The fast-approaching Oct. 1 vaccination requirement and the campus community’s lines of communication were focal points for the College Planning Council on Tuesday, Sept. 21.

The College Planning Council serves as an advisory group corresponding to the superintendent-president on issues concerning economics, policies, and plans.  

This week, Resolution No. 1 on the agenda requires that all students and employees be either fully immunized or have an approved exemption on file by Oct. 1 to enter a college building or attend in-person classes. Individuals must receive a wristband from one of the check-in tables on campus to do so.

“I want to really say thank you to everybody that’s pushing to make sure that we have as many vaccination cards uploaded and exemptions approved as possible by the time we get to October 1,” Interim Superintendent-President Kindred Murillo said.

Murillo also noted that beginning Monday, Oct. 4, COVID-19 testing will be available on campus Monday through Thursday, and the results will be monitored.

According to Interim Executive Vice President Kathy Scott, there will be an additional grace period for students who have a physical copy of their vaccination card but have not yet been able to upload it.

“Until Friday, Oct. 8 [students] will be permitted to show [their] vaccination card and photo ID at the check-in to receive a wristband,” Scott said, “because we know there’s been some issues for students.”

Additionally, Scott said that students who are still in the process of receiving vaccinations should speak with their teachers for guidance. 

However, depending on how many days until the student is fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC, they may be required to drop their class. The last day for students to drop classes is Friday, Oct. 22.

Scott said that students who “have not dropped themselves and are not in compliance will be dropped administratively on Oct. 23.”

Academic Senate representative Tara Carter raised the issue of communication between faculty and administration, noting that it “has not always been smooth” and “this issue…has been amplified by the pandemic.”

Carter highlighted how faculty “always responds to students within two days,” and said the same set of expectations should apply for faculty and administration communications.

Liz Auchincloss said that staff has similar issues with communications.

In response, Murillo suggested a short-term workgroup of eight to nine members to “seriously look at this,” and come up with “protocols and expectations so we can all work together better.”

The group is being developed and aims to get started and have suggestions by December.

“We’re going to get there and I really appreciate this discussion, so we will move on it,” Murillo said.

The College Planning Council will reconvene on Oct. 5.