Spring 2019
Committee:
Legislative Affairs Committee
WHEREAS, the health, safety, and education of students on a community college campus are of utmost importance;
WHEREAS, poor air quality, caused by wildfire or otherwise, causes a significant impact on the ability to learn and the health of students, faculty, and all other school employees;
WHEREAS, air quality on different campuses within the same district can vary significantly;
WHEREAS, if the college decides to stay open in the face of a less severe air quality condition, N95 respirator masks can be used to mitigate the adverse effects especially with individuals that are more sensitive to poor air quality; and
WHEREAS, during the last poor air quality incident, N95 respirator masks and air purifiers were sold out throughout the state;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges recommends the Board of Trustees and the President’s offices at all member colleges work to create a formal air quality policy. This would include a set air quality threshold for class cancellation using AQI as a measurement while treating all campuses in a district individually, the recommended threshold is between 150-200 as that is the level officially classified as unhealthy. It is highly recommended that all colleges create an emergency stockpile of N95 respirator masks equal or greater to the number of students and staff attending each campus and allowing the health centers on campus to distribute them will help to address the impact of student, faculty, and staff health during poor air quality conditions while the campus is still open; and
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges urges student government associations to take action to support these initiatives by purchasing additional N95 respirator masks to distribute to students. The immediate purchase of stationary air purifiers for student life offices and other highly used rooms on campus is also recommended.
WHEREAS, poor air quality, caused by wildfire or otherwise, causes a significant impact on the ability to learn and the health of students, faculty, and all other school employees;
WHEREAS, air quality on different campuses within the same district can vary significantly;
WHEREAS, if the college decides to stay open in the face of a less severe air quality condition, N95 respirator masks can be used to mitigate the adverse effects especially with individuals that are more sensitive to poor air quality; and
WHEREAS, during the last poor air quality incident, N95 respirator masks and air purifiers were sold out throughout the state;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges recommends the Board of Trustees and the President’s offices at all member colleges work to create a formal air quality policy. This would include a set air quality threshold for class cancellation using AQI as a measurement while treating all campuses in a district individually, the recommended threshold is between 150-200 as that is the level officially classified as unhealthy. It is highly recommended that all colleges create an emergency stockpile of N95 respirator masks equal or greater to the number of students and staff attending each campus and allowing the health centers on campus to distribute them will help to address the impact of student, faculty, and staff health during poor air quality conditions while the campus is still open; and
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges urges student government associations to take action to support these initiatives by purchasing additional N95 respirator masks to distribute to students. The immediate purchase of stationary air purifiers for student life offices and other highly used rooms on campus is also recommended.