COVID-19 Protocols
During the COVID-19 pandemic, CCAC is committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of the college and wider communities, while ensuring that students have the information and resources they need to achieve their academic goals. This page contains valuable information, including regular updates on how CCAC is responding to the pandemic. It also contains a link to a number of resources for both incoming and current students. Because the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, new information will be added as it becomes available.
COVID-19 Resources
Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
Effective July 1, 2022 CCAC requires vaccination for COVID-19 as a condition of working in or attending in-person classes at College buildings and facilities. Below are frequently asked questions and responses to guide you through this requirement. If you have additional questions that are not answered here please contact the Deans of Students for assistance.
On-site Registration or Virtual
Present your vaccination record at the time of registration either on site or in the
Virtual Welcome Center. Please note that you will need a photo ID and the vaccination
card must be legible /readable.
Registration offices are located at each campus and center location:
Allegheny Campus - SSC 120
Boyce Campus - S-558
North Campus - Room 1004
South Campus - B-340
Homewood Brushton Center - Room 108
Braddock Hills Center - Room 105
West Hills Center - S1500
For questions related to the registration process, you may also send an email inquiry to [email protected] or call 412.237.CCAC.
Online Self-Service
Upload your documents via Self-Service Document Request. Use our step-by-step directions to upload your documents.
Yes, international students will need to provide proof of vaccination status in order to enroll in in-person classes or participate in any on-campus activities. Vaccination is not required for individuals enrolling only in remote/online courses. For international students, proof of vaccination would include completion of any vaccination series approved for use by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Employees and students will not be required to provide evidence of having obtained a booster dose in order to meet the July 1, 2022 vaccination deadline. Students and employees only need to provide evidence of having obtained the recommended primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine approved for use by the FDA or WHO. Booster doses continue to be recommended, in accordance with CDC guidelines, but will not be required in order to work or attend classes on campus.
Students will need to be vaccinated in order to register for in-person classes or to participate in athletic or other in-person activities conducted in CCAC buildings. This includes both credit and non-credit courses that are conducted in-person. Students who are enrolling only in remote or online course offerings will not be required to provide proof of vaccination in order to enroll.
Allegheny County has created a public map of active COVID-19 vaccination locations. This map contains information about pharmacies and ongoing vaccination sites, as well as temporary vaccination events for the public. Each location includes information about the type of vaccine available and how to register. More locations will be added as they are developed. If you need assistance identifying a place to get a vaccine, please contact the Dean of Students.
Effective July 1, 2022 CCAC requires vaccination for COVID-19 as a condition of working in or attending in- person classes at College buildings and facilities. To be fully vaccinated, students need to have received their final vaccine dosage at least 2 weeks before the start of their class(es).
If you are unsure of what classes to take or what is being offered, you can meet with one of our academic advisors. CCAC offers a variety of ways to connect with an Academic Advisor including in person by calling 412.237.CCAC or via Zoom.
When you join the Zoom session, you will be placed into the waiting room. When an advisor becomes available, they will bring you into the meeting. A camera is not necessary but will help with your experience. Visit Academic Advising for hours and instructions on how to log. Prior to meeting with an advisor, it is recommended that students review the Course Catalog. This website lists all the available classes and students can sort by location and type (online, zoom, onsite, etc). For directions on how to access the course catalog, visit the CCAC Help Center.
Student Frequently Asked Questions
Although the College has developed a return to campus health and safety plan in accordance with state and federal guidelines, the College cannot guarantee that these mitigation efforts will eliminate all risks of contracting COVID-19 for those attending classes at College campuses and facilities. Students who have concerns about contracting COVID-19 are therefore encouraged to contact their health care provider to discuss the risks of attending classes at or visiting CCAC's campuses and facilities and make a decision, prior to enrolling, that best meets the needs of themselves and their families. Students who are pregnant, have underlying health conditions or who are otherwise considered to be in a high risk category relative to potential exposure to COVID-19 are further encouraged to consider enrolling in one of the many course options available through online or remote delivery.
If the student is exposed in a healthcare setting, they should do the following to be permitted to return to clinical or on-site instruction:
- Advise the clinical coordinator or faculty member immediately if they suspect that they may have been exposed to a patient who is COVID positive.
- Follow the direction of the clinical coordinator or faculty member.
- Follow all recommended infection prevention and control practices, including:
- Wearing a facemask for source control while in class, clinical or at work
- Monitoring themselves for fever or symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (and reference the CCAC Self-Screening Questionnaire)
- Not reporting to class, clinical or work when ill
- Undergoing active screening for fever or symptoms consistent with COVID-19 at the beginning of their shift
**Any student who develops fever or symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should immediately self-isolate and complete the COVID-19 Incident Report Form.
Academic Advisors are available by virtual drop in service Monday through Thursday 8:30 am to 7:00 pm, Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and second Saturday of the month 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Additional Saturday hours are available - click here for those dates and times. Limited in-person appointments are now available at Allegheny, Boyce, North, South and West Hills Center. For available appointments, please call 412.237.2700. If you just have a quick question, please email Academic Advising.
Registration procedure information is located on the CCAC website.
Students can use any form of textbook. To see if your required textbook is available digitally, search the Get your Textbook section on the CCAC Bookstores webpage.
The bookstores will have limited operating hours at all locations. Click here to view current Bookstore hours on campus.
Information regarding computer and/or internet access at home is available on the student portal under COVID-19 Student Resources (requires login) Under the Documents section, look for "Off Campus Computer and Internet Resources".
Students should reach out to the Information Center to connect to resources in order to meet their needs. Students should review the CCAC Recommended Technology found on the CCAC Bookstore website.
If you must take public transportation, wear a mask before entering a bus, train, or light rail system (T), and avoid touching surfaces with your hands. Upon leaving, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
CCAC Counselors are available. To contact a Counselor email [email protected]. A Crisis Text Line is available by texting HOME to 741741 or message on Facebook Messenger. A resource guide (requires login) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is located in the Student COVID-19 Resources on the CCAC portal.
There are a variety of support resources available to you. Click on the Blackboard for Online Learning page on the portal. On the CCAC Blackboard site, there is also a course called "Start Here: Getting Started in Blackboard", which will show you how to use Blackboard for your classes.
Please speak with an advisor to help you select classes that align with your preferred delivery of instruction. A limited number of face-to-face classes will be offered. Students are encouraged to register early to secure a seat in a face-to-face class. We are also offering courses via Zoom - which allows the schedule and live interaction of a face-to-face course, but is delivered online. You can also email the CCAC Navigators for assistance.
During the suspension of on-campus instruction due to COVID-19, The Office of Disability Resources and Services will be available remotely. All are welcome to take advantage of Virtual Chat Monday through Friday at 2pm to meet online.
Online resources can be found at the CCAC Library web page.
All students are required to meet the attendance requirements established for each course in which they are enrolled, whether the course is delivered in an online, remote or on-campus instructional modality, or through a combination of remote and live instruction. However, in the event that a student is unable to meet the attendance requirements for a course due to a COVID-19 related reason after the published add/drop and/or withdrawal dates for the course in question, the student will be permitted to elect one of the following options:
- The student may elect to develop a plan for completion of the course requirements, in collaboration with and subject to the approval of the student's instructor and the Department Head. If approved by the student's instructor and Department Head, the student will be issued an "I" (incomplete) grade in accordance with College policy so that the student may finish the course objectives at a later time without having to repay for the course; or
- In the alternative, the student may elect to withdraw from the course for medical reasons, in accordance with the College's medical withdrawal policy as set forth in the CCAC Student Handbook. Medical withdrawals received before the end of the drop period will result in a drop of courses (no entry on the student's transcript). Medical withdrawals received after the drop deadline until the last day of classes will result in course entries with a "W" grade(s). Adjustment of tuition and fees follow the stated dates in the academic calendar.
For purposes of the foregoing, a "COVID-19 related reason" refers to any one or more of the following circumstances which causes the student to be unable to meet the attendance requirements of a particular course(s):
- The student has tested positive for and is undergoing treatment for COVID-19;
- The student has been advised or directed to self-quarantine by a health care professional or governmental authority as a result of a potential exposure to COVID-19;
- The student is seeking or awaiting the results of a diagnostic test for, or a medical diagnosis of, COVID-19;
- The student is needed to provide care for their minor child who is unable to attend school due to a COVID-19 related closure or illness;
- The student is needed to provide care for a family member with a COVID-19 related illness; or
- The student is obtaining immunization related to COVID-19 or recovering from any injury, disability, illness, or condition related to such immunization.
The COVID-19 Student Resources section of the portal lists resources for financial, food and housing assistance.
At the beginning of the pandemic, we reinvented many of our processes. Every aspect of the College has improved over time, including the arrival of a new centralized phone system. Call management is now more effectively handled and more improvements are forthcoming.
College-Wide Frequently Asked Questions
Updated COVID-19 information is distributed to students, via the CCAC portal and their student email address, detailing health and safety protocol and procedures including the steps students will need to take prior to arriving on-site at any CCAC location. Please check the COVID-19 Student Resource Page for more information.
Employee information is available on the COVID-19 Employee Resource Page via the CCAC portal and their employee email address.
CCAC works in close coordination with the Allegheny County Health Department and will continue deferring to the public health agency regarding disclosure of positive test results and related information. Public health officials will advise CCAC if additional disclosure measures are necessary.
CCAC requires all students, faculty, staff and administrators to follow the CDC recommended guidelines for travel. The CDC provides information on both Domestic and International Travel for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. All community members are required to follow the CDC guidelines. It is required that a COVID-19 Reporting Form is completed if CDC guidelines indicate a need to quarantine or isolate due to exposure or travel.
Students, employees, contractors and vendors who test positive or were exposed to COVID-19 must immediately report this through the COVID-19 Incident Report Form. Employees should also contact the Office of Human Resources 412.237.3001.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) current guidelines will be utilized to determine appropriate next steps and establish a return to campus plan for the individual.
Students, employees, contractors and vendors exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID-19, or whose health screening indicates potential symptoms of or exposure to COVID-19, are not permitted to come to campus and will be sent home if on campus. Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19, even mild ones such as a sore throat, should get tested. Please stay home and limit your contact with others while you wait for your test results. A negative test does not mean you don't have the virus, especially if you are symptomatic.
Symptoms and guidance are changing often, please review the most current guidance from the CDC to check your symptoms at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/index.html.
If you Test Positive for COVID-19, CCAC follows CDC guidelines
Calculating Isolation
Day 0 is your first day of symptoms or a positive viral test. Day 1 is the first full
day after your symptoms developed or your test specimen was collected. If you have
COVID-19 or have symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days.
Employees and Students
- Complete COVID-19 Incident Report form
- You will be contacted by the CCAC Contact Tracer
Faculty/Staff
- Contact Human Resources 412.237.3001
Everyone, regardless of vaccination status
Isolate
- Stay home for 5 days starting from the day your symptom started
- Wear a well-fitted mask
- Do not travel
If you have symptoms that are not improving and/or still have a fever without the use of medication
- Isolation is to be extended beyond the 5 days
If you never had symptoms
- Return to work/class 5 days after positive test (date sample was taken)
If you are/were hospitalized for COVID-19
- Isolation may be up to 10 days
- Discuss with your health care provider
You can return to campus
- Completed 5 days of isolation AND
- You are 24 hours free of fever without the use of medication AND
- Your symptoms are improving
Take precautions until day 10
- Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days anytime you are around others inside your home or in public.
- Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask.
Do not travel until a full 10 days after your symptoms started or the date your positive test was taken if you had no symptoms. - Avoid being around people who are at high risk
Students should contact a Dean of Students and Employees should contact the Office of Human Resources to address any questions and/or concerns related to CCAC's COVID-19 testing protocols and reporting.
More information regarding COVID-19 mitigation measures is available via the CDC and ACHD websites.
If You Were Exposed/Close Contact to Someone with COVID-19, CCAC follows CDC guidelines
Calculating Quarantine
The date of your exposure is considered day 0. Day 1 is the first full day after your
last contact with a person who has had COVID-19. Stay home and away from other people
for at least 5 days.
Learn why CDC updated guidance for the general public.
The CDC defines close contact as "being within 6 feet of someone for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period."
IF YOU were EXPOSED to COVID-19 and are NOT up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations
- Stay home and quarantine for at least 5 full days.
- Wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others in your home.
- Do not travel.
- Get tested - Even if you don't develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- After quarantine - Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone
with COVID-19.
- Avoid travel - It is best to avoid travel until a full 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
If you develop symptoms
- Isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Wear a well-fitted mask around others.
Take precautions until day 10
- Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask.
- If you must travel during days 6-10, take precautions.
- Avoid being around people who are at high risk
IF YOU were EXPOSED to COVID-19 and are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations
- No quarantine - You do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms.
- Get tested - Even if you don't develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
If you develop symptoms
- Isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Wear a well-fitted mask around others.
Take precautions until day 10
- Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask.
- Take precautions if traveling
- Avoid being around people who are at high risk
IF YOU were EXPOSED to COVID-19 and had confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days (you tested positive using a viral test)
- No quarantine - You do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms. Watch for symptoms.
- Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
If you develop symptoms
- Isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Wear a well-fitted mask around others.
Take precautions until day 10
- Wear a well- fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask.
- Take precautions if traveling
- Avoid being around people who are at high risk
Students should contact a Dean of Students and Employees should contact the Office of Human Resources to address any questions and/or concerns related to CCAC's COVID-19 testing protocols and reporting.
More information regarding COVID-19 mitigation measures is available via the CDC and ACHD websites.
Whenever the Allegheny County COVID-19 community levels are elevated to high, all students, faculty and staff - as well as any visitors to the college (whether fully vaccinated or not) will be required to wear face masks within all CCAC buildings. This aligns with recent CDC guidance calling for individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks in all indoor public spaces during high community transmission levels. This order will remain in place until the college issues an alert that cases have dropped to the medium level of transmission. With health and safety remaining a top college priority, the recent spikes in the county's COVID-19 cases have made it necessary for CCAC to reinstate masking requirements in this manner. We can also do our part to limit the spread of the virus by regularly testing to identify and isolate cases.
All building entrances are open. Signage is posted at the entrances to all CCAC detailing health and safety requirements.
All CCAC students, employees, contractors, visitors and guests are required to review the CCAC Self-Screening Questionnaire prior to entering CCAC buildings and facilities.
Coming to a CCAC campus or facility sick or with symptoms puts the entire campus community at an unnecessary risk for spreading the novel coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19. By working together, we can maintain a healthy environment for all.
Faculty & Staff Frequently Asked Questions
The Alternative Work Arrangement policy that was in effect for the 2020-2021 academic/fiscal year has been removed. Going forward, employees that want to request reasonable accommodations due to COVID concerns must do so through Human Resources. Employees can find additional information on this process on the HR portal page or by contacting Human Resources.
In addition, Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Lytle can also assist with most any kind of problem that affects your personal well-being and your ability to perform your job.
Contact
There are CCAC specific, county specific, state specific and nation-wide specific resources that you can contact depending on the nature of your questions and concerns.
CCAC Contact
County Contact
Allegheny County COVID-19 HOTLINE: 888.856.2774
The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has partnered with United Way 2-1-1 to offer a 24/7 hotline to address questions and concerns about COVID-19. Language services are available.
You can also visit the Allegheny Health Department website.
State and National Information
To stay up to date on COVID-19 updates state and nation-wide, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website respectively.