COVID-19 Policy

I. Purpose

BYU–Hawaii strives to protect its students, faculty, staff, and all who come on campus during a pandemic. The purpose of this temporary policy is to outline the university’s approach to the health and safety threat of COVID-19.

BYU–Hawaii and its Board of Trustees have chosen to maintain the best protection due to the specific circumstances at BYU–Hawaii. These include a very large gathering of students from more than 50 countries, frequent international travel by students and faculty, a small and at-risk community, frequent interactions with non-residents in employment situations, and extremely limited medical care in proximity to campus. These circumstances are unique, even among universities in Hawaii. It is essential that students, faculty, staff, and all who come on campus comply with these directives to protect the health and well-being of the university ‘ohana. The policy references certain guidelines, recommendations, and orders by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH), the State of Hawaii, the City & County of Honolulu, and the federal government. This policy continues to evolve dependent on disease prevalence, vaccination levels, consultation with stakeholders and guidance from state and local governments.

II. COVID-19 Personal Safety Basics

Recommendations if You Have COVID-19 Symptoms or Test Positive for COVID-19

Isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but have not yet received your test results.
If your test results are positive, isolate for five (5) days until you are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your symptoms are improving or you never had symptoms.
After the isolation period has ended, you may return to work or class and must wear a well-fitting face mask around others, in all settings, for an additional 5 days.

Recommendations if You Have Been Exposed to COVID-19

Wear a high-quality face mask for 10 days and get tested on day five (5).

III. Isolation

Isolation keeps someone who is sick or has tested positive for COVID-19, with or without symptoms, away from others, including in their own home. Isolation is required if you feel sick, think you might have COVID-19, or test positive for COVID-19.

BYU–Hawaii follows the same isolation protocols as the state of Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH). For more information about isolation, visit the DOH Testing, Isolation, & Quarantine page.

IV. Quarantine

A. Close Contact Quarantine

Quarantine keeps someone who was, or may have been, in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 away from others. Unless fully vaccinated, quarantine is required if you had close contact with a person who is symptomatic or tested positive for COVID-19.

Students both on- and off-campus are to isolate/quarantine in their own living spaces (dorm rooms, private rooms, etc.).

BYU–Hawaii follows the same quarantine protocols as the HDOH. For more information about isolation, view the DOH Instructions for Close Contacts of a Person with COVID-19.

V. Students Who Test Positive

Students who test positive are advised to reach out to their instructor and inform them of their situation. Instructors will work with the student(s) regarding course assignments.

VI. Students Arriving to Campus

Arrivals to Hawaii must follow state travel protocols. Use the following links for more information and to complete the needed forms: https://www.oneoahu.org/travel and https://travel.hawaii.gov/#/.

Students coming to campus must be fully vaccinated and provide vaccination verification to Health Services.

VII. Testing

Individuals may also contact Health Services for COVID-19 testing.

VIII. Vaccinations and Booster Shot

All students are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as part of the university immunization requirement. Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated and get the booster shot when available.

Faculty and staff can submit proof of their COVID-19 vaccination using Workday. Students can submit proof of their COVID-19 vaccination by emailing a photo of their vaccination card to Health Services at healthcenter@byuh.edu.

Vaccinated Persons:

are allowed to travel on university business.

Vaccinated persons should continue to:

Follow state requirements for COVID-19 management including use of face coverings.
Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

IX. Compliance

All BYUH employees, students, faculty, and staff must follow the above guidelines for quarantine, isolation, vaccination, and testing, as well as State of Hawaii and Honolulu City/County COVID orders.

Consequences of Noncompliance – Faculty/Staff

If an instance of employee noncompliance is reported, management, in consultation with the director of Human Resources, will determine whether the facts of the situation accurately describe an incident of noncompliance. If so, the following consequences may be applied:

First Interaction: Verbal warning with a clear explanation of consequences for subsequent violations.
Second Interaction: Three-day suspension without pay.
Third violation: Disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

Providing fraudulent proof of vaccination will result in the employee being terminated. Falsifying a COVID-19 vaccination record card is also illegal and violators are punishable by a fine and imprisonment.

Consequences of Noncompliance – Students

If an instance of student noncompliance is reported, Ho'okahua will determine whether the facts of the situation accurately describe an incident of noncompliance. If so, the following consequences may be applied:

First Interaction: Verbal Warning with discussion as to the violation was committed, possible solutions,
and consequences for a subsequent violation.
Second Interaction: Suspension from school.

Providing Fraudulent proof of vaccination will result in the student being permanently dismissed from school. Falsifying a COVID-19 vaccination record card is also illegal and violators are punishable by a fine and imprisonment.

X. Contact Tracing

BYU–Hawaii contact tracers, Campus Safety, and Health Services work in coordination with HDOH to contact individuals who have been in close contact or have tested positive with COVID-19 to monitor their status in conjunction with CDC and HDOH guidelines. Contact tracers are authorized to make the decisions for isolation and quarantine requirements.

XI. Who to Contact

Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19, contact their healthcare provider immediately, and employees and students are also encouraged to self-report by filling out the COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form online on the BYUH Health Services webpage, or by calling the numbers below:

Health Services (808) 675-3510
Campus Safety (808) 675-3281 or (808) 675-3411; (808) 780-8875

Employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 should also contact their immediate supervisor.

XII. Face Coverings (Masks)

Face coverings no longer required on campus except in the Health Center. Individuals may still choose to wear masks in any setting. If you choose to wear a mask, a well-fitting N95 mask is recommended.

XIII. Social Gatherings

Contact Information
Event Services & Outreach scheduling@byuh.edu
(808) 675-3474

XIV. COVID-19 Employee Benefits Related to Absences

Starting June 1, 2021, all employees are to return to in-person work on campus.

The following clarification is provided relating to employee benefits:

Employees who are ill and/or have COVID-19 should use sick leave benefits.
Employees in self-isolation or quarantine (but are not ill) should use vacation or sick leave for hours away from work.
Employees caring for immediate family members who are ill should use their sick or vacation benefit for hours away from work.
Part-time employees and student employees unable to work will not receive pay for work missed due to isolation or quarantine.
Any employee who violates any guideline of isolation or quarantine will be subject to university discipline.
Employees with no sick or vacation benefit who are required to quarantine will not receive pay for work missed due to isolation
or quarantine.

XV. COVID Cleaning and Disinfecting

Supervisors notified by one of their employees, visitors, or contractors that he/she has tested positive or who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 should contact Campus Safety immediately to take appropriate measures to clean and disinfect the area.

Campus Safety will notify the department when the area has been appropriately disinfected and open for use. Employees who did not have close contact with the person can return to work immediately.

XVI. Contact Information

Campus Safety & Risk Manager (808) 675-3411/(808) 780-8875
Campus Safety (808) 675-3281/byuhsafety@byuh.edu

XVII. Confidentiality

Personal information collected by the university regarding COVID-19 and vaccination status must be kept confidential and shared only with authorized on a need-to-know basis.