Faculty and Staff Policies for Fall 2022
College leaders will continue to closely monitor the pandemic and vaccine efforts to ensure we're providing a campus experience that is as safe as possible. All policies are subject to change based on guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The following policies will go into effect on August 1:
Faculty and staff are not required to get the COVID-19 vaccine; however, the College strongly encourages it. We believe the community will be best served if everyone receives the vaccine, which is proven safe and effective. We understand that some cannot receive the vaccine due to health reasons and others have religious or personal objections to the use of vaccines. We will continue to assist employees in providing information regarding securing vaccination appointments and providing time off to get vaccinated.
For more information: view the SMC COVID-19 Vaccine Policy on mySMC.
Faculty and staff who do not have COVID-19 symptoms are not required to undergo regular testing.
Faculty and staff will be required to follow published isolation and quarantine protocols regarding COVID-19 exposure and/or symptoms.
Faculty and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must notify the Director of Human Resources immediately as stated in the Communicable Disease policy available in mySMC.
As a new academic year begins amidst a still lingering endemic, we wanted to update the college community on our sickness protocol. The goal is always to keep the campus community as healthy as possible. We are returning to our sick time policy pre-COVID. Remember during last year if you were sick the days were not counted against you but you still accrued sick time so most employees should have a bank of time available. You can check your sick time accrual through your Paycor portal under “Time and Attendance” then “Accrual Summary.” Make sure you view your sick accrual and not your vacation accrual.
Process for requesting sick time:
Non-COVID related
- Notify your supervisor via the Paycor app you are requesting sick days.
- We encourage you to schedule a doctor’s appointment if needed.
- Follow your doctor’s guidance on when to return to work or return to work when your condition has improved.
COVID Related
- Notify your supervisor via the Paycor app you are requesting sick days.
- We encourage you to schedule a doctor’s appointment if needed.
- Follow CDC guidelines as outlined here or follow the link on the same page to the Quarantine and Isolation Calculator.
Faculty and Staff FAQ
You may get the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on SMC’s campus! The vaccine clinic is located on the ground floor of Willard Hall in suite 13.
You may also get the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen booster doses on campus at the vaccine clinic. Even if you did not receive your original vaccinations on campus, just bring your vaccination card and they will be able to provide you with the appropriate booster.
COVID-19 vaccinations will be on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Schedule your appointment via the Vaccination Administration System.
SMC has been a pioneer in the fight against COVID-19 as we have navigated the uncertainty associated with the pandemic together. We have all worked very hard, given the circumstances, to keep the SMC community and our campus safe and open by establishing and adhering to the 5 Simple Rules.
While SMC and many other organizations are planning their return to normal operations, COVID-19 has not gone away. However, individuals now have the option to protect themselves and reduce the spread of COVID-19 by vaccinating. Individuals living or interacting in close proximity (classrooms, athletic participation, dining, etc.) have an increased risk of contracting and spreading the virus. According to the CDC, the more a person interacts with others, and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the risk of contracting COVID-19 and spreading it throughout the community. However, that risk is reduced the more people are vaccinated. As always, we will continue to monitor SCDHEC and CDC recommendations. At this point, both agencies recommend the vaccination to slow the spread.
SMC recommends faculty and staff consult their physician or another medical professional when deciding about vaccinations. The SMC Nurse Practitioner, Ineke’ Tolbert, can answer questions as well. She is located in the SMC Health Center on the first floor of Kingman Hall on the left side of the building. She is available Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm during the fall and spring semesters.
To learn more about the ingredients of each vaccine, you can find additional information here:
Additionally, SMC has a number of members of our campus community who have already had the vaccine administered. We thought it would be helpful to share a few here (add SMC marketing video link).
You may get the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on SMC’s campus! The vaccine clinic is located on the ground floor of Willard Hall in suite 13.
You may also get the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen booster doses on campus at the vaccine clinic. Even if you did not receive your original vaccinations on campus, just bring your vaccination card and they will be able to provide you with the appropriate booster.
Schedule your appointment via the Vaccination Administration System.