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

 

Medical and Mental Health Resources for Students

KCAI students have access to medical and mental health resources through the following services.

 

Medical Care

KCAI students have access to board certified physicians for general illnesses through Teladoc. Students can connect with physicians 24/7 by phone or video. 

 

Personal Counseling and Psychiatry Services 

KCAI students have two options for receiving counseling and psychiatry services. Those options include 

  • On-campus ongoing individual counseling services and referrals for off-campus psychiatry care

OR

  • Ongoing individual counseling and psychiatry services through telemedicine, Teladoc

 

ON-CAMPUS COUNSELING AND OFF-CAMPUS PSYCHIATRY SERVICES

Welcome Note From Dr. Elisabeth Sundermeier, Campus Psychologist and Director of Counseling Services

We are a multi-layered service, with some resources on campus and some resources off campus.  It is our belief that help comes in many forms, but it always exists. (So do not give up hope!)  Help comes most effectively when you combine factors of availability (what kind of help is possible), advisability (what kind of help experts recommend), and personal preference (what kind of help you want).  That is why we provide the following layers of service.

KCAI offers approximately 50-60 hours of weekly on-campus ongoing individual counseling. Follow the steps below to request services. Services are available when classes are in session and not during college breaks. 

(1) All questions related to on-campus counseling services should be emailed to Dr. Sundermeier at esundermeier@kcai.edu

(2) Second, keep in mind that the service is not a hospital/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 esundermeier@kcai.edu. Title your email “Counseling Request” and paste in the information below:

  • Chosen name

  • Legal name

  • Pronouns
  • Date of birth

  • Year in school

  • Phone number

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

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

NOTE: Once you have submitted a request, you will be responded to within 2 business days (email Dr. Sundermeier to inquire if this does not occur).

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

Through on-campus counseling services, the counseling staff will work with the student to refer them to appropriate off-campus psychiatry resources.

 

TELADOC COUNSELING AND PSYCHIATRY 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.

Teladoc - telemedicine (medical) and mental health

KCAI students have have access to Teladoc.* 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 are 100% confidential and unlimited visits are included in your plan. 

  • Telemedicine (medical) - Access to a network of doctors who can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for you, 24/7. Medication is an additional cost, but at a discounted rate. 

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

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

    2. Your Date of Birth

    3. Your Zip Code - we recommend using the zip code for the address you have provided to the college (usually your home zip code)

  3. Once you are registered, you’ll be able to complete your medical history and connect to the care you need in minutes.

If you are experiencing problems accessing Teladoc, please email studentaffairs@kcai.edu for assistance. 

Teladoc QR code

Emergency Information and Resources

911...Police/Ambulance

816-931-6666…KCAI Security

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.

2021 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.