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Keeping Calvary’s Campus Safe

Keeping Calvary’s Campus Safe

by | Sep 27, 2020

Calvary resumes campus life with COVID precautions.

Across Calvary’s campus, faculty and staff work to keep a sanitary environment. Calvary’s Director of Food Service, Joe Dapra, explained the precautions the cafeteria is taking “to minimize risk of the spread of COVID-19.” He said, “After meals we sanitize high-touch areas. Students are asked to wear masks when entering the building and going through the serving line. There is hand sanitizer available.” To ensure health among the cafeteria staff, “Serving staff wear masks during the meal. Kitchen staff practice standard procedures with hand washing and wearing of gloves. We are set up to record temperatures and ask questions about wellness for staff coming to work.”

The Hilda Kroeker Library established protocols to eliminate germs from shared resources. Head Librarian Tiffany Smith said, to minimize the spread of germs, “the library is quarantining items for a minimum of 72 hours.” To create a safe study environment, Smith said, “While masks are required to be worn when moving about the library building, seating areas have been spaced so that they do not have to remain on during study of non-reference and non-reserve materials.” The library staff sanitizes study areas after each use to cut down germ transfer.

Calvary is keeping the classroom safe, too. Face shields are in place for professors, and ample space enables social distancing. Faculty and students carefully sanitize tables, doorknobs, and other high traffic areas before and after each class period. In the fluid situation of COVID-19, Calvary is committed to the safety of our students, faculty, and staff.

Students cheer on Calvary’s volleyball team.

The Warrior Café also implemented special sanitizing measures.

Calvary Uses Sprayer to Keep Campus Germ-Free

Calvary Uses Sprayer to Keep Campus Germ-Free

by | Jul 31, 2020

Housekeeping Coordinator Kent Shader disinfects the Student Life Center.

Calvary’s Maintenance Department recently acquired an electrostatic disinfecting and sanitizing sprayer for use on Calvary’s campus. The disinfecting tool, affectionately referred to as the “Fogger Machine,” is being used to sanitize hard surfaces across all of the University’s buildings. Doug Driskell, head of maintenance, and Housekeeping Coordinator Kent Shader researched the most effective ways to keep the Calvary community safe, in addition to having disinfectant wipes in every classroom and hand sanitizer stations in all common areas. Driskell said, “We wanted a user friendly portable electrostatic sprayer, with versatility to meet all our of needs, and purchase a product that was easy to dispense without error.”

The fogger machine comes with a backpack tank and battery powered electrostatic sprayer that creates a safe, touchless system and nuanced user control to spray even hard-to-reach surfaces like the undersides of tables. QT-3, the chemical used as a hard surface disinfectant, is optimal for its demonstrated effectiveness on viruses similar to the novel coronavirus, as well as its harmlessness for those who come in contact with it.

“Most entities in the Education, Health, Government and the Corporate fields are using similar equipment to disinfect large areas,” Driskell said. Maintenance has created a schedule to disinfect all common areas weekly, implementing the sprayer during low-traffic times to ensure the disinfectant has maximum dwell time to eliminate germs.  

Acknowledgement and Commitment

Acknowledgement and Commitment

by | Jul 29, 2020

Note: The following document is written in the first person because it represents what all those living or working on Calvary’s campus will be asked to “acknowledge” and “commit” to this year. If you have any questions, please contact the Student Development Department. 

Calvary University ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND COMMITMENT

All members of Calvary University have an important role to play in keeping our fellow students and Calvary University community safe by doing our part to help stop the spread of COVID-19. As a member of the Calvary community, I know that I must take steps to stay well in order to help protect others and promote a safe return to campus for all members of the Calvary community. Because of this, I agree to take responsibility for my own health and help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Calvary University trusts God’s sovereignty and goodness during this pandemic, but also acknowledges that we must also take personal responsibility for our actions. One of Calvary University’s highest priorities is the safety of its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. I know that by engaging in campus activities, including attending classes, pursuing my education, living on campus, eating in the dining halls, attending activities, and participating in sports and recreation, I may be exposed to COVID-19 and other infections. I also understand that despite all reasonable efforts by the university, I can still contract COVID-19 and other infections. In order to reduce my risk, I agree to be an active participant in maintaining my own health, wellbeing and safety, as well as the safety of others, by making every effort follow the guidelines and expectations outlined by the university.

As more information is gathered and known, I understand that Calvary University may modify these guidelines and expectations. It is my responsibility to make every effort to keep myself apprised of these changes to help protect myself and the university community.

It is my Pledge to protect myself, my peers, and the Calvary Community by doing the following:

  • Agree to testing for COVID-19 and potential subsequent self-quarantining if I am identified as a contact of anyone who has been determined to be positive for COVID-19.
  • If I test positive for COVID-19, I agree to self-quarantine in a designated location until:
    • My symptoms have resolved, and
    • It has been at least fourteen days since the start of my symptoms, and
    • I have a negative COVID-19 test result.
  • Timely report any known or potential exposures to COVID-19 to the ResLife team and/or supervisor
  • Monitor for the following symptoms:
  • If I develop the above symptoms to contact either the health department or my health care provider, and to follow their instructions, which may include being tested for COVID- 19 and self-quarantining while the test results are pending, and/or being evaluated by a qualified health care provider.
  • Stay at home or in my room if I am feeling sick.
  • Participate fully and honestly with the Reslife team and university, the Student Dean’s Office, or Human Resources for contact tracing to determine whom I might have potentially exposed to COVID-19. · Wear a mask or the appropriate PPE where required by campus authorities and in accordance with the law.
  • Practice physical distancing as much as possible.
  • Frequently wash and/or sanitize my hands.
  • Keep my personal space, shared common space, and my belongings clean.
  • Respecting the precautions of others and the choices they make to ensure their own safety.

I understand COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus and it is possible to develop and contract the COVID-19 disease, even if I follow all of the safety precautions above and those recommended by the CDC, local health department, and others. I understand that although the university is following the coronavirus guidelines issued by the CDC and other experts to reduce the spread of infection, I can never be completely shielded from all risk of illness caused by COVID-19 or other infections. I agree to hold Calvary University harmless in the event of contracting COVID-19 or other infectious diseases, in exchange for the ability to participate in in-person classes, programs, and activities at Calvary University.

I have read, understand, and agree to comply with the commitment above. I also acknowledge that these expectations and agreement are a condition of my participation in in-person classes, programs, and activities at Calvary University, and that any failure to comply with the commitment above may lead to immediate removal from classes, programs, and activities and restriction from certain areas of campus or even campus as a whole. These expectations are for the entire Calvary Community and understand that continued employment and/or participation in Calvary programs, activities, and events constitutes my agreement to abide by these standards.

I take this commitment seriously and will do my part to protect the Calvary community. 

The COVID-19 Point of Contact and a Fogger Machine

The COVID-19 Point of Contact and a Fogger Machine

by | Jul 20, 2020

An Update from Randy Grimm, Chief Operations Officer

As Calvary continues to be proactive concerning COVID-19, here are a couple of things I would like to share with you so you can be aware of our course of action.

First of all, we have named Mr. Glenn Williams as our COVID-19 “Point of Contact” (POC). If anyone (the Calvary family) has contracted the virus, you are asked to contact Glenn immediately so he in turn can contact the Cass County Health Department. Of course, you are also asked to stay home and self-quarantine for the recommended amount of time. If you believe you have been exposed, contact Glenn to discuss your options.

We are taking steps to protect our Calvary family, we in turn ask for your help in keeping us informed.

We have purchased a “fogger machine” which sprays a fine mist to decontaminate rooms such as the dorms, offices, and hallways. We will begin the process of making sure it is used to its fullest extent.

As new requirements come along, we will do our best to keep you updated and aware.

As always, please continue to pray for Calvary as we draw near to students coming back to campus ready and eager to learn. Our deepest desire is to have a safe campus and we are truly doing our best to assure this will happen.

Plans for Fall 2020

Plans for Fall 2020

by | Jul 18, 2020

Safely Returning to Normal

Calvary University is planning to open as normal in the fall semester of 2020—starting August 17. However, we will also provide important options and measures to ensure everyone’s safety.  

Faculty will still have the option of whether to hold classes online only or invite students back into the classroom. Students, as always, will be able to make the same choice—either online or in person. If faculty choose not to hold classes in person, in-class students will not be charged the online rate. 

Every measure will also be taken to ensure that all who live, work and study on the CU campus can do so in a clean and safe environment. The University continues to work in close consultation with national, state and local public health officials. Our priority is to maintain the health of the CU community.  

For Athletics, we will always adhere to the federal, state or local guidelines when participating in any activity. We also are working closely with the NCCAA and the MCCC conferences as everyone is monitoring how best to keep our athletes safe. Workouts are taking place now. Practices are set to resume in August. 

Check out our Calvary Cares page for all the latest information.

We invite you to use the contact form below if you have any questions.  

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Acknowledgement and Commitment

Kansas City Mask Requirements

by | Jul 8, 2020

These are the new Kansas City, MO, guidelines for mask usage:

“All employees or visitors to any indoor public accommodation must wear face coverings in an area or while performing an activity which will necessarily involve close contact or proximity to coworkers or the public where six feet of separation is not feasible.”

When should masks be worn?

Anytime you are inside and unable to maintain social distancing (6 feet of separation).

Examples:

  • The receptionist could wear a mask while attending to a guest in the reception area when being less than 6 feet from an individual is required.
  • A Security Officer could wear a mask when responding to a call for service and will be inside and when being less than 6 feet from an individual is required.
  • Those working together in a meeting where maintaining 6 feet of separation is not possible.

When masks do not have to be worn:

  • Persons alone in their offices do not have to wear a mask.
  • If the distance of 6 feet can be maintained anywhere indoors between coworkers or visitors, you do not have to wear a mask.
  • Masks are not required outside.
  • Minors are not required to wear a mask.