Health & Safety Protocols

Your safety matters. Austin Community College District’s health and safety protocols follow guidance from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Texas Department of Health Services, and local health departments. 

The college supports the use of face masks on campus and encourages social distancing to help reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and better ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all students, faculty, and staff, especially those who are most at-risk.

View Austin Community College District's COVID-19 Return to Campus Health & Safety Protocols.

  • Reporting COVID-19 Protocols
    • COVID-19 Reporting Flowchart

      Find ACC's "COVID Instructions for ACC Students, Faculty, and Staff" flowchart here. 

      Self-Reporting

      · If you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days; are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19; or been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days; stay home, contact your primary care provider, and complete ACC’s COVID-19 self-report form.
      Definition of Exposure: You have been in close contact (within 6 feet) of the individual for a total of 15 minutes or more, over a 24-hour period.  
      · Upon receipt of the self-reporting form, the individual will receive further instructions from the college’s contact tracing team.
      · As always, call 911 for emergency situations.

      Contact Tracing

      · The college initiates contact tracing for on-campus COVID-19 incidents to determine exposures.

      Supervisor & Staff Responsibilities

      · Under no circumstances should you disclose the identity of an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 or may have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19; this is a violation of their confidentiality.
      · When an individual shares with you that they are positive for COVID-19, urge them to go home or stay home, seek medical care if needed, follow their healthcare provider’s instructions, and complete ACC’s self-reporting form.
      · If an individual is unable or unwilling to complete the self-reporting form, contact Dr. Michael Garcia, ACC’s executive director of Regulatory Affairs, at michael.garcia@austincc.edu.

      Employee Leave and Additional Resources
      · Employees who are working remotely can continue to work remotely when approved, as long as they are able to perform the essential functions of their job.
      · If essential and core work functions must be performed on campus and the employee is not able to return to work due to a COVID-19 related reason (contact or exposure) or illness, the employee will not be able to continue to work remotely. The employee should use their accrued leave (sick, vacation, or personal) for their absence.
      · When an employee is not able to return to work for any reason related to COVID-19, the employee should use their accrued leave (sick, vacation, or personal) for their absence.
      · In any situation, an employee who is out sick for 3 or more days must submit a physician’s note to return to work to hrbenefits@austincc.edu prior to returning from leave.

    • On-Campus Protocols
        • Sanitize: Wash and sanitize your hands prior to entering a classroom, office, or facility. Hand sanitizing stations, disinfecting wipes, soap, and water are readily available.
        • Social Distance: The college asks that everyone continue to respect the personal space of others and practice safe social distancing, usually considered to be three-to-six feet of separation. Follow floor stickers that are placed throughout the campus to help guide social distancing in high traffic areas. Schedules are staggered and courses have been divided into smaller sections to minimize contact with individuals.
        • Face Masks: Per ACC District Board of Trustees policy, anyone who is 2 years of age or older in an ACC facility is required to wear a face mask effective August 20, 2021. This is consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which makes clear that face coverings, in addition to social distancing measures, are among the most effective strategies in limiting the spread of COVID-19. Non-medical masks will be available for you at ACC facilities should you forget to bring one. 
        • ID Badges: Students and employees are expected to carry their student, faculty, or staff ID badge at all times while on campus. Badges (ID cards) must be visible. Visitors must obtain and wear a visitor badge. Contractors must display proper identification. These may be obtained by checking in at the Campus Manager’s office upon arrival. 
        • Visitor Check-In: Any member of the public entering an ACC facility (not a student, faculty member, or staff person) should report to the Campus Manager’s office for screening and to obtain a visitors badge. 
    • Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols

      • ACC follows cleaning and disinfecting guidance from the CDC and WHO and supplemented with Ecolab expertise for commercial facilities and office buildings. All disinfectants used at ACC are approved by the EPA for use against the Novel Coronavirus. Specific cleaning and disinfecting protocols at ACC include, but are not limited to, the following:

        • ACC's Campus Operations Quality Control staff regularly and frequently clean and disinfect any and all high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, tables, chairs, and restrooms.
        • You are reminded to disinfect personal electronics on a regular basis.
        • Hand sanitizer is available in or near every classroom.
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • COVID-19 Vaccinations
    • ACC offers on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinics for eligible members of the ACC community. All students, employees, and members of the community who are at least 12 years old are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations at ACC. Please note, those between the ages of 12-17 years old need a parent or legal guardian present. All appointments are walk-up and available on a first-come, first-served basis unless otherwise noted. View the schedule here. 
  • Face Mask Protocols
    • Effective Monday, March 21, 2022, face masks are optional.