Together Forward

After facing a global pandemic with creative coping, grit, and prayer, Charleston Southern University continues to focus on our priorities of keeping our campus family safe while providing quality education. The University Pandemic Task Force and marketing team launched the #BUCSAFE campaign to welcome our Bucs back to campus with guidelines designed to inform and inspire. On this site, you will find resources that demonstrate shared responsibility and mutual commitment to the health of every student, faculty, and staff member. Information on this page will be updated as the task force adjusts for new developments in medical research and additional guidance from the scientific community.

What Do I Do If…?

The following scenarios are intended to guide supervisors in handling COVID-19 cases and exposures in their individual work areas. 

Student absences related to positivity and exposure will be handled at the discretion of the individual instructor and the student’s healthcare provider. Absences related to COVID-19 are to be handled in a manner like other illnesses. If you will have ongoing close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual (e.g., household member), follow CDC guidance. 

  • Stay home and self -isolate.
  • Do not go to work or class for at least 5 days after your symptoms start or 5 days after your test date (if you have no symptoms).
    • Note that the date of symptom onset and/or positive test is designated as day 0.
  • Students should inform their instructors that they will not be in class for at least 5 days.
  • End isolation after 5 days, returning to normal activity on day 6 if you are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.
  • If you are still febrile on day 5, remain in isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.
  • If you experience moderate illness, indicated by shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, you should isolate through day 10.
  • If you experience severe illness, indicated by hospitalization, or have a weakened immune system, you should isolate through at least day 10 and consult your healthcare provider prior to ending isolation.
  • If your symptoms worsen after ending isolation, restart your isolation period at day 0 and consult a healthcare provider.
  • Wear a well-fitting surgical mask or N95 for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public.
    • Avoid travel; do not go to places where you are unable to mask.
    • Regardless of when you end isolation, avoid people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 through day 11.
    • If you have two negative rapid antigen tests 48 hours apart, you may cease masking sooner.
  • If you have symptoms:
    • Stay home and self-isolate
    • Do not go to work and/or class
    • Get tested ASAP
      • If positive, follow scenario 1
      • If negative, you can return to work and/or class if ALL of the following apply to you:
        • Your symptoms are mild; and
        • Your symptoms have improved; and
        • You have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication
        • If your symptoms are severe or getting worse, stay home, and consult a health care provider
  • You have no symptoms:
    • You do not need to stay home
      • Wear a high-quality mask when around others at home and in public and watch for symptoms for 10 days
      • Test on day 5 after exposure
        • If you are positive, follow scenario 1
        • If you are negative, watch for symptoms and wear a mask around others outside of your household for 10 days since your last exposure
  • Stay home and self-isolate
  • Do not go to work and/or class, regardless of vaccination status
  • Get tested ASAP
    • If positive, follow scenario 1
    • If negative, stay home until symptoms have improved and you have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication. If symptoms worsen, get tested again and contact your health care provider.

Learn more about…

COVID-19 Resources

Follow the latest updates with peer-reviewed research and data.

Campus Guidelines

Current guidelines for the CSU community.

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