COVID-19 Archived Updates

• Hilbert College's Fall 2022 COVID Policies | June 30, 2022

  Dear Hilbert College Community Members,

  There are updates and information to share about our COVID-19 policies this semester:

  • As a reminder, all on-campus community members are required to be vaccinated.
  • Boosters are highly recommended.
  • Please remember to upload your vaccination cards to the Hilbert website when you receive your vaccination boosters.  We are currently at a 94% vaccination rate across the campus community.
  • All medical and religious exemption requests can be made directly through the link on the Hilbert website.  Exemption approvals will occur within 48 hours of submission. 
  • All individuals who have a positive COVID-19 diagnosis must isolate for 5 days.  If asymptomatic and without a fever for 24 hours, individuals may return to normal on Day 6 with continued mask-wearing on campus.
  • If individuals have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and are fully vaccinated (within 5 months of the Pfizer, 6 months of the Moderna, and 2 months of the J& J), they do NOT need to quarantine if asymptomatic.  They continue to wear a mask but do not need to isolate.  If they are symptomatic in any way, they need to isolate for at least the 5 initial days. 
  • If community members have been exposed and have no booster or are unvaccinated with an approved exemption, they must isolate for 5 days, whether symptomatic or not.  If after 5 days they are asymptomatic with no fever for 24 hours, they may return to normal on Day 6 with continued mask-wearing.
  • When you have a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, you need to send your result via email to Dr. Siuta.  Contact tracing will be done and a plan for you will be put into effect.   
  • We are sending students and employees to any local pharmacy for vaccinations, i.e. Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS, etc.  You do NOT need to continue with the same vaccine for each booster from the original series, Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson and Johnson.  

  Feel free to reach out to the Wellness Center and Dr. Siuta at 716-926-8930, extension 232, or Inspired Health Group at 716-662-7008 with questions or concerns.

  The COVID-19 Response Manual can provide additional information based on the highlights above.

  Thank you!

  Christopher Siuta, Ph.D., LMHC
  Assistant Vice President for Student Life-Counseling, Health & Wellness

• Mask Updates | February 13, 2022

  Effective immediately, based on NYS and Erie County Department of Health regulations, we are lifting the universal mask mandate within our college community.  Unvaccinated individuals will need to continue to test weekly until further notice during the semester.  Any community member has the option of continuing to wear masks but is not required to do so moving forward.  We also will not be communicating positive cases based on the low number of individuals affected from COVID-19.  Hilbert College has risen to 93% vaccinated across its community as well.

  We will continue to monitor for any changes from our state and county health organizations.  It is the hope that this step brings us a sense of normalcy that we have not felt in some time.  Please let us know if you have any questions.

  Christopher Siuta, Ph.D., LMHC
  Assistant Vice President for Student Life-Counseling, Health & Wellness 

   

   

• Return to Campus | January 24, 2022

  Return to campus-based classes on January 31, 2022

  Dear Hilbert College Community,

  The College will return to face-to-face instruction on January 31. Given the regional news on the pandemic, we are confident we can safely return to campus next Monday. Residence Life will soon be in touch with residential students about their return.

  Naturally, we will continue with our mask-wearing protocols. Weekly reports from Dr. Christopher Siuta on our COVID status will continue throughout the Spring 2022 semester.

  Thank you for your support of our effort to help limit the impact of this recent COVID wave on our community.

  Sincerely,

  

  Michael Brophy, Ph.D.
  President

• Remote Classes for Two Weeks | January 12, 2022

  Hilbert to Start Semester with Remote Classes for Two Weeks

  Dear Hilbert College Community,

  Given the rapid COVID spread within Erie County, we have made the decision to start the Spring 2022 semester with two weeks of remote learning.

  Hospitalizations and deaths are rising. We are a Catholic learning community that is dedicated to the dignity of the person and we must do all we can to preserve life. These are the details for the rest of January:

  • The Spring 2022 semester will begin as planned on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 with remote classes. 

  • In person classes will resume on Monday, January 31, 2022.

  • Students should refer to Blackboard for specific course instructions.

  • ALL campus services will remain open, including the residence halls.

  • Hawks Athletics activities will continue following all NCAA guidelines. 

  • Students can expect follow-up contact from student service areas over the next 24 hours regarding additional support that will be extended to them during this period. 

  Thank you all for your understanding.  I am grateful that our students, faculty, and staff are able to adapt during these historically challenging times.

  Sincerely,

  

  Michael Brophy, Ph.D.
  President

• COVID Policy & Response Manual Update | January 9, 2022

  Updates and Information on Hilbert College's Spring 2022 COVID Policies 

  Dear Hilbert College Community Members,

  There are updates and information to share about our COVID-19 policies this semester:

  • As a reminder, all on-campus community members are required to be vaccinated and masks are required in all indoor settings.
  • Boosters are highly recommended.
  • Please remember to upload your vaccination cards to the Hilbert website (button is below) when you receive your vaccination boosters.  We are currently at a 92% vaccination rate.
  • All medical and religious exemptions have been reviewed.  Each student and employee who have approved exemptions are required to test weekly to remain on campus.  Those individuals will call Inspired Health Group at 716-662-7008 to schedule those testing appointments.  There are no charges for testing, but please remember to bring your insurance cards to appointments. 
  • Community members who have had a positive COVID-19 diagnosis within the past 3 months, do NOT need to test as they have natural immunity during that time.  These test results need to be emailed to Dr. Siuta at csiuta@hilbert.edu.
  • All individuals who have a positive diagnosis must isolate for 5 days.  If asymptomatic and without a fever for 24 hours, they may return to normal on Day 6 with continued mask-wearing on campus.
  • If individuals have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and are fully vaccinated (within 5 months of the Pfizer, 6 months of the Moderna, and 2 months of the J& J), they do NOT need to quarantine if asymptomatic.  They continue to wear a mask but do not need to isolate.  If they are symptomatic in any way, they need to isolate for at least the 5 initial days. 
  • If community members have been exposed and have no booster or are unvaccinated with an approved exemption, they must isolate for 5 days, whether symptomatic or not.  If after 5 days they are asymptomatic with no fever for 24 hours, they may return to normal on Day 6 with continued mask-wearing.
  • When you have a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, you need to send your result via email to Dr. Siuta.  Contact tracing will be done and a plan for you will be put into effect.  We are told that Erie County Department of Health are not completing their tracing protocols as they had in the past, but we still need to report our numbers to them.

  Inspired Health Group does not have any booster vaccines.  We are sending students and employees to any local pharmacy for those, i.e. Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS, etc.  You do NOT need to continue with the same vaccine for each booster from the original series, Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson and Johnson.  

  As always, the Hilbert College Wellness Center and Inspired Health Group are here for you during these difficult times.  You can call Dr. Siuta at 716-926-8930, extension 232, or IHG at 716-662-7008.  ShariKay Shearing is our liaison with IHG and is available to talk if you ever have any questions.

  The COVID-19 Response Manual is available here which can provide additional information based on the highlights above.

  Regards, 
  

  Michael Brophy, Ph.D.
  President

• COVID College Policies & Submissions | December 2021

  (December 2021)

  A message from our President: 

  Greetings, 

  This message provides further clarification to our new COVID-19 policies, effective 1/1/2022. This direction will be integrated into our policy as posted on the website, but these are the main points:

  1.  All medical and religious exemption requests should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than 12/1/2021.  Below, you will find a link that answers specific questions about our review process for medical and religious exemptions.
     EEOC COVID-19 Laws Explained
  2. Please submit your vaccination cards to Dr. Christopher Siuta via this online form.
     Submit your Vaccination Card
     
     
  3. Unvaccinated student-athletes with medical and health exemptions will need to continue to test three times per week per NCAA guidelines.
     
     
  4. Unvaccinated students who are unable to come to campus may be able to transfer into the Hilbert College Global online program. Further details can be discussed with the student’s advisor, admissions and/or financial aid offices. 
     
     
  5. If you are a student who requires a short term accommodation, you may fill out the temporary accommodation form. 
     Temporary Accommodation Form

  We hope this message addresses questions that have arisen over the last week, but please reach out to Dr. Siuta at 716-926-8930 (csiuta@hilbert.edu) with any further questions or concerns.

  Thank you,
  
  Michael Brophy, Ph.D.
  President

• Health & Safety | Saturday, August 27, 2022

  There are updates and information to share about our COVID-19 policies this semester:

  • As a reminder, all on-campus community members are required to be vaccinated.
  • Boosters are highly recommended.
  • Please remember to upload your vaccination cards to the Hilbert website when you receive your vaccination boosters.  We are currently at a 95% vaccination rate across the campus community.
  • All medical and religious exemption requests can be made directly through the link on the Hilbert website.  Exemption approvals will occur within 48 hours of submission. 
  • Inspired Health Group will PCR test if symptomatic, either within the Hilbert Wellness Center or at their medical clinic in Orchard Park.
  • All individuals who have a positive COVID-19 diagnosis must isolate for 5 days.  If asymptomatic and without a fever for 24 hours, individuals may return to normal on Day 6 with continued mask-wearing on campus until Day 10.
  • If individuals have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and are fully vaccinated (within 5 months of the Pfizer, 6 months of the Moderna, and 2 months of the J& J), they do NOT need to quarantine if asymptomatic.  They continue to wear a mask but do not need to isolate.  If they are symptomatic in any way, they need to isolate for at least the 5 initial days. 
  • If community members have been exposed and have no booster or are unvaccinated with an approved exemption, they must isolate for 5 days, whether symptomatic or not.  If after 5 days they are asymptomatic with no fever for 24 hours, they may return to normal on Day 6 with continued mask-wearing until Day 10.
  • When you have a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, you need to send your result via email to Dr. Siuta.  Contact tracing will be done and a plan for you will be put into effect.   
  • We are sending students and employees to any local pharmacy for vaccinations, i.e. Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS, etc.  You do NOT need to continue with the same vaccine for each booster from the original series, Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson and Johnson.  

  Feel free to reach out to the Wellness Center and Dr. Siuta at 716-926-8930, extension 232, or Inspired Health Group at 716-662-7008 with questions or concerns.
  
  COVID-19 Response Manual

  Thank you,

  Christopher Siuta, Ph.D., LMHC
  Assistant Vice President for Student Life-Counseling, Health & Wellness