WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
We are excited to welcome students on campus. The key to healthy and productive on-campus programs
will be the commitment by each and every member of the Prescott community to understand and follow
protocols designed to mitigate risk of COVID-19.
Prescott College places the well-being and safety of our entire campus community at the forefront of our approach to education. We ask that employees, staff, and students contribute to any public health concerns by following CDC guidelines including current COVID-19 vaccination. However, COVID-19 vaccine status will not be a condition of enrollment or employment.
Prescott College is a residential community where we live, work, and learn together. Thus while COVID-19 vaccinations are not mandatory, we still encourage students, staff, and faculty to monitor their symptoms. If you have, or think you might have COVID-19, there are steps to take to help prevent the virus from spreading to others in your home and community. Community members who suspect COVID-19 should contact their advisor, instructor, and/or employer to discuss masking, isolation, and/or work-from-home solutions.
Most people with COVID-19 have only mild symptoms and can recover at home. If you have severe symptoms, including difficulty breathing, call 911 or visit your local emergency room immediately.
Please observe the following for proper self-care
Monitor Your Health
Before you start your day, please review your health. Fully vaccinated individuals can have breakthrough infections caused by the Delta variant. You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick.
If you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you should get tested 3-5 days after your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. If you have had close contact and you are fully vaccinated and you are not symptomatic, you do not have to quarantine. You should also wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative. You should isolate for 10 days if your test result is positive.
Please use the test reporting form to report and record the results of your COVID-19 test results. Information you report will be utilized in making decisions regarding your return to Prescott College Campus Facilities.
Masks on Campus
Throughout the pandemic, Prescott College has followed the guidance of the CDC, local government agencies, and medical directors. As many of you know, the CDC changed mask guidance on 2/25/22. The map in this link identifies risk levels by County. The yellow and green counties are areas in which mask use is no longer recommended in public spaces. Yavapai County is now a yellow zone. Effective March 14th, Prescott College will no longer require mask use indoors at the Prescott Campus or in vans originating from the Prescott Campus.
In addition, on March 14th, the café will open to indoor dining to the Prescott College community. The Library will continue to be open to Prescott College community members only.
While masks will not be required, it is always optional for individuals to wear them. We understand there are individuals for whom this transition may pose questions. Please consult with your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns regarding your personal health.
Additionally, people with COVID-19 symptoms or individuals who test positive should not stop wearing masks and will be asked to follow the isolation guidelines.
This change in protocols pertains only to the Prescott College campus. Pima County continues to be a red zone and therefore the Tucson campus will continue mask requirements indoors. In addition, International courses traveling to Kenya and Kino will follow protocols associated with travel requirements, local government agencies, risk levels, and risks to communities that individual courses may be working with.
At this time, Prescott College will continue to require vaccinations as highlighted above. Testing will be limited to individuals traveling internationally, and no longer required for non-international field trips originating from Prescott.
We will continue to update the community as to changes in protocols and guidance. We have learned from the last two years that this dynamic situation may pose new challenges ahead or ask us to mask up once again. As always, please monitor your health and stay home when sick.
Please visit these CDC sites for information on face coverings:
Hand Washing
During the COVID-19 pandemic washing your hands is one of the most effective ways to help prevent the spread. Click for more information on the effectiveness of washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water.
Campus Signage
Prescott College has developed and will post signage to aid in mitigating the potential spread of COVID-19 from handwashing to capacity limits in campus spaces. Please adhere to the signage posted on campus.
Building Access
Building access restricted to Prescott College students and employees. Visitors to campus will need to make an appointment. Hand sanitation stations will be placed at the entrances to buildings and in high traffic flow areas
Vans
Students and employees utilizing vans for transportation during courses will wear face coverings while seated next to each other. Vans will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between uses with approved products.
Cafe Services
Cafe services will be provided with take-out service available. There will be no buffet-style options and outdoor seating will be arranged to ensure physical distancing.
Classrooms
When possible, Prescott College classes will maximize opportunities to hold classes outside. Indoor classrooms have been physically arranged to maintain 6 feet of distancing, disinfecting, and cleaning protocols are aligned with the CDC and facilities replaced our HVAC filters to an enhanced filter standard that removes much smaller particles including 75% that are in the range of air-borne viruses. In addition to these protocols, each class offered in the block will have its own classroom to itself.
Prescott College has received or will receive a total of $878,566 in federal funding specifically for student grants for those especially affected by the COVID-19. This funding is being provided through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) initially authorized by Congress through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) and later supplemented by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) as well as the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP). Large portions of these funds were allocated to students as emergency grants based on various need-based allocation rubrics which the school determined at various points in time. These formulas took into account students' estimated family contribution from the FAFSA, students' unmet financial need (need not met by other grants and scholarships), as well as past due tuition balances students had been unable to pay since the pandemic began.
Additionally, all students enrolled since March 13th, 2020 were invited in to apply for additional emergency relief funding via our Emergency Relief Grant Application, which was originally posted on this page from April 2020 through December 2021. This application invited students to describe the expenses they incurred due to Coronavirus as well as other COVID related financial needs they may have had for items within their cost of attendance. As we have now allocated the majority of our available funds for Emergency Student Relief grants from our COVID emergency funding sources described above, we are no longer accepting Emergency Relief Grant applications.
We will, however, be making one final round of Emergency Relief grants to students enrolled in Spring 2022 based on another need-based allocation rubric which will again be based largely on Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA as well as a student's unmet financial need. For consideration in this allocation round, students are encouraged to file either a 2021-2022 or a 2022-2023 FAFSA at studentaid.gov if they have not already done so. Students not eligible to file a FAFSA may e-mail the Financial Aid Office at finaid@prescott.edu for additional direction, as all students will be considered in this round of allocations, even those not normally eligible for other federal financial aid.
Additionally, students or their parents (if parent info was included on the FAFSA) who have had a change in financial circumstances since 2019 (for example, a loss of or significant reduction in employment, high medical expenses, etc) are encouraged to file a Financial Circumstances Appeal prior to January 15, 2022 if they feel that their current EFC is not reflective of their current circumstances. This form will ask for supporting documentation which can include updated tax forms and/or pay check stubs if your income has changed, and/or medical receipts. Those considering filing an appeal, are encouraged to schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor for additional guidance.
Note that filing a Financial Circumstances Appeal after January 15, 2022 for those who have or are experiencing a change in financial circumstances is still encouraged, but it may be too late at that point for the updated information to impact the Spring 2022 Emergency Relief Grant allocation amount. It may however still qualify the student for other federal financial aid. Please meet with a financial aid counselor to get a better idea if a Financial Circumstances Appeal may be helpful to your particular situation.
For the most recent quarterly report on the HEERF Emergency Relief Grants for students (formerly referred to as CARES grants), please Click Here. For the most recent quarterly report on the HEERF funding provided to the institution (for purposes in addition to student grants), please Click Here.
To view past HEERF/CARES/CRRSAA/ARP Grant Quarterly Funding Reports, please Click Here.
Contact Tracing and Testing
When necessary, the college’s medical advisor will work with the institution to provide testing and contact tracing. Students may be tested prior to participating in courses and as advised by CDC regulations
Mental Health
Mental health services for students will be offered virtually and at times face to face with the appropriate protocols. Appointments can be made with Tony Himes (928-848-1111) or Melissa Rauch (928-771-8115).
Employees will continue to utilize EAP services. Please contact Human Resources for more information.
