The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu is implementing its interim COVID-19 guidelines in alignment with UH System COVID-19 guidance to ensure a safe and healthy campus.

Preparing for a Return to Campus

Chancellor Maenette Benham and campus officials gathered for a Q&A session in the fall of 2020 to share how UH West Oʻahu has been impacted by COVID-19 and what steps are being taken for our Safe Return to Campus. UH West Oʻahu’s focus continues to be the health and wellness of students, faculty, and staff.

Pueo Safety Promise

Everyone who comes to the UH West Oʻahu campus — students, employees, and visitors — are asked to respect the Pueo Safety Promise.

1. Stay home if my temperature is higher than 100.4 or if I have been in close contact with a suspected or confirmed case.
2. Submit the UHWO Health APP/Web-Survey prior to coming to campus.
3. Wear a face covering, maintain safe physical distance, and practice good handwashing hygiene when on campus or doing university business.
4. Remain informed about health and safety guidelines and take steps to protect our campus staff, faculty, students, and guests.
5. Be kind and compassionate, caring for the well-being of our campus community.

Process for positive and suspected cases

UH West Oʻahu students and employees are asked to contact the campus COVID-19 Hotline at (808) 689-2525 or email covidwo@hawaii.edu if they have tested positive, are symptomatic, or have had contact with a positive case.

The UH West Oʻahu COVID-19 Response Team has an action plan set up to address each situation reported, to assist affected students and employees, and to provide information to all appropriate parties.

Daily check-ins

Daily health screening and self-monitoring will be mandatory via the LumiSight UH app and questionnaire to support CDC recommended daily self-screening of everyone that will be on our campus. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors will be expected to complete the self-screening questionnaire prior to arriving on campus. Visitors should follow the Visitor Process before arriving on campus.

Facial coverings and hygiene

Employees, students, and visitors must wear face coverings when on campus. Plexi-glass barriers have been installed as added protection in areas where employees interact with the public. Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available. There will be hand sanitizer stations throughout campus, including classrooms.

Physical distancing

While there will be a limited density of people on campus, be mindful to stay at least six feet from others, do not gather in groups, and avoid crowds and mass gatherings. Classrooms and laboratories are reconfigured for physical distancing; desks are spaced six feet apart. Reconfigured classrooms and labs have reduced capacity to about 25 percent. Blue tape on floors and signage placed throughout campus serve as guides and reminders to practice physical distancing.

Course delivery

UH West Oʻahu is looking at a spring 2021 schedule with a variety of modalities.

Every classroom will have self-sufficient Zoom capabilities so faculty can use any modality they need. Each room has enough technology where faculty can broadcast their classes synchronously. IT is setting up two studios where faculty can record their classes to offer them asynchronously. Also, resources are available on Laulima to assist faculty to develop their pedagogy to effectively teach students who are in person and/or online.

Campus services

The James & Abigail Campbell Library will be open with limited hours. Student services — such as orientation, Student Life activities, tutoring, getting a transcript, and seeing an advisor — will be mainly virtual with some face-to-face services in a limited capacity.

Daily cleaning and disinfecting

Building Services staff has been trained to provide daily cleaning and disinfection of campus facilities and spaces, including classrooms, restrooms, and elevators in accordance with CDC guidelines. This includes performing routine cleaning and disinfecting of spaces that are occupied and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched indoor surfaces, such as door handles, elevator buttons, faucets, and paper towel dispensers. Coordination will be made to ensure there will be appropriate time between classes to allow for effective cleaning to take place in classrooms.

Although the Building Services staff will maintain their normal cleaning processes after the classrooms and restrooms have been tended to, each employee should do their own due diligence and self-clean their work areas to ensure coverage commensurate with their work habits.

Have a COVID-19 question?

The general public is welcome to call the Queen’s Health Systems COVID Hotline at (808) 691-2619.