COVID-19

HEALTH & SAFETY: COVID-19 & COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Aquinas College is committed to providing our students and employees with a safe and healthy campus where they can thrive in all of their pursuits. We remain proud of our Saints who have demonstrated remarkable respect and care for each other’s well-being the past few years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The College will continue to foster this positive environment and assess its response to COVID-19 and any communicable disease by following recommendations from medical, public health, government and higher education experts, in particular those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the State of Michigan and the Kent County Health Department (KCHD). The following explains our current COVID-19 response and applies to students and employees living, working and studying on campus.

STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES: STAY HOME IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OR KNOW YOU HAVE COVID

TESTING

Students and employees are responsible for scheduling their own tests and the associated costs, which are often covered by health insurance. In addition to the on-campus AQ Health Center operated by Trinity Health, the Kent County Health Department maintains a list of COVID-19 testing sites. Home tests can be purchased at most pharmacies.

STUDENTS:

This section applies to students that are living, working or taking classes on campus. Students who are away from campus should follow the guidance of their certified medical professional, the CDC, the State of Michigan and the KCHD.

A student who tests positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms should stay home/in their dorm room and complete the Student COVID-19 Symptom Reporting Form found on EngageAQ or the AQ CARES app. The Office of the Dean of Students will contact you with next steps. If you have questions or concerns, contact Alicia Lloyd, Dean of Students, at aal006@j-bgroup.com.

Residential students who test positive for COVID-19 are required to isolate at their permanent residences. Students who have a hardship and need to isolate on campus can fill out the Isolation Room Request Form with Residence Life.

Students are responsible for communicating with their instructors and/or supervisors about missed classes or assignments, or missed work due to isolation.

EMPLOYEES:

This section applies to faculty and staff of the College. Students who are working on campus should consult the section immediately above.

An employee who tests positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms should stay home and complete the Employee COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form found on ACORN. Human Resources will contact you with next steps. If you have questions or concerns, call Human Resources at 616-632-2498.

Employees are responsible for communicating with their supervisors when they are unable to work.

CLOSE CONTACT, QUARANTINE & ISOLATION

The CDC and State of Michigan no longer recommend contact tracing or quarantine based on “close contact” exposure. Isolation is recommended when someone tests positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms regardless of vaccination status. The State of Michigan website provides clear guidance and helpful resources.

MASKING

Wearing a mask is optional throughout the Aquinas College campus with three exceptions:

An individual professor requires masks in a classroom, laboratory or other academic space. Each faculty member has the autonomy to require masking in their instructional environments and will communicate any decisions about mask requirements to the affected students.
An individual staff member requires masks in a work space.
An individual is instructed to wear a mask as part of the COVID-19 protocols due to symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test.

COVID-19 VACCINATIONS

Aquinas College does not require COVID-19 vaccinations for students or employees. Per public health guidance, the College strongly encourages members of the campus community to get vaccinated and boostered if they are medically able to do so. The State of Michigan provides information on the COVID-19 Vaccine and resources to find vaccination locations.

OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Aquinas College will continue to take proactive steps to protect our campus in the event of a communicable disease outbreak. In such cases, it is the goal of the College to operate effectively, ensuring that all essential services are continuously provided and that employees and students are as safe as possible. We ask all employees and students to cooperate in taking steps to reduce the transmission of communicable disease on our campus. For more information, please refer to CDC resources.

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND

The federal government approved the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES Act) in March 2020. This included the allocation of funds to higher education institutions through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). In addition, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) include the allocation of funds to higher education institutions.

Institutional Data

ARP/HEERF III Funds 12/31/2022

ARP/HEERF III Funds 9/30/2022

ARP/HEERF III Funds 6/30/2022

ARP/HEERF III Student Funds 3/31/2022

ARP/HEERF III Institutional Funds 3/31/2022

ARP/HEERF III Student Funds 12/31/2021

ARP/HEERF III Institutional Funds 12/31/2021

CARES Act Grants Reporting Form

CARES Act/HEERF I Institutional Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report 9/30/2020

CARES Act/HEERF I Institutional Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Repoort 12/31/2020

CARES Act/HEERF II Institutional Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report 3/31/2021