DH COVID Temp. 2020

Masks or cloth face coverings required on Amarillo College campuses and instructional sites.

Mask Policy

All employees, students and visitors are required to wear a mask or cloth face covering that covers the mouth and nose at all times while on Amarillo College campuses, properties and instructional sites.

Employees with a documented health risk for which they wish to request an exemption under this policy must contact Human Resources to discuss their request. 

Students with a documented health risk for which they wish to request an exemption under this policy must contact the office of Student Affairs to discuss potential alternative instructional delivery options.

Employees and students working alone in an enclosed space are permitted to remove the mask. However, they must wear the mask at all other times.

Should a student, employee, or visitor wish to eat or drink, he or she may remove the mask to do so provided they stay at least six feet from others.

This policy will be strictly enforced. Failure to follow the policy may result in student discipline or employee discipline. Visitors refusing to comply with this policy may be asked to leave the college campus, property or instructional site.

The college President has the authority to suspend or reenact this policy as the pandemic conditions and data warrant without the necessity of board action.

COVID-19 Unpaid Leave of Absence

Policy:

The Amarillo College COVID-19 UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE policy provides employees who may not be able to return to work due to COVID-19 related reasons the opportunity to take a leave of absence of up to six (6) weeks without pay.

Eligibility:

Active full-time employees with at least twelve months of service and 1,250 hours worked within the prior twelve months are eligible to apply for leave under this policy. The reason for leave must be in alignment with the qualifying reasons outlined in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). 

Guidelines:

1. Employees interested in requesting a COVID-19 unpaid leave of absence should submit a written request to their immediate supervisor and Human Resources.

2. The written request must include a start date and a return to work date.

3. The request is subject to approval by the employee’s supervisor/department chair and the Human Resources department, and approval is based on the business needs of the college.

4. The employee should make every effort to give reasonable advance notice of the request.

5. If an employee’s need for leave qualifies the employee for job-protected leave under FFCRA, FMLA or Expanded FMLA, that leave entitlement must be exhausted prior to leave used under this policy. 

6. Vacation leave in the employee’s eligible balance must be used first during leave taken under this policy. 

7. Sick leave in the employee’s eligible balance may not be used under this policy, unless the reason for leave would otherwise qualify the employee to use sick leave, i.e. the employee’s own serious health condition.

8. An employee on approved COVID-19 unpaid leave of absence under this policy may continue coverage under the college’s health benefits program(s), provided that the employee continues making timely premium payments while in leave status.

9. Vacation and sick leave accrual will cease during the unpaid leave of absence period, and will resume at the then-appropriate level when the employee returns to work.

10. Retirement plan contributions are suspended for any period of unpaid leave.

11. Mandatory salary garnishments and reductions such as child support and tax garnishments remain the responsibility of the employee while on unpaid leave of absence.

12. Employees on unpaid leave of absence are not eligible for holiday pay.

Authority:

This temporary Unpaid Leave of Absence policy will be in effect until December 31, 2020, and the college President has the authority to extend, suspend, modify, terminate early or reenact this policy as the pandemic conditions and data warrant without the necessity of board action.

Approved: 06-23-20