NIC COVID-19 Information

Reporting COVID-19 cases, symptoms or exposures at NIC

If you fall into one of the categories below, you are asked to self-report to Rapid-Trace* by calling (813) 699-3551 as soon as possible.

The following process for self-reporting to Rapid-Trace applies to all NIC students and employees who:

have tested positive for COVID-19.
have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.
have symptoms of COVID-19.

When placing calls to Rapid-Trace during high call times, you may receive a recorded message. Please leave a voice message with your name and contact information, and please note that you are an NIC student or employee. Someone from Rapid-Trace will get back to you as soon as possible.

Rapid-Trace will:

Assist with information to navigate effective isolation and quarantine.
Confidentially notify NIC on your behalf.
Provide information and resources in the local area.
Confidentially notify anyone else who may have been exposed.

Students and employees who test positive will be asked to identify all areas where they were physically present within three days prior to the onset of symptoms.

This reporting is critical as it helps guide operational decisions as NIC navigates the current surge of the virus in our college community.

Employees who contact Rapid-Trace may be eligible for up to two weeks of paid leave in the current fiscal year, following the COVID-Related Paid Leave Guideline.

For the CDC's most recent guidelines on when to quarantine or isolate, visit Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19.

NIC COVID-19 Dashboard

Welcome to the NIC COVID-19 Dashboard, where you will find timely information regarding positive cases of COVID-19 self-reported by NIC students and employees. You will also find information about COVID-19 and resources available at NIC and in our community.

NIC is committed to reporting the number of student and employee cases, whether or not those individuals were on campus or in any of our various facilities and/or buildings.

We intend to keep this dashboard as up to date as possible, based on the timing of data shared.

Free COVID-19 test kits available for NIC students and employees

Free COVID-19 rapid test kits are available for NIC students and employees.

Rapid test kits containing two tests are available to pick up for free in Student Services in office suite 200 in the Edminster Student Union Building and in Human Resources in the Headwaters Complex. Tests are also available at Parker Technical Education Center and the Workforce Training Center.

Employees are asked to pick up their box of rapid test kits before they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, when they should be isolating or in quarantine. To arrange for contact-free pickup, employees can contact Human Resources at humanresources@nic.edu.

Free KN95 masks

NIC has free KN95 masks available for students and employees. They are being distributed by the Mail/Copy Center in Coeur d'Alene and are also available at Parker Technical Education Center and the Workforce Training Center.

To request these free KN95 masks, employees should send an email to copy_center@nic.edu, and the masks will be delivered to them via interoffice mail.

For more information about KN95 masks and the CDC's updated guidance on masks, please visit Types of Masks and Respirators.

Resources

NIC has resources for students and employees needing assistance while dealing with unforeseen circumstances due to COVID-19.

The Food Pantry at North Idaho College
The NIC Food Pantry can assist NIC students who are facing food insecurity. For information, contact Student Services Senior Administrative Assistant Robin Reese at (208) 676-7156 or robin.reese@nic.edu.

Here are additional local resources available to help with food assistance.
- Community Action Partnership - Food bank (208) 664-8757
- Post Falls Food bank - (208) 773-0139
- Shoshone County Food bank - (208) 783-4901
- Bonner Community Food bank - (208) 263-3663
Mental Health and Counseling Services
During these ever-changing times, it is a priority to take care of your mental health. Here are some simple yet effective ways to stay healthy during this time. Also make sure to check out the Stay Active At Home offerings through our Student Wellness and Recreation.

Additionally, North Idaho College has two licensed therapists available to assist students. Student Counseling Services provides two to four sessions of FREE confidential solution-focused brief therapy to assist and encourage student success at North Idaho College. For students who may benefit from other kinds of counseling and/or long-term services, the staff at the Student Counseling Services works with students to help them locate and access additional resources in their local community.

For questions or to make an appointment, contact Therapeutic Counseling Senior Administrative Assistant Ty Caraway at (208) 665-4520 or etcaraway@nic.edu.

Other resources to be aware of include:
- 911 - Emergency Services
- North Idaho Crisis Center Free Services (208) 625-4884
- Safe Passage Violence Prevention Center (domestic violence/rape) Coeur d'Alene, (208) 664-9303
- Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline (208) 398-4357 or (800) 273-8255
- Veterans Crisis Line (800) 273-8255 or to talk online, send a text message to 838255
- Trans Lifeline - Transgender Crisis Assistance (877) 565-8860
- Region 1 Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Mental Health After Hours Crisis Number (888) 769-1405
- Kootenai Health Behavioral Health Services (208) 625-4800
Accessibility for students with disabilities

NIC students with disabilities are supported by NIC's Disability Support Services (DSS) office. DSS facilitates academic accommodations, access, assistance and services at NIC and at the North Idaho Consortium of Higher Education campuses of Boise State University, Lewis and Clark State College and the Idaho State University in the North Idaho region.
For questions or information about Disability Support Services, contact Senior Administrative Assistant Ty Caraway at (208) 665-4520 or etcaraway@nic.edu.
Access to Computers, Internet and eLearning Support
- eLearning - This site provides resources for your online class such as Canvas and Proctorio, as well as frequently asked questions. You can learn more about Canvas by logging into the Canvas Essentials for Students.
- IT Resources
  - Loaner Laptops
    The IT Help Desk has loaner laptops available for students in need. Laptops are only available by NIC faculty or advisor referral. If you need a laptop, please ask one of your instructors or your advisor to submit a loaner laptop request to the Help Desk by emailing helpdesk@nic.edu or submitting a ticket at nic.edu/it.
  - Loaner Internet Hotspots A limited number of hotspots for wireless internet are available for students in need. Hotspots are only available by NIC faculty or staff referral. The referring faculty or staff member should contact Student Services Senior Administrative Assistant Robin Reese at 208-676-7156 or robin.reese@nic.edu for assistance.
  - Student Labs and Computing Spaces
    There are several computers that students can use on the NIC campus and at NIC's outreach sites. See the Student Labs & Computing Spaces map for more information.
  - Cardinal WiFi
    Wireless access points are in every building on the Coeur d'Alene campus, at the Parker Technical Education Center and at NIC at Sandpoint. *For off-campus internet options, see the knowledge base article for Home Internet Options and Resources for Students.
  - Student Resources Page
    NIC's IT Department has Student Resources that summarizes all of the IT resources that are available for students.
  - IT Help Desk
    Students are encouraged to contact the IT Help Desk if they need help with Canvas, MyNIC, Cardinal WiFi, Cardinal Mail and other technical issues and questions. See nic.edu/it for the Help Desk's contact information and hours.
- Molstead Digital Resource Support - Contact the Molstead Library for information on how to access and use NIC digital resources.
Employee Resources

Click here to access HR COVID-19 Employee Resources on MyNIC.
Quick Links

*About Rapid-Trace
To help limit the spread of COVID-19 on our campus and ensure the safety of our community, North Idaho College has partnered with Rapid-Trace, an independent company dedicated to tracing and contacting individuals who have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19.

Rapid-Trace contact tracers work collaboratively with NIC's Student Monitoring and Support Team and Office of Human Resources to notify students and employees who are determined to have had close contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Names will not be shared and any personal information will be kept private. Your participation in this process will greatly reduce the spread of COVID-19, keep our campus community healthy and safe, and allow us to continue face-to-face instruction.

NIC continues to follow local, state, and federal guidelines for contact tracing and notifying individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 positive students, faculty, and staff.