Hillsborough Community College is closely monitoring the ongoing developments of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We remain in contact with Florida Department of Health officials to ensure that we are making decisions that are in the best interest of our students, faculty and staff. For the most current and reliable information about the coronavirus, please see COVID-19 Public Health Notices.
March 31: Vaccination Update
As the COVID-19 vaccination rollout is underway, I want to extend my sincerest thanks to everyone helping to execute the targeted vaccination events at the Dale Mabry, Brandon and SouthShore Campuses. To date, we have successfully vaccinated 7,351 students, faculty and staff in our HCC community. It gives me much pride to know that we, as Hawks, have been a part of the solution to keep our community healthy and safe.
Although more individuals are getting vaccinated, the College will continue to adhere to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) safety guidelines. Every person coming onto HCC property—whether a faculty member, staff member, student, vendor or visitor—is expected to follow health and safety guidelines. College policies, including the Student Code of Conduct and Employment Procedures, will be used to ensure compliance.
All faculty, staff, students and visitors are:
Required to wear a face mask or covering while on college property, including when entering and exiting buildings, using restrooms, moving about campus and in buildings when in a shared space and when social distancing is not possible.
To observe social distancing.
To frequently wash hands.
If soap and water are not readily available, to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Hand sanitizer stations have been widely deployed across all College facilities to complement good handwashing practice.
All faculty, staff and students who test positive, display symptoms or who have been exposed to COVID-19 should direct this information immediately to the HCC Campus Point Persons team at covid19vaccine@hccfl.edu.
With the growing number of fully vaccinated individuals and the increased traffic on campuses, we are closely monitoring CDC guidelines. There has been a recent change to the K-12 social distancing guidelines from six feet to three feet in the classroom. Currently, no changes have been made in the higher education sector. However, we are anticipating changes in these guidelines and will notify the HCC community and modify college operations when appropriate. Specifically, as the CDC guidelines change, and with more vaccinations, remote working arrangements may no longer be necessary, but we will continue to be guided by safety concerns as our number one priority.
Further, HR will be working with staff who have accommodations as guidelines change. Beginning on April 5, all individuals age 18 and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine. We highly encourage the college community to take the opportunity to get vaccinated. Staff who choose not to receive a vaccine may still be required by their supervisor to return to in-person work on a set date, including those with a religious or medical-related accommodation. Additional information will be provided as modifications are made to the guidelines. If you have any questions related to accommodations, please email Hradarequest@hccfl.edu.
These are changing times, and we will update the college community after Commencement on May 7, or sooner as needed.
Please stay safe, and thank you for all you are doing.
President Atwater
March 12: FEMA COVID-19 Vaccine Sites on HCC Campuses
We have been notified this morning that HCC employees, aged 18 years and older, are now being limited to receive the COVID-19 vaccinations at the HCC–FEMA campus locations onlyand that HCC employees who are not 65 or older will be turned away from the Dog Track site.
Brandon
The Brandon Campus FEMA site was operational through Wednesday, March 10.
Follow Up Doses
For those that have received their first dose at one of the FEMA locations, you will be able to get your second dose at that same location. Second doses will be given three weeks after the first dose: March 28–31 at the Brandon site and April 1–3 at the SouthShore site.
Taking Time for Vaccinations
For those that have received their first dose at one of the FEMA locations, you will be able to get your second dose at that same location.
As a reminder, Dr. Atwater has agreed to allow employees to get their vaccinations without taking leave. This must be coordinated and approved in advance with their supervisor.
We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause and hope that those who have yet to receive their vaccines take advantage of the opportunities available at our two campus locations.
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.
Latest College Update
January 27: Update to the Community
I want to provide an update on the College’s COVID response as conditions continue to evolve with the pandemic. With the spring term well under way, it is imperative that we remain vigilant and do our part to help maintain the health and safety of our college community.
As a reminder, every person coming onto HCC property—whether a faculty member, staff member, student, vendor or visitor—is expected to follow the health and safety guidelines established by HCC as guided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The College will use College policies including the Student Code of Conduct and Employment Procedures to ensure compliance.
All faculty, staff, students and visitors are:
Required to wear a face mask or covering while on college property, including when entering and exiting buildings, using restrooms, moving about campus and in buildings when in a shared space and when social distancing is not possible.
To observe social distancing.
To frequently wash hands.
If soap and water are not readily available, to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Hand sanitizer stations have been widely deployed across all College facilities to complement good handwashing practice.
All faculty, staff and students who test positive, display symptoms or who have been exposed to COVID-19 should direct this information immediately to the HCC Campus Point Persons team at C19PointPersons@hccfl.edu.
In many instances, exposures and subsequent quarantines have resulted from a student or staff member who felt ill and decided to come to campus anyway. A day or two later, the individual realized they were getting worse and it turned out they had COVID all along. Please do not hesitate to stay away from campus if you are ill, getting a head cold or feeling congested. Far too often, the College has experienced COVID spread because the early symptoms were ignored.
President Biden has recently signed an Executive Order that modifies travel restrictions. As such, the College has modified our travel rules to align with that order. The current prohibition on any College-sponsored travel, whether international or domestic, remains in effect. Any personal travel remains strongly discouraged; in emergency situations where travel is unavoidable, faculty and staff should discuss their plans with their supervisor to determine whether self-quarantine will be required and should make contingency plans (i.e. working remotely or taking annual leave) should self-isolation be necessary on their return. Faculty and staff who are unable to work remotely on return from foreign travel may not be eligible for Cares Act time off pay. Additionally, all faculty, staff and students who travel internationally will be required to provide documentation of a negative COVID test and will be required to follow the current quarantine protocol of 7-10 days.
HCC is also working closely with the Department of Health to provide volunteers for community vaccinations. Preliminary meetings are occurring to develop a plan for vaccination of our general college community once the vaccine is made available for our specific group. If you have an interest in volunteering to assist in giving vaccinations, medical and non-medical volunteers are needed. Please reach out to Dr. Todd Wells to see how you might get connected.
You are encouraged to visit our SharePoint and Return to the Nest sites for the latest COVID protocols and resources.
Hillsborough Hosts Community Forums to Offer the Facts on COVID-19 and Vaccinations (April 13, 20, 27)
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.
See the most frequently asked questions concerning financial aid, transitioning to an online environment, and the support services available to assist you.
HCC received funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Learn how HCC is providing emergency grants to students under the CARES act.
