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American College Health Association Releases New Guidelines on Preparing for COVID-19

  • 03/05/20

SILVER SPRINGS, MD – The American College Health Association (ACHA) announces the release of its new guidelines, Preparing for COVID-19. Prepared by the ACHA COVID-19 Task Force, these guidelines are designed to help college health and well-being health professionals and campus administrators prepare for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and related issues on their campuses.

COVID-19 is a concern for college and university officials not only because of students, staff, faculty, and visitors traveling to and from areas affected by the outbreak, but also due to the potential for rapid transmission in a congregate setting within campus environments.

These guidelines provide recommendations for the student health service (SHS), the campus itself, and members of the campus community.

"As our nation and our campus communities prepare for the COVID-19 virus, ACHA is grateful to our dedicated volunteers that developed this excellent resource," says Devin Jopp, Ed.D., chief executive officer of ACHA. "We believe this new set of guidelines will help guide our collective actions and help better position the higher education community as we confront this virus head on."

"The ACHA COVID-19 Task Force has been hard at work fielding concerns from the college health community, posting resources and updates, and rapidly responding to new developments related to COVID-19," says task force chair Jean Chin, M.D., M.B.A., FACP, FACHA. "Our hope is that these guidelines, paired with existing campus resources and coordination with local and state health agencies, will assist schools nationwide in preparing for COVID-19 and its implications for campus communities."

The new guidelines, Preparing for COVID-19, can be downloaded at www.acha.org/documents/resources/guidelines/ACHA_Preparing_for_COVID-19_March-3-2020.pdf. An extensive list of additional ACHA resources and updates regarding the COVID-19 outbreak can also be found at www.acha.org/COVID-19. 

About ACHA 
The American College Health Association (ACHA), founded in 1920, is a national nonprofit association serving as the nation's principal leadership organization for advancing the health of college students and campus communities through advocacy, education and research. ACHA represents a diverse membership that provides and supports the delivery of health care, prevention, and wellness services for the nation's 20 million college students. ACHA advocates for student health by integrating the critical role of college health into the mission of higher education. For more information about the association visit www.acha.org.

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