Change in Covid Response Team Policy/Practices


The past three years have been very difficult for everyone, and we applaud each of you for your diligence in monitoring your wellness and reporting symptoms/positive cases of Covid. Thank you! 

While Covid is still a part of everyday life, the illness isn’t what it once was. Because of KCAI’s high vaccination rates and low positivity rates during the fall 2022 semester, decreased hospitalizations and deaths, and reduced risk of contracting the illness in Kansas City, we have revised the campus Covid protocols. 
 
Effective immediately, KCAI faculty, staff, and students will no longer need to report to the covid management team (covid@kcai.edu or hr@kcai.edu) potential symptoms, exposures, or positive cases of Covid. Going forward, if you have Covid related symptoms and/or test positive for Covid, follow the protocols listed below. 
Consult immediately with a medical provider and follow the directives of the medical provider. If testing positive for Covid, follow the directives of the CDC. 
Do not attend class/work and stay away from campus until cleared by a medical provider, or through CDC guidelines. 
Notify instructor(s)/supervisor in advance of an absence.

KCAI will continue to adhere to the Communicable Disease and Epidemic/Pandemic Response Plan; including, but not limited to Covid, hepatitis, influenza, meningitis, monkeypox, measles, mumps, tuberculosis, etc. To learn more, review the 22-23 Communicable Disease Guidelines. (Link)  

Please contact Mike Raunig, Director of Safety and Security, should you have any questions.

 

More detailed information is available in the 22-23 Communicable Disease Epidemic/Pandemic Response Plan

 

Mental and Medical Health Resources for Students

KCAI students have access to on AND off campus medical and mental health resources.  Teladoc is our online resource, and it is an online health service that offers minor medical care, counseling, and psychiatry for uncomplicated psychiatric conditions.  It is available to all students.  Access to Teladoc will be described in great detail in the last paragraphs of this resource page.  Our wellness resources are coordinated by Rita McGaw and include: mental health counseling, referrals, and consultations, as well as The Pantry and Teladoc.

On Campus Counseling, Consultations, and Referrals

 

KCAI offers approximately 50-60 hours of weekly, on-campus, ongoing individual counseling.  We find that KCAI students are inquisitive, open minded, and motivated to grow as people, so they take advantage of this service enthusiastically.  Sometimes, we find the best course of action for a given student is a referral to local care providers because they may have an issue that needs special treatment.  We have many trusted providers in town, and a relationship with local hospitals and clinics who we can refer people to for specialized care (for example, medication consults, eating disorder treatment, therapy that meets over summers and DBT groups).

Following is key information for how to make contact with us regarding on-campus services.  Remember, services are available when classes are in session only and not during college breaks. 

(1) All questions related to on-campus counseling services should be emailed to counseling@kcai.edu. If you do not hear back in 48 hours, do not hesitate to send a second email. Please note, because counseling services are not available during college breaks, you may not receive a response regarding your request until classes begin each semester. 

(2) Second, keep in mind that the service is not a hospital or a 24-hour service.  We provide primarily non-urgent care that is associated with the regular business hours of the college (8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday, August through May).  So if you are in an emergency situation, you MUST get help via emergency services, 911, a local emergency room, or your psychiatrists' after-hours hotline. (More emergency information can be found on this page).

(3) Finally and most importantly, here is how you make contact and request on-campus counseling services.  Email counseling@kcai.edu. Title your email “Counseling Request” and paste in the information below:

  • Chosen name

  • Legal name

  • Pronouns 

  • Ethnicity

  • Date of Birth

  • Year in school

  • Phone number

  • All available hours, Monday through Friday (9am to 7pm)

  • Preference of counselor (BIPOC, LGBT, female, none, etc.)*

NOTE: Once you have submitted a request, you will be responded to within 2 business days (Reminder: Requests made during college breaks will be addressed when classes begin each semester and/or after the respective break).

*While we make it a priority to connect students with their preferences, we cannot guarantee we are able to accommodate all requests. 

 

Teladoc - telemedicine (medical) and mental health

 

TELADOC Counseling, Medical and Psychiatric Services

KCAI students have access to book online appointments with board certified psychologists, therapists, and/or psychiatrists through Teladoc. Appointments are available 7 days a week from 7am to 9pm. There is a broad range of providers available to connect students with based on their individual preferences.

Services are available through secure video or phone and include:

  • Mental Health - Access to licensed therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, or other behavioral health specialists from home or school. Services include unlimited visits. 

  • Telemedicine (medical) - Get care 24/7 for non-emergency conditions like cold, flu, sinus infections, allergies, etc. 

  • myStrength - Access to flexible and comprehensive digital programs with proven tools and dedicated support for stress, depression, sleep, and more.

Teladoc services may not support the needs of all students at all times. Medical services are for short-term conditions and do not support chronic medical conditions, nor medication for chronic conditions and/or needs. Medication prescribed through medical or mental health providers does not include DEA controlled substances, or narcotics. Medication is an additional cost to the student, but at a discounted rate. Should students need additional resources, please contact studentaffairs@kcai.edu

*Teladoc is available to students who have paid the KCAI health and wellness fee and is available for 12 months (August through July 31). Students who are under the age of 18 are not able to access Teladoc. 

 

To get started, follow these instructions:

  1. Visit Teladoc.com, call 1-800-TELADOC or download the app (Apple, Google).

  2. Follow the instructions to register your account.  You’ll need the following info:

    1. First and Last Name - please use your campus first name 

    2. KCAI student email address
    3. Date of Birth

    4. Biological Sex

    5. Zip Code - please use KCAI's address: 4415 Warwick Blvd, Kansas City, MO, 64111
       
  3. Once you are registered, you’ll be able to complete your medical history and connect to the care you need in minutes.

For more information, please review the registration process outlined in How to Register an Account. 

KCAI provides first and last names, KCAI zip code, KCAI email address, as well as the biological sex of each student to Teladoc. This information is provided to Teladoc by KCAI prior to the start of each academic year and reflects the most recent information the student has provided to KCAI. You must use the same information KCAI has provided when registering for Teladoc, or contact student affairs to make changes, if needed. Due to the standards within the healthcare industry, students may need to use legal names and biological sex when receiving care. 

If you are experiencing problems accessing/registering for Teladoc for any reason, please contact:

1-800-835-2362 - for immediate assistance 

OR

 email studentaffairs@kcai.edu.

 

Teladoc QR code

Emergency Information and Resources

911...Police/Ambulance

816-931-6666…KCAI Security

On KCAI Campus reach out to your RA or Resident Life Director

988...National Suicide Hotline, 24 hours

1-800-448-3000...National Hotline Through Boys Town, 24 hours

1-800-273-TALK...LifeLine, 24 hours

 

Emergency Rooms (Mental Health or Medical)
University Health ER

2310 Holmes
Kansas City, MO 64108

 

St. Luke's ER
4401 Wornall Rd 
Kansas City, MO 64111

 

Additional Resources
For helpful college student mental health resources, go to www.jedfoundation.org

Click here for a podcast by Dr. Sundermeier on "The Brain Science of Grief."

 

Disclaimer
This page is for informational and educational purposes. Reading it is not intended to be a substitute for mental health services provided by a professional. Any reference to outside websites and links will take you to various online self-help resources outside of KCAI. Please note, the KCAI counseling office, KCAI, and Board of Trustees do not own and are not responsible for the content of these external websites. 

Rave Logo

The Kansas City Art Institute has implemented a campus-wide Emergency Alert System, which will provide emails and mobile alerts to all members of the college community who have signed up. The system is reserved for emergency situations and weather-related school closings. Please sign in here to manage your account: https://www.getrave.com/login/kcai

Rave also has an app! Download the Rave Guardian App for quick access to more KCAI Security resources.

Here is more information on how to set up your account.

 

2024 COMBINED ANNUAL SECURITY REPORT AND FIRE SAFETY REPORT

This report is provided in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, as amended. It provides students and employees of Kansas City Art Institute ("Institute") with information on the Institute's security arrangements, policies, and procedures; programs that provide education on such things as drug and alcohol abuse, awareness of various kinds of sex offenses, and the prevention of crime generally; and procedures the Institute will take to notify the campus community in the event of an emergency. Its purpose is to provide students and employees with information that will help them make informed decisions relating to their safety and the safety of others.

Download the report.