not). At minimum, this is a total of 24 days of quarantine. If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, you should consider getting tested.
How will I be notified if I have been exposed to COVID-19 while at Richmont?
- The University will alert students and employees who had close contact (i.e., direct exposure) to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, the local public health department also conducts contact tracing, and as part of that process the health department will notify the University when necessary. Following this notification, the University will notify the students, staff, and faculty on that campus (Atlanta or Chattanooga) of the possible interaction with someone who tested positive and next steps for the campus.
Where can I find information about COVID-19 viral testing?
I tested positive for COVID-19, but I have no symptoms. When can I return to school?
- You can return to classes once it has been 10 days since you received your positive COVID-19 diagnosis. This information will remain confidential per privacy regulations.
How will courses continue if Georgia or Tennessee sees a resurgence 0f COVID-19 and sheltering-in-place is implemented again?
- If Richmont needs to pivot to remote learning due to increased COVID-19 spread, the University and faculty will be prepared to transition 100% online.
How will students attend class(es) in the event of illness or a need to quarantine?
- Richmont faculty who are teaching on-campus courses will provide remote instructions through live lectures (via Zoom). With the exception of attending lectures/class meetings virtually, all assignments and requirements of the course will be the same as stated in the syllabus.
What should I do if I have concerns about another student, faculty member, or staff member who may be exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or is not abiding by the campus expectations (not wearing a mask, not social distancing, etc.)
- Richmont recognizes that we all have a shared commitment to caring for those with whom we are living and working in the community by following the specified health guidelines and that we separate ourselves from others at the first sign of any illness.
- We will also be required to show healthy charity to others. Richmont asks that each individual join us in our efforts to keep everyone in the Richmont community safe by taking personal responsibility.
I have further questions about COVID-19 and Richmont’s response. Who can I direct these questions to?
Amanda Blackburn at ablackburn@richmont.edu
