(Butler, PA) Butler County Community College will temporarily require face coverings to be worn indoors at all BC3 locations because of an increase in community transmission levels of COVID-19 in the counties the college serves.
The requirement applies to students, faculty, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, and takes effect Aug. 19 at BC3 locations in Armstrong, Butler, Jefferson, Lawrence and Mercer counties.
The college encourages, but will not require, a COVID-19 vaccination for students, faculty and staff. Students and faculty in BC3’s credit and noncredit health care programs who attend clinical experiences at health care facilities may be required by the facilities to be fully vaccinated.
BC3’s main campus this fall will host voluntary vaccination clinics, facilitated by Butler Health System, and voluntary COVID-19 testing, facilitated by Primary Health Network. Scheduled dates and times for vaccinations and testing will be posted on the college’s bc3.edu/covid webpage, as will a list of suggested vaccination and testing sites near BC3’s other locations.
The college’s Amy Wise Children’s Creative Learning Center, Pioneer and Logan cafes, and Pioneer Fitness Center will be open this fall.
BC3’s intercollegiate athletics programs are scheduled to begin competition later this month. Athletes and coaches must comply with terms of the college’s athletics programs for the fall semester, which include routine testing for COVID-19 in order to maintain their eligibility or position.
The college will welcome the return of faculty at convocation on its main campus Aug. 19 and new students for orientation on its main campus and additional locations Aug. 20. Convocation will also have a livestream option and new student orientation will follow updated mitigation measures.
BC3’s fall semester begins Aug. 23 with approximately 83 percent of credit classes scheduled as face-to-face. Other formats are remote, online, hybrid and iTV. The college’s noncredit classes will be held in face-to-face, online and hybrid formats.
Credit classes offered through face-to-face and hybrid formats will operate at normal occupancy to accommodate enrollment.
BC3’s facilities will have traditional seating arrangements this semester. Physical distancing will be encouraged, but not required, when in a space that can accommodate six feet between individuals.
Individuals who claim a medical exemption with regard to wearing a face covering must provide proper documentation from a medical professional. Adaptations may be made to a classroom to provide proper accommodation for the individual.
Face coverings may be removed indoors when eating and drinking only in the Pioneer and Logan cafes, including the top level of the Heaton Family Learning Commons on BC3’s main campus, and at designated areas at BC3’s other locations.
BC3 will permit only college-related in-person meetings, gatherings and events for the fall semester.
For more information, visit www.bc3.edu/covid.
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