College of Southern Nevada

Dear CSN Family,

The health and safety of students and employees continues to be our top priority. As we prepare to begin our Spring 2022 Semester, we find ourselves in yet another surge of positive COVID-19 cases throughout our state and nation. This surge is due in large part to the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, which is highly contagious and presents particular concern for members of our communities who are unvaccinated. At CSN, we will continue to be diligent in our efforts to mitigate the impact.

The good news is that approximately 98 percent of CSN employees are now fully vaccinated and we estimate system-wide approximately 72 percent of NSHE students have completed a COVID-19 vaccination series. The guidance and best practices that we are receiving from medical experts affirm that we must continue to be flexible, vigilant, and informed as we continue to confront these historic challenges. In addition to encouraging vaccinations, effective immediately, CSN is implementing the following strategies that will enable ongoing campus operations and to support our college’s health and safety. 

• Face coverings remain a requirement inside of all buildings, regardless of vaccination status, and outdoors when around others. CSN continues to secure a variety of effective masks including KN95 and when appropriately provided and used N95’s. COVID-19 PPE and supplies are available to departments via the PPE Ordering System. Supplies include cleaning products, gloves, hand sanitizer and a variety of face coverings.   
• Report COVID-19 symptoms, testing status and close contacts via the COVID-19 Reporting Form or Wellness@csn.edu so our Case Management team can provide timely guidance. Case Management will provide guidance consistent with revised quarantine protocols as established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 
• In-person meetings must adhere to COVID-19 spacing and safety protocols and whenever possible should include virtual options as an additional mitigation measure.

Campus support services and classes will remain operational in traditional in-person manner. Departments, faculty, and support areas should continue to maintain contingency planning should the need for temporary measures be necessary.

At this time, on-campus events for both internal and external groups will be deferred based on our local transmission levels. CSN’s COVID-19 and Events Office will work with groups on deferral and communicate when activities can resume. 

We know that these times are challenging and further exacerbated by COVID-19.   Together we will address these trends and concerns, and will work confidently together to keep our faculty, staff, students and campus communities safe. Please continue to be empathetic, compassionate and flexible to our students, employees and each other. 

Finally, please know that CSN is committed to providing services and support to our campus community in providing assistance as may be needed. Services to support physical and mental health are available and if needed we encourage you to reach out to HR and Employee Assistance Program (EAP). We know there are many stresses on our services across the CSN campuses. Thank you for your patience.  

Please continue to look for additional guidance and information on our COVID-19 webpage https://at.csn.edu/covid19 and from the CSN leadership team. During the Spring 2022 semester we will continue to hold Town Hall meetings to provide updated information and respond to questions.  

Thank you for all you do on behalf of CSN.  Wishing you a great Spring 2022 semester. 

Federico Zaragoza
President
College of Southern Nevada

Dear CSN Family,

This is to inform you that the emergency regulation to require a COVID-19 vaccination for NSHE students has expired. Today, the Interim Legislative Commission met, and item R069-21 (vaccination requirement) failed to pass, effectively eliminating the legal basis for student vaccines to be a requirement for registration for classes at NSHE’s institutions. This includes CSN students.

Following the direction of the Legislative Commission, we will immediately begin the process of lifting student registration holds related to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement.

Although the student vaccine regulation is now expired, we still strongly encourage those who are unvaccinated to seek medical advice and make plans to get vaccinated. 

The Board of Regents’ NSHE employee vaccine requirement remains in place, as does the current state mask mandate for the NSHE community.

Federico Zaragoza
President
College of Southern Nevada

Dear CSN Family,

On August 20, the Nevada State Board of Health mandated that higher education students with  credit or non-credit enrollment demonstrate completion of the COVID-19 vaccination prior to enrollment for spring 2022 classes. This mandate includes certain exemptions, which includes students who are participating in fully online courses of which no portion of educational requirements include a face-to-face interaction, such as student teaching, laboratory, field experiences, internships, or other student learning. Students who have a documented medical condition that prohibits receiving the vaccination or cannot receive the vaccination based on a religious belief can also request an exemption.  

In the coming days, all students will receive a communication through their CSN student email and preferred email address regarding important information in preparation for spring 2022 registration. A copy of the communication can be found in the MyCSN Communication Center.   

On Friday, October 8, you will find a link available on the CSN main page to the Student Vaccination Requirement webpage where you can learn what documentation will be needed to submit COVID vaccination records or a request for exemption, FAQs, links to forms, and to the option to submit documentation. Questions can be submitted to Wellness@CSN.EDU and responses will be coordinated with the Office of the Registrar.  Spring 2022 registration begins on November 1 and we encourage students to submit documentation as soon as possible. 

The Registrar’s Office will ensure legibility and completeness of submitted forms. Medical and religious vaccination exemptions will be reviewed by a designated CSN Review Committee. Once reviewed, a determination will be communicated to the student including any additional guidance as appropriate. 

As is our practice, we will continue to provide timely information on COVID-19 developments.   

Thank you.

Federico Zaragoza
President
College of Southern Nevada

Dear CSN Family,

Today the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education approved a new policy regarding mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for existing employees and includes a provision of vaccination as a condition of hire for new employees. Please read Chancellor Melody Rose’s letter here. 

This policy will be included in a new Chapter 12 within Title 2 of the Code regardless of job title or status, to receive a verifiable and complete COVID-19 vaccination series on or before December 1, 2021. This policy includes a provision to preclude from vaccination those employees who have a verified medical condition or a sincerely held religious belief.   

On October 15, 2021 non-vaccinated employees will receive their initial Notice of Non-Compliance. Employees who are identified as unvaccinated will receive a communication from Human Resources Daniel.Gutierrez2@csn.edu.  

As is our practice, we will continue to provide timely information on COVID-19 developments.  

Take care and be safe. 

Thank you.

Federico

Dear CSN Family,

I would like to take this opportunity to share important information with our CSN campus community regarding proposed mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for NSHE employees. On September 10, the Board of Regents voted unanimously for the  Chancellor’s Office to prepare a policy draft regarding a vaccination mandate, to be reviewed and considered at a special Board of Regents meeting on September 30. 

Over the past 10 days, the System Administration Office has held a series of review and input sessions with shared governance groups to obtain feedback regarding the policy draft. The agenda for the special Board of Regents meeting has been released and can be found at the NSHE webpage https://nshe.nevada.edu/leadership-policy/board-of-regents/meeting-agendas/

For those employees who have completed the COVID-19 vaccination process please remember to check Workday to ensure that the information is complete. If you have any questions please contact Daniel.Gutierrez2@CSN.EDU.   

Finally, CSN has COVID-19 vaccination and testing centers located on each of the campuses for your convenience. These locations are in collaboration with the Southern Nevada Health District and are available Tuesdays through Fridays.  

We will continue to bring the CSN community updated information as it becomes available.   

Take care and be safe. 

Federico