COVID-19 Updates
Ensuring Student Safety at HNU
Welcome to HNU's COVID-19 Response web page! First and foremost, we want to ensure the safest campus possible for our community.
Please take a look at our Covid Health and Safety Guidelines Page, which outlines our current health and safety protocols.
Announcements
Thank you for following COVID health and safety requirements throughout the pandemic, you have helped us ensure the safest possible campus experience for everyone. We have updated some of our requirements to better align with CDC and Alameda County guidelines.
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Current mask requirements:
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Masks are optional/recommended in the classroom.
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Masks are optional/recommended in the library.
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Masks are optional/recommended in the weight room and gym.
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Masks are required in the Athletic Training Room, as it is considered a medical facility.
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Masks are required in instances in which there is extended 1:1 contact in which confidentiality and therefore closed doors are required (such as counseling or other individual appointments).
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Epicurean employees will continue to wear masks in the Public Market for health and sanitary reasons.
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Residence Hall Guest Policy:
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Outside guests – including non-HNU students and other visitors – are now allowed in the residence halls, however overnight guests are still prohibited.
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No guests are allowed during quiet hours, which are 9pm to 8am on weeknights and 1am-8am on weekends.
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Events:
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You do not need to get approval from the COVID team to host an event. Please send requests directly to Campus Services (campusservices@hnu.edu).
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COVID capacity limits for events in VCPA, Chapel, and Gym, are no longer in place.
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If the event is indoors, masks are encouraged but not required.
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COVID vaccines are highly recommended for all guests, but we are no longer checking vaccination status before entry.
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Here is a link to the Covid site, where you can find our Fall 2022 Health & Safety Guide, case dashboard, and recent announcements: https://hnu.edu/about/covid-19-updates/
Thank you for all you are doing to keep our campus community safe!
Sincerely,
Luis Guerra & Laura Lyndon, on behalf of the Health and Safety Committee
Note: We reserve the right to update these policies at any time should there be changes to Alameda County Public Health and/or CDC guidance.
- Academic spaces including classrooms, library, and computer labs
- Instances in which there is either close physical contact (such as athletic training) or extended 1:1 contact in which confidentiality and therefore closed doors are required (such as counseling or other individual appointments).
Laura Lyndon on behalf of HNU’s COVID Response Team
Look for other important updates from the Health and Safety/COVID committee over the next week. In the meantime, stay well and enjoy the waning days of summer!
- While working alone in a closed office or room;
- While actively eating and/or drinking;
- While swimming or showering in a fitness facility;
- While obtaining a medical or cosmetic service involving the head or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service.
Thursday COVID testing at the Residence Life front desk will be discontinued for the remainder of the semester.
Testing is still available on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. outside of the Tobin Gym.
Laura Lyndon
Vice President for Student Affairs
Dear HNU students, faculty, and staff,
Given the changing requirements off campus and the extreme decline in cases on campus (we have had only one positive case in the past five weeks) the COVID team has recommended, and the cabinet has approved, making some adjustments to loosen our mask mandate on campus.
- The mask requirement will be lifted for moving around indoors and in open indoor spaces such as hallways, lounges, and communal areas. Because masks will still be required in some contexts (see below) everyone is encouraged to always have a mask available. Masks will also still be available in certain locations on campus.
- The mask requirement remains in place for larger events and instances where larger numbers of people will be gathering indoors for extended periods of time. These include:
- Academic spaces including classrooms, library, and computer labs
- Large events, such as indoor athletics competitions, concerts, other events in the VCPA and the chapel
- Indoor meetings with more than 10 people
- The mask requirement remains in place for instances in which there is either close physical contact (such as athletic training) or extended 1:1 contact in which confidentiality and therefore closed doors are required (such as counseling or other individual appointments).
- The mask requirement continues to apply across campus for any individuals who have an approved vaccination exemption, or have not met HNU’s full vaccination requirement, which includes the booster.
- The COVID team will continue to monitor both internal and external factors and reserve the option to revert to previous mandates at any time regardless of state and county guidelines.
Please be mindful that many individuals on campus may continue to wear a mask and may ask others to wear a mask in their presence. We ask that everyone respect – without question – the needs of those members of our community who may be immunocompromised, have family members at higher risk, or prefer to remain masked for any reason.
Best,
Laura LyndonVice President for Student Affairs
As many of you have seen in the news over the past few days, both the state of California and Alameda County are set to lift the indoor mask mandate on February 16th. There are two important things to note about the announcement – first that it provides for private organizations to determine their own requirements, and second that it clearly states that masks are strongly recommended.
Holy Names will continue the indoor mask requirement already in place until further notice.
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This decision aligns with the cautious approach we have adopted since the beginning of the pandemic, which has allowed us to keep cases low and prevent major outbreaks on campus. The COVID team has committed to evaluating this requirement monthly to assess the conditions on and off campus. Some factors that will contribute to that evaluation are the case counts on campus, as well as in the surrounding area, and the overall level of compliance with the booster requirement.
Other reminders:
The deadline for submitting proof of the booster is today.
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Staff and faculty should email HR@hnu.edu and students should email studentvaccine@hnu.edu with any questions about that requirement and how to submit documentation.
Envoy and entrance to campus.
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Anyone entering the campus is still expected to complete the questions on Envoy and show a picture ID at the gate. This is not a new requirement and monitoring of entrance to campus as well as symptom tracking are a key component of our COVID safety protocols. If you have questions or concerns about this policy, please direct them to the COVID team and not to the guards at the gate, who are doing what has been asked of them by the university.
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It may be a helpful reminder that completing the Envoy questions can be done from home prior to arriving on campus, then all that is required is to check in. Also having your ID out and ready will speed up the process at the gate.
We appreciate everyone’s participation in all these efforts to keep our community safe.
Laura Lyndon on behalf of HNU’s COVID Response Team
Dear HNU Community,
As we return to holding some in-person class meetings, the COVID Response Team would like to share guidance and resources related to masking.
CDC Mask GuidanceThe CDC provided updated guidance regarding masking this month that we would like to share: Masks and respirators (i.e., specialized filtering masks such as “N95s”) can provide different levels of protection depending on the type of mask and how they are used. Loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection, layered finely woven products offer more protection, well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s offer even more protection, and well-fitting NIOSH-approved respirators (including N95s) offer the highest level of protection. The CDC also offers guidance regarding how to choose the right mask for you and your situation.
Masks Available at HNU
If you do not have access to the recommended masks but would like to use them while on campus, a limited supply of N95, KN95, and surgical masks are now available in the following locations:
- The Library
- The Public Market
- The Residence Halls front desk
- Tobin Gym when testing is in session on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Again, supplies are limited so please take only what you need.
Thank you, everyone.
Laura Lyndon on behalf of HNU’s COVID Response Team
Dear HNU Community,
As you know, the Cabinet had postponed the beginning of in-person meetings for hybrid classes until the week of January 31. We are continuing to move forward with that plan.
Faculty, please make sure that the in-person meetings for your hybrid classes are clearly posted on Canvas. Everyone, please be advised that we are also moving back to our previous hybrid work model, with most departments working at least some days in person. Please check in with your manager or area VP if you have questions.
We know these still feel like uncertain times, so in preparation for some in-person meetings and activities, here are some reminders about our Covid protocols.
- Masks are required at all times indoors, regardless of vaccination status
- If a student isn’t wearing a mask in class; faculty should feel comfortable requiring them to put one on or leave the classroom.
- If a colleague isn’t wearing a mask; we should all feel comfortable requesting that they put one on.
HNU maintains its vaccination requirement, including a requirement for the booster when you are eligible.
- If you are not fully vaccinated (including the booster if eligible), you will be required to participate in weekly testing
- Faculty and staff should contact HR if they have questions about the booster requirement
- The deadline for providing documentation of the booster (to HR@hnu.edu), if eligible is February 14th.
The use of Envoy at the gate is still required; we will be updating Envoy’s questions to reflect current CDC and Alameda County guidelines.
On Mondays and Tuesdays, PCR testing is available to any member of the campus community, see the link to the COVID page below for detailed information about testing.
The Covid team regularly monitors testing results, performs contact tracing, and mandates isolation and quarantine as appropriate
- Covid cases are reported via the Dashboard; we are no longer sending case by case updates
- You would be contacted directly and immediately if you are identified as a close contact exposure
- All residents are required to provide a negative test upon return to the residence halls
- All athletes are tested regularly as part of NCAA protocols
If after reading the campus guide you have questions about protocols, or anything else, let us know.
Kimberly Bowers, PhD
Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Dear HNU students, staff, and faculty,
Due to the ongoing increase in COVID-19 cases during this Omicron surge, HNU has decided to further postpone any in-person class meetings (with the exception of nursing classes). At this time, the earliest any in-person class meetings would start is the week of January 31.
Please check Canvas and watch your HNU email for further updates from your professors regarding in-person class meetings.
We look forward to having the opportunity to meet in person once it is safe to do so.
Best,
Kim Bowers
January 10, 2022: Quarterly Budget, Expenditure, and Student Grant Reporting under HEERF II and HEERF III
In September of 2021, HNU expended all (a)(1) Institutional Portion and (a)(2) funds. Therefore, none of these funds were spent for the quarter ending December 30, 2021. See October 10, 2021, reporting for the final expenditures of these funds.
View HNU’s Quarterly Student Grant Reporting
Dear HNU students, faculty, and staff,
We hope that you have been enjoying time to rest and to be with loved ones during the winter break. As you likely already know, the Omicron variant has surged during the holiday season. To keep HNU as safe as possible, we have made the following updates in advance of our return to campus for the Spring semester:
- Spring 2022 Semester classes will begin on January 10 in fully-remote format (except for nursing classes). All classes previously scheduled to have in-person meetings will be taught remotely from January 10-21. If you’ve enrolled in classes with in-person meetings, you will see instructions on how to access class on Canvas and receive an email from your professor.
- Students who live on campus should watch their email for updates about move-in.
- Staff should consult with their manager and/or area VP regarding remote vs. in-person work for the next few weeks to reduce density on campus.
- HNU will be offering PCR tests on campus starting next week. See days, times, and instructions below.
Upcoming booster requirement
In accordance with CDC guidelines, we do plan to require the COVID-19 booster as part of our vaccination requirement. Information about the deadline and on-campus booster clinics will be coming shortly. In the meantime, we encourage all students, faculty, and staff to get a booster as soon as possible, as this is your best protection against Omicron. As a reminder, students submit their information to Symplicity and staff and faculty to hr@hnu.edu.
Lastly, masks are still required at all times while indoors on campus regardless of vaccination status. We also encourage social distancing and frequent hand washing.
Please stay safe, everyone! And enjoy the rest of winter break.
Best,
The COVID Response Team
On-Campus PCR Testing Dates
Tobin Gym from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 4
Wednesday, January 5
Friday, January 7
For the rest of January and beyond: Mondays and Tuesdays each week from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Registration Instructions:
Registration link: https://www.cityhealthuc.com/preregister
Access code: HOLYNAMES
Please pre-register before your first test.
Pre-registration includes a few questions, and uploading a picture of your insurance card and government issue ID. Note that you will only have to do this once.
When testing, you will scan the test QR code with your phone.
Test kits are made available on the day of testing outside of the Tobin gym area.
On-Campus PCR Testing Dates and Times
Testing for HNU students, faculty, and staff is available on
Mondays and Tuesdays each week from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. outside of the Tobin Gym.
Thursday 10-3 at the Housing Front Desk
Registration Instructions:
Registration link: https://www.cityhealthuc.com/preregister
Access code: HOLYNAMES
Please pre-register before your first test.
Pre-registration includes a few questions, and uploading a picture of your insurance card and government issue ID. Note that you will only have to do this once.
When testing, you will scan the test QR code with your phone.
Test kits are made available on the day of testing outside of the Tobin gym area.
The COVID Response Team has developed the following requirements for in-person campus events based on guidelines from the CDC, state, and county health departments.
NOTE: You may not advertise in-person events with outside guests without the approval of the COVID Response Team.
- Everyone who enters campus must register with the Envoy visitor management system, complete the health screening on the app, and check in with Envoy at the gate.
- HNU has implemented a vaccination requirement for students, staff, and faculty members who would like to access campus. This requirement extends to campus visitors, who will be asked their vaccination status when checking in via the Envoy app.
- Because the COVID vaccine is not yet available for children under five years old, we strongly recommend against inviting them to campus. If you would like to make a request to the COVID Response Team regarding guests under five, please do so in our Campus Event Request Form.
- Everyone must wear a mask over the nose, mouth, and chin when indoors and at all times if unvaccinated.
- In-person activities should be in outdoor spaces whenever possible to decrease the possibility of virus transmission.
- Any food and drink must be consumed outdoors or in the Public Market, which is currently set up for physical distancing.
- Note that we will maintain 50% capacity in all rooms and that updated capacity limits are now posted.
- The maximum number of guests for in-person events cannot exceed 50, with the exception of the Tobin Gym and the VCPA, with maximums of 150.
HNU Staff and Faculty: you may request to host an event on campus by submitting this form. Make sure you are logged into your HNU Microsoft Office 365 account.
HNU Students: If you would like to request events for your club or organization should reach out to Janice Argueta (argueta@hnu.edu) and follow the processes outlined. Other student event requests can go to Casey LaBarbera (labarbera@hnu.edu). These requests will be passed to the COVID Response Team before receiving final approval.
We had previously communicated that testing was highly recommended, but due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, testing at the point of move-in is now required.
Testing on your own: We will accept a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to your move in date and time.
Testing on Campus: Testing is available for those unable to obtain testing prior to their return to campus, however, please note that a positive test result will require quarantine, for which HNU has very limited space. If you test positive AFTER move-in, you may need to quarantine off-campus.
On-Campus PCR Testing Dates (Tobin Gym from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m).
- Friday, January 7
- Weekly on Mondays and Tuesdays through the semester
- For those moving in on the weekend, testing will also be provided at the front desk from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 8, and Sunday, January 9.
Registration Instructions: (Please pre-register before your first test.)
- Registration link
- Access code: HOLYNAMES
- Pre-registration includes a few questions and uploading a picture of your insurance card and government issue ID. Note that you will only have to do this once.
Campus Case Tracker
Please note that anyone who has been exposed on campus is notified once HNU’s COVID Response Team is made aware of a positive test result. Multiple cases identified in one day are not necessarily related.
| Date HNU was aware of positive case: | Student/Staff/Faculty |
|---|---|
| 4/3/20 | 1 Student |
| 10/3/20 | 1 Student |
| 11/6/20 | 1 Student |
| 11/9/20 | 1 Student |
| 11/21/20 | 1 Staff member |
| 11/25/20 | 1 Student |
| 11/27/20 | 1 Student |
| 12/1/20 | 1 Staff member (Contractor) |
| 1/10/21 | 1 Student |
| 1/10/21 | 1 Student |
| 1/16/21 | 3 Students |
| 1/21/21 | 1 Staff member (Contractor) |
| 1/22/21 | 2 Staff members (Contractors) |
| 1/28/21 | 1 Student |
| 3/1/21 | 1 Student |
| 3/2/21 | 1 Student |
| 3/12/21 | 1 Staff member (Contractor) |
| 8/18/21 | 1 Student |
| 8/30/21 | 1 Staff member |
| 9/1/21 | 1 Student |
| 9/8/21 | 1 Staff member (Contractor) |
| 9/17/21 | 1 Student |
| 9/30/21 | 1 Staff member |
| 12/6/21 | 1 Staff member |
| 12/7/21 | 1 Student |
| 12/20/21 | 1 Staff member |
| 12/20/21 | 1 Staff member |
| 12/22/21 | 1 Staff member |
| 12/26/21 | 1 Staff member |
| 12/27/21 | 1 Staff member |
| 12/28/21 | 1 Student and 1 Staff member |
| 12/31/21 | 1 Student |
| 1/4/22 | 1 Staff member |
| 1/5/22 | 2 Staff members |
| 1/7/22 | 1 Staff member |
| 1/8/22 | 1 Student and 1 Staff member |
| 1/9/22 | 2 Students |
| 1/10/22 | 1 Student and 1 Staff member |
| 1/11/22 | 4 Students and 1 Staff member |
| 1/12/22 | 1 Student and 1 Staff member |
| 1/14/22 | 6 Students |
| 1/15/22 | 2 Students |
| 1/16/22 | 1 Student |
| 1/17/22 | 3 Students and 2 Staff members |
| 1/24/22 | 2 Students |
| 1/25/22 | 1 Student |
| 4/9/22 | 1 Staff member |
| 5/10/22 | 1 Student and 1 Staff member |
| 5/25/22 | 1 Staff member |
| 6/1/22 | 1 Staff member |
| 6/3/22 | 1 Staff member |
| 6/9/22 | 1 Staff member |
| 8/29/22 | 1 Student |
| 8/31/22 | 1 Student |
| 9/1/22 | 1 Student |
| 9/2/22 | 1 Faculty |
| 9/6/22 | 1 Student |
| 9/7/22 | 1 Student |
| 9/11/22 | 1 Student |
| 9/13/22 | 2 Students |
| 11/9/22 | 3 Students, 1 Staff member |
HNU's Vaccination Requirement
HNU has determined that a COVID-19 vaccination requirement ensures we have the safest environment for our students, faculty, and staff. View our Vaccination Requirement FAQ for information on submitting your vaccination information or applying for an exemption. Note that vaccination information must be submitted by January 17, 2022 to participate in any on-campus activities and classes during the Spring 2022 semester.
Booster Requirement
In accordance with CDC guidelines, we now require the COVID-19 booster as part of our vaccination requirement. As a reminder, students submit their information to Symplicity, and staff and faculty to hr@hnu.edu. The deadline to submit this information is Monday, February 14, 2022. If you are not yet eligible for the booster due to the date of your previous doses, please let us know. Students can email studentvaccine@hnu.edu and faculty and staff can email hr@hnu.edu. If you are vaccinated but choose not to receive the booster shot, you will not be considered fully vaccinated and will need to follow the related health protocols which include participating in weekly testing and wearing a mask at all times on campus.