As we prepare for the start of fall classes, Blackhawk remains committed to providing a safe space for all students, faculty and staff. Our current policies on COVID-19 reflect the latest guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control and local health officials.

Currently, our protocols are as follows:

• Face coverings are optional, and we ask that you respect the decisions of others to wear a face covering or not.
• Disposable masks and hand sanitizer remain available throughout our campuses.
• Do not come to campus if you’re experiencing any COVID symptoms – even if you’re vaccinated. Please stay home, notify your supervisor or instructor, and get tested.
  • If you test positive: The current isolation period is at least five days. (The date of symptom onset or test collection is considered day 0.) After 5 days, if you are asymptomatic or your symptoms are resolving (greatly improved and without fever for 24 hours), you may return to campus after notifying Campus Safety. You should wear a mask around others until 10 days have passed since your symptom onset or the date of your positive test. You are responsible for informing your close contacts. The CDC defines a close contact as "someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period." 
  • If you were exposed to a COVID-19 positive person:
    • If you are vaccinated and have received your recommended booster shot(s), you do not need to quarantine but should wear a mask for 10 days.
    • If you are not vaccinated or are more than six months out from your second mRNA dose (2 months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) and not boosted, you should quarantine for at least 5 days.
    • If you are unable to test and have been without symptoms, you can end your quarantine 5 days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19. You should wear a mask around others until 10 days have passed since your exposure.
    • If you test positive or develop COVID-19 symptoms at any point, isolate, refer to the positive test protocol above, and notify Campus Safety.  

Please note:

• If you are a supervisor and your employee tests positive, please notify Safety & Security.
• Eating and drinking are no longer restricted to designated areas.
• We are not limiting the number of students in each classroom at this time.
• Please be mindful of others’ personal space and preferences.

Blackhawk.edu/coronavirus has been updated to reflect the above guidelines. An email similar to this one will go out to students next week. There also will be digital signage throughout our campuses, reminding everyone of our current guidelines.

If you have any questions related to COVID, please contact Blackhawk’s Safety & Security Team, which also has COVID test kits available should you need one, at campussafety@blackhawk.edu or (608) 757-7617.