September 16 Message from the Department of Campus Safety

Mercy College seal

 

Dear Faculty and Staff, 

As we return to our campuses this week, I want to remind everyone about the College’s COVID-19 Interim Visitor Policy that I initially shared on August 18.  It is important that everyone read and understand this policy as the fall term gets underway. 

As the College community is back on Mercy’s campuses, several policies have been established as part of the On Campus Plus Plan, including a new COVID-19 Interim Visitor Policy.  

The full policy can be found in the Employee Return To Work Guide and the Student Handbook Addendum.

As a reminder, access to all Mercy College buildings is restricted to students, faculty, staff, designated vendors and service operators, and invited guests (including prospective students and families, board members, donors, partners, etc.) who are essential to our business model. Parents and families of residential students may be allowed on campus during move-in and move-out periods, as well as during emergency situations such as if a student is injured or ill. All other visitors will be admitted by appointment only, unannounced visitors must be verified as set out below.

Scheduling and Hosting Visitors

  • All visitors, including guests of Mercy students, faculty and staff, must be pre-scheduled by 5:00 p.m. the day before their visit by completing a Visitor Log Form that will inform Mercy College Campus Safety of their arrival, unless there are extenuating circumstances. This information will be kept by departments in a log and may be used in the contact tracing process in the event of a confirmed case of COVID-19. The Visitor Log can be found here.
  • Once a log entry has been submitted, each visitor will receive an email with a link to a Screening Form that will need to be presented upon entry to a campus location. Visitors will also receive a copy of the Visitor Policy. They are instructed to complete the Screening Form within 24 hours of their visit.
  • Unannounced visitors or visitors who do not have a Visitor Screening Form will be asked to wait at the entrance to the building until their visit to campus can be verified and they fill out the Visitor Screening Form.
  • Faculty and staff must meet their visitor at their agreed-upon time at the designated entrance to the building and escort them to and from the meeting space.
  • Campus visitors must comply with the College’s established personal safety practices, which include:
    • Wearing a face covering at all times while on campus.
    • Complying with social distancing norms and other established safety guidelines while on campus.
    • Sanitizing hands upon entry to campus.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to protect the health of the Mercy College community. If you have questions about the Visitor Policy, please contact safety@mercy.edu.

Sincerely, 
Konrad Motyka
Executive Director for Campus Safety & Emergency Management