St. Petersburg College is currently working on our COVID-19 protocols for the 2021-2022 Academic Year. Please check back soon for additional details. In the meantime, please check out SPC’s COVID-19 protocols for the Fall.
The college’s Emergency Management Council continues to monitor developments with the pandemic and remains in contact with the Pinellas County Health Department regarding best practices and protocols that align with the CDC.
For the Fall Term, St. Petersburg College will hold classes on campus, online and Live Online (Zoom). Student services will continue to be held in a combination of virtual and on-campus formats.
The college moved to voluntary face coverings for vaccinated individuals in June - in line with current recommendations from the CDC and state guidelines. Certain clinical, lab and studio spaces will continue masking this fall and will be marked as such.
The college will not require employees or students to provide proof of vaccination. However, some of our agency partners in health and/or public safety programs may require faculty or students to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to participate in their facilities/on their properties. In those cases, proof of vaccination may be required prior to the first day of class or clinical/agency participation. If you have any questions, please reach out to your academic department.
Those who have not yet been fully vaccinated (including the two-week period after your last injection) must continue to wear face coverings at this time. The college encourages all of those who work at, learn in or visit our campus buildings to get vaccinated and follow the voluntary face covering protocol.
Additional mitigation efforts will continue this fall including, but not limited to, the availability or hand sanitizing stations and disinfectant wipes, and plexiglass shields in front-facing service areas. While the college will be ending its 6-foot social distancing requirement for the fall, individuals are still encouraged to maintain space as much as possible and avoid overcrowding. Protocols are subject to change based on new information or updated guidance from health officials.
SPC encourages all those who are willing and able to get vaccinated as soon as possible to limit the spread of COVID-19. Health officials advise that getting vaccinated is an important step toward a return to normalcy with the CDC saying “Widespread vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the pandemic.” All people age 12 and over in the state of Florida are eligible to receive the vaccine. You can find vaccination sites here. If you have any questions about the vaccines, please talk to your health care provider.
All students and employees should continue to follow CDC prevention guidelines and use the college’s symptom checker self-assessment before coming to an SPC campus or site. Do NOT come to campus if you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms.
Employees who have tested positive for COVID-19, are currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or have had contact with a known COVID-19 patient within the last 14 days and have been on an SPC campus or site, should contact their supervisor. Additional information regarding when an employee can come back to campus after a quarantine period can be found under the “Employee Specifics” tab here.
The Emergency Management Council will continue to meet regularly and will apprise you of any updates. Please note that final determinations regarding items such as revisions to the college’s remote work/telework policy, and protocols for meetings and travel, are still being finalized and will be updated soon on the college’s Fall “Comeback” Plan page before the start of the Fall Term.
Thank you, as always, for your continued patience, flexibility and willingness to work together so we can provide a safe and secure environment for teaching, learning and working.
(Please note this information is being sent to students as well.)
Thank you,
SPC Emergency Management Council
