Hunter Business School has planned a phased return to ensure a safe reopening.
Here are the basic principles underlying the reopening.
- Protecting faculty, staff, and students
- Changing physical spaces for instruction and working
- Meeting ongoing changes in our public health obligations
Overall Reopening Plan
Hunter’s plan meets New York Forward guidelines and the New York State Department of Health’s Interim Guidance for Higher Education During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
Additionally, the school has reviewed guidelines established by these educational accrediting organizations and government agencies.
- Middle States Association
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- U.S. Department of Education
The plan is being implemented, but will evolve as necessary based on guidance from the New York State Department of Health and other government agencies.
Links to Online Self-Check COVID-19 Questionnaire
Levittown Student
Medford Student
Levittown Employee
Medford Employee
Reopening for Students
Screening
Hunter Business School students are required to be screened prior to entering the building at either campus through the online self-check Levittown Student COVID-19 Questionnaire or Medford Student COVID-19 Questionnaire. In addition, upon arrival on campus, a temperature check will be performed. Daily screenings will continue until further notice.
Social Distancing
Students on campus must practice social distancing whenever feasible.
Face Covering
Pursuant to New York State Executive Order 202.17, any member of our campus communities or guests to our campuses who are over age two and are medically able to tolerate a face covering must cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face covering when in public areas around campus or if they are unable to maintain social distancing.
Face coverings include, but are not limited to, cloth (e.g., homemade sewn, quick-cut, bandanna), surgical masks, N95 respirators, and face shields. The school maintains quantities of personal protective equipment (PPE) for students, including masks and other needed PPE, at cost.
Environment
All workspaces, classrooms, and common areas have been reconfigured to adhere to New York State guidelines. We have increased the number of signs posted promoting infection prevention and hygiene reminders. Hand sanitizer is widely available throughout the campus.
Hunter has instituted enhanced protocols for increased cleaning and disinfection throughout campus. Daily logs are maintained to ensure that all protocols are followed. All packages will be delivered to a designated area for pick-up.
Vulnerable Population
Vulnerable student populations should contact the school director or director of education at 516.796.1000 for Levittown and 631.736.7360 for Medford to discuss possible alternative arrangements.
Proper social distancing and hygiene must be practiced when using bathrooms.
Enhanced cleaning and disinfection are conducted daily throughout the day.
What to Do If You Have COVID-19 Symptoms
Students who experience symptoms that may be related to COVID-19 must seek medical attention from their personal health care providers and will be responsible for abiding by their physician’s instructions.
Students who are tested for COVID-19 are asked to self-quarantine at home while they wait for their results.
Instructional Spaces
A new maximum occupancy capacity has been given to each room to adhere to New York State guidelines. Some classrooms have been reconfigured by removing seats. Others have seating marked to indicate how students should arrange themselves when they arrive.
All in-person course participants must wear face coverings. Every classroom participant, including the instructor, is asked to practice proper respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene.
Operational Areas
Hunter Business School has a reopening plan and checklists describing the measures we have taken to ensure proper social distancing in our workspaces and modified schedules that promote low density.
These plans also include posting and promoting infection prevention strategies in respective areas. Each department is responsible for overseeing adherence to basic safety measures to reduce exposure risk.
A Hunter Business School ID and submission of the online self-check Student COVID-19 Questionnaire are required for entry into the building. Temperature checks will be given at the front desk, and paper copies of the questionnaire will be kept there, as well.
All visitors will be directed to the front desk.
Employees are permitted on campus only if they have successfully completed the online self-check COVID-19 Questionnaire and their IDs have been cleared.
Ambulances will be called for students who are ill and in need of transportation to a medical facility.
Hunter Business School enforces the principles of the school’s Code of Conduct and the regulations in the Student Handbooks. These documents have been revised to address COVID-19 issues that affect Hunter Business School students.
Construction and Renovation
All construction and renovation projects will follow the same social distancing, face covering, and sanitization rules as the rest of the campus. All construction personnel will limit contact with students and employees.
Hunter Business School will provide details on how to utilize the self-check COVID-19 Questionnaire.
Facilities Management and Maintenance
All operational areas have identified shared objects that may be used by students, faculty, and staff in the course of their routine business. Each area has devised strategies for eliminating the use of shared objects or ensuring that they are routinely cleaned and disinfected.
Hygiene, Cleaning, and Disinfection
All faculty, staff, and students are required to follow basic infection prevention protocols: maintain social distancing, wear a face covering, and practice hand hygiene, as well as respiratory etiquette.
Sanitizer dispensing devices have been installed at most entryways and egress points on both campuses. Signs have been posted in both facilities to remind the campus community to follow recommended protocols.
Throughout the campuses, cleaning and disinfection have been enhanced to ensure that public areas, offices, and classrooms are sanitized more often. The frequency of cleaning will follow recommendations in Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Monitoring of health conditions that may be related to COVID-19 requires continued surveillance of the campus community to detect instances of infection spread. The school’s self-check COVID-19 Questionnaire is a crucial step in detecting COVID-19 symptoms.
Hunter employees will conduct daily screenings through the self-check COVID-19 Questionnaire. Supporting signs have been posted at entryways, with reminders that the self-check must be completed by employees daily.
Hunter Business School students will conduct their own screenings prior to returning to campus through the online self-check COVID-19 Questionnaire. Daily screenings will continue throughout the semester.
Employees who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms will be directed to their health care provider to be tested. Employees should keep their supervisors informed of their status and follow their health care provider’s recommendations for isolation or quarantine.
Students who experience symptoms that may be related to COVID-19 may seek medical attention from their personal health care provider. Documentation to return to school will be required.
Students who are tested for COVID-19 will be asked to self-quarantine while they wait for their results. Students will be asked to quarantine at home.
Visitors to campus will undergo a temperature screening and complete the self-check COVID-19 Questionnaire in hard copy form when entering the building. Outside vendors (food, maintenance, construction) will also fill out the hard copy questionnaire that will be provided upon entering the building.
Tracing
Labs conducting COVID-19 tests automatically report all positive results to county health officials, who then contact Hunter Business School to inform school officials of positive cases that have been identified on campus.
For Hunter Business School students who test positive for COVID-19, Nassau and Suffolk County health officials will conduct contact tracing with the assistance of school staff, faculty, and administrators.
All Hunter Business School procedures instituted to perform monitoring, containment, and tracing of COVID-19 on campus will follow best practices according to guidance from health experts and will adhere to all privacy requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Classes and the Teaching Plan
Hunter Business School campuses will resume in-person classroom instruction with social distancing protocols in place whenever practical. Capacities of all classroom spaces have been reduced and additional larger classroom spaces have been added to promote social distancing.
The director of education will ensure that courses that involve performance, laboratory, and clinical experiences will take into consideration unique space requirements and ensure that such courses are conducted with proper COVID-19 protocols in place.
Student meetings with staff members will be conducted virtually, if possible. Faculty members will encourage students to communicate with them regarding their health status and any changes in their ability to complete coursework or fulfill their academic responsibilities.
The director of education will provide guidelines to faculty regarding course modifications or accommodations that may result from COVID-19 conditions. He will also implement a contingency plan in the event that remote instruction is required due to an elevated recurrence of COVID cases.
Special Modes of Instruction
Programs that require off-campus clinical or field training in other locations will ensure that students are properly protected by recommended safety protocols. For courses and instruction that generally do not permit physical distancing (e.g., phlebotomy, EKG, competencies, etc.), alternative instruction may be instituted to minimize risk.
Information Technology
Hunter Business School’s IT department led the school through the peak of the COVID-19 crisis by facilitating a smooth transition to a hundred percent remote learning this past spring. The sense of urgency faced by IT was met with success.
To further prepare for unexpected challenges, the IT staff conducted a needs assessment that addressed advanced systems and equipment needs to support the highest level of teaching and learning, both in the classroom and for remote instruction. As needed, the IT managers will continue to assess and evaluate the current environment and adjust accordingly.
Student Gatherings
All spaces on Hunter Business School campuses will adhere to New York State guidelines.
Reopening for Employees
Screening
Hunter Business School employees will conduct daily screenings through the online self-check COVID-19 Questionnaire and having their temperature taken at the school. Supporting signs have been posted at entryways, with reminders that the self-check and taking of temperature must be completed by employees daily.
Social Distancing
Employees on campus will practice social distancing whenever feasible.
Face Covering
Pursuant to New York State Executive Order 202.17, any member of our campus communities or guests to our campuses who are over age two and medically able to tolerate a face covering must cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face covering when in public areas around campus or if they are unable to maintain social distancing.
Face coverings include, but are not limited to, cloth (e.g., homemade sewn, quick-cut, bandanna), surgical masks, N95 respirators, and face shields. Hunter Business School will provide face coverings to those employees who do not have their own.
Environment
Whenever possible, employees should conduct virtual meetings and appointments.
All workspaces, classrooms, and common areas have been reconfigured to allow for social distancing. An increased number of signs have been posted promoting infection prevention and hand hygiene. Hand sanitizer is widely available throughout the campus. Spray bottles with disinfectant are on each desk and should be used before, during, and after the workday.
Hunter Business School has instituted enhanced protocols for increased cleaning and disinfection throughout campus. Daily logs are maintained to ensure that all protocols are followed.
Faculty Guidelines
Faculty members will encourage students to communicate with them regarding their health status and any changes in their ability to complete coursework or fulfill their academic responsibilities.
Each department chairperson will provide guidelines to faculty regarding course modifications or accommodations that may result from COVID-19 conditions.
Vulnerable Population
Employees who are seeking accommodations or alternative working arrangements should contact their supervisor at 516.796.1000 for Levittown or 631.736.7360 for Medford.
If You Exhibit Symptoms
Employees who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms should contact their health care provider to be tested. Employees should keep their supervisor informed of their status and follow their health care provider’s recommendations for isolation or quarantine.
Sick Leave
Federal and New York State laws have added special provisions relating to paid and unpaid leave for employees affected by the pandemic. This may include the employee’s own illness, a family member’s illness, or effects from school closings for dependent children.