COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Students Needed by July 1 - 05.28.21

May 28, 2021

Dear Students,

As we continue to plan for a return to campus this fall, we want to remind you to obtain the COVID-19 vaccination in your local area PRIOR to arrival at Pitzer and ideally by July 1. We would also like to remind you that COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for all Pitzer students unless an exemption for medical or religious reasons has been approved.

ALL students will need to complete one of the following by July 1:

  1. Upload proof of COVID-19 vaccination to Healthy Pitzer. Easy upload instructions can be found here. (NOTE: If your vaccination card is in another language, please have it translated prior to upload). If you experience any issues in uploading your vaccination card, please contact [email protected] or call the Help Desk at 909-607-3065.
    OR
  2. Email [email protected] to begin the process to receive a medical/religious exemption from the vaccination. If you plan to request an exemption, please do so as soon as possible so we can begin working with you on the process.
    OR
  3. Complete the “Early Arrival Application Fall 2021“on your Residence Homepage to officially request an early arrival AND to request to receive a vaccination in Claremont this fall after arrival.

Students Arriving from International Destinations this Fall and International Students:
Please review the detailed email sent to all international students earlier this week for more specific information including guidance from the World Health Organization, early arrival guidance and support for students needing to set-up vaccination appointments and self-quarantine. As a reminder, Todd Sasaki ([email protected]) is a great resource to assist you with coordinating your plans. If you did not receive this aforementioned email, please reach out to Todd as the email was primarily sent to international students.

Students Currently Residing in the United States:
We expect ALL students currently residing in the United States to be fully vaccinated upon arrival this fall or to have received an exemption via the process above. We will not be able to provide COVID-19 vaccination upon arrival to these students as we are prioritizing those arriving from international destinations who do not have vaccine access this summer. For assistance locating vaccine access near you, please click here. You can also reach out to our team at [email protected] for support.

Questions related to the COVID-19 Vaccine:

Opportunity Chance Drawing for All Students:
We all have a social responsibility to do our part in our community’s safe return to campus and greatly appreciate your important contributions by taking action by July 1. Students who complete the required steps above by July 1 will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $100 gift card, Fitbit, $100 to the Huntley Bookstore, $50 Claremont Cash, or by popular student demand, an Orange Blossom backpack.

We expect to receive more updated guidance in mid-June and will provide you with additional updates, as well as access to a new centralized Pitzer Pathway Forward website that will house all of these important updates, and more, by late June.

As always, we encourage you to remain in communication with us over the summer as any questions or concerns arise by contacting [email protected].

Sincerely,

Sandra Vasquez
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs

Fall 2021 Plans from President Oliver - 03.29.21

Monday, March 29, 2021

Dear Pitzer Community,

I am pleased to report that we are planning for in-person instruction and residential living on campus at Pitzer this fall. The first day of classes will be August 30, 2021. More information on the academic calendar and other important dates will be shared soon.

Our planning takes into account that vaccine availability will be expanded to all members of our community over the next few months, that infection rates continue to decline and that public health authorities ease the current restrictions in place for our region. Your health and safety will continue to be our top priority in every circumstance and scenario.

As I mentioned in my message of March 8, Student Health Services (SHS) of The Claremont Colleges was approved as a COVID-19 vaccination site. I am so pleased to report the SHS has administered more than 500 doses to eligible faculty, staff, students, and the local community. All this done in only the past few weeks. SHS is prepared to continue to provide vaccinations throughout the spring and summer as we bring students back to campus in Claremont.

Continually updated information on Pitzer’s plans and COVID-19 can be found here. Information on student housing for the fall semester will be shared in the next few days, as will other important information and dates regarding move-in and orientation for new students.

New students can also access the Admission portal where they can find details on admitted student events, orientation, medical insurance, and more. All students should continue to keep an eye out for emails and information shared via social media about fall semester plans and dates.

The Pitzer Community is resilient, resourceful, and determined. I am so proud of our collective efforts to educate, care for, and sustain each other over the past year. I look forward to being together in person, this fall. Until then, continue to remain careful – wear masks, social distance, and please vaccinate as soon as you are eligible.

Provida Futuri,

Melvin L. Oliver
President

Housing Selection Update for Fall 2021 - 02.25.21

February 25, 2021

Dear Pitzer Students,  

With the optimistic news of increased vaccine access nationwide, we are currently planning a return to full occupancy in our campus housing for Fall 2021. We very much look forward to having our residence halls once again (safely) filled with our wonderful Pitzer students! From meeting virtual friends in-person for the first time and reconnecting with past roommates to enjoying Pasta Bar and repainting the Free Wall, we have much to look forward to as we reunite our community after these many months away from campus.  

As a reminder, these occupancy plans are in process and will respond accordingly to college-wide planning for fall, LA County guidance, and other health and safety protocols. There will be other COVID-19 related safety measures (i.e. masks, social distancing, Mindful of Each Other community agreement expectations, community health ambassadors, etc.) involved in a return to campus that we cannot fully predict at this time.  

To assist in student housing planning for the fall, in particular for those students who typically lease off-campus in the fall, we felt it was important to start painting a picture of our fall housing process. 

Changes for Fall 2021 to Housing Selection 

  • First-Year Experience (FYE) 
    • As is tradition, our Pitzer, Sanborn and Atherton (PAS) Halls will be used for the entering class.  
    • Considering the size of our incoming first-year class, some of these students will also live in Skandera Hall, which is typically within the West, East, and Skandera (WES) complex, but is located immediately adjacent to PAS.  
  • Sophomore Year Experience (SYE) 
    • We are eager to welcome the rising sophomore class to their first semester on campus!  
    • Since the sophomore class missed out on a first-year residential experience, we will be offering an opt-in “Sophomore Year Experience Community” this coming year in West, East, and Skandera halls.  
    • Sophomores looking to opt-out of the SYE can choose to live and select housing with Juniors and Seniors, or apply for Off-Campus approval.  
    • All sophomores in the SYE will be able to select their own suitemates/roommates, explore new roommates/suitemates via our software system, or sign-up to be placed with another sophomore who is also interested in the assigned roommate experience.  
  • Off-Campus Housing 
    • Typically about 40% of Seniors, 30% of Juniors, and 10% of Sophomores live off-campus. 
    • Sophomores,  Juniors, and Seniors are welcome to begin applying to live off-campus in the local Claremont area. Students must apply and be approved to live off-campus each year to be released from the live-on requirement.  
    • Seniors will be automatically approved for off-campus status upon applying. Juniors and Sophomores will be approved based upon review following our usual guidelines, more information at the Housing Selection website. 
    • Students considering applying for off-campus housing should review the Off-Campus Housing Guide
  • Campus Housing Selection 
    • Sophomores that decide to opt-out of the SYE can group with Juniors and Seniors.  
    • Individual housing selection times will be provided based on Class year, with Seniors prioritized. The best Individual Selection Time in a group becomes the Group Selection Time. The housing selection application is not yet available will be announced.  
    • Most of Mead Hall and the Claremont Collegiate Apartments (CCA) will be available for upper-class students seeking to live in campus housing. Any WES spaces still open after RADA, FYE, and SYE selection will also be available.  These halls host the majority of our singles and offer unique suite sizes: 
    • WES – Double and single rooms  
      • Any spaces still available after Room Accommodations for Disabilities, FYE and SYE housing processes.  
    • CCA – combination double and single rooms in apartment-style living  
      • 2 bed, 1 bath w/kitchen 
      • 2 bed, 2 bath w/kitchen  
      • 3 bed, 2 bath w/kitchen 
    • Mead – combination double and single rooms 
      • 8 person suites 
      • 7 person suites 
      • 4 person suites 
  • Class-Year Identity 
    • We want to acknowledge that many students may feel they aren’t sure what “class-year” they belong to this fall given defers and leave of absences from this virtual academic year. We will allow students to assist us in self-identifying if they feel they should belong to a certain class that they, by credit, don’t officially fall into.  
  • Universal Room Rate 
    • As a reminder, all campus housing rooms, whether they are a single, double, apartment, suite, etc., will be billed at a universal room rate. Main campus single rooms are only accessible to students with documented disability accommodations, as well as Seniors and Juniors.  
  • Financial Aid Cost of Attendance (COA) 
    • Students on financial aid are encouraged to review the updated Cost of Attendance (COA) calculation regarding how students’ financial aid packages change depending on their selection of campus housing, off-campus housing, or living at home with relatives.  
    • More information can be found on the Financial Aid website.   
  • Room Accommodations for Disabilities Application (RADA) 
    • Students seeking to apply for a Room Accommodation for Disabilities (RADA) will be able to complete a separate RADA form on Residence before the Sophomore and Junior/Senior selection processes (timeline TBA).  
    • Due to the potential strain on medical systems as a result of the ongoing pandemic, we highly encourage students seeking to apply for accommodations to begin communication with their medical provider to gain proper documentation. Documentation standards can be found here. More information on Housing Accommodations can be found Here.  

General Housing Selection Information   The Housing Selection process is facilitated entirely online using our Residence software system. As such, the Housing Selection has three main steps: 

  1. Apply 
  2. Roommate Groups and Explore Rooms 
  3. Select Rooms 

Detailed notes and screen shots of each phase can be found on our Housing Selection Website. Students are encouraged to reach out to [email protected] with any questions in regards to the Housing Selection process. 

Application Timeline 

  • Off-Campus Applications – OPEN NOW on Residence 
    • Off Campus Applications are reviewed before the Campus Housing Selection process begins. If you are interested in living off campus, please review our Off Campus Housing Priority criteria, outlined on the Housing Selection Website.  
    • These applications are open on a rolling basis for now, with a deadline TBD. Applicants are prioritized according to our Off-Campus priority guide as well as the date/time they applied.  
    • Students must apply and be approved to live off-campus BEFORE they sign a lease for off-campus housing.  
  • Campus Housing Selection – DATES TBD 
    • The Housing Selection timeline will be impacted by health and safety standards dictated by local health officials. We aim to facilitate the Fall 2021 housing selection process only once. So, while the Campus Housing application typically goes live at the end of February, we will be delaying the application until more Fall 2021 details are confirmed. 
    • We aim to open the Campus Housing application during the Spring 2021 semester, but will likely delay students’ selection of rooms until Summer 2021.  

Other Fall 2021 Planning  

Much about fall semester remains to be determined including move-in dates and logistics, Orientation  program plans for incoming first-years and rising sophomores, COVID-19 related health and safety measures on-campus (I.e. social distancing, face coverings, guests, gatherings, etc.), and more. We encourage students to stay tuned to their email for updates as we have them as well as for input and open forum opportunities as we have them.  

We remain optimistic about the potential of a modified fall return to campus and will do our best to communicate updates as we have them. We appreciate everyone’s patience throughout the process. As questions emerge, please reach out!  

Our best, 
Residence Life 
Kirsten Carrier and Josh  

Kirsten Carrier, M.S. (she/her/hers)
Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life and Conference Services

Josh Scacco, M.Ed. (He/Him/His)
Associate Director of Residence Life

Is off-campus housing available in Claremont and the surrounding areas? - 11.24.20

This post has been archived. The information below may be outdated.

Some students may still intend to live in Claremont or the surrounding areas, even though instruction will only be online and on-campus housing will not be open. The College discourages students from moving to Claremont this spring due to the ongoing pandemic. Students living off-campus will not have physical access to campus, except for pre-scheduled medical appointments with Student Health Services (SHS).  

Pitzer will not be responsible for providing access to dining services, quarantine or isolation housing, or any medical services beyond those provided by SHS.  

Pitzer students may direct lease with the Claremont Collegiate Apartments (CCA) for the Spring 2021 semester. 

Does my financial aid package cover off-campus housing? - 11.24.20

This post has been archived. The information below may be outdated.

Most financial aid packages will have a room-and-board budget based on a scenario where students are living at home with their families. The Office of Financial Aid continues to work closely with Student Affairs, Residence Life and Finance to address the needs of students who are unable to live at home with family. Students who were approved for off-campus housing in the fall semester will have an off-campus budget for the spring semester.

For any more questions or for more information, contact [email protected]

Will there be campus housing in the spring? - 11.24.20

This post has been archived. The information below may be outdated.

In compliance with LA County guidance, the College is not able to offer any campus housing or dining services for the spring 2021 semester. Students may choose to stay at home with family, lease elsewhere, or contact the Claremont Collegiate Apartments (CCA) to sign a direct lease with them for the spring semester (details below). At this time, students are not recommended to travel to Los Angeles to lease in the local Claremont area. 

Students currently living at CCA are encouraged to reach out to CCA staff to confirm continuation of their lease through Spring semester | Email: [email protected] 

We recognize that not having on-campus housing to offer, and the continuation of a remote mode of instruction, may continue additional hardships for students. Students who are housing insecure and do not have housing options for the spring as a result, should reach out to [email protected] by December 7 to initiate connecting with the Housing Insecurity Working Group to explore circumstances and options available. More information on Financial Aid can be found on this website. 

Will I receive a tuition refund if I withdraw or take a leave of absence? - 11.24.20

This post has been archived. The information below may be outdated.

The last day to add/drop for a tuition or financial aid adjustment is Friday, February 5. Only students that officially withdraw or take a leave of absence before the first day of classes, Monday, January 25, are eligible for a full refund. 

Please visit the Academic Calendar for more information: https://www.pitzer.edu/registrar/academic-calendar/

For any more questions or for more information, contact [email protected]

If we remain virtual, how does this impact my financial aid package? - 11.24.20

This post has been archived. The information below may be outdated.

Students who have received a financial aid notification for the spring semester with on-campus room/board charges will receive an updated financial aid package reflecting an “at home budget” due to virtual learning. Students who have not received their initial notification will receive a financial aid package based on the new cost of attendance for virtual learning. These notifications will be released by December 4.

For any more questions or for more information, contact [email protected]

Will student employment be available in the spring 2021 semester? - 11.24.20

This post has been archived. The information below may be outdated.

Plans for student employment in spring 2021 are currently in process. We are assessing job opportunities in a virtual environment at this point in time. Our goal is to continue to employ students in the spring semester through non-work-study positions.

I am a first-year, new transfer, or new New Resources student who decided to defer, but I have now changed my mind and would like to enroll. What do I do? - 11.04.20

This post has been archived. The information below may be outdated.

We welcome any first-year students who wish to enroll this spring semester. All currently deferred students who now wish to enroll should contact the Office of Admission to reverse your deferral decision by mid-December. Please email [email protected] or [email protected] to start the enrollment process. We may be able to accommodate new enrollments after this date, but we cannot guarantee the same access to courses, including first-year seminar choices if available. If you are still having trouble deciding what is the best decision for you, contact the Dean of Faculty’s Office at [email protected]. We are excited about next semester and welcome the conversation with you.

Information About Spring Semester 2021 - 10.28.20

This post has been archived. The information below may be outdated.

October 28, 2020

Dear Pitzer Community:

I have read the letter from the 5C Student Body Presidents, the recent Pitzer Student Senate Resolution (57-R-7), the Change the Academic Calendar petition, the Pitzer FEC resolution, and email messages from students, parents, and faculty about the Spring 2021 academic calendar.  I also have talked first-hand with Pitzer community members and discussed the concerns and feelings that were raised at last week’s College Council meeting presided over by Dean Omoto.   

Please know that I hear you and understand you. It is clear that many in our community are not just working hard, but are tired, stressed, and spread thin, and there is considerable frustration, anger, and uncertainty about the pandemic and other world events. On top of that, many of us are missing the support and energy we typically receive from friends and colleagues, and also may be feeling the weight of assistance we are providing to others. We all want and need time for restoration. Based on experiences this semester, students and faculty have plainly stated that they desire days free of classes and other school-related responsibilities during the upcoming spring semester.

In developing the spring academic calendar, the Academic Deans Committee weighed the benefits and consequences of many scenarios, and with recognition that no calendar could accommodate all possible scenarios. They considered input from faculty and students from their home campuses as well as the Student Affairs Deans, and prioritized the health and safety of students, staff, and faculty, as well as the surrounding community. In addition to COVID-19 health risks, potential stress and mental health impact influenced the development of the calendar. Furthermore, Pitzer remains fully committed to preserving 5C class cross-registration, which requires that all of the undergraduate colleges adopt the same spring academic calendar.

Many of you have indicated that you understand the reasons for modifying the spring academic calendar in order to have students on campus. As a reminder, the spring semester starts later. This later start means that we will have longer recuperative time between semesters, but importantly, it provides additional time for any potential post-holiday spikes in COVID-19 infections to dissipate and more transition time for bringing students back to campus. In contrast to fall, the spring calendar preserves all weekends; that is, there are no Saturday class days. 

Although not a full week, there are four intermittent days off during the semester (including Cesar Chavez day). Our expectation is that these break days will be true days off without meetings or assignments or exams. The intermittent days off are intended to build in rest and recuperation while also reducing opportunities for travel to and from campus. Due to the delayed start, the spring semester has been reduced by four days. Changing the traditional five-day spring break to three intermittent days off ensures sufficient instructional days and weeks to meet pedagogical and curricular requirements as well as provisions for federal financial aid. Finally, the semester will end “on time,” thereby allowing students to take advantage of internship and work opportunities or simply have time off during the summer. It will also allow for faculty and staff to pursue their usual activities and typical time away from Pitzer.

As you know, the Presidents of The Claremont Colleges adopted this spring semester calendar.  We are all hoping to bring students back to campus next semester, and the calendar was developed to hold out the possibility that one or more of the Colleges will have students in residence. At this point, however, we are prohibited from operating residential campuses. As much as we would like to have students on campus, we await word from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) if this is even a possibility, let alone the health and safety requirements that will be necessary to have students in residence. Pitzer hopes to learn more from LACDPH in mid to late November. If we find out at that time that we cannot have students on campus during spring semester, I commit to lobbying for a change to the spring semester academic calendar. Regardless, I pledge to continue to work together with the Pitzer Community and consortium partners to explore alternate ways to effectively address the concerns that have been brought forward. 

I thank you for your input and ask for your patience and consideration. Like you, I long for the days when we can all be together on campus and to return to some sense of “normal” in our lives. I hope that you understand and trust that these decisions are made solemnly, after careful, deliberate consideration of the information at hand, and with earnest commitment to do what is best for our entire community.

Provida Futuri,
Melvin L. Oliver President