It Takes a Village: A Look at Return to NOVA Decision-Making

With NOVA’s staff returning to the office this summer and students preparing to return to NOVA’s campuses this fall, the Return to NOVA Advisory Group (RNAG) often receives questions about how we are making decisions. We would like to take this opportunity to address some of the questions we have received; but first, we want to assure you that each and every policy decision is vetted against current guidance from several agencies (specifics below) and considered as an important part of our goal to provide a safe and comfortable environment for all NOVA staff, faculty and students.

Masks Are Not Mandated, But They Are Recommended for Non-vaccinated Employees and Students
Since February 2020, the college has “followed the science” and closely followed the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Virginia Department of Health (VDH) requirements and guidelines in the battle against COVID-19. During this time, all agencies with a role in public health – including the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM), the Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI), the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and the Governor’s office – have weighed in with scientific knowledge and facts concerning the coronavirus. Many of these agencies also directly oversee NOVA emergency operations, set NOVA health and safety policies or provide legal insight into NOVA issues.

Each of these agencies has remained a pivotal part of the decision-making process for us to get to where we are today. NOVA does not exist in a bubble, without insight and oversight from state and federal agencies, and as a result, we cannot implement a mandatory mask policy without authority from another agency. Early in the pandemic, this authority came from the Governor’s office, which directed all of Virginia’s Executive Branch agencies (including VCCS) to develop a face covering policy, based on CDC guidance. Now that the Governor’s office and VCCS have lifted the face covering mandate, NOVA no longer has the authority to keep a mandated face covering policy in place. As an executive branch agency, we must follow direction from the Governor and VCCS. 

However, we can and do make recommendations within our own sphere. Dr. Kress and NOVA recommend face coverings for all non-vaccinated employees and students in accordance with CDC guidance, and face coverings will be available at each campus NOVA Parking & NOVACard Office. Additionally, individuals who have been vaccinated may make the personal choice to continue wearing a face covering, and we support that decision.

Vaccines Are Not Mandated, but They Are Strongly Encouraged
VCCS policy makes it clear that NOVA does not have the authority to ask for the vaccination records of anyone attending, visiting or working on any campus. Vaccination records are considered medical records and thus are considered private, confidential health information. Making vaccines optional was not a decision that was made by NOVA; rather it was a directive issued by VCCS, our parent agency, and one to which we must abide.

While NOVA cannot require vaccination or request proof of vaccination for enrollment or employment, we are strongly encouraging all students, faculty and staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, we are offering vaccine clinics on each of our campuses in partnership with Walgreens. The next clinics will take place tomorrow, June 30, on our Alexandria and Loudoun campuses. You can register here.

Further, we are incentivizing our students to get vaccinated by providing a $250 deposit to their NOVACard for any student who receives a vaccine at one of our vaccine clinics. And we are working to finalize a process to provide the same incentive to any student who chooses to voluntarily provide proof of their fully-vaccinated status, regardless of where they were vaccinated. More to come on this.

Returning to NOVA
NOVA is a state agency, and since March 2020, all COVID-related policies and public health restrictions in place at NOVA have been authorized by Governor Northam’s public health emergency declaration related to the impact of the pandemic. This declaration expires on June 30, 2021. Going forward, safety protocols that will continue for the foreseeable future include handwashing signage, hygiene stations in classrooms and hallways, free face coverings and alcohol wipes, continuing improvements to indoor air quality systems and enhanced cleaning services.

We hope this provides some helpful insight into how the RNAG and NOVA are moving toward returning to campus. Today and into the future, the health and safety of our entire community will always be the number one priority.

Submitted by: Return to NOVA Advisory Group