Coronavirus Updates

August 16, 2021

We are very happy to welcome you back to the nest for the fall semester. The full reopening of our campuses is something our faculty and staff have worked very hard to accomplish, and our goal is to offer our students the safest and most engaging learning environment possible. As a member of our HCC family, you play an important role in preventing the further spread of COVID-19. This responsibility goes beyond protecting ourselves, but also doing our part to protect our families, friends and those around us.   

The new Delta variant is causing a surge of COVID-19 cases in our community and beyond. Hospitalizations are surpassing last year’s numbers and are highest among those who remain unvaccinated. HCC has been in daily consultation with medical professionals since the onset of COVID, and they, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), maintain that vaccination and wearing a face mask remain the most effective ways to prevent transmission.

In order for us all to have a safe and successful fall semester, we ask that you follow a few steps:  

1. If you are sick, stay home.
2. In light of new guidance from the CDC, we expect everyone to wear a mask at all times when inside any HCC facility regardless of vaccination status.  
3. If you are not vaccinated, we strongly urge you to get vaccinated if you are able. Vaccination can prevent you from becoming seriously ill or hospitalized with COVID-19 and protects those we care about.  
4. Continue to follow best practices like frequent hand washing. 

You are also encouraged to visit hccfl.edu/COVID regularly for the latest updates on COVID-19, including our Hawk Tracing protocols and vaccination locations.

Thank you for continuing to do all you can to keep yourself and those around you safe.  I look forward to seeing you all on campus.

Dr. Ken Atwater

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.

Hillsborough County to Temporarily Resume COVID-19 Testing Operations. With COVID-19 cases increasing due to the Delta variant, Hillsborough County will temporarily open two free public testing sites. For information, go to HCFLGov.net/COVIDTesting.