Requirements for Possible Fully Onsite Classes in SY 2022-2023 (OVPLS Memo)

5 April 2022

Memo to       :          The Loyola Schools community

                                 ATTENTION: Loyola Schools Students 

Memo from  :          (Sgd) Maria Luz C Vilches, PhD
                                 Vice President

Subject         :          Requirements for Possible Fully Onsite Classes in SY 2022-2023

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While we are finishing this second semester for SY 2021-2022, we are also preparing for SY 2022-2023.

In view of these preparations, we have perused government documents for our compliance.  Among those and the provisions pertinent to students are as follows:

(a) CHED-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021-04 issued on 1 December 2021

Provision: “Only fully vaccinated students of HEIs located in areas under Alert Levels 1, 2, and 3 shall be allowed to join limited face-to-face classes. HEIs shall advise fully vaccinated students with significant comorbidities themselves or living with individual/s with similar conditions to consider flexible learning and take face-to-face classes in succeeding semesters whenever possible without prejudice to readmission and maximum residency. HEIs shall take additional precautionary measures, as needed, for the vulnerable groups who will participate in the limited face-to-face classes.”

(b) Guidelines for Limited Face-to-Face Classes in Educational Institutions in Quezon City issued by the City Mayor on 1 March 2022

Provision: “Students with co-morbidities, or those living with individuals with co-morbidities, as certified by a physician, may opt to continue under flexible learning (i.e., online attendance to classes) as far as feasible, subject to further guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education, as the case may be.”

(c) Supplemental Guidelines to the CHED-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2021-004 on the Additional Guidelines for the Operations of Limited Face-to-Face Classes of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Areas Under Alert Level 1 (Memo 26, Series 2022) issued by NCR CHEd Regional Director on 22 March 2022. 

Provision: “…only fully vaccinated teaching, non-teaching personnel, and students shall be allowed in the premises while unvaccinated or partially vaccinated students shall continue under flexible learning modalities.”

On account of the above provisions, and in the event that we are going to have fully onsite classes, please observe the following:                            

1. All Loyola Schools students have to sign a Co-Responsibility and Co-Accountability Undertaking at least a week prior to the resumption of classes for each of these terms: Intersession, First Semester, Second Semester. This Undertaking aims to ensure our shared responsibility of protecting the health of everyone within the Loyola Schools and in the wider community. It serves to supplement our existing responsibilities as articulated in the pertinent University and Loyola Schools policies. To accomplish the Undertaking form, please access the G-Form here: https://bit.ly/LSUndertakingFormforStudents.
2. All Loyola Schools students who have significant co-morbidities or those living with individuals with similar conditions are enjoined to consider taking their classes online. Please access this link for a list of conditions considered as significant comorbidities: https://go.ateneo.edu/ListofComorbidConditions
   
   1. If you opt to take your classes online, you are required to request the approval of the Office of Health Services, declare your condition (or that of the persons you are living with), and submit the supporting medical certificates through this form using your official obf.ateneo.edu email: https://go.ateneo.edu/RequestForOnlineModeofClasses  
   2. If you opt to take your classes onsite, you are required to notify the Office of Health Services of your condition (or that of the persons you are living with) and submit a medical certification from a licensed physician indicating that you are fit or cleared to take your classes onsite. Please access and accomplish this form for this purpose using your official obf.ateneo.edu email: https://go.ateneo.edu/Undertaking-Students-SignificantComorbidities  
   3. Deadlines: For those with Intersession classes, the deadline for accomplishing the above forms is Saturday, 30 April 2022. For those with First and Second Semester classes, the deadlines for asking permission are Saturday, 18 July 2022 and Saturday, 8 October 2022, respectively. Only the forms accomplished using the official obf.ateneo.edu accounts shall be considered as submitted. If you fail to accomplish the forms before the deadlines, we assume that you are opting to join classes onsite
3. All Loyola Schools students who are still unvaccinated or partially vaccinated are required to complete their vaccination if they want to attend classes onsite. And when this is done, please inform the Office of Health Services by Saturday, 30 April 2022 for those who have Intersession classes. For those with First and Second Semester classes, the deadlines for informing OHS are Saturday, 18 July 2022 and Saturday, 8 October 2022, respectively. Otherwise, you will remain following your courses online.
4. First-year and second-year students who have not yet complied with the requirement for a Chest Xray and completed immunization record in their medical record should submit these. The Chest Xray result should be done within the last 3 to 6 months. Please inform the Office of Health Services by updating your personal health record through this link: https://bluepass.ateneo.edu/ by Saturday, 30 April 2022 for those who have Intersession classes. For those with First and Second Semester classes, the deadlines for informing OHS are Saturday, 18 July 2022 and Saturday, 8 October 2022, respectively. Those who have already complied with the submission of a Chest radiograph result need not re-submit.

We are issuing these guidelines ahead of time to allow you to make the necessary preparations in anticipation of a possible fully onsite learning mode in SY 2022-2023. It may do you well to keep abreast of all developments through the LS One return to campus portal: go.ateneo.edu/LSOneReturnToCampus.

Please be guided accordingly.