COVID-19

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements & Information

Beginning fall, 2022 DI has suspended the vaccine requirement as a condition for student enrollment until further notice. DI strongly recommends students to be vaccinated to protect against the Corona Virus as data analyzed by the CDC shows individuals fully vaccinated and boosted are less likely to contract COVID-19 and far less likely to suffer fatal illness. We request students who are vaccinated to voluntarily provide a copy of their vaccine records should the need arise to reinstitute the vaccine requirement. Currently face coverings are still required for all individuals on campus. Please note that we will continue to monitor cases and we will update the community as needed. DI reserves the right to change or alter the current vaccination policy.

DI is providing the following information to help students, faculty, staff and their families make an informed decision.

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the DI Library’s Vaccine Information Guide.

DI Reporting Policy

Design Institute of San Diego COVID-19 Reporting Policy

All individuals are encouraged to consult with a licensed health care provider and take recommended COVID-19 tests if they suspect they have been exposed to COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution for the health and welfare of the DI community and beyond, DI is asking students, faculty and staff to self-report a positive COVID-19 test or possible exposure to the dedicated DI Campus Wellness representative at campus.wellness@disd.edu.

In addition, if you suspect you have been exposed to or infected with COVD-19, follow the Centers for Disease Control guideline.

Notification and Response Protocol in the Event of a Positive COVID-19 Report

If a student, faculty or staff tests positive for COVID-19, a confidential report will be sent to the DI Campus Wellness representative. DI will assess the credibility of every self-report to determine whether to provide an update to the campus community. If a confirmed or credible positive COVID-19 incident is reported, DI will update the campus community but WILL NOT share the identity of the person(s).

Review the HIPAA Privacy policy for specific regulations on sharing patient information.

Further, DI will take the following steps when there has been any such report on our campus:

Determine the day and time the COVID-19 case was last present and, to the extent possible, the date of the positive COVID-19 test(s) and/or diagnosis, and the date the COVID-19 case first had one or more COVID-19 symptoms, if any were experienced.
Determine who may have had a COVID-19 exposure. This requires an evaluation of the activities of the COVID-19 case and all locations at the campus which may have been visited by the COVID-19 case during the high-risk exposure period.
Give notice of the potential COVID-19 exposure, within one business day, in a way that does not reveal any personal identifying information of the COVID-19 case, to the following:
- All individuals who may have had COVID-19 exposure.
- Independent contractors and others present at or who travelled through the campus during the high-risk exposure period.
Investigate whether any DI campus conditions could have contributed to the risk of COVID-19 exposure and what could be done to reduce exposure to COVID-19 hazards.

Personal identifying information of COVID-19 cases or persons with COVID-19 symptoms shall be kept confidential. If an investigation results in the identification of a COVID-19 hazard, DI will correct the hazard in a timely manner. The DI Community is encouraged to work with DI in any investigations so that DI can adequately and promptly identify, evaluate and respond to any COVID-19 hazards.

PROTOCOL IF EXPOSURE TO, CONFIRMED, OR SUSPECTED COVID-19 CASE

In order to ensure that transmission of known or suspected COVID-19 cases is reduced, DI has instituted the following policies:

Symptomatic COVID-19 Cases: Any known COVID-19 cases with COVID-19 symptoms shall not return to campus until:

At least 24 hours have passed since a fever of 100.4°F or higher has resolved without the use of fever-reducing medications;
COVID-19 symptoms have improved; and
At least five (5) days have passed since COVID-19 symptoms first appeared.
Continue to wear a mask around others for five (5) additional days.

Asymptomatic COVID-19 Cases: COVID-19 cases who tested positive but never developed COVID-19 symptoms shall not return to campus until a minimum of 5 days have passed since the date of specimen collection of their first positive COVID-19 test.

Individuals Subject to Isolation or Quarantine Orders: If an order to isolate or quarantine an individual is issued by a local or state health official, the individual shall not return to campus until the period of isolation or quarantine is completed or the order is lifted. If no period was specified, then the period shall be 5 days from the time the order to isolate was effective, or 14 days from the time the order to quarantine was effective.

A negative COVID-19 test shall not be required for any student, faculty or staff to return to campus.

Students should contact their faculty and student.wellness@disd.edu immediately in the event of illness, isolation, or quarantine for assistance with missed coursework. All students will be supported individually.

Cleaning & Disinfecting Procedures

DI has contracted with JAN-PRO CLEANING SYSTEMS, INC., a cleaning and sanitation provider (Jan-Pro). Jan-Pro will provide all daily cleaning and sanitation of the school, including on-going comprehensive disinfecting of the entire campus, on-site day-porter services scheduled throughout the day, and a full evening crew. Jan-Pro is experienced with disinfection, rapid response, and COVID-19 cleaning technology. DI facilities will be cleaned when necessary utilizing electromagnetic fogging with the Sniper chemical for Enviroshield. All cleaning products and processes meet or exceed the CDC guidelines. Additionally, Molekule air purifiers with patented PECO technology are in use in shared office spaces, the library, and active classrooms.

The Jan-Pro process will include:

Cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces within all buildings daily;
Cleaning classrooms, restrooms, lounges, and main lobby/reception area when not in use during the day; and
May use CDC-approved disinfectants, electrostatic sprayers, dry fogging, and UV wand devices to ensure effective cleaning measures.

DI Polices & Forms

Health & Safety Preparedness Plan

FAQs

Support

It is important to DI that all of the DI Community feels supported during this time of uncertainty. Below is a list of resources that students, faculty, and staff can utilize if needed.