Coronavirus Updates

May 27

I am pleased that Hillsborough Community College is now fully open. HCC’s leadership and COVID planning teams have worked diligently throughout the entire COVID-19 pandemic to establish a return-to-campus plan and associated protocols informed by the latest data-backed recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and in consultation with local health officials. The overarching goal throughout has been to ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors. By working together to put the health of our College community first, we have safely returned to our campuses and facilities and a new operational normal with faculty and staff available to serve students on all our campuses and virtually for those who want that flexibility. 

HCC has continued to see a low COVID positivity rate on our campuses and facilities due in large part to our College community’s vigilance, and I am delighted to have heard from so many of our faculty, staff, students and their families that have taken part in our vaccination events. Based on the latest scientific data shared on May 13, the CDC changed its recommendations for wearing face masks, stating that fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing. As a result, masks will be optional on College property, but no longer required, as of June 29, 2021.  

Our Returning to the Nest: Hillsborough Community College Back-to-Campus Plan has been, and will remain, flexible to accommodate the complex and ever-changing conditions that have confronted us throughout the pandemic. Again, HCC will continue to follow the most current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in addition to direction from state and local government. 

I want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we have navigated these new waters together.  Our community has demonstrated enormous strength and resiliency, and your support of HCC has been very meaningful to the faculty and staff as we have endeavored to serve our students throughout this pandemic. Together, we are Hawk Strong.   

Ken Atwater, Ph.D.
College President

See Previous COVID-19 Updates

This notice is intended for all faculty members.  Deans – please ensure that this notice is forwarded to your part-time, adjunct faculty. 

As more HCC faculty return to onsite classes in the Fall of 2021, we understand there are questions concerning returning to the campuses. We will continue to monitor and follow the CDC recommendations, recognizing that they may change as we get closer to the fall semester.   

HCC will provide reasonable accommodation(s) to all qualified employees with known disabilities, where the disability affects the performance of their essential functions, except where doing so would be duly disruptive or would result in an undue hardship.

If an employee has an underlying health condition and wishes to submit a Request for a Reasonable Accommodation, the employee should contact Human Resources at hradarequest@hccfl.edu.  Attached are the forms needed to request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The medical provider should complete the ADA Medical Inquiry form and the employee should complete the ADA Request for Reasonable Accommodation form. The completed forms can be emailed to the hradarequest@hccfl.edu mailbox or can be faxed to 813.253.7034.

Faculty members with a medical condition that may place them at higher risk for severe illness due to COVID-19 (per the CDC guidelines), a pre-existing physical or mental disability or were already receiving a reasonable accommodation, may be entitled to an accommodation, including one that allows the faculty member to perform their job duties remotely. HCC will make every effort to assist employees and remain flexible to work with individual employees on a case by case basis.

As a reminder, an employee is not entitled to an accommodation under the ADA to avoid exposing a family member or someone they reside with who may be at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 due to an underlying medical condition. Employees who are caring for a spouse, domestic partner, parent or child with a serious health condition other than COVID-19 may be eligible for leave under the Family/Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Contact Kim Pasquinelli in Human Resources (kpasquinelli@hccfl.edu) for assistance.

The need for childcare is also not subject to an accommodation under the ADA.

HCC is committed to full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act (ADAAA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibit discrimination against qualified persons with disabilities, as well as other federal and state laws pertaining to individuals with disabilities.

If you have questions, please contact Human Resources at hradarequest@hccfl.edu or call 813.253.7108.

• May 25: Latest COVID-19 News and Information (Hillsborough County)
• Hillsborough County has a COVID-19 dashboard that tracks the spread of the coronavirus.
• Hillsborough County residents can now make appointments online for free COVID-19 coronavirus testing. Online appointments can be made at Hillsborough COVID-19 Testing. Residents can pick a day and time convenient to them at one of seven locations throughout the county. Though the tests are free, appointments are required.