DC COVID-19 Information
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
This page will continue to be updated as needed.
Students, parents, and guardians: Please continue to check your DC email for detailed information and explanations. We may also utilize our texting platform to send you reminders.
Here is a list of our COVID-19 Policies and Protocols for campus. As always, these are subject to change as we receive new information from local, state and federal organizations. Our goal is to reduce COVID's presence on campus. As we maintain that focus, COVID guidelines may be required on campus that are not be required elsewhere.
All students living in the Residence Halls and all Fall Athletes will be required to take a rapid test before moving in or attending team meetings/practices. These tests will be provided by the College at no charge to students. These students will take another test a week later.
- Commuter students who are not Fall athletes are not required to participate in arrival testing but may choose to do so if they wish.
- Arrival testing will take place under the tent in front of the residence halls on move-in days.
MASKS:
- Masks are optional indoors in all campus spaces unless you are visiting the Health Center or Athletic Training rooms or are in isolation/quarantine.
- Masks will continue to be available in the Student Life office for those who wish to continue wearing them.
- Faculty and staff also continue to have the discretion to require masks in their classroom or office.
- Masks may be required for large indoor events.
VACCINATIONS:
- The College continues to strongly recommend all campus members be vaccinated. Vaccination is still the best way to protect yourself and others. While it does not 100% prevent one from getting COVID-19, it does greatly reduce your risk of severe symptoms and hospitalization.
- Students who are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations (per CDC guidelines) will not have to quarantine if exposed to someone with COVID-19
- Students who have had COVID-19 in the past 90 days will not have to quarantine if exposed to someone with COVID-19. Please email covid19@defiance.edu to report your positive case of COVID-19 if it has occurred in the last 90 days.
- NEW STUDENTS: Please submit a copy of your COVID-19 vaccination card to covid19@defiance.edu
- RETURNING STUDENTS: If you have received any doses of the COVID-19 vaccine over the summer please submit an updated copy of your vaccination card to covid19@defiance.edu
Remember, vaccines are free everywhere!
TESTING
At this point in time, there will be no weekly surveillance testing required for students.
We will continue to monitor campus and local case rates and if there is another large
spike, we may need to temporarily return to weekly surveillance testing.
In addition, students and employees are expected to comply with requests by the Wellness Center staff or team physicians to test in special circumstances.
DINING SERVICES
- Please refrain from eating in the dining hall or the Hive if you have symptoms or have been exposed.
- Students in quarantine will need to use their Eco-To-Go containers to obtain to-go meals for their 10 day quarantine period
- Students in isolation will order sick trays from the dining hall.
ISOLATION
If you test positive for COVID-19, you will begin a 10 day isolation period regardless of symptoms or vaccination status.
We will not be providing separate isolation housing this year. Students will need to isolate in place at home. If a residential student is unable to travel home, they will need to isolate in their room. For roommates who may be high risk or immune compromised we will have a limited number of spaces available for a temporary relocation just as we would do when a roommate has the flu.
For students who isolate on campus or locally (typically within 60 mile radius of campus), the Wellness Center will check in sometime after Day 5 to evaluate symptoms ( NOTE: timing of this check-in will be dependent on factors such as weekends, holidays, staffing availability, etc.).
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- If the student has no symptoms or improved symptoms, they may take a COVID-19 test. If the test is negative, the student can resume some, but not all, activities while masked. They will be permitted to attend class and follow return to play protocols for athletics. However, students must remain in their isolation room for sleeping and eating. All other activities will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Students who choose to travel home to isolate must remain at home for the full isolation period. Students who choose to travel home to isolate must remain at home for the full isolation period.
Employees will follow the same protocols for evaluating symptoms after Day 5 and with no symptoms and a negative test, may return to work (fully masked).
REMINDER: If you receive a positive test at a non-campus location, please send a copy of your results to covid19@defiance.edu and wait for further instructions.
QUARANTINE:
All exposed students will be required to wear a mask on campus for 10 days following your exposure.
You will NOT need to quarantine if you were exposed to someone who has COVID-19 if you tested positive for COVID-19 in the 90 days before your exposure or your vaccines are up-to-date meaning you:
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- tested positive for COVID-19 in the 90 days before your exposure OR;
- have received a booster dose of any COVID-19 booster OR;
- completed the primary dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine less than two months ago OR;
- completed the primary series of the Pfizer vaccine(2 doses) less than five months ago OR;
- completed the primary series of the Moderna vaccine(2 doses) less than six months ago;
You WILL need to begin a 10 day quarantine period, if you were exposed to someone who has COVID-19 and you are unvaccinated or your vaccines are not up-to-date meaning you:
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- are unvaccinated OR;
- have only received one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine OR;
- completed the primary dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than two months ago and have no booster OR;
- completed the primary series of Pfizer vaccine more than five months ago and have no booster
- completed the primary series of Moderna more than six months ago and have no booster
You will be able to test after Day 5 and if negative have some of your quarantine restrictions modified.
For students who quarantine on campus or locally (typically within 60 mile radius of campus), the Wellness Center will contact you sometime after Day 5 to arrange a COVID-19 screening and test (NOTE: timing of this contact will be dependent on factors such as weekends, holidays, staffing availability, etc.). Students who choose to travel home to quarantine typically must remain at home for the full quarantine period.
If the COVID-19 test is negative and the student is symptom-free, the student can resume some, but not all, activities while masked around others. For example, students will be permitted to attend class and follow Return to Play Protocols for athletics while masked for the remaining days of the 10 day quarantine period. However, students must remain in their quarantine room for sleeping and eating. All other activities will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Employees will follow the same protocols for evaluating symptoms after Day 5 and with no symptoms and a negative test, may return to work (fully masked).
Students and employees must continue to monitor and report any symptoms for the remainder of the ten day quarantine period and will test again after day 10 to be officially released from quarantine restrictions.
REPORTING SYMPTOMS:
After returning to campus, all students and employees will be expected to monitor themselves daily for symptoms.
Students who are experiencing symptoms should not return to campus unless they have had a negative test.
If you are experiencing symptoms prior to your arrival, STAY HOME and report the symptoms through the DC Campus Wellness Center at (419)-783-2562 or covid19@defiance.edu to receive further instructions regarding when you can return to campus.
If you experience symptoms during the academic year, stay in your room/at home and report the symptoms through the DC Campus Wellness Center at (419)-783-2562 or covid19@defiance.edu to receive further instructions on obtaining a test and/or returning to class/campus.
Because we take the health and safety of all students, faculty, and staff seriously, failure to report a positive test, symptoms, or exposure may result in disciplinary actions.
Are classes in-person this spring or are they remote?
All classes will be in-person unless otherwise noted in the course schedule. Please follow stated protocols while in the classroom.
What safety measures are in place at Defiance College?
Defiance College is continually making sure it is operating in compliance within guidelines
from the CDC, local health departments, the State of Ohio, ACHA, and the NCAA. We will make adjustments to our policies and protocols as new information becomes available. DC has taken a number of measures to ensure the safety of individuals on campus. For
more details please click here.
- Disinfection of high contact areas, including restrooms, classrooms, computer labs, and shared shower facilities, occurs at regular intervals.
- Plexiglas barriers have been installed around reception desks where a large number of individuals will interact with staff on a regular basis.
- Signs are in place to encourage physical distancing, wearing of masks, and the importance
of hand washing and hand sanitizer.
Will cleaning supplies be provided for student use?
No cleaning supplies will be provided for students to clean their own rooms. Residential
students are asked to bring the following items:
- facial coverings (more than one so that you can wash them frequently)
- hand sanitizer (check for recommended ingredients)
- sanitizing wipes
- Thermometer.
I am a prospective student wanting to come to campus. Will I be able to visit?
Every visitor will have their temperature taken when they arrive. Visitors meet with
DC representatives in a large conference room to provide plenty of room for social
distancing. All tour guides are required to wear a mask and have temperatures tested
daily. Please consult your coach or the Admissions Office for more details.
If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us at COVID19@defiance.edu or 419-783-2562.
