Effective January 1, 2023, as adopted by the NOCCCD Board of Trustees:

  • NOCE strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccines and boosters for all students and employees.
  • NOCE strongly recommends that people wear masks to protect themselves and others.

Mandates are no longer in effect as of January 1, 2023.

NOCE cares about your health and safety

COVID-19 Positive Case Reporting

  • If you have tested positive for COVID-19 positive, do not come to class. Notify NOCE by calling StarHelp at (714) 808-4679 or starhelp@noce.edu.
  • A manager from your NOCE program will contact you to help you complete the Student COVID-19 Questionaire and to see if self-quarantine is required.
  • If self-quarantine is required, you may return to campus if the following conditions are met:
    • Fever-free (of 100.4 or higher) for 24 hours and
    • Symptoms improved and
    • At least 10 days have passed since the onset or
    • At least 10 days have passed after positive contact without symptoms.

COVID-19 Positive Case Protocols – Infographics

Visual infographics were developed to assist in simplifying/visualizing the process for reporting a COVID-19 positive or close contact case. There is an infographic with steps for the following:


Campus COVID-19 Resources:

  • How & Where to Get Tested on Campus

    Free COVID-19 testing is available at all three NOCCCD campuses.

    All employees and students may register for free testing at all three NOCCCD campuses.

    • Testing is free.
    • Testing is open to anyone. All students are welcome

    Anaheim Campus COVID-19 Testing:

    Antigen Self-Test (pick-up only).

    NOCE Anaheim Campus: Tests will be available for pick up at the NOCE Admissions and Registration Office, East Lot Portables, Room 201-P

    Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    Friday: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

     

    Cypress Center COVID-19 Testing:

    Antigen Self-Tests (pick-up only)

    Cypress Center/Cypress College: Tests will be available for pick up at the Health Center and Gym 2 (room 210).

    Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

     

    PCR Testing

    Cypress Center/Cypress College: Testing will be available at the Health Center and Gym 2 (room 210).

    Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

    If you have questions or concerns about testing or COVID-19 notification, please e-mail Debbie Marriott-Simes at
    dmarriott-simes@cypresscollege.edu.

     

     

    Wilshire Center COVID-19 Testing:

    Antigen Self-Tests (pick-up only)

    Wilshire Center/Fullerton College: Tests will be available for pick up at Health Center building 1204.

    Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

     

    PCR Testing

    Wilshire Center/Fullerton College: Testing will be available at Health Center building 1204

    Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

    Please use the following link or QR code to register and prepare for your walk-in COVID-19 test appointment. Registration is required. If you have questions or concerns about testing or COVID-19 notification, please e-mail Sara Hass at shass@fullcoll.edu.

     

     

    Self-Screening Information

    How to collect your nasal swab sample for COVID-19 Testing.

    Setup:

    Covid testing kit1) Open the sampling kit.

     

     

     

    Sanitize your hands with hand sanitizer2) Apply hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands, and rub them together until dry.

     

     

    Sample Collection

    Do NOT touch the testing swab head3) Remove the swab from the container, being careful not to touch the soft end, which is the absorbent tip.

     

     

    insert testing swab into your nose4) Insert the entire absorbent tip of the swab into your nostril, but do not insert the swab more than ¾ of an inch (1.5 cm) into your nose.

     

     

    Twist the swab in your nose5) Slowly rotate the swab against the inside of your nostril at least 4 times for a total of 15 seconds. Be sure to collect any nasal drainage on the swab. Gently remove the swab from your nose.

     

     

    6) Using the same swab, repeat steps 4-5 in your other nostril.

     

    Preparing Your Sample for Return

    Snap off the tip of testing swab into tube7) Place the swab in the sterile tube, and snap off the end of the swab at the break line. Place the cap on the tube.

     

     

    Place tube with test swab inside, into the bag8) Reapply hand sanitizer. Place the tube containing the swab in the biohazard bag provided, and seal the bag.

     

     

    Returning the Sample and Clean-Up

    hand back test to Virus Geek employee9) Give the bag with the swab to testing personnel.

     

     

     

    Sanitize your hands with hand sanitizer10) Throw away the remaining sample kit items, and reapply hand sanitizer.

  • How to Find a Vaccination Site Near You

    For a vaccination site near you:

    Visit the OC Health Website

     

Free COVID-19 At-Home Tests

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order an additional four free at-⁠home tests beginning November 20. If you did not order tests this fall, you may place two orders for eight tests. Your order of COVID tests is completely free – you won’t even pay for shipping.
 
Please click the link to the official page to place your order.

Mandate Archive:

  • January 1, 2023 – Mandate is no longer in effect

    Effective January 1, 2023, as adopted by the NOCCCD Board of Trustees:

    • NOCE strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccines and boosters for all students and employees.
    • NOCE strongly recommends that people wear masks to protect themselves and others.

    Mandates are no longer in effect as of January 1, 2023.

  • September 17, 2022 – Vaccince Mandate Update

    While the District COVID-19 vaccine mandate is under effect through the end of the 2022 calendar year, the NOCCCD Board of Trustees, at its September 27, 2022 meeting, adopted a position of strongly recommending, rather than mandating, COVID-19 vaccines and strongly recommending boosters for all employees and students, effective January 1, 2023.

  • May 24, 2022 – NOCCCD Vaccine Mandate Update

    Update: As of the May 24, 2022 NOCCCD Board of Trustees Meeting, the current COVID-19 vaccine protocols are as follows:

    Vaccine Requirement:

    All employees and students who come on-campus must be fully vaccinated. The current CDC definition states that someone is fully vaccinated two weeks after they get a second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or two weeks after they get a single dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

    Booster Shots:

    Booster shots are not mandatory for employees or students, though the CDC does recommend booster shots for those who are eligible.

    Mask Requirement:

    As of June 1, 2022, wearing a mask while indoors on-site is no longer a requirement for employees and students. As COVID cases rise in the county, NOCCCD strongly recommends that people wear masks to protect themselves and others.

  • March 22, 2022 – Minor Students and Campus Visitors

    On December 14, 2021, the NOCCCD Board of Trustees approved the amendment to the original vaccine mandate from August 24, 2021, to include minor students ages 5 and older.

    In addition, on the March 22, 2022, the NOCCCD Board of Trustees approved the extension of the vaccine mandate.

    When enrolling in in-person classes, minor students, who are 5 and older are required to provide proof of vaccination or request exemption for medical or religious reasons. Those with approved exemption requests are required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. The district provides free testing services.

  • September 15, 2021 – NOCCCD Employee Vaccine Mandate & Frequently Asked Questions

    September 15, 2021 

    As the next step to implementing the NOCCCD Board of Trustees’ COVID 19 vaccine mandate, employees and students may now submit their vaccination information or request a medical or religious exemption through myGateway at https://ssbwebg.nocccd.edu/BannerExtensibility/customPage/page/VaccineProgram. Step by step instructions are also provided in the attached PDF.

    Students and employees are required to submit documentation by November 1, 2021. To be considered fully vaccinated by the deadline, the final vaccine dose must be received no later than October 17, 2021.

    In recognition of the logistical challenges that have come with instituting the vaccine mandate after the fall semester has already begun, the Board has granted an extended period of free weekly testing for those employees and students who are unable to become fully vaccinated by November 1. The weekly testing for students will be extended to the end of the fall semester. Weekly testing for employees will be extended until December 31, 2021. After those dates, weekly testing will not be an option for employees or students unless they have an approved exemption. More information on weekly testing will be released soon.

    Unvaccinated students will not be allowed to register for on campus courses for the spring 2022 semester, unless they have an approved exemption. Unvaccinated employees who do not have an exemption will be considered out of compliance beginning January 1, 2022 and subject to disciplinary action.

    We appreciate your attention and patience with us as we develop these new safety procedures. Attached you’ll find a FAQ as related to employees. We will continue to keep you updated as information becomes available.

    NOCCCD Vaccine Mandate Employee FAQ’s

     

    What do NOCCCD employees need to do by November 1, 2021?

    Employees are required to submit to the District a vaccine record demonstrating “full vaccination” status for COVID-19. “Full vaccination” status is defined as two weeks after receiving the full course of vaccines (i.e. the second vaccine dose for the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, or one dose for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine). To meet this deadline, the final dose must be received no later than October 17, 2021.

    OR

    If an employee is seeking an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or religious reasons (as defined by law), they must submit the proper forms to Human Resources for approval. Human Resources will confirm in writing if an employee has been exempted from the vaccine mandate. Employees must be notified of HR exemption before the November 1 deadline to be considered exempt.

     

    How do employees upload proof of vaccine completion?

    Employees will be able to upload proof of vaccination to myGateway beginning September 15, 2021. Please go to this link to begin the process (https://ssbwebg.nocccd.edu/BannerExtensibility/customPage/page/VaccineProgram).

    Here are the steps in the upload process:

    1. Prepare your vaccination record
    2. Navigate to the vaccination upload process here
    3. Authenticate with employee password
    4. Check your personal information
    5. Enter vaccine information
    6. Upload your vaccine record
    7. Read and acknowledge the HIPAA information
    8. Verify your record
    9. Check your email

     

    How will the vaccination verifications for employees be processed?

    • The District has contracted with Healthcare IT Leaders to provide vaccine verification services to students and staff.
    • Employees will upload their documents into myGateway, then Healthcare IT will access those documents and verify them against state vaccine record registries.
    • Healthcare IT will notify Human Resources who has cleared the process and who hasn’t.

     

    If an employee is not working on-site, do they still need to be vaccinated?

    Yes. The vaccine mandate by the NOCCCD Board of Trustee’s states that every employee of the District must be fully vaccinated or approved for a religious or medical exemption by November 1, 2021.

     

    How do employees apply for medical or religious exemptions?

    Employees will be able to apply for medical or religious exemptions through myGateway beginning September 15, 2021. Please go to this link to begin the process (https://ssbwebg.nocccd.edu/BannerExtensibility/customPage/page/VaccineProgram).

    1. Navigate to the vaccination upload process here
    2. Authenticate with employee password
    3. Check your personal information
    4. Provide exemption information
    5. Complete and upload exemption form
    6. Submit exemption form for review

     

    When will an employee know if they have been approved for an exemption?

    Human Resources staff will be managing the employee exemption approval process with the help of a third party vendor. Every effort will be made to notify employees of their exemption status as soon as possible.

     

    If an employee is granted an exemption, will they have to be tested?

    Yes. All employees that are granted either a medical or religious exemption will be required to undergo weekly testing.

    More information on the District’s testing processes will be available soon.

     

    What if an employee has an approved vaccine exemption but declines to be tested?

    All exempt employees must be tested weekly on site. Employees who decline on-site testing will considered out of compliance beginning November 1, 2021.

     

    What if an employee is not fully vaccinated by November 1, 2021?

    • All employees not vaccinated by November 1 will need to be tested weekly, including those employees not working on site.
    • Weekly testing for employees will be available for free on campus.
    • Non-vaccinated employees who do not have an approved exemption will be allowed to undergo testing until December 31, 2021. After this date, any employee who is not fully vaccinated and does not have an approved exemption will be subject to disciplinary action.

     

    Will the District require booster vaccine shots?

    At this time booster shots have not been recommended by the FDA and the District is not requiring them.

     

  • September 2, 2021 – NOCCCD Student Vaccine Mandate & Frequently Asked Questions

    September 2, 2021 

    In response to the recent approval of a COVID-19 vaccination mandate by the Board of Trustees, the North Orange County Community College District is developing processes for implementation. As a reminder, all employees and students who are enrolled in face-to-face classes are required to be vaccinated by November 1, 2021.  

    A webpage was developed to share details about the vaccination mandate implementation: www.noce.edu/vaccine     

    The following information was developed to answer the most frequently asked questions. Updates will be shared once additional information is available. 

     

    NOCCCD Vaccine Mandate Student FAQ’s 

    What do students taking on campus courses need to do by November 1, 2021? 

    • Students are required to submit a vaccination record showing your “full vaccination” status to your campus (details on submittal process to come). “Full vaccination” status is defined as two weeks after receiving the full course of vaccines (i.e. the second vaccine dose for the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, or the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine). To meet this deadline, the final dose must be received no later than October 17. 

    OR 

    • If you are seeking an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or religious reasons (as defined by law) you must submit the proper forms to your campus for approval. Details on how to apply for an exemption will be released by September 15, 2021. To be considered excused from the vaccine mandate, students must be notified of exemption approval before the November 1 deadline. 

     

    What if I’m not fully vaccinated by November 1? 

    • Any student taking on-campus courses who has not been fully vaccinated by November 1 will have to submit to weekly COVID 19 testing through the end of the fall semester.  

     

    If I have an approved religious or medical exemption, do I have to be tested? 

    • Yes. Any student taking on-campus courses who is NOT vaccinated needs to be tested for COVID-19 each week. This includes students who have an approved exemption or accommodation. 
    • Testing will be performed for free on campus. Details on the testing process will be shared soon. 

     

    Do I have to be vaccinated if I am not taking classes on campus, but come to campus to access other services? 

    • Students and/or any individuals seeking to use indoor campus facilities and who are not fully vaccinated by Nov. 1 may be asked to show proof of current status: either evidence of vaccination, an approved exemption, or recent negative COVID 19 test. 
    • Request for proof of current status will depend on adherence to the facilities’ posted safety measures. If unable to show proof of current status, you may be offered the utilization of a different facility or the option to access services online. 

     

    What if I’m an on-campus student, not vaccinated, have no approved exemption, and decline to get tested weekly? 

    • If you decline to get tested, you have the following options in regards to fall in-person courses: move to an online class, if available; or drop the class and discuss course options with your instructor or contact StarHelp for additional assistance at 714.808.4679 or starhelp@noce.edu. 

     

    How do I upload proof of vaccine completion? 

    • You will be able to upload proof of vaccination to a secure website and receive approval of your vaccination status. Students will be informed of the exact process and be able to upload documents by September 15, 2021.  

     

    Will my vaccine status be private? 

    • Yes, records of vaccine status will be kept private and secure in accordance to HIPAA Privacy Rules. 

     

    What plans are being made for the spring semester? 

    • The vaccine mandate means that any student who wants to take on-campus courses in the spring semester must provide proof of full vaccination or be approved for a medical or religious exemption before enrolling. Beginning with the spring semester, weekly testing will only be an option for unvaccinated students with approved exemptions who are attending in person classes on campus. 
    • If the correct documentation has not been filed, students will not be allowed to register for on campus courses for Cypress College, Fullerton College or NOCE. 

     

    For questions, contact StarHelp at (714) 808-4679 or starhelp@noce.edu

    Need the PDF verions? Follow here for the NOCCCD Vaccine Mandate Student FAQ.

  • August 24, 2021 – COVID-19 vaccination requirement for all employees and students

    At their August 24, 2021 meeting, the North Orange County Community College District’s Board of Trustees approved a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for all employees and students who attend in-person classes, labs, and learning centers. You must have a verified vaccination record or an approved medical or religious exemption on file. Those with an approved exemption are required to comply with on-campus, weekly testing to comply with the mandate.

    *On December 14, 2021, the North Orange County Community College District’s Board of Trustees amended the COVID-19 vaccine mandate requirement to include all students ages 5+.

    All NOCCCD students accessing District facilities for in-person classes and all District employees will need to be fully vaccinated. “Full vaccination” is defined as two weeks after receiving the full course of vaccines (i.e., the second vaccine dose for the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or the first dose for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine).

    Testing will be at no cost to students and employees. Consistent with applicable law, exemptions will be granted for eligible documented medical conditions as well as religious beliefs. Following recommendations from the Orange County Public Health Department, the District will recommend face coverings/masks but they are no longer required while indoors regardless of vaccination status.