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FAQs
COVID-19 Vaccination
What is Berkeley's Policy Regarding the Vaccine?

Berkeley College holds as paramount the health and safety of every member of its community. Maintaining a safe learning environment is a shared responsibility.

Students are not currently required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in order to attend on-campus classes, however, all students are strongly encouraged to receive one of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the FDA. Individuals are generally considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second dose in a two-dose series (such as Pfizer or Moderna); or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine (such as Johnson & Johnson Janssen). Berkeley reserves the right to request proof of vaccination at any time.

Testing
Can I come to campus if I have taken a COVID-19 test but I am still waiting for the results?

No. If you took a test for COVID-19 and are still waiting for the results, you cannot come to campus and should isolate at home until you know your results. Once you receive your results, if they are negative, you can end your isolation.

If your test results are positive for COVID-19, however, please continue to isolate at home and please follow CDC guidance for isolation and precautions for COVID-19 positive individuals. The CDC also provides an interactive Quarantine and Isolation Calculator for COVID-19 positive individuals to use. Please see the answer to the next question (regarding testing positive for COVID-19) for additional information.

If you regularly test for COVID-19 as a work or clinical requirement, however, and are waiting for your COVID-19 test results which are required for your work or clinical site, and you were not a close contact of someone who recently tested positive for COVID-19, and you are feeling well, you can enter campus.

Positive COVID-19 Test Results
I tested positive for COVID-19, who do I need to notify at Berkeley? Can I come to campus?

Please isolate at home and follow CDC guidance for isolation and precautions for people with COVID-19 which state:

  • If you test positive and have no symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5. Day 0 is the day you took the COVID-19 test for which your results were positive.
  • If you test positive and have symptoms, but your symptoms are improving, and you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication), you may end isolation after day 5. Day 0 is the day you took the COVID-19 test for which your results were positive.
  • If you test positive, but your symptoms are not improving after 5 days in isolation, continue to isolate until your symptoms are improving and you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). Day 0 is the day you took the COVID-19 test for which your results were positive.
  • If you test positive and experience symptoms of moderate illness which include shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, you need to isolate through day 10. Day 0 is the day you took the COVID-19 test for which your results were positive. If you are unsure if your symptoms are moderate, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.
  • If you test positive and experience severe illness (you were hospitalized), or if you have a weakened immune system, you need to isolate through day 10 and should consult your doctor before ending isolation. If you are unsure if your symptoms are severe or are unsure if you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.

Please contact each of your professors to let them know that you cannot attend or participate in class in person (for onsite classes) or that you are not able to participate in online classes if your symptoms are too severe to allow you to complete coursework. You will need to arrange to make up any work that you miss. If you are having difficulty contacting your professors, contact your Academic Advisor for assistance with this.

Close Contact with Someone Sick
I found out that I was a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Can I come to campus?

If you were a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please do the following:

  • If you have no symptoms you may come to campus, however, you will need to monitor for symptoms and take precautions (such as wearing a mask when indoors around others and practicing social distancing) until day 10. The date of exposure is considered day 0.
  • If you develop symptoms, stay home and get tested.
  • If you test positive, isolate at home and follow CDC guidance for isolation and precautions for people with COVID-19. The CDC also provides an interactive Quarantine and Isolation Calculator for COVID-19 positive individuals to use. Please see the answer to the question above (about testing positive for COVID-19) for more detailed information.
Face Covering and Masks
Will students have to wear face coverings while on campus?

Masks are recommended on Berkeley College shuttles and in all indoor spaces on campuses but are not required (except for certain periods of time after testing positive or coming in close contact with someone who tested positive.

If a student is unable to wear a face covering due a medical condition, the student can request a reasonable accommodation under the ADA Policy. Each individual campus has a Disability Services representative via the Personal Counseling Office. Contact information for the College Personal Counselors can be found on the Berkeley College Health and Wellness website. To request an accommodation, please contact Disability Services/Personal Counseling at Counseling and Wellness or Disability Services

Academic Accommodations
Are academic accommodations available under the Americans with Disabilities Act for students who tested positive for COVID-19 who have symptoms that are not improving after 10 days and that are preventing them from participating in their courses and completing assignments on time?
If students who have tested positive for COVID-19 are still unable to participate in their courses after 10 days due to their symptoms, they should speak with their academic advisors and professors to determine if they should remain or withdraw from their courses. Students may be eligible for accommodations under the ADA if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms beyond 10 days which are greatly limiting their ability to participate in class, learn, or other major life activities. To qualify as a disability the student must apply for disability accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services and have a licensed treatment provider complete documentation supporting their disability.