COVID-19 FAQs
Alliant prioritizes the health, safety, and wellbeing of our community and continues to monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This prioritization informs the following policies and procedures. In its decision-making regarding COVID-19, Alliant follows the guidance of county, state, and federal guidelines. Please note that these policies and procedures are subject to change in accordance with these guidelines.
Alliant University has assembled this collection of Frequently Asked Questions to assist our students, staff, and faculty as we maneuver the changing landscape. Check back often. We will update this page regularly.
Questions? Contact the RTC team at AlliantUniversity@alliant.edu
Latest News & Updates
Indoor Mask Mandate Lifted at Emeryville Campus per Health Officer of the County of Alameda – June 29, 2022
Please note that masks are no longer mandated indoors on the Emeryville campus. The mask mandate that was reinstituted earlier this month has been rescinded by the Health Officer of the County of Alameda. Please see the official statement here: https://covid-19.acgov.org/covid19-assets/docs/press/press-release-2022.06.24.pdfThis updated policy is effective immediately.
As always, the health, safety, and wellbeing of our community is our top priority. Our inter-disciplinary Return to Campus (RTC) team continues to meet and monitor updates to public health guidance. We will make any additional changes to our campus policy as needed in response to these health directives.
Masks are still available on campus for anyone who may need one. Please contact your campus director, Julie Cosenza, with any questions.
We thank you for helping us keep our community safe.
Indoor Mask Mandate Reinstated at Emeryville Campus per Alameda County Public Health Order – June 6, 2022
In accordance with the June 2, 2022 Health Officer of the County of Alameda public health order, [HEALTH OFFICER ORDER NO. 22-02] Alliant International University is reinstating its mask mandate on the Emeryville campus.Individuals who are on campus are now required to be masked while indoors unless alone in a private office with a closed door.
This updated policy is effective as of Monday, June 6th.
As always, the health, safety, and wellbeing of our community is our top priority. Our inter-disciplinary Return to Campus (RTC) team continues to meet and monitor updates to public health guidance. We will make any additional changes to our campus policy as needed in response to these health directives.
Masks are available on campus for anyone who may need one. Please contact campus director, Julie Cosenza, with any questions.
We thank you for helping us keep our community safe.
In-Person Learning and Activities for ALL Ground-based Programs Starting May/Summer 2022 Terms – March 4, 2022
Effective for the May 2022 and Summer 2022 Terms, ALL ground-based programs will resume in-person learning at their respective campus.As it has been from the beginning of the pandemic, safeguarding the health, safety, and wellbeing of our communities will continue to be our top priority and our Return to Campus teams are making updates to our health and safety protocols, including masking and distancing, in congruence with changing health metrics and guidance from the California Department of Public Health SMARTER plan that was announced on February 17, 2022.
These changes will be made to support a full implementation of the return to ground-based learning for all ground-based programs effective the May 2022 term and Summer sessions.
Additional information about any changes to protocols will be communicated in future weeks as those decisions are made.
All planning for in-person activities has been, and will always be, guided by State of California regulations, CDC, and other local city and county public health agency mandates and guidelines for activities and in-person gatherings.
If you have specific questions about the University’s COVID-19 response plans, please send them to AlliantUniversity@alliant.edu.
We look forward to seeing you back on Campus for in-person learning starting in May.
For all previous updates visit the COVID-19 page.
COVID-19 Policies & Procedures – FAQs
COVID-19 General Safety Measures
What safety protocols are currently in place on Alliant Campuses?
As a condition of physical presence at any University facilities, including in on-ground classes and any events conducted on university property, all students, faculty, and staff must provide proof of full vaccination or be approved for an Exemption.
Campus ventilation systems meet required Cal/OSHA standards for air filtration and fresh air flow. Air filters at all campuses have been upgraded to Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 13 and fresh air circulation was expanded to 50 – 60% fresh air or to the maximum system allowance.
The University has implemented a routine cleaning schedule consistent with CDC Guidelines for Cleaning and Disinfecting. Janitorial staff will routinely clean workspaces, classrooms and public spaces. Additionally, surfaces frequently touched by multiple people, such as door handles, handrails, light switches, elevator buttons and faucets, will be cleaned and disinfected on a standardized schedule.
Are facial coverings required?
In accordance with the University’s current Facial Covering Requirement, if an Alliant campus is in a county that has a Center for Disease Control defined COVID-19 Community Level Rating of Low or Medium, and if local County guidelines do not otherwise mandate the use of face coverings, indoor masking is optional. Individuals may voluntarily wear a facial covering when not required if they wish to do so.
Please note that this policy may be updated at any time in accordance with local, state, and federal public health guidelines.
Individuals may voluntarily wear facial coverings at any time while on campus. We also highly recommend students, staff, and faculty to wear a mask when 6 feet of distance cannot be maintained, and close contact for more than 15 minutes is expected.
COVID-19 Vaccine Exemption Policy
Am I required to be vaccinated against COVID-19?
As a condition of physical presence at any University facilities, including in on-ground classes and any events conducted on university property, all students, faculty, and staff must provide proof of full vaccination or be approved for an Exemption.
What does fully vaccinated mean?
Alliant recognizes the vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and FDA for emergency use in the United States. Completing a series of one of these required vaccines is required to be fully vaccinated. Boosters are recommended but not required.
What vaccines will be accepted as proof of vaccination?
The following FDA-approved vaccines are accepted for meeting COVID-19 vaccine requirements:
- Pfizer
- Moderna
- Johnson & Johnson/Janssen
- Novavax
The following WHO-approved (emergency use listing, EUL) vaccines are accepted for meeting COVID-19 vaccine
- AstraZeneca
- Covishield
- Sinovac
- Sinopharm/BIBP
How do I provide proof of vaccination?
Students, faculty, and staff will upload proof of vaccination via the University’s third-party HIPAA-compliant portal via the instructions provided by Student Advisors or Human Resources.
What will be acceptable documentation of proof of vaccination status?
Alliant International University adheres to the California Department of Health Guidelines for Vaccination Records and will accept the following documents as proof of vaccination status:
- Covid-19 Vaccination Record Card (issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control & Prevention or WHO Yellow Card1) which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided, and date last dose administered); OR
- A photo of a vaccination card as a separate document
- A photo of your vaccine card stored on a phone or electronic device
- Documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider
- Digital record that includes a QR code that when scanned by a SMART Health Card reader displays to the reader your name, date of birth, vaccine dates and vaccine type
Who will maintain the vaccination records?
Where can I get vaccinated?
If you are not already vaccinated and wish to be, vaccine appointments can be made at many retail pharmacy locations, through https://myturn.ca.gov/, by calling (833) 422-5255, or through http://www.vaccines.gov.
I am enrolled in a fully online degree program. Does the vaccination policy apply to me?
What if I experience flu-like symptoms because of the vaccine, and I cannot attend classes?
What if I am not vaccinated because I have already had a confirmed case of COVID-19?
If I have already provided my vaccination information to Alliant International University, or have been approved for an exemption at Alliant International University, why do I have to provide the information separately to my clinical training/clinical experience site?
What are the consequences of non-compliance for students and employees?
Students: Students not in compliance with this policy will not be permitted to have physical presence on university facilities, in physical classrooms, or attend events conducted on the campus or any university facility. If a student is required to be physically present at a campus or affiliation location as a condition of participation in their academic program, and they are not in compliance with this policy, the student may not be permitted to register for future academic sessions and may receive a referral to the student disciplinary process.
Employees: Employees not in compliance with this policy will not be permitted to access university facilities, physical classrooms, or events conducted on university property. If an employee is required to be physically present at a university facility as a condition of their employment and they are not in compliance with this policy, the employee may be subject to disciplinary proceedings, as determined by the University.
This policy is subject to change at any time based on the needs of the University, and/or recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and directives from state, county, and local health authorities, or as circumstances dictate.
International Student Considerations for Vaccination
I was vaccinated in a country where the government increased the time between first and second vaccines longer than US labeling. Do I have to be revaccinated?
I was not able to access any vaccine in my country. Will I be allowed on campus?
COVID-19 Vaccine Exemption Policy
Are medical exemptions, disability exemptions, or religious exemptions allowed?
How do I apply for an exemption?
Students: Students covered by this policy who seek an exception (on medical, disability, or religious grounds) must complete an Exemption request form and submit it to the Office of Accessibility accessibility@alliant.edu. Exemption request forms may be accessed on the Student Hub COVID-19 page
Employees: Faculty and staff who seek an exemption (on medical, disability, or religious grounds) must complete the Medical Exemption, or Religious Exemption request forms. Faculty and staff submit to Human Resources at hrstaff@alliant.edu. Exemption request forms may be accessed on the Faculty and Staff COVID-19 Information page.
I am pregnant. Will I be eligible for a medical exemption?
How will exemption requests be documented and by whom?
COVID-19 Positive Case Reporting, Quarantine Procedures & Contact Tracing
Should I come to class or work if I am exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms?
What do I do if I test positive for COVID-19?
When can I return to campus if I have tested positive for COVID-19?
Will the University notify individuals who have been in close contact with a confirmed positive case on campus?
If the University receives confirmation that a student, faculty, or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19, a contact tracing investigation will be conducted by the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) to determine any students or faculty and staff who may have had close contact with the confirmed-positive student/faculty/staff in the prior 10 days. The exposure notification process is timely, respectful, and private; the name of the student, faculty, or staff member who tested positive will not be disclosed. Close contacts are not informed of the identity of the person who tested positive. They are informed that they have been in contact with someone who tested positive in a certain location and timeframe.
How is close contact defined?
Are there any other notifications of positive cases?
Do I need to notify the university if I have been exposed to COVID-19 off campus?
How can I manage missing class or work due to a positive test result?
Students: The process for managing absences from on-ground classes due to COVID-19 is managed individually between faculty and the affected student. This is in recognition that each course varies in the manners in which students can demonstrate requisite competency. Students who must miss an in-person class should work directly with their faculty to determine if participation via Zoom, an alternative educational assignment, or other approach is most appropriate.
Employees: Alliant works on a case-by-case basis with each employee who may be impacted and required to quarantine. Please be sure to work with your supervisor if you need to miss workdays. Employees may be entitled to COVID sick pay. Contact hrstaff@alliant.edu with questions.
Resources
Resources for Students: https://studentservices.alliant.edu/current-students/
Resources for Employees: https://alliantintluni.sharepoint.com/hr/SitePages/HRHome2.aspx