COVID-19 Mask Guidelines

GCC COVID-19 Campus Requirements and Protocols - What You Need to Know & FAQ

In light of the vaccination Board policy change, effective October 18, 2022, and the updates on-campus masking protocols for Fall 2022 effective on October 31, the following information related to current requirements to be on-site at a GCC campus should be reviewed by students and employees. Bargaining unit employees should also refer to their union’s respective MOU for additional relevant guidance.

Current Protocols for Coming to Campus - Students
Daily screening and check-ins at GCC are no longer required to enter campus. However, you must stay home if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status. Please do not come to campus if you are feeling unwell. Contact the Student Health Center for questions.

Current Protocols for Coming to Campus – Employees
Daily screening and check-ins at GCC are no longer required to enter campus. However, you must stay home if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status. Please do not come to campus if you are feeling unwell. Effective October 31, 2022, GCC will no longer require employee participation in the COVID-19 weekly testing program and uploading weekly COVID-19 testing documentation via Kokomo will not be required for clearance to come to campus.

1. Why did the vaccine and mask mandates recently change?

A. GCC made changes recently to bring our institution into alignment with current public health requirements to control the spread of COVID-19 in LA County. The revised protocols are consistent with what the State and County Departments of Public Health presently require. GCC will continue to meet all applicable governmental agency requirements concerning COVID-19 protocols for so long as a public health emergency is declared.

2. Have any updates been made to reporting protocols to GCC in the event I test positive for COVID-19 resulting from the changes to vaccination and masking requirements?

A. No. Continue to refer to GCC COVID-19 Triage Protocols for specific reporting protocols for testing positive for COVID-19 if you are a GCC student or employee. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you are required to take action to comply with LA County contact tracing requirements that remain in effect.

Employees must contact their supervisors as soon as they become aware of a positive test (Refer to GCC COVID-19 Triage Protocols), and students should contact their instructors.

3. What are the current protocols for wearing masks/facial coverings at GCC?

4. Will masking be required in classrooms or other indoor instructional spaces for future semesters?

5. What if I want to request that other individuals on campus mutually mask with me (i.e., wear a mask while I am also wearing a mask indoors) in settings...

5. What if I want to request that other individuals on campus mutually mask with me (i.e., wear a mask while I am also wearing a mask indoors) in settings where I don’t have the authorization to require this of others, including the courses I may be enrolled in?

Masking remains strongly recommended throughout all of GCC, regardless of an individual’s location on campus and their vaccination status. Individuals should always feel free to request others mask up as common courtesy in any setting. GCC strongly encourages our community to lead with kindness and consideration of others (including members of a student’s or employee’s household) in response to these types of requests. Mutual masking remains one of the most effective ways to minimize the spread of transmission of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, and GCC fully supports individual decisions to continue masking in all settings.

Anyone in our community with concerns about how masking practices by others in classes or otherwise affect their decisions related to personal protection from COVID-19, or the protection of others in their household, should discuss those concerns with the appropriate course instructor or manager.

6. What if I observe someone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 on campus?

A. Encourage them to leave campus and go home or to a place of safety to get well. Individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 while remaining on campus as well as those who have recently been exposed are required under state regulation to wear a facial covering or mask at all times per Cal/OSHA requirements. Concerns about adherence to this requirement should be reported to the appropriate instructor (for classes) or supervising manager.

7. What if the State or County changes its masking/facial covering requirements?

A. At any time during this semester or the future, in the event Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health or another relevant agency, including Cal/OSHA, changes its requirements related to use of face coverings and makes their use by individuals mandatory while indoors, GCC will promptly implement masking protocols that align with the directive(s). The GCC local masking protocols also remain subject to change depending on community transmission conditions.

8. Does the District provide vaccinations? Where can I get a vaccination?

9. Does the District provide free masks for individuals to use on campus?

A. Yes. All students, employees, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, continue to have access to surgical masks at self-serve kiosks located throughout campus buildings.

Additionally, students may obtain KN95s or an N95 respirator through the Student Health Center or, if a registered student, through the DSPS office.

Employees may obtain KN95s or N95 respirators from their manager, or through initiating a request by emailing PPErequests@glendale.edu. Employees who email this address will initiate a campus work order and someone will follow up with them to coordinate how to pick-up their requested PPE. Employees may also visit the Facilities Department directly to obtain masks and other available PPE.

10. Does the District provide free rapid COVID-19 antigen tests?

A. Yes. Students may obtain free antigen tests by visiting the Student Health Center. Employees may obtain tests by emailing PPErequests@glendale.edu. Employees who email this address will initiate a campus work order and someone will follow up with them to coordinate how to pick-up their requested test. Employees may also visit the Facilities Department or the Student Health Center directly to obtain tests or other available PPE.

11. How will the safety measures and protocols be enforced on campus?

A. Our safety measures and protocols are in place to help ensure that everyone in our community remains healthy. Repeated failure to comply with safety measures or protocols, including the face covering/masking requirement, will result in a referral to the Office of Student Conduct for students and the Office of Human Resources for employees. Employees should address any concerns initially with their immediate manager. Management employees will be available on-site to receive concerns during the GCC’s business hours. In the unlikely event a manager or administrator is not available to address concerns, employees or students should contact Campus Police if they have any concerns about their physical well-being while on campus so immediate assistance can be provided as needed.

12. How does GCC ensure the college meets all applicable requirements related to air filtration and ventilation?

A. GCC’s Facilities team has ensured GCC meets all regulatory requirements regarding mechanical air filtration requirements on GCC property. Regardless of whether a requirement is specific to the pandemic conditions, the Facilities team maintains a testing schedule that allows for regular assessment of the effectiveness of building systems. Any specific concerns about air quality or filtration operations should be directed to the Office of Facilities for further follow-up.

13. What if I believe I need a reasonable accommodation due to my own disability or medical condition as a result of these COVID-19 protocol changes?

A. Students should contact Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSPS) and employees should contact Human Resources and their supervisor as soon as they identify a potential need. These offices can be contacted at:

For Students
Contact DSPS.
For Employees
Email HRDisabilityAccess@glendale.edu and your request will be routed to the Vice President of Human Resources, who serves as GCC’s ADA Coordinator for employees.

Students and employees should be aware that classroom instructors and managers are not authorized to grant or deny accommodations without coordinating with the offices noted above. An interactive process with GCC’s designated personnel in those offices is required to address each disability accommodation request.

14. What if a student must miss class due to requirement to quarantine or isolate because of a positive test or COVID-19 exposure?

15. How can I obtain information about COVID-19 related community statistics, including current prevalence of COVID-19 at GCC?

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