COVID-19 Protocols and Information

Oct. 2, 2023 Update 

Federal and state COVID-19 emergency health declarations expired on May 11, 2023. Our COVID-19 safety protocol guidelines and FAQs provide Oakton students, employees and community members with information to help you accomplish your goals while keeping you safe. Information is subject to change.

If you feel sick

Students, employees and visitors should not come to campus if they feel sick. Students should refer to the attendance policy in their class syllabi, which may vary by instructor. Employees should work with their supervisor to make work-from-home arrangements if appropriate.

• Refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for testing and isolation recommendations following a positive COVID-19 test or onset of COVID symptoms.
• Employees should inform their supervisors and report positive COVID-19 cases to covidhr@oakton.edu. COVID-19 sick time will no longer be available. Contact tracing services are no longer available. 

Face coverings

• Face coverings are optional for everyone in all indoor and outdoor spaces on Oakton’s campuses, unless otherwise indicated. In one-on-one meetings, individuals may request others to wear a mask, though attendees are not obligated to do so. Please be respectful of individuals’ choices regarding masking.
• Face masks are available to students, employees, and visitors at the welcome desk at the Des Plaines campus main building (near main entrance), the Division Office of the Lee Center (Room 100) , and from the Police Department at the Skokie campus (C100).

Prevention

• Please continue to practice good hand hygiene and cover your mouth when sneezing/coughing.
• Though COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics are no longer regularly available at Oakton’s campuses, staying up to date with vaccinations and boosters, and regular testing are among the best methods to keep yourself and others safe. Visit vaccines.gov for more information about vaccines, including vaccination locations.
• Oakton’s facilities department will continue to implement cleaning and sanitation procedures. In the event of a reported COVID-19 case(s), deep cleaning of individual areas will be conducted upon request. Contact covidhr@oakton.edu for deep-cleaning requests.

COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health career students

• With the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, our clinical site partners are updating their requirements for COVID-19 vaccination. Oakton must also follow the requirements of our clinical sites with regard to immunization requirements. It is the decision of the clinical sites, not Oakton, if immunizations are required for our students. Effective beginning in the Spring 2022 semester, the clinical facility partners will not permit students to participate in clinical experiences at any of their facilities without the COVID-19 vaccination.
• Students are not employees and have neither employee benefits nor access through employee health services at the facility, therefore, accommodations for declination of vaccination will not be honored. As guests of each facility, Oakton programs must abide by the rules of the facility.