Safe Return to Campus
The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD) leadership has determined all students attending face-to-face classes at Cuyamaca College are required to be vaccinated. Additionally, facemasks are required on campus indoors and outdoors when you are within six-feet of another individual.
The decision was made in alignment with the District priority to protect and maintain the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and administrators. It comes after careful examination of San Diego County data related to COVID-19 and with recommendations from the CDC, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, CalOSHA, and County of San Diego’s Public Health officials.
If you are not, or do not wish to be vaccinated, please register for online classes. Should you need assistance, we have a broad range of support services available to help you succeed.
Submitting Vaccine Documentation
For Fall 2021, if you will be taking in-person/on-campus classes or will be enrolling or wish to make an appointment to receive in person student services (i.e. counseling, financial aid, admissions & records, etc.) you will need have your vaccine documentation verified.
Please submit your documentation one-week prior to the start of your class to ensure ample processing time.
Students who do not submit documentation or an approved exemption will not be allowed to remain enrolled in on-campus classes.
The following documents are acceptable:
- Scan/photo of the front of your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card,
- Photo of your Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record (QR Code) from the California Immunization Registry, or
- A medical document from your doctor.
All of the above must include the dates of your vaccination and the manufacturer brand (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson.)
UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT HERE
Requesting an Exemption
Exemptions will be considered for medical and religious reasons. Students will need to complete the correct form with appropriate signatures and documentation, and upload to Colleague/Self-Service at least two-weeks prior to the start of classes.
Form Download:
Medical Exemption Form | Religious Exemption Form
UPLOAD EXEMPTION REQUESTS HERE
Weekly Testing
If you are partially vaccinated (only one dose of a two dose series, or fewer that 14-days have passed since your second dose) or if you have received an exemption, you are required to test for COVID-19 weekly.
Testing is paid for by GCCCD and takes place on campus in Annex #1 (across from the D-Building) on the following days:
Monday: 12:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 7:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
You can make an appointment for testing by following this link or scanning the below QR code.
(PLEASE NOTE: this link and QR code is for students only. If you are an employee, please go to the Employee Resources page.)
If you tested with an external provider, you can upload your results using the following steps:
1. Log into your account using the link or QR code above
2. Click on "Upload Negative COVID-19 Test Proof"
3. Follow the directions for uploading and saving the document.
If you need to report a positive COVID-19 test or have a question specific to testing , please contact the Health & Wellness Center at 619-660-4200 or email Julia.Chavez@gcccd.edu or Rieko.Suto@gcccd.edu.
Additional Information About on Campus Instruction and Activity
Face Coverings
At this time, face covering/masks are required on campus while indoors, and outdoors when within six-feet of another, regardless of vaccine status.
Signage
A variety of directional and safety signage has been installed across campus. Posted messages will remind you to wear a face covering, maintain social distancing, alert you to high-touch items, and provide directions for waiting or queueing for services.
Symptom Self-Check
As an important health and safety measure, please conduct a self-screening for symptoms before you come to campus each day. The Self-Check process is outlined online and provides information on how to proceed if you have symptoms.
Health and Safety Changes
We have taken many precautions to maintain a health and safe campus, including:
- Improving indoor air quality by updating HVAC filtration systems,
- Establishing enhanced cleaning and disinfecting standards,
- Hiring staff to assist with information and education about safety protocols,
- Providing face-coverings and hand sanitizer as necessary,
- Installing digital and print signage regarding face-coverings and social distancing, and
- Creating designated outdoor study and eating areas with access to wi-fi.
Information Booths
To answer questions and ensure that all safety protocols are followed, we have set up Welcome Back booths/tents to provide information, directions, face masks (if you have forgotten yours), and hand sanitizer. They are located:
- Outside the CAPS office at the One-Stop (A-Building); and
- At the base of the Grand Lawn, near the pathway to the Library.
Fall Schedule
The fall schedule is posted on the website and offers approximately 30% of fall courses on-campus or in a face-to-face/hybrid modality.
Student Support Services
Nearly all student support services are available in-person by appointment. You can find virtual/remote hours of operation and contact information, as well as make an appointment for in-person services, on the website.
Need to Get Vaccinated?
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 and its variants. The vaccine is free and highly effective at protecting people from getting sick or ill with COVID-19. You can find more information or a vaccine clinic near you by visiting http://coronavirus-sd.com/vaccine or by calling 211.
Communication to Students
August 7, 2021 -- Reminder (also sent 8/5 and 8/6)
July 20, 2021 – COVID-19 vaccine requirement for fall 2021
July 15, 2021 – Cuyamaca College Open for Students
July 12, 2021 – Cuyamaca College Re-Opens
June 30, 2021 – Cuyamaca College Fall 2021 semester in person and remote
Frequently Asked Questions
UPDATED: 9/14/2021
The following FAQs are a resource for quick information. If you have a question not addressed here, it may be submitted to vaccines@gcccd.edu. We will do our best to keep these FAQs current and updated regularly.
Q: I have received the first (of two) dose of the vaccine. Can I still attend in-person classes?
A: Please upload your documents indicating your partial vaccination status to the database link provided: https://selfservice.gcccd.edu/Student
If you have received the first dose of the Moderna/Pfizer vaccine, but are not yet fully vaccinated (14-days after your second dose of Moderna/Pfizer), you will need to participate in weekly testing until you are fully vaccinated.
Testing will be paid for by GCCCD and will take place on campus in Annex #1 (across from the D-Building). You can make an appointment for testing by following this link or scanning the below QR code. (PLEASE NOTE: this link and QR code is for students only. If you are an employee, please go to the Employee Resources page.)
If you have a question specific to testing that needs immediate attention, please contact the Health & Wellness Center at 619-660-4200 or email Rieko.Suto@gcccd.edu.
Q: I am having trouble with the upload. What should I do?
A: Please try again. Make sure your file type is pdf, jpg, png, gif, bmp, bm, tiff, or tif. If you are uploading from an iphone, make sure your image is not an HEIC file type.
Further, please make sure your attachment is no larger than 10 MB.
Q: I uploaded my documents, what happens next?
A: Your documents will be verified by a health and safety specialist. You will receive an email notifying you that your student record has been updated.
Q: Are students required to be vaccinated to meet with a counselor?
A: Yes. Scheduled in-person appointments with counselors require students to be vaccinated. Transactional appointments (such as cashiers office, bookstore pick up, admissions & records paperwork delivery, dropping off financial aid forms, etc.) of less than 15-minutes do not require proof of vaccine, but social distancing and masking will be enforced.
Q: I am unvaccinated, how can I access services?
A: For Fall 2021 all student services will continue to be offered remotely/online. You can find email addresses, phone numbers, links for Zoom, etc. online for each campus. (Cuyamaca | Grossmont)
Q: I am unvaccinated, what are my class options?
A: There are a number of options for remote/virtual education. Nearly 70% of all courses in our district are offered online. Connect with your counselor (Cuyamaca | Grossmont) if you need help finding a class on either campus that works for you. (Class Schedule: Cuyamaca | Grossmont)
For your health and safety, we urge you to get vaccinated.
Q: I’m enrolled in on-campus classes. I am not vaccinated, and I don’t plan to be vaccinated. What are my options?
A: We will do our best to find an alternative online/remote course. Please contact your counselor(Cuyamaca | Grossmont) via email, phone, or Zoom appointment. (Class Schedule: Cuyamaca | Grossmont)
Please note that students will not be permitted to remain enrolled in an in-person course if they are not vaccinated and do not have an approved medical or religious exemption.
Q: I cannot take the COVID-19 vaccination due to medical reasons. What is the process for requesting an exemption?
A: You may complete this form to request a medical exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Your form must be submitted no later than one calendar week prior to the start of your class to allow for review.
Q: I cannot take the COVID-19 vaccination due to religious reasons. What is the process for requesting an exemption?
A: You may complete a form to request a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Your form must be submitted no later than one calendar week prior to the start of your class to allow for review.
Q: What is the process to provide proof of vaccination?
A: The details on acceptable documentation are outlined above. You can upload those documents here. If you need to download your vaccination record from the State of California database you can do so here https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/
Q: What is the deadline to submit proof of vaccination?
A: As a general rule, submit your documentation as soon as possible and no later than one calendar week prior to the start of your class to allow for review.
If there are questions not answered here, please submit them to vaccines@gcccd.edu