FAQs

Health/Safety
  • What should I do if I test positive for COVID-19?
    If you test positive for COVID-19, you are required to do the following: 
    • Remember “IRMA” 
    • Isolate for a minimum of 5 full days 
    • Report your case here  
    • Mask at all times for 5 days after isolation 
    • Attest you are compliant with these rules 

    Isolate for a minimum of five full calendar days, with the first day of symptoms being Day Zero (if you tested positive without having symptoms, the day of your positive test counts as Day Zero).  The first full day after the day of your first symptoms or the day you tested positive if asymptomatic counts as Day 1. 

     You may return to campus after Day 5 if, per CDC, you meet the following conditions: 

    • You have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications 
    • Your other symptoms, if any, have been improving 

    Note that, per CDC, loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation. 

    If you want to confirm the days you should isolate, you can use the following CDC tool: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html# 

    It is important you fill out the report form here even if you have been in touch with college personnel about your case. 

    If you meet these criteria, you can return to campus on Day 6 (or later, based on your class and/or work schedule). 

    By coming to campus, you attest that you have complied with all applicable COVID protocols. 

  • I am a COVID close contact. What should I do?

    We are sorry you are being impacted by COVD-19. In accordance with CDC guidance and Columbia College Chicago COVID protocols, you are required to do the following: 

    If you are asymptomatic and you are vaccinated and boosted (at least one booster), you can be on campus as normal, but you must be masked at all times and you need to get tested on the fifth full day after your exposure (“Day 5”). The day you had the close contact counts as Day Zero. While you may also test earlier if you wish, you must test on campus on Day 5. No outside tests will be accepted. If you don’t plan on getting back to campus until one or several days passed Day 5, you can get tested on campus the day before your planned return. Your ID will not grant you access to facilities besides the testing facility until you test negative. 

    If you are asymptomatic but are unvaccinated or vaccinated but unboosted with at least one booster, you must quarantine for five full days, and you must test on campus on Day 5, with the first day of symptoms being Day Zero. The day of your first symptoms counts as Day Zero. While you may also test earlier if you wish, you must test negative on Day 5. No outside tests will be accepted. If you don’t plan on getting back to campus until one or several days passed Day 5, you can get tested on campus the day before your planned return. Your ID will not grant you access to facilities besides the testing facility until you test negative. If you want to confirm the days you should quarantine, you can use the following CDC tool: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html# 

    If you have symptoms of any kind, you must test negative on a PCR test before being able to access campus facilities again. Only a PCR test will be accepted. You may come to campus only to get a PCR test, if you choose to be tested on campus. Outside tests are accepted, but you will need to upload a negative PCR results before your campus ID is turned back on. Home tests and rapid antigen tests are not accepted when you are symptomatic. 

  • What are the requirements for coming back to campus after having COVID-19?
    The college’s protocols for individuals returning from COVID-19 are based on CDC guidance: Covid-positive individuals should isolate for five full days and return to campus on Day 6, provided they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the help of medication, and their other symptoms are improving. (Note: The first day of symptoms, or the day they test positive if they were asymptomatic, counts as Day Zero). Those individuals who do not meet the conditions for ending isolation must continue to isolate until they do. COVID-positive individuals must wear a mask on campus after leaving isolation until they reach Day 10 post symptoms/positive test.
  • Why do we have to wait 4 weeks after the risk level is changed by CDC before Columbia will change our risk level?

    The college’s protocols call for a waiting period before we go from one level down to a lower level of precautions to try to avoid a see-saw effect where we go from one level down to another level and back up in short order; the waiting period is designed to help ensure a certain COVID level looks to be lasting.

     

  • What are current policies based on?  

    Our main goal is to avoid disruption of instruction for individual students and also to avoid disruptions to group projects from one student’s absence, for instance. While students are at lower risk of severe cases, college-age people routinely make up a disproportionate share of COVID cases. One of the considerations for our protocols is that at this stage of the pandemic, hospitalizations remain at or near all-time lows, but to the extent, some people go to the hospital, they tend to be over the age of 60. Some college-age people do go to the hospital as well. Therefore, it is important to keep some precautions in line with the prevalence of COVID in the community, and for students to remain mindful that older adults around them may be at higher risk. 

  • Are we still needing to post our updated Covid vaccination record cards? 

    Employees no longer are required to; students need to continue to do so. 

  • Will there be signage for the areas that are designated as instructional spaces?

    Faculty and staff can download signage that can be printed and used in instructional spaces on the college’s Intranet site.

  • What should I do if am experiencing COVID-19 symptoms?

    Do not come to campus with symptoms without having ruled out COVID-19 through testing. This means one of the following:

    • One negative PCR test – test immediately when symptoms appear
    or
    • Two negative rapid antigen/home tests 48 hours apart – take the first test as soon as symptoms appear 
    You must isolate pending test results.

    Even after a negative test, if you still have symptoms, you should continue to wear a mask until symptoms resolve; while you may not have COVID-19 you may still infect others with your illness.
     
    If you were a close contact but have no symptoms, you must do one of the following:
    • Take a PCR test at Day 6 (where the day of close contact counts as Day Zero)
    or
    • Test on the day you find out you are a close contact, test a second time 48 hours after and a third time 48 hours after the second test
       
    • For students, the Student Health Center at 916 S. Wabash provides PCR tests with results usually within 24 hours (please call ahead to arrange for testing);
    • For employees and students, the CareATC testing facility at 600 S. Michigan offers PCR tests and usually provides results within 48 hours.
    • Students and employees can access tests on campus even if they are symptomatic.
    Note that if you are positive with a rapid test, there is no need for a PCR test and serial rapid antigen/home tests.

    Please know that supervisors (in the case of employees) and faculty or staff (in the case of students) could ask you to leave the office or class if you are obviously symptomatic and have not had a negative test.

    Per the CDC, people with these symptoms may have COVID-19: 
    • Fever or chills
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Headache
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Sore throat
    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Diarrhea
  • What are the Precautions for Various Risk Levels?


    When the COVID-19 risk is high

    Masks will be required everywhere on campus when the city officially designates the COVID-19 risk level as “high” or if the campus is seeing more than 35 cases per week.

    In consultation with departments and the faculty teaching a class, the Office of the Provost may grant masking exceptions for certain class sessions or activities. No unmasking can take place unless officially sanctioned by the Office of the Provost.

    At this risk level, food and beverages at events and meetings should take the form of a boxed meal that participants may carry to a separate space during a meal break if they wish to eat isolated from others, or on a “to-go” basis for participants to take with them after the meeting or event.

    Field trips must be planned to avoid communal eating by participants.

    Third parties renting college spaces may serve food inside the space they rent at this risk level, provided no Columbia employees or students are mandated to attend who are not comfortable being in a mixed-masking environment. Similarly, third parties renting college spaces may set their own masking protocols for the event at this risk level, provided it does not violate any government order and provided no Columbia employees or students are mandated to attend who are not comfortable being in a mixed-masking environment.

    The universal masking requirement and the food protocol will be in effect until the city is at “medium” risk for three weeks and cases remain below 35 a week on campus for three weeks.

    When the COVID-19 risk is medium

    When the city officially designates the COVID-19 risk as “medium” and weekly COVID-19 cases on campus are below 35, masks will be required in all instructional settings* and will be optional elsewhere.
     
    *“Instructional setting” is defined as classrooms as well as spaces where formal interactions between college employees and students take place – this includes classrooms, studios and fabrication spaces (see the full list) and off-campus indoor locations where instruction takes place—or where employees and students meet for appointments or where students drop in for support services. At the library, individuals should be masked when checking out books or meeting with staff, but can be unmasked in the book stacks, at computer stations and in the reading or study spaces.   

    Note that the college will go from “low” to “high” as key thresholds are met, but numbers will need to be at “medium” for three weeks before the college will go from “high” to “medium” precautions.

    Individuals must be masked at all times when visiting the Student Health Center, the campus COVID-19 testing facility, or CareATC.

    Classroom masking exceptions may be granted by the Office of the Provost as described above. 

    Food will be allowed at college events or meetings at the medium risk level under the following conditions: Plated or buffet-style food is allowed at events and meetings but must follow (and not coincide with) any presentation or program or formal meeting, and where possible should be served in a separate part of the space or different space. Consider boxed meals as an alternative so people can eat isolated from others if they wish.

    Field trips should be planned to avoid communal eating by participants when possible.

    Third parties renting college spaces may serve food inside the space they rent at this risk level, provided no Columbia employees or students are mandated to attend who are not comfortable being in a mixed-masking environment. Similarly, third parties renting college spaces may set their own masking protocols for the event at this risk level, provided it does not violate any government order and provided no Columbia employees or students are mandated to attend who are not comfortable being in a mixed-masking environment.

    For the college to go from the “medium” level to the “low” level, the city must be at “low” risk for four weeks and weekly campus COVID-19 cases must be below 10 for four weeks.

    When the COVID-19 risk is low

    Masking will be optional across campus indoor settings when the city’s risk level is at “low” and campus COVID-19 weekly cases are below 10.

    There are no restrictions on food on campus or on field trips.

    To go to this level of “low” from “medium,” the city must be at “low” risk for four weeks and weekly campus COVID-19 cases must be below 10 for four weeks.

    Masking may continue in some instructional settings. The college will continue to discuss with campus stakeholders possible continued masking requirements in some instructional settings at this level.

    These precautions are subject to change based on the health situation and government guidance. 

  • What are the COVID-19 testing options on campus and how do I schedule an appointment?

    Free testing is available on campus to all campus community members by appointment only. You will receive the results within 30 minutes of taking the test. Please visit the COVID-19 Testing Information page for more details. 

    Columbia College Chicago is using Abbott’s BinaxNow rapid antigen test to perform COVID-19 testing at its Student Health Center and COVID-19 testing site. 

    Please note: If you test at CareATC, you will need to download Abbott's Navica app to receive your test results. Those who do not have smartphones will receive instructions at the Campus Testing Facility.

  • I’m a student and having issues updating my record in MedProctor. Who can I contact for assistance?
    Students can email help@medproctor.com for assistance 
  • What are the COVID-19 vaccination and booster options on campus for members of the Columbia community?

    Please visit the COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Information page for up-to-date information on vaccination availability on campus. 

    Additional Vaccination Resources 

    Members of the Columbia community may also explore community and healthcare system-based options for vaccination.  

    Here are some options for vaccination shared with us by government entities: 

  • I’m having technical difficulties using ColumbiaQ to schedule an appointment. What should I do?
    You may also schedule an appointment by phone at 844-766-3775. For information about the CareATC call center hours, visit the COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Information page.
  • How will positive cases of COVID-19 be handled in the workplace?

    Despite all precautionary measures, there is always a risk of potential workplace exposure to communicable diseases. Should an employee contract COVID-19 and expose others in our workplace, the college will undergo contract tracing and will notify individuals as appropriate. 

  • What should I do if someone isn't following protocols? 

    If you are in a conversation that makes you uncomfortable or if there is a confrontation, you can notify Campus Security by phone at 312-369-3220 or by email at securitycommand@colum.edu. Most deviations from protocol may not constitute an urgent issue; if you are comfortable, you may want to take a person aside to remind them of protocol, or you can contact HR (for an employee not following protocol) at humanresources@colum.edu or the Dean of Students’ office (for a student not following protocol) at deanofstudents@colum.edu so they can address it with the employee or student. 

     

Campus
  • What do visitors need to know when coming to campus?

    All visitors must follow the college's Visitor Guidance, which includes current safety precautions. Thank you for helping to keep our campus community safe, and we hope you enjoy your visit.

  • Where can I eat on campus?
    Visit the Eating Spaces page to view the latest guidelines and a list of designated eating spaces on campus.
  • Why is Columbia requiring students to get vaccinated?

    Columbia will not be reconsidering its final decision to require COVID-19 vaccination for students. After consultation with health and legal experts, Columbia made the decision to require students to vaccinate in order to manage risk and promote safety. We are a college for creatives where hands-on learning and collaboration are at the heart of what we do. While we have leveraged testing and other precautions to resume certain limited student performances and projects, students being immunized will allow us to offer them more opportunities and to ensure that they have a full and rewarding college experience. 

    Whereas we acknowledge the concern and hesitancy you have expressed regarding COVID-19 vaccination, Columbia follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC has published information regarding the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination available here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/safety-of-vaccines.html

  • Upon entry to campus, will my unvaccinated status be disclosed when I enter campus with my card?

    We have implemented a system at our security desks on campus that serves to help our guards identify several different things, not just vaccination status. No one who may be passing by the desk will know the vaccination status of any student based on this system. Additionally, no student who is following our requirements will ever be detained. Our security guards are well trained to be very sensitive with our students, especially regarding the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. 

    It will be a very quick and discreet process for entering our campus buildings. Our recommendation for non-vaccinated students is to have their most recent negative COVID-19 test result ready to display on the Navica app while entering a campus building. Students should swipe their campus card, display the app screen to the security guard, and continue walking once all is approved.

Employees
  • Can I bring my child to campus?
    Generally, minor children of employees or students are not permitted on campus, however, some exceptions may apply due to an emergency or unavoidable circumstance. Please review the Bringing Children to Campus policy under the Visitors section for more information. 
  • What do I do if I find out an employee tested positive for COVID-19?

    If an employee tests positive for COVID-19 on-campus, that employee should be sent home immediately. The employee should notify Campus Security at securitycommand@colum.edu and Human Resources at humanresources@colum.edu

    The college’s contact tracing team and Human Resources will follow-up with the employee to provide guidance on when they will be cleared to return to campus. 

  • Will the COVID-19 Childcare Leave Benefit still be available to employees?

    Yes, the COVID-19 Childcare Leave will remain available to employees through the fall semester. Employees who need to take a COVID-19 Childcare Leave should submit a completed Emergency COVID-19 Childcare Leave Request Form to Human Resources and your manager no later than two-weeks prior to their requested leave date, or as soon as possible after you become aware of the need for leave. For more info, visit the HR Sharepoint site or contact benefits at HRbenefits@colum.edu