Operational Guidelines

Idaho State University is prepared to make operational adjustments to respond to the evolving COVID-19 situation. Levels have been developed with an overview of how each level will impact campus operations and services. The University Health Committee has developed extensive public health metrics that are updated weekly. The metrics account for the regional situation in addition to specific campus-level indicators related to cases, infrastructure and response capacity. The University's Administrative Council reviews this information weekly to determine the operational level for each ISU campus location.

Metrics for Determining Operational Levels

Operational Levels Overview (August 2020)

Pocatello: Yellow

Operational Level: yellow

Last Reviewed: March 31, 2021

Meridian: Yellow

Operational Level: yellow

Last Reviewed: March 31, 2021

Idaho Falls: Yellow

Operational Level: yellow

Last Reviewed: March 31, 2021

For information about our campus locations in Twin Falls and Alaska, please visit our sister institution websites.

Idaho State's Operational Levels do not mirror the color stages and/or levels of the district health departments. Although the University is in regular communication with the district health departments in our communities, Idaho State's Operational Levels take additional metrics into consideration, including some unique to our campuses.

Operational Levels Timeline

August 4

An email was sent to all faculty and staff with updated resources and guidance about COVID-19. The email introduced Idaho State’s operational guidelines. The University was designated to be at Level Yellow. However, a graphic was inadvertently posted online that showed the University in Level Green. The graphic was a mistake and did not reflect the actual COVID-19 situation at Idaho State. The operational levels website was updated on August 12 to break the levels out by campus location. The website redesign updated the graphic that had been previously posted in error. The Level Green mistake was not brought to the University’s attention until September 11. The University sincerely apologizes to those in the campus community who were confused by the error, and anyone with ongoing concerns should reach out to the Office of Marketing and Communications.

August 5
Three separate emails were sent to faculty, supervisors, and students with guidance about exposure and COVID-19 FAQs. The communication linked back the Roaring Back website and operational levels.

August 6

President Satterlee sent an email to faculty and staff about the Health Committee using metrics to evaluate the situation weekly. President Satterlee's communication raised questions from campus about the metrics used to determine levels and how future changes would be communicated. This feedback was used by the University to redesign the operational levels website.

August 12

The health metrics are reviewed, and all campus locations remain at Level Yellow. The operational levels website was redesigned with new navigation, and the levels were broken out by campus location (Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and Meridian). Campus-specific graphics were added to emphasize the operational level for each campus. The redesign fixed a previous error that went unnoticed by the communications team. For more information, see the timeline post from August 4.

August 19

All campuses remain at Level Yellow.

August 20

The University released information to campus about the metrics used to determine operational levels.

August 24

The metrics used to determine operational levels were included in Idaho State Today (employee newsletter).

August 25

A timeline was added to the website. The timeline emphasized that the University was at Level Yellow when the process was introduced.

August 27

All campuses remain at Level Yellow. An update about the levels appeared in Idaho State Today.

September 2

All campuses remain at Level Yellow.

September 4

President Satterlee reiterated in a campus-wide announcement that Idaho State would send communication if the operational levels changed.

September 9

All campuses remain at Level Yellow.

September 11

A mistake about a graphic previously posted online was brought to the University’s attention. On August 4, a graphic was mistakenly added to the website that showed the University in Level Green. The graphic was on the website until August 12.

September 12

The operational levels timeline was updated to include information about the graphic mistake.

September 16

All campuses remain at Level Yellow.

September 23

All campuses remain at Level Yellow.

October 1

All campuses remain at Level Yellow.

October 8

All campuses remain at Level Yellow with enhanced public health and safety guidelines.

October 9

Officially, Idaho State remains at Level Yellow. However, enhanced safety guidelines related to business travel and on-campus group sizes were adopted from Level Orange. A hybrid combination of Level Yellow and Level Orange were introduced to campus (see documentation highlighting changes).

October 14

Officially, Idaho State remains at Level Yellow. However, enhanced safety guidelines related to business travel and on-campus group sizes remain in effect from Level Orange.

October 21