Safety Practices

Consistent with our Wildcat Values, students are asked to be considerate of other on campus and to consistently participate in the safety practices in this plan, as they are intended to help make our campus safe.

Facial Covering 

All students, employees, and visitors on the IWU-Marion campus are required to wear a facial covering (covering nose and mouth) in all public spaces and inside all campus buildings.

• Facial coverings are required to be worn by students and faculty in all classrooms/labs.
• Facial coverings are to be worn in all food service venues while waiting in lines or when not in the act of eating/drinking.
• Facial coverings are to be worn outside when social distancing is not possible.
• Facial coverings are not required to be worn by students in their private living units.
• Faculty coverings are not required to be worn by employees in private offices (if they are alone).

Social Distancing

Students and employees are expected to maintain social distancing in order to reduce the risk of being exposed to or spreading COVID-19. This includes things such as:

• Maintaining at least a distance of 6 feet from other people at all times.
• Avoiding crowded places and mass gatherings.
• Avoiding physical contact with others, such as hugging and handshakes.
• Utilizing electronic communication instead of face-to-face interactions when possible.
• Avoiding close interactions with those who have, or appear to be demonstrating, symptoms of COVID-19.

Additional steps have been taken across campus to help maintain social distancing, including reducing the number of people allowed to gather in a given space, posting signage and utilizing floor markings around campus, installing protective barriers at employee work stations where there is regular face-to-face contact with others, and adjusting physical spaces in ways to promote social distancing.

Daily Symptom Self-Check and Screening

Students are expected to monitor their symptoms daily and following a daily screening protocol by way of the Campus Clear App. Employees are expected to do the same and complete the daily screening report generated by HR.

It is critical for students and employees to understand and be aware of COVID-19 symptoms, which includecough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, mild or worse headache, sinus pain/pressure, or a new loss of taste or smell. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Students showing COVID-19 symptoms should self-quarantine immediately and seek medical evaluation by calling the Wildcat Health Clinic (765-677-2206), their primary care physician, or visiting an urgent care facility.

Employees showing symptoms of COVID-19 should self-quarantine immediately and seek medical evaluation by calling their primary care physician, or visiting an urgent care facility.

Students and employees who are diagnosed with probable or confirmed COVID-19 will be contacted by their local health department, the Wildcat Health Clinic, and/ or the IWU Contact Tracing Team and will be given additional guidance and instructions regarding quarantine and/or isolation.

Students or employees experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should seek medical care, either through the Wildcat Health Clinic, a primary care provider, Marion General Hospital Emergency Department, or MGH Express. Symptomatic individuals seeking medical care should call in advance to schedule an appointment so that intake procedures are understood prior to arrival.

Personal Sanitation Measures

The University has taken steps in order to encourage people on campus to practice good sanitation/hygiene, such as making hand sanitizer available in various locations around campus and displaying hand washing and hygiene posters throughout buildings.

Students and employees should maintain good personal sanitation/hygiene, keeping the following in mind:

• Frequent hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of COVID-19. Students should wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in public spaces or after coughing, sneezing, blowing their nose, or touching their face. If soap and water are not readily available, students should use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol content.
• Hand sanitizer is available in various location across campus, but students and employees are encouraged to provide their own hand sanitizer.
• Access to water fountains will be limited throughout the campus. Only the hands-free, bottle filling stations will be available.
• Students should minimize or avoid sharing personal items, supplies, and equipment with others.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols

Cleaning supplies are available for student use in classrooms so they can assist with wiping off surface areas. In addition, the following general cleaning and disinfecting protocols have been implemented:

• Deep cleaning in all academic buildings, as well as other facilities around campus at regular intervals based on occupancy and use.
• Open buildings are cleaned and disinfected on a daily bases at regular intervals and as necessary based upon occupancy and use.
• Cleaning and disinfecting of high touch surface areas (such as controls, door handles, elevator panels, railings, copy machines, etc.) occur on a regular basis.
• An electrostatic disinfecting sprayer is utilized where appropriate, such as locker rooms, shower areas, etc.
• Additional cleaning measures will be taken if the University is notified that an individual is/was on campus with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19.

Influenza Vaccination

Students and employees are strongly encouraged to get an annual flu vaccination. 

To encourage this responsible behavior, the University has expanded access to and the availability of annual flu vaccinations for all students and employees through the Wildcat Health Clinic.

COVID Testing and Contact Tracing

COVID testing is available locally at the following locations: the Wildcat Health Clinic, the Faulkner Center, CVS Pharmacies, and Marion General Hospital.

The Wildcat Health Clinic coordinates with Student Development and the Office of Events 

and Conference Services in all contact tracing efforts. Questions related to contact tracing procedures may be emailed to: contacttracing@indwes.edu.

Quarantine and Isolation

The key public health protocols known as quarantine and isolation are used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among our campus community.

Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have beenexposed to COVID-19 away from others.

If in the past 48 hours you were in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you should quarantine. The following is considered close contact:

• You were within 6 feet of the person for 15 minutes or longer over a 24 hour period.
• You had direct physical contact with the person.
• You shared eating or drinking utensils with the person.
• The person sneezed, coughed, or got respiratory droplets on you.

The CDC encourages a 14 day quarantine; however, two alternative options are also available:

1. If the person tests negative on day 5 after the start of quarantine and has had no symptoms during the quarantine period through day 7, the person may return to normal activity on day 8.
2. If the person has had no symptoms by day 10, the person may return to normal activity on day 11.

After leaving quarantine, individuals should monitor their symptoms daily for up to 14 days after exposure and follow strict facial covering and social distancing practices.

Isolation is used to keep someone who is infected with COVID-19 away from others.

• Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will be placed in isolation for a minimum of 10 days from the date of their positive test, or the date their symptoms began.
• After 10 days, individuals may be released from isolation if they are fever free for
  24 hours without fever-reducing medication, and their symptoms are improving.
• After leaving isolation, individuals should follow strict facial covering and social distancing practices, and monitor symptoms daily.
• Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again.
  • Confirmation of a positive test result must be on file with the Wildcat Health Clinic.
  • If COVID-like symptoms return, seeking medical consultation is advised.

The Wildcat Health Clinic will conduct regular wellness calls with students in quarantine and isolation, and if needed, will arrange telehealth visits with a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. Students can also call (765) 677-2206, to arrange a telehealth appointment.

Students should call 911 for any life-threatening emergencies; when calling, please inform the dispatcher that you are in isolation or quarantine.

The Center for Student Success (CSS) is available to provide mental health resources and counseling services to students in quarantine and isolation.

All students living OFF campus are strongly encouraged to have a quarantine and isolation plan. The University does not provide quarantine or isolation space, or any additional support services to students living off-campus.

All students living ON campus are required to have a quarantine and isolation plan.

For students who can travel in a private vehicle and are within driving distance of their primary place of residence, we strongly recommend your plan include you conducting your period of quarantine or isolation in the comfort of your home.

For students living on campus who cannot travel home, the university has set aside dedicated space for isolation. Additional care and support services will be provided to students as needed.

Students should discuss the following with their family before arriving on campus:

• If you live within driving distance, are you able to return home in a private vehicle? If you are instructed to isolate or quarantine, you cannot travel on any form of public transportation as you many expose others.
• If someone from your family plans to pick you up from campus to take you home to isolate or quarantine, how much time will they need to arrive?
• Are you able to distance yourself from others in your home to keep other family members safe?
• If you cannot quarantine or isolate at home, how will your family communicate with you?

Students asked to quarantine or isolate on campus will be asked to do so promptly and without significant forewarning. To prepare for this, students assemble a Go-Kit before arriving on campus. Go-Kit supplies should include the following:

• Cleaning supplies: Pack disinfecting wipes to use in your living spaces before, during, and after any possible isolation and quarantine.
• Non-Prescription Medications: Pack fever/pain reducers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin). Do not use multi-symptom medications in combination with these as it can be easy to take too much. You may want lozenges for sore throats, or cough medications.
• Prescription Medications: Pack several days’ worth of any prescription medications you need.
• Thermometer: Pack a digital thermometer that works under your tongue, is easy to use. Make sure you have one with new batteries.
• Facial Coverings: Pack multiple face coverings so that you can wear a fresh one each day.
• Comfort Food: Pack your favorite comfort snacks and drinks. Although the university will ensure your access to meals for students quarantining or isolating on campus, sometimes your favorite snacks can provide extra comfort.
• Comfortable Clothes: Pack a few days’ worth of comfortable clothes.
• Hygiene Supplies: Pack shampoos, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine products, etc.
• Towels
• Spare Set of Twin Sheets: You can use your pillow and blanket from your current bed.
• Phone Charger

Questions related to contact tracing or quarantine/isolation procedures may be emailed to: contacttracing@indwes.edu.