Dear Colleagues – At the September 27, 2022 NOCCCD Board of Trustees meeting, the Board of Trustees 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.
The existing District COVID-19 vaccine mandate will expire at the end of the 2022 calendar year. Voluntary, on-site COVID-19 testing will remain available to employees and students at Cypress College, Fullerton College, and the Anaheim Campus in the spring 2023 semester. Positive case protocols for employees will also remain the same. More information on this is available at nocccd.edu/covid19.
Please know that NOCCCD remains committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of students, faculty, staff, administrators, and the community it serves. Currently, the COVID-19 Data Tracker designates Orange County’s community level as “low” risk. On August 11, 2022, the CDC updated its COVID-19 guidance to streamline advice for the public. In the CDC’s Press Release, Greta Massetti, PhD, MPH, MMWR author, stated, “We’re in a stronger place today as a nation, with more tools—like vaccination, boosters, and treatments—to protect ourselves, and our communities, from severe illness caused by COVID-19. We also have a better understanding of how to protect people from being exposed to the virus, like wearing high-quality masks, testing, and improved ventilation. This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives.” While the updated guidance continues to promote individuals being up-to-date with their vaccinations, currently, there is no renewal of a vaccine or mask mandate.
I thank you all for the wonderful start to the fall semester, and I appreciate the work you do to best serve our students and community.
Regards,
Byron D. Clift Breland, Ph.D.
Chancellor
North Orange County Community College District
1830 W. Romneya Drive Anaheim, CA 92801
www.nocccd.edu