Olivet has the right staff to take on COVID-19. Saliva testing has been the way of tracking and staying ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the spring 2021 school semester.
Staff members, as discovered in an interview with Dr. Sharda, can choose to opt into the testing. Though this is optional, all staff members are urged to perform a daily health assessment. If any staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they are required to contact Human Resources and quarantine/isolate at home.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has established guidelines for Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) in-which to establish adequate safety protocols to aid in the prevention of spreading COVID-19.
In a conversation with Darren Blair, Associate Director of Public Safety for Olivet Nazarene University (ONU), he stated that public pafety was tasked with swapping out saliva test collection boxes and delivering them to ONU’s Biology Department for testing. Details from an interview with Mr. Blair is in an article listed below.
Staff members of Starbucks in Ludwig were unable to make any comments and referred to their manager, who was not available for an interview. Through visual observation, staff members of Sodexo and Starbucks, are strictly adhering to ONU’s guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interview with Darren Blair
In an interview with Darren Blair, of the public safety (PS) department, he said, “our staffing has remained the same and have still been expected to continue to do their front-line job throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Much like every staff/faculty member on campus, we have the ability to either opt in or opt out of this process.”
He went on to explain what happens when a member of Public Safety tests positive.
“When/if a PSO contracts COVID-19 by a positive test, they do not have to take a second test. They are then mandated to isolate in their home or a place they choose away from the workplace. They are notified by HR or a supervisor that has been in touch with HR, when their return is, if they are able to return to work on that date. It is usually no less than 12 days out prior to coming back to work,” he said.
“The PS department is currently working with the testing committee on campus, to change out the boxes at the proper times and days of the week. These boxes are delivered to the Biology Lab in Reed to be read (determined positive or not). This has been an added challenge to our department as has planning how to test students, who would read the tests and how often would tests take place. Almost every department on campus has been somehow affected or involved in making this process run smoothly.”
Staff at other universities
Not all universities are able to handle the pressure of increased costs to their budgets. In an article posted in US News, some universities have had to lay off some of their staff. As much as 10% of their staff has been affected. It goes on to explain that nearly all universities have put a freeze on hiring. According to a quote from the article, “A state financial aid package to colleges and universities, both public and private, would go an incredible distance in stabilizing the economy and making sure that there are no layoffs,” there is help available.
The increased stress has put a tremendous stress on university staff members. Inside Higher Ed has an article that explains the stress that school staff members are facing. One quote from the article reads, “I’m not surprised that stress is increasing,” said Karen Costa, a faculty developer specializing in online pedagogy and trauma awareness who viewed Course Hero’s results. The article points out that 40% of those surveyed are contemplating leaving their job. In a quote from one person, “I think the job is just becoming too much to bear,” he said. This stress is leading to burn out within the staff members.
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