Public Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking an outbreak of monkeypox that has spread across several countries including the United States. 

Georgia Gwinnett College administration is working with local and state health officials to monitor the situation and will update the campus community as the situation warrants. 

According to the Georgia Department of Health, when standard infection prevention activities are performed, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), the risk of exposure to monkeypox virus in a clinical setting is extremely low.

The following informational resources are available for further review regarding monkeypox signs and symptoms, how it spreads, prevention and more. 

• World Health Organization
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Georgia Department of Public Health
   

When building your schedule, reflect on how your courses worked during previous semesters and talk with your advisor or faculty mentor.

Read the descriptions that follow to identify how classes will be taught and listed in the GGC schedule of courses.

Online

"Online" with "TBA" times and days: asynchronous class – you log in and complete according to stated deadlines, but there is no regular time when you and your classmates meet together.

"Online" with specific times and days: class meets synchronously – you will log on to an online platform to experience class at the same time as your classmates.

Hybrid

Hybrid includes a vast majority of in-person interactive instruction with students rotating in the classroom space.

Face-to-face

Listed class has neither online nor hybrid labels and meets in person.

eCore

"Online" with "TBA" for both times/dates and instructor: Usually an eCore class is taught by USG faculty, but not GGC faculty.

Student Life

GGC will continue traditional student life activities and follow Georgia Department of Public Health guidelines in mitigating issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic during student programs and activities.

Events and Gatherings

As the University System of Georgia has instructed, GGC will follow the most recent executive order from the governor related to events and gatherings. GGC may also establish specific guidelines for hosting events and gatherings. Any campus specific guidelines will be communicated.

GGC Athletics

GGC will continue to follow COVID-19 guidelines of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Vaccinations

At this time, GGC does not require proof of vaccination. The college continues to educate and remind students, faculty, and staff of the individual responsibility to practice all of the behaviors known to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including encouraging vaccination against the disease.

Search for a location convenient to you on Vaccines.gov.

On Campus Drop-in Vaccination Dates

GGC partners with Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) to provide COVID-19 vaccine clinics on campus for Pfizer-BioNTech first and second vaccine doses and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen single vaccine dose. CORE will also offer booster shots.

Student Center, third-floor lounge
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Social Distancing

Fully vaccinated individuals can resume campus classes and other activities without physically distancing. Unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to continue socially distancing from others when possible.

Face Coverings

The University System of Georgia and GGC work closely with the Georgia Department of Public Health and encourage people to wear masks based on their preference and assessment of personal risk. People may choose to wear a mask at any time. People with COVID-19 symptoms, a positive COVID-19 test or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.

Hand Sanitizer Availability

Hand sanitizer stations are available in all campus facilities. Hand sanitizer (one gallon container) is available upon request for classrooms, office suites and other functional areas by emailing facilities@ggc.edu.

Symptoms of COVID-19

• Fever (measured temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or you feel feverish)
• Chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Testing Resources

Free testing for COVID-19 is available from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Testing may also be available through your primary care physician or local pharmacy clinic. GGC does not offer COVID-19 testing on campus. GGC Health Services does not offer COVID-19 testing.

• COVID-19 and testing information from Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale County Health Departments or call 770.513.5631
• Georgia Department of Health testing sites
• Direct patient phone lines for Georgia Department of Health COVID-19 testing

Reporting COVID-19 Positive

Students who test positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate at home until they have recovered.

If you have tested positive at any testing site or facility, please self-report using the COVID-19 student report form.

Student Quarantine Instructions

If you tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status:

• Isolate at home for 5 days from the date symptoms first appeared or, if asymptomatic, the date of the positive test. Stay away from others in the household as much as possible during isolation.
• After 5 days, if you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving and you have not had fever for more than 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, you may end isolation. If symptoms are not improving or fever has not resolved, you should continue isolating until these criteria are met.
• After ending isolation, you should continue to wear a mask around others for 5 days.

Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.

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.

Missed class time due to COVID-19

Your instructors will work with you to help you get caught up. Other options, including a medical withdrawal, may also be open to you.

Reporting COVID-19 Positive

Faculty and staff who test positive should stay home from work and contact their health care provider as well as the local department of public health.

Should a student tell a faculty member that they have COVID-19, the faculty member should refer them to fill out the COVID-19 student report form. The class continues in person as normal, and arrangements in terms of make-up work should be made between the student and the faculty member.

Faculty and Staff Quarantine Instructions

If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you are:

• Boosted, or have become fully vaccinated within the last 6 months (Moderna or Pfizer vaccine) or within the last 2 months (J&J vaccine):
  • You do not need to quarantine at home.
  • You should wear a mask around others for 10 days.
  • If possible, get tested on day 5.
  • If you develop symptoms, get tested and isolate at home until test results are received, then proceed in accordance with the test results.
• Unvaccinated, or became fully vaccinated more than 6 months ago (Moderna or Pfizer vaccine) or more than 2 months ago (J&J vaccine) and have not received a booster:
  • You must quarantine at home for 5 days. After that, continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
  • If possible, get tested on day 5.
  • If you develop symptoms, get tested and isolate at home until test results are received, then proceed in accordance with the test results.

Contact Sandy Schneider, Payroll and Benefits, at 678.407.5054 or email benefits@ggc.edu. Additional assistance / instructions on requirements for absences and return to work will be provided.

Missed work time due to COVID-19

Employees should contact Sandra Schneider, Payroll and Benefits, at 678.407.5054 or email benefits@ggc.edu for additional assistance / instructions on requirements for absences and return to work. Test results should be provided to Payroll and Benefits so they may handle appropriate notifications while ensuring confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Faculty notifications will be made to the Provost's office by Payroll and Benefits. Payroll and Benefits will maintain contact with employees during the period of their illness.

If well enough to work from home, faculty and staff may be allowed to perform their duties virtually for 5 calendar days. Supervisor approval is required for any telework. If the nature of an employee’s work does not allow for telework, accumulated sick leave time must be used. Provost approval is required for all faculty requests where a temporary change of instructional format (online/telework) is warranted. If an employee is not completely recovered by the end of the 5-calendar day period, employees will be transitioned to a sick leave status under applicable leave options to focus on their recovery. As a reminder, after five continuous days of any sick related absence, employees are to provide medical documentation to Payroll and Benefits to support appropriate review of leave options.

• COVID Vaccine | Georgia Department of Public Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• CDC Information for Travelers
• American Sign Language Videos: 
  • General instruction for a disposable respirator
  • Surgeon General: How to Make Your Own Face Mask
  • ASL Video COVID-19 Self Checker
  • ASL How to make a cloth mask to slow the spread of COVID-19
  • ASL Video Social Distancing
• Georgia COVID-19 Data Hub
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• University System of Georgia
• COVID-19 Cyber Scams:
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation: Sees rise in fraud schemes related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
  • Defending Against COVID-19 Cyber Scams
• Federal Trade Commission: Coronavirus Advice for Consumers
• Environmental Protection Agency: Air Cleaners, HVAC Filters, and Coronavirus (COVID-19)

All guidance listed is subject to change based on recommendations from the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH). GGC will continue to coordinate with the University System of Georgia (USG) in order to implement all relevant guidance and to update policies and procedures as circumstances warrant.

Spring 2020

Title IV and Pell Grant eligible students (based on completed FAFSA) enrolled in spring classes who transitioned to online after March 13, 2020 were automatically awarded. All others will need to apply.

CARES Act/Student Emergency Fund Request form (login required)

For student enrolled in Spring 2020 (only):

• $900: Qualified full-time students (12 or more credit hours)
• $450: Qualified part-time students (6-11 credit hours)

Fund distribution began during the week of April 27 to qualified Pell Grant eligible students. Students who submitted an application for assistance received any approved funds as soon as possible following a thorough review of the application.

Eligible students receive updated financial aid notification with their CARES Act award through their GGC Claw Mail email.

If the student is eligible, CARES Act funds will be processed in Grizzly Den within Banner. CARES Act funds will be disbursed by the student’s preferred method of payment on file with the College. For quicker delivery, we encourage students who are not currently enrolled in direct deposit to sign up through Student Account Center (login required).

For CARES Act Funds: April 2020 – February 2021

Funds were made available for students who have a FAFSA on file and who applied for assistance by completing and submitting the emergency funding application. These requests were granted based on the individual’s need and circumstance. Additional funding is intended for expenses related to the disruption of campus due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).

Students applying for emergency funds through the Grizzlies Helping Grizzlies program must provide documentation of their expenses. These requests are reviewed by a committee and the maximum amount a student can receive is $500.

GGC estimates that approximately 8,600 students may be eligible to receive CARES Act funding.

CARES Act Funds Awarded

Pell Grant eligible students (based on completed FAFSA) enrolled in spring classes 2021 who were registered on March 5, 2021 will automatically be awarded. All others will need to apply: HEERF Emergency Fund Request Form (login required).

For Pell Grant eligible students enrolled in Spring 2021:

• $800: Qualified full-time students (12 or more credit hours)
• $400: Qualified part-time students (6-11 credit hours)
• $150: Qualified less than half time students (1-5 credit hours)

There is a cap of $3,000 in CARES/HEERF II funds per student.

Fund distribution begins the week of March 8, 2021 to qualified Pell Grant eligible students. Students who submit an application for assistance receive any approved funds as soon as possible following a thorough review of the application. Applications for emergency funding are reviewed weekly.

Eligible students will receive an updated financial aid offer notification with their HEERF II award through their GGC Claw Mail email.

If a student is eligible, HEERF II funds will be processed in Grizzly Den within Banner. HEERF II funds will be disbursed by the student’s preferred method of payment on file with the College. For quicker delivery, we encourage students who are not currently enrolled in direct deposit to sign up through Student Account Center (login required).

Funds may be available for students who are lawfully present in the United States, are not international students and who apply for assistance by completing and submitting the HEERF Emergency Fund Request Form (login required). These requests will be granted based on available funding, GGC’s awarding protocols as approved by the Board of Regents, and a student’s need and circumstance. This funding is intended for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. 

Students who self-identify their needs by completing a CARES Act/Student Emergency Fund Request form (login required) can apply for these funds regardless of whether or not they have completed a FAFSA form. The need will be evaluated and funds may be awarded based on eligibility and demonstrated need.

Students who have not submitted a FAFSA application can complete and submit their FAFSA form as soon as possible (no later than June 30, 2022). In the event new FAFSA applicants receive Title IV eligibility status, GGC will work to provide HEERF II fund allocations to these students as soon as possible.

Students who apply for HEERF II funding for the Spring 2022 semester will need to complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA.

GGC estimates that approximately 8,600 students may be eligible to receive HEERF II funding.

HEERF II Funds Awarded

HEERF III Funds Awarded