Together Safely

Creating a safe and healthy campus for our students, faculty, staff and community members.

Our Together Safely plan for the 2022-23 Academic year prioritizes maintaining safe and healthy face-to-face instruction in a residential learning environment. Our COVID-19 team will work closely with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Calhoun County Public Health Department (CCPHD) to monitor coronavirus developments in our region. Masking, testing, and vaccinations continue to be important tools to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Guidelines

Masking Toggle Accordion

Wearing a mask is optional throughout the campus of Albion College with the following exception:

  • If the level of community transmission of COVID-19 in Calhoun County as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is at a High level for a sustained period of time, the COVID-19 team will consult with local health officials regarding implementation of mandatory masking in college buildings.
  • Individuals that recently tested positive for COVID-19 and are exiting isolation will be required to mask for a designated period of time. Information will be provided to these individuals by the Covid Team when they are released from isolation and can return to in person class and work.
  • Students, Faculty, Staff, and Visitors should be prepared to wear their own personal mask if a mandatory masking policy is implemented.

Testing Toggle Accordion

Calhoun County Public Health Department (CCPHD) provides access to a database of all COVID-19 testing sites in Michigan. Home tests are available at local pharmacies.

Albion College students, faculty, and staff are eligible to seek COVID-19 testing at the State of Michigan testing center located on Albion College’s Campus in Washington Gardner. Testing is available on a walk-in basis weekly from 12 to 7 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays; and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. Testing is free for students.

Free at home test kits are available through the Calhoun County Health Department and can be ordered online or picked up in person.

Albion College students living on campus that are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and can’t locate testing may email covidteam@albion.edu. Students will be contacted during regular weekday office hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to assist them in finding a test.

If you test positive for COVID (Students) Toggle Accordion

Albion College students that are enrolled in classes must inform the Covid Team/Office of Integrated Wellness immediately if they test positive for COVID. Students may do this through email (covidteam@albion.edu) or by calling 517-629-0220. All students that test positive for COVID will be required to adhere to Calhoun County Public Health Department isolation protocols. The Covid Team will notify faculty of all COVID-related absences. Students that are working on campus should coordinate any COVID-related absences with their supervisor.

If you Test positive for COVID (Employees) Toggle Accordion

Albion College employees who test positive for COVID must stay home and email covidteam@albion.edu. The Covid Team will notify Human Resources about your COVID-related absence from work. The Covid Team will provide you with further information regarding your return to on campus work.

Employees with questions about COVID symptoms or exposure should email covidteam@albion.edu.

Quarantine & Isolation Toggle Accordion

Albion College follows all Quarantine and Isolation guidance issued by the Calhoun County Public Health Department for individuals that test positive or been exposed to COVID.

A minimum 5 day isolation is required for anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status. Isolation may be extended if fever persists or symptoms do not improve by day five (5). Individuals that are released from isolation at any point between day five (5) and 10 will be required to mask at all times until the end of day 10.

Students who test positive for COVID and live in College-owned residential facilities are required to notify Melissa Sommers at msommers@albion.edu.

Students living on campus will return home to isolate. Outstanding circumstances that prevent this will be addressed by the COVID team. A limited number of isolation rooms will be available on campus for the 2022-23 academic year.

Students or employees that live with an individual that has tested positive, must do the following:

  • Monitor symptoms for 10 days from the last day of exposure.
  • Test once during day 3-7 or if symptoms develop.
  • Wear a well fitting mask for 10 days from last date of exposure.

Students or employees that work with or had any type of contact not in a living situation with an individual who has tested positive, should do the following:

  • Monitor symptoms for 10 days from the last day of exposure.
  • Test if symptoms develop.
  • Consider wearing a mask for 10 days from the last day of exposure.

Vaccines Toggle Accordion

Albion College Employees and Students are not required to be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination. However, Albion College encourages all employees and students to receive their COVID-19 vaccination and remain up-to-date with booster shots as they become eligible. More information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine can be found on the Calhoun County Public Health Department website.