The BC COVID Response Team has updated our COVID-19 protocols for the Fall semester to align with the California Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control, and Cal-OSHA guidelines. We are committed to maintaining the health and safety of our campus community and will provide updates as they become available.

Our BC COVID-19 protocols have protected our community well and we remind every member of our community to follow them.

• All individuals are asked to follow public health guidelines and Bakersfield College protocols to help protect oneself and others.
• Masks are required to be worn by students, employees, and visitors indoors on our campus properties until further notice. Face coverings will be available upon request.
• Social/physical distancing requirements have been removed with the exception of large gatherings.
• All students and employees will use the KCCD Campus Pass app before coming to campus and entering classrooms or offices.

To ensure community health and personal safety, the BC COVID 19 Response Team reminds individuals of the following common health practices:

• We will not be requiring students or employees to be vaccinated before returning to campus at this time, but all are strongly encouraged to do so.
• Stay home if you do not feel well and contact your medical provider if you develop symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, new loss of taste or smell.
• If a member of your household is testing or tested positive for COVID-19, you should stay home for 10 days from the test date and self-quarantine. Notify your immediate supervisor or Instructor and the BC COVID-19 response team for next steps.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol or use the vodka you have stored in your freezer.
• Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit. Immediately wash your hands.
• Monitor your daily health: Be alert for symptoms of COVID-19. If you develop symptoms, notify your primary care provider.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
• Practice social distancing when appropriate.

Video Resources

• COVID-19 Stop the Spread of Germs
• Know Your Risk of Getting COVID-19
• How to Wear a Mask
• Key Times to Wear a Mask
• Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019
• I Think of Know I had COVID-19, and I had symptoms. When Can I Be With Others?
• What You Need To Know About Handwashing

In March 2020, we were in the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the guidelines of local and state public health officials, the Bakersfield College COVID-19 Response Team made the difficult decision to proactively limit access to our campuses before the state’s first “Stay At Home” order. Almost 18 months later, we look forward to fully reintegrating back to the Home of the Renegades.

On June 15, 2021, California reopened its economy after more than a year of COVID-19 restrictions. This reopening involved the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) relaxing its masking and social distancing guidelines for all Californians, especially those who are fully-vaccinated against COVID-19, bringing California into alignment with the May 2021 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations.

Throughout this pandemic, Bakersfield College has kept our local and college community informed about our decision-making processes with consistent updates through each moment of the pandemic and communicating our evolving phases of reopening. Changing local health conditions and public health orders will continue to require flexibility on the parts of all members of our Campus Community. Our ultimate goal is to get our students and employees back to campus, while also protecting the health and safety of our college community.

Planning for returning to campus this Fall started in the Spring 2021 semester. We convened four workgroups to focus on identifying faculty, staff, and student concerns as we developed plans for returning to face-to-face instruction and campus activities. Here is a snapshot of the efforts from the workgroups.

• Instructional Workgroup: Vice President of Instruction Billie Jo Rice and Dean Rich McCrow led an effort to build a robust academic schedule that meets students needs while preserving options for different modes of instructional delivery. For Fall 2021, we a broad range of class formats, including hybrid, online, and face-to-face. We learned best practices for BC from the Allied Health, Industrial Technology, Kinesiology, and Public Safety courses that have met in-person since the start of the pandemic. The workgroup also heard feedback from faculty and staff regarding reopening and have developed and implemented strategies to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for Fall 2021.
• Student Communication Workgroup: The Office of Student Affairs and Director of Student Life Nicky Damania successfully hosted a series of webinars for students and staff to adapt to an online modality, as well as providing various on and off campus resources to ensure student retention and completion. The workgroup also received feedback from students regarding their concerns about on-campus instruction. An overarching theme that we heard from most students was the desire to return to campus, face-to-face.
• Facility Operations Workgroup: Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services Mike Giacomini, with the support of the Maintenance and Operations Department, received feedback and concerns from all constituents to ensure a clean, safe, and comfortable working environment. The various upgrades that have occurred during the pandemic to meet the Cal-OSHA guidelines and ensure a safe and clean return are as follows:
  • Air filtration systems at the Panorama and Delano campuses have been outfitted with bipolar ionization systems that are designed to constantly clean the air of all harmful molecules, including COVID-19.
  • All offices and student service areas have Plexiglas partitions around the perimeters of desks to further protect students and employees indoors.
  • Common areas and smaller spaces that lack good air flow also have portable air purifiers installed in addition to the bipolar ionization system.
  • Academic classrooms have access to a “COVID box” with all of the necessary personal protective equipment, including masks and sanitizing materials
  • All water fountains are now touchless to prevent transmission of germs, and water flow time in the bathrooms has been increased to prevent particulate matter from forming on surfaces. We've also added more hands-free dryers to campus bathrooms.
  • Finally, our Maintenance and Operations staff have increased their cleaning schedules and will be responsive to all sanitary needs.
• BC COVID-19 Response Team: he COVID-19 Response Team meets weekly to review and update campus needs in order to address concerns in a timely manner. The team also implemented the KCCD Campus Pass to assist in the district-wide contact tracing efforts. The Team established and continues to advise the College on new guidelines and protocols as CDPH and local health protocols change.

Where We Will Go From Here

Being that this is an ever-evolving situation, flexibility remains key to our planning efforts going forward. As conditions and external requirements change, we will work to add in-person classes as needed to meet student enrollment patterns.

We have had a phased-in approach to the return over the summer, with individual departments and divisions being able to determine how best to provide services with a combination of in-person and remote work. In our communication in late Spring 2021, we outlined a phasing-in process with various outlines so that our campus was ready to serve our students prior to the start of the Fall instruction. It is my understanding that all our areas are fully back to campus and ready to meet our student needs. Those requiring an accommodation may request it through the Human Resources Office.

We all have a role in the fight against COVID-19 and preventing its spread. It is expected that all students and employees will actively participate in this shared responsibility and do their part by committing to the public health guidelines and BC protocols.

In addition, all employees play a role by:

• Requesting to see the Health Pass. It should be green or blue.
• Encouraging QR scanning as individuals enter the classroom or office.
• Reinforcing and modeling the BC protocols.

The KCCD Campus Pass App is available for Android and iOS devices, and it’s easy to use. There is also a web-based version on the BC COVID website when a smart phone is not available or if you choose not to download the app to your phone.

All students and employees will use the KCCD Campus Pass App before coming to campus and entering classrooms or offices. Using the app involves two steps.

• Step 1: Students and employees will complete the Daily Health Checker form on the KCCD Campus Pass app before coming to campus. Individuals will receive one of three campus passes:
  1. Blue health pass is cleared to come to campus and have shown the BC COVID Response Team that they are fully vaccinated.
  2. Green health pass is cleared to come to campus.
  3. Red health pass must stay home and contact their instructor or supervisor. Red passes will trigger a call from the BC COVID Response Team. The Team works with this person to clear them for return to campus or determine next steps.
• Step 2: Before entering a classroom or office, individuals will be asked to show their health pass to the instructor or office personnel via the KCCD Campus Pass App. Then the individual must scan the QR Code within the room to assist the BC COVID Response Team if contact tracing is necessary.

Features of the app include a self-reporting form and push notification to remind you to complete the Daily Health Checker form before coming onto campus. As a reminder, the KCCD Campus Pass App is used as a tool to assist the BC COVID Response Team in the event of an exposure and does not track your location. Individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, can complete a self-reporting form to inform the BC COVID Response Team of their test results. This may trigger a communication from the BC Response Team. Review the Campus Pass App webpage for more information

To ensure a safe return to campus, the following information is provided, but is subject to change per new developments.

It is a shared responsibility to ensure the safety of our community. While the Campus Pass App is a tool, it is only as good as the honest information received and consistent usage of the app.

You might be asking who is the “BC COVID Response Team”' for Fall 2021? The lead individuals are Dr. Nicky Damania, BC Dean of Students, and Professor Jennifer Johnson, BC Health Coordinator. As we enter into the Fall 2021, this team will be expanding. If you have recommendations or would like to be appointed to the team, email your interest to covid19@bakersfieldcollege.edu while copying your dean or supervisor.

Here are a few examples for when you should connect with the BC COVID Response Team:

• Third-party notification of a potential positive exposure
• When speaking with an individual who shared they have been exposed or is developing COVID related symptoms
• In a classroom setting, if an individual shows symptoms such as cough, nasal congestion, chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• When individuals who live with others are COVID positive, i.e. spouse/partner, siblings, roommates, children

The BC COVID Response Team will be hosting two workshops for faculty and staff to attend during Flex Week, so please register and attend those sessions. Additionally, reference the following resources for additional guidance:

• We strongly urge every member of our community to be fully vaccinated at the BC Student Health and Wellness Center or schedule an appointment at MyTurn.ca.gov.
• Vist the BC Student Health and Wellness Center or this website for important information
• Employees and Students can get a free COVID test done at the Student Health and Wellness Center by calling ahead (661-395-4336) and making an appointment.
• Review the California COVID-19 information.

If you have any questions, concerns, or observations of protocol violations, email covid19@bakersfieldcollege.edu. Please allow 24 hours for a response.

Using the KCCD Campus Pass App is crucial to maintain the health and safety of our campus community. To date, our COVID-19 protocols have protected our community well and if we all continue to do our part, we can beat this-TOGETHER!

#WEAREBC