January 10, 2022
Human Resources Update
MiraCosta College will continue to take a steady, safe, and sustainable approach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The District is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning and working environment in order to protect our students and staff, while mitigating the spread of this infectious disease. In response to the recent COVID-19 surge caused by the highly contagious Omicron variant, employees who can work remotely during the first three weeks of January may do so, with approval of their supervisor and division leadership.
Throughout the Covid pandemic, we have had essential workers on site ensuring that critical operations are performed. During this time of year, it is important that student-facing offices are staffed with appropriate numbers of employees to assist students leading up to the start of the spring semester. As was the case earlier in the pandemic, employees whose job duties must be performed onsite will continue to work on-ground.
During duty time, employees will be expected to regularly perform job responsibilities, including monitoring and responding to voice and email messages. Employees should plan to check in with their supervisor regularly throughout the first three weeks in January for any changes to schedules or urgent operational needs. Employees may be requested to report to campus on short-notice and should be prepared to do so.
If you test positive with symptoms
You must isolate to prevent further transmission. You must notify your supervisor
immediately and your supervisor must notify Human Resources at covid@miracosta.edu.
To isolate most effectively, you must avoid people for 10 days from symptom start or positive test.
For employees with symptoms, all of these conditions must be met before returning to work:
- At least 24 hours have passed since a fever of 100.4 or higher has resolved without the use of fever-reducing medications;
- COVID-19 symptoms have improved; and
- At least 10 days have passed since COVID-19 symptoms first appeared.
If you test positive with mild or no symptoms
You must isolate to prevent further transmission. You must notify your supervisor
immediately and your supervisor must notify Human Resources.
To isolate most effectively, you must avoid people for 10 days from symptom start or positive test.
Provided you feel well enough to perform your job responsibilities (you are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms), and provided you have approval from your supervisor to work remotely, you may do so without using sick leave. However, if you need to take time from work to rest and recover, you must take sick leave.
If flu-like symptoms are experienced
Avoid coming to campus and arrange to take a PCR COVID-19 test. To locate a testing
site or schedule an appointment, contact your healthcare provider or visit: San Diego County Health.
When on campus
- Check-in: Employees must continue to follow District protocol by completing the daily check in and utilizing the QR code when entering campus facilities.
- Indoor Mask Requirement: In the interest of public health and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, MiraCosta College requires everyone on campus visiting indoors of any District building to wear a CDPH-approved facial mask at all times. It must be at least two-layers and not let light pass through it. If someone refuses to wear a facial covering properly, they will be addressed, given the opportunity to put on a mask, and if they do not, they will be asked to leave.
Onsite testing
Consistent with the District’s policy, unvaccinated employees working with an approved
medical or religious exemption onsite will need to be tested weekly. On campus testing
is not available for those with flu-like or cold symptoms.
MiraCosta College Sponsored Travel
While MiraCosta travel is permitted, the District requests that travel is minimized
during the month of January to prevent the spread of the variant. Please discuss work-related
travel with your immediate supervisor prior to making arrangements.
For current information for returning to work after quarantining, how to get vaccinated, and MiraCosta’s COVID-19 response, please visit MiraCosta.edu/COVID. Employees can also ask questions at COVID@miracosta.edu or to contact Justin Crast directly at jcrast@miracosta.edu.
Surfside Academy Dual Enrollment Hospitality Class Gives Business Pitches
Last month, Delores Loedel, Business Department Chair of Accounting, Business, and
Hospitality, attended Amy Walker-Pinneo's dual enrollment hospitality class (HOSP
100) at Surfside Academy and had the pleasure of observing the students give their
business pitches to a group of judges. Tori Fishinger with MiraCosta College Foundation,
Anna Rhine a Career Guidance Tech at Surfside, and Leslee Gaul the President/CEO of
Visit Oceanside, were the judges for the event.
"The students came up with solid business ideas in hospitality for Oceanside and the
surrounding area," stated Delores. "The presentations and creative ideas by the students
were well thought out, interesting, and doable. In fact, they were all so good that
we had a very difficult time deciding on the top three for the larger scholarships."
"Dual Enrollment has truly inspired these students to know they are successful college students," notes Amy. "Thank you so much for your support and advocacy for them and the program."
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
The California Attorney General’s Office has recently reached a favorable settlement
with the United States Department of Education concerning the administration of the
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. During the pre-filing phase of this litigation,
the Chancellor’s Office identified dozens of California Community College employees
whose applications for loan forgiveness had been denied, despite apparent eligibility.
This participation was critical to establishing the Attorney General’s standing to
sue the federal government.
Information about the settlement and links to materials to seek loan forgiveness are
available here. Please distribute this information broadly within your colleges to ensure members
of your campus communities are able to take advantage of this opportunity.
