Mask usage and vaccines: Wear your mask
The Emergency Operations Center has been asked numerous times over the last couple of weeks about face mask requirements for individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. The confusion may be related to recent standards the CDS issued related to face covers for those who have been vaccinated. As a reminder, the NMHU community must follow the current State of New Mexico’s public health order, which still requires face masks for vaccinated individuals. The only exception is when people working in their own office with no other person and with their doors closed can remove their face covers.
For more information related to COVID safe requirements for vaccinated individuals, please see the following link: https://cv.nmhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/COVID-19-Vaccine-FAQsheet-General.pdf
Vaccination and testing FAQs
How can I schedule my vaccine?
New Mexico Highlands University will not be scheduling or administering vaccines. To sign up for vaccinations, please go to the New Mexico Department of Health website at https://cvvaccine.nmhealth.org/.
Will I be required to receive a vaccine to attend/live/work/teach at Highlands?
Currently, New Mexico Highlands strongly recommends, but does not require a vaccine for students, faculty and staff.
Where can I get tested for COVID-19?
Information for COVID testing locations and dates is online at https://curative.com/sites/17945?date=2021-01-07#9/35.6223/-105.2579.
From the Governor’s office: NMVAHCS now offering COVID-19 vaccines to all N.M. veterans
Statement issued March 12, 2021 includes the following information:
DVS [Department of Veterans Services] has been informed by New Mexico VA Health Care (NMVAHCS) Director Andrew Welch that, effective immediately, the NMVAHCS is now offering COVID-19 vaccines to all veterans in New Mexico enrolled with the VA—regardless of age or chronic health complications.
Any enrolled veteran is eligible to get the vaccine. However, you must register for an appointment with the NMVAHCS by calling (505) 265-1711 and using one of the following four extensions: 3915, 3916, 2912 or 2917.
DVS strongly encourages all veterans to register for the vaccine.
If you are not enrolled with VA health care, then please register for a COVID-19 vaccine with the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) at https://cvvaccine.nmhealth.org/
You can also call DOH toll free 1-(855) 600-3453. Press option 0 for vaccine questions, or option 4 for tech support. The call center is open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
From the Governor’s office: SNAP benefits extended to college students
Statement issued March 1, 2021 includes the following information:
“The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, temporarily expands SNAP eligibility to include students enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education, who either:
1. Are eligible to participate in state or federally financed work study during the regular school year, as determined by the institution of higher education, or
2. Have an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0 in the current academic year.
Beginning on Jan. 16, 2021, students who meet one of the two criteria outlined above may receive SNAP if they meet all other financial and non-financial SNAP eligibility criteria. This eligibility will remain in place until 30 days after the public health emergency ends. Since the Biden Administration has advised that the declaration will most likely remain in place at least until the end of 2021 and states will have 60 days-notice before it ends, this policy change will more than likely be something that can help families for the remainder of the crisis.
New Mexico college students who would like to apply should visit: www.yes.state.nm.us”
Spring 2021 COVID-19 Procedures
January 12, 2021
In addition to the protocols and procedures outlined in the NMHU COVID-19 Exposure Safety Plan, the following procedures should be followed during the spring semester.
NMHU General COVID Procedures
- Max Flex Approach – Minner’s “Max Flex” approach will continue for the spring semester. Any offices catering to students’ needs must ensure their operations continue serving students. Telework (remote) work is still encouraged to reduce the potential for exposure on campus. If you are concerned with your safety due to being physically on campus, please work with your supervisor to discuss your specific needs and situation.
- COVID-19 Daily SYMPTOMS Screening – all faculty, staff and student employees who will be physically on campus or at one of the centers, must complete COVID-19 daily symptoms screening each day they are on campus. Daily symptom screening can be completed through:
- Global email that is sent out every morning
- Through MyNMHU Portal, or
- If you do not have access to a computer, call Campus Police Dispatch (505-454-3278) or the Center Managers and advise them you need to participate in COVID screening.
- COVID-19 Training – Anyone working physically on campus or at one of centers, must complete the COVID-19 General Safety Training. If you have already taken this training you do not have to retake the training. To access the training, logon to your Brightspace account or visit https://www.nmhu.edu/coronavirus-covid-19-information/
- Campus Centers – Center managers have the authority to implement specific COVID-19 safety precautions, accountability, facility security and other measures to ensure the center operations are maintained and functional in the safest manner possible.
- Locked facilities – All building exterior doors will remain locked at all times.
- Telework Agreement – for new employees or employees who will adjust to a remote work schedule during the spring semester. If you already have a telework agreement on file with Human Resources, you do not need to submit a new form. https://www.nmhu.edu/coronavirus-covid-19-information/forms-for-employees/
- Core Support Team Spring 2021 Request – This form is required for new employees or employees who will return to working physically on campus. The form should be submitted to the appropriate supervisor and executive, who will then forward to the Emergency Operations Center for approval and tracking. https://www.nmhu.edu/coronavirus-covid-19-information/forms-for-employees/
- An accurate list of approved personnel on campus/centers has greatly improved our efforts to contain COVID exposures. Directors/deans/managers should ensure the list is as accurate as possible at all times.
COVID-19 General Safety Reminders
- Face Coverings – Everyone who is physically on campus/centers must wear a face covering.
- Social/Physical Distancing – Maintain a minimum of 6 feet between yourself and others.
- COVID-19 Symptoms – If you are experiencing any of the COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of severity, do not come physically to campus/centers.
- Out-of-State Travel – If you have traveled out-of-state/country or been in contact with some who has, you must quarantine for 14 days before physically coming to campus/centers.
- Contact with a Positive COVID-19 case – Do not physically come to work. You must quarantine for 14 days from last date of contact.
Physically Coming to Campus/Centers
- If you are core support team member with a filed form that shows your hours, or a faculty member teaching an approved F2F class, or a student taking a F2F class or living on campus, you only have to fill out the COVID-19 daily symptom screening and do not call campus police/security.
- If you are not a designated core support team member (a faculty member or staff member visiting campus irregularly to pick something up, for instance), you must call campus security before and after you come to campus every time and complete the COVID-19 daily symptom screening.
- If you are a core support team member and are visiting campus outside of the hours designated on your core support form, you must also call campus police/security. This also applies to any days when the university is not in the regular semester or holidays or other examples where hours may be irregular.
- All these safeguards are in place to facilitate contact tracing.
Face-to-Face Instruction/Academic Affairs
- Safety Aides – For facilities hosting face-to-face instruction, the Safety Department will be posting safety aides at entrance/exit routes to open doors prior to course/lab/studio start time. The safety aides will also maintain a daily log of faculty/personnel/students in the facility to assist with contact tracing.
- Maximum Occupancy for Face-to-Face Instruction (classroom, labs, studios) – According to the Higher Education Department, classroom activities do not fall under the mass gathering directive provided by the current public health order. Instead, social/physical distancing and other safety measures will be the primary driving factor to determine safe occupancy levels for face-to-face instruction.
- COVID-19 Classroom Safety Analysis – The Emergency Operations Center has completed an individual safety analysis for each face-to-face classroom for the spring semester. The process was conducted in coordination with the associated faculty member and will be posted and available for student review.
Business Continuity
- Working in Office Spaces – Personnel with offices should close their doors and hold remote meetings as much as possible to reduce potential exposure.
- Office Space 25% Maximum Occupancy – The current New Mexico Public Health Order restricts business (non-classroom) occupancy to be restricted to 25% of the maximum occupancy designated by fire code.
- Staggered Work Schedule/Shifts – It is encouraged and recommended that supervisors/managers develop staggered work schedules to optimize social/physical distancing, maintain the 25% occupancy directive for office spaces and to reduce the potential for exposure.
- Offices Providing Services to Students/Visitors – In-person interaction with students/visitors at offices providing services to students/visitors should follow the procedures below. Offices will not be open to the general public and supervisors/managers should ensure exterior doors are locked and not propped open. Supervisors should post signs on exterior doors indicating the process below with associated contact numbers and email addresses.
- Conduct as much interactions as possible using phone or email
- Utilize Zoom to conduct virtual meetings
- By Appointment Only – If departments/units elect to utilize this process, appointments should be arranged as soon as possible to ensure students/visitors are receiving immediate attention.
State of New Mexico Requirements
- Mass Gathering- The current New Mexico Public Health Order restricts mass gatherings to 5 or fewer people. This process will continue until changed by the most recent New Mexico Public Health Order. Meetings or gatherings should continue to be held remotely; however, if they must be in person, they cannot exceed 5 individuals.
- Travel Quarantine- The current public health order requires a 14-day quarantine for any out-of-state travel, regardless of the state or country.
COVID-19 Residential Hall/Apartment Reopening Safety Plan
Mandatory safety procedures training for visitors and contractors:
All visitors and contractors coming on campus or to the centers must complete this COVID-19 safety procedures course online in order to be permitted access.
Details for Visitor and Contractor Safety
Checklist for COVID-19 Prevention in the Workplace
NMHU COVID-19 General Safety Training
Tutoring
We’re still here to help! Tutoring services at NMHU during COVID-19
Out-of-State/Country Travel Quarantine
As of 9/9/2020: The procedures below will be used as guidance for out-of-state/country travel.
- When someone travels out-of-state or out-of-country, the EOC can make a determination of their overall travel quarantine requirements or,
- When a person living in the same residence of a NMHU employee, faculty or student travels out-of-state/country to a high-risk state or country.
NMHU travel quarantine procedures will be active until further notice.
Employees, faculty, and/or students should report out-of-state/country travel plans to the Emergency Operations Center at EOC@nmhu.edu if they have been or will be working physically on NMHU-owned and/or leased properties.
The Emergency Operations Center will determine if the out-of-state/country travelers will need to quarantine for 14 days if:
- The individual will be physically on NMHU-owned and/or leased properties.
- The traveler falls under one of the “exempt” categories identified by the current public health order.
- The traveler traveled to or from a high-risk state/country.
- Air travel will increase the risk of quarantine for 14 days due to the potential exposure from others from high-risk states/countries.
New Mexico Travel Advisory https://www.newmexico.org/covid-19-traveler-information/
If you have symptoms related to the coronavirus, call the New Mexico Department of Health hotline at 855-600-3453.