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August 20, 2020
Dear Students,
As we prepare for the start of our online Fall 2020 semester, we appreciate your continued practice of “Mindful of Each Other” by following the important safety and well-being guidelines noted below:
Restricted Student Access to The Claremont Colleges & Pitzer Colleges
Due to COVID-19 related health and safety concerns, and until further notice from the College, the Pitzer College campus and all of the Claremont Colleges will be physically closed during this time to the community, including to all students. The sign above is posted at main entrances to campus. For the safety and well-being of everyone in our community, students who are living in the local Claremont area will not have access to campus and should not plan to utilize any campus resources or outdoor areas at Pitzer during this time.
The following are the only student exceptions where access will be granted:
Students can only visit the Claremont Colleges to:
Students can only visit Pitzer’s campus to:
- Pick up items left in residential storage in March 2020 by emailing [email protected] to receive specific instructions and written approval to come to campus to retrieve these items.
This fall semester, the Pitzer community will continue to fulfill our mission to “produce engaged, socially responsible citizens of the world” while protecting the health and safety of our students, staff and faculty. While the COVID-19 public health crisis has impacted our ability to be physically together on-campus this fall, it will not impact our ability to still build a strong Pitzer family. We ask all students to consider how you can remotely contribute to the greater good in the multiple communities we are a part of, and continue to invest in our community values, traditions, and connections in new ways.
Students living in the local Claremont community will be critical partners in upholding our commitment to social responsibility, our Student Code of Conduct, and the greater wellbeing of our Pitzer and local communities. This includes, but is not limited to, being “Mindful of Each Other” in preventing surges of COVID-19 by doing our part to not host large gatherings (which are strictly prohibited) and limit guests and contacts within households, while complying with any directives from health officials for any student who becomes impacted by COVID-19.
Together, at home across the world, we are mindful of our communities, therefore we commit to:
Follow CDC guidance in response to COVID-19
Face Coverings
- Wear face coverings in accordance with CDC recommendations
- Los Angeles County’s face-covering order requires “All persons* wear a cloth face covering over both the nose and mouth whenever they leave their place of residence and are, or can be, in contact with or walking near or past others who are non-household members in both public and private places, whether indoors or outdoors.” Guidance about exceptions can be found on the website.
- Claremont City Council’s emergency face-covering ordinance was implemented to help slow the spread of the virus granting the ability to enforce fines ($100 first fine, $200 second in one year, and $500 for a third) for those not in compliance.
- Students experiencing insecurity needs related to face coverings may submit a request through the student emergency fund.
Physical Distancing
- Practice physical distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart)
- Do not share objects with others, when possible, to limit transmission.
Education, Updates and Proactive Guidance
- Review important health announcements and engage in ongoing education on the issue of prevention and response to COVID-19.
- Follow health and safety laws, orders, ordinances, regulations and health and safety guidance as it relates to public health crises, including COVID-19
Safety Upgrades
- In compliance with LA County, California and CDC reopening protocols, Pitzer’s Facilities staff, the COVID-19 Task Force, several intercollegiate committees, and other groups have been working diligently to develop, implement and provide necessary and required safety protocols, including: cleaning and disinfecting protocols, training of staff, purchasing of supplies and personal protective equipment, and modifications to our physical facilities.
Be “Mindful of Each Other”
- Take care of each other, build and maintain connections, and reach out to support resources.
- Practice “calling each other in” around these important health and safety measures, empathy, compassion and an ethos of “I am because we are”, whereby we honor the “principle of ubuntu: a concept in which being itself is a relational category of recognition, rights, and responsibilities” (Ogude, Paulson, & Srainchan, 2019)
- Support Pitzer, and local, community members who are impacted by COVID-19 and connect them with appropriate resources.
- Combat bias, discrimination, xenophobia and stigma related to COVID-19 by resisting any attempts to discriminate against others based on COVID-19 status or association and commit to learning from others’ experiences as part of our ever-changing global community.
Be Mindful of Your Own Self Care
Illustrations by Natalie Ayala ’21This can be a challenging time for many given the added stressors of the current situation. We remind you to be vigilant in your own self -awareness. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, anxious, depressed or other similar symptoms please know that you are not alone and we encourage you to reach out to any of the resources below designed to support you at any time you are struggling.
24/7 On-Call and Student Support Resources:
- To reach our 24/7 On-Call team, please contact Campus Safety at 909-607-8000
- Crisis Mental Health Support can be reached by contacting Campus Safety at 909-607-8000 who will connect you with the on-call therapist.
- To access 24/7 telehealth for students seeking mental health counseling or medical care. Pitzer students should visit the 24/7 7C TeleHealth for Students website or visit the Apple or Android stores to download the free TimelyMD app. You will need to create a profile and, at checkout, enter the customized coupon code (Pitzer 2020).
- Your online Fall 2020 success and transition is important to us. Please visit our Fall 2020 Student Success Support Services and Resources website for more information.
- For daily self-care inspiration, support and community subscribe to PZStrive2Thrive
- Reach out and connect with Assistant Dean and Case Manager Stephanie Hannant at [email protected]
- Check in with a student affairs dean via virtual office hours on Google hangouts where you can connect by a call, video, or text/chat (weekly schedule and how to connect is available here)
Student Emergency & Missing Persons Contact Information
As you log onto your Pitzer student portal, you will be receiving a reminder notification to submit and/or update your current emergency and missing persons contact information. You, your safety, and well-being, matter, especially in the event of an unforeseen natural disaster or emergency. While federal compliance mandates that all students living on campus (including those at CCA) complete this information, all students living off-campus are also required to complete the information in light of health and safety measures related to COVID-19. Below you will find step-by-step instructions on how to submit and/or update your information by logging into the Pitzer student portal:
- Go to the Student tab
- At the far left, click on Pitzer Student Info
- You will find Missing Persons/Emergency Contacts Information at the bottom
- You can click on the plus sign button to add a new contact
- There are two types of records: Missing Persons and Emergency; selecting Both will use one record for both types
- To delete a record, click on the trash can to delete it.
- To edit a record, click on the pencil to edit it.
Pitzer College 2020-2021 Student Handbook
The 2020-2021 Student Handbook includes easy access links to campus resources, departments, and student academic and non-academic responsibilities found within the Code of Student Conduct and campus policies.
We at Pitzer take pride in the residential liberal arts experience created by students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the College. It is an experience always centered on our Core Values and the health and safety of all members of our community. Even during this unprecedented time of physical separation, we are still a community of learners and together we will find innovative, effective and thoughtful ways of equipping you, our students, to live healthy and thriving lives; and be the citizens and leaders our global society needs more than ever. Mindful of Each Other, we remain committed to supporting student success and engaging students remotely, for now, and in-person in the not-too-distant future.
This past week in preparation for engaging with you, our Community Assistants participated in training that included creating a virtual and living solidarity tree. At Pitzer the roots within our community are deep, ground us to our Core Values, our community action rises above hate, and together, we are Pitzer strong!
Mindful of Each Other,
Mike Segawa
Vice President for Student Affairs
Sandra Vasquez
Assistant Vice President & Dean of Students
