Faculty and Staff who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will be required to be tested for COVID-19 on a routine basis as a condition of their presence on campus.
The College will use the following methodology to govern COVID-19 testing:
- Unvaccinated/Partially Vaccinated faculty and staff who come to campus two or more days per week will be required to test twice per week regularly.
- Unvaccinated/Partially Vaccinated faculty and staff who come to campus routinely one day per week will be required to test that day.
- At this time, fully vaccinated individuals do not need to test routinely. Testing is available to all staff/faculty if you would like to test routinely or if you have symptoms or have been exposed. Fully vaccinated Staff/faculty who are in a high contact position (regularly work with multiple people <6 feet apart) are encouraged to test once a week.
- If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you will not be required to participate in routine testing for 90 days following your positive test as long as you no longer have symptoms. After the 90 days, testing will resume as scheduled.
* A person is considered fully vaccinated ≥2 weeks following the receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer/Moderna) or one dose of a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson).
To facilitate this process, faculty and staff members who plan to be on campus on a routine basis are asked to schedule themselves for their weekly or twice-weekly testing using Healthy Pitzer at https://www.pitzer.edu/healthypitzer or go to the Pitzer website>Resources>Daily Health screening. You can find instructions for scheduling here: https://www.pitzer.edu/information-technology/healthy-pitzer-appointment/
This is important to (1) ensure that we know who will be on campus on a given day, (2) facilitate contact tracing and (3) efficiently allocate COVID-19 tests for those who are required to be on campus, who will maintain a regular presence on campus and those members of our community who are symptomatic or believe they have been exposed.
Test site location updated 7/27/2021Given the contagious nature of COVID-19, we are asking faculty and staff who are on campus routinely to stick to their approved schedules. Should a schedule change, faculty and staff members will be expected to consult with their supervisor or VP, who will let HR know of the change.
Testing for Symptomatic or Exposed Staff and Faculty:
Any staff or faculty who have symptoms of COVID-19 or have had a known exposure must contact the College’s healthcare provider, Hamilton Health Box (HHB), by emailing the HHB Nurse at [email protected] or calling (909) 607-2180 (x72180) as soon as possible. The HHB Nurse will provide diagnostic testing for those who meet the criteria. Diagnostic testing will be a same-day or next-day drive-up appointment. The drive-up testing will be located in marked parking spots at the Holden parking lot; instructions will be provided before testing.
Outside Testing:
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or test positive through a non-Pitzer testing site, AND you have been on campus in the fourteen days prior to the first day of symptoms, you must immediately report that information to the HHB Nurse at (909) 607-2180 (x72180) or [email protected] This is required so that we may report to the State of California, as well as our workers’ compensation carrier, per changes in state laws effective January 1.
Testing Family Members/Partners:
Our on-campus clinic is available to family members and partners of Pitzer faculty and staff. If a member of your family needs to be tested, please contact the HHB Nurse at (909) 607-2180 (x72180) or [email protected] Please note that, effective March 1st, 2021, you will be charged $75.00 for each test for each family member.
Changes in Notification Procedures:
New legal and regulatory mandates will bring new notifications to members of our Pitzer College community if there is an outbreak. California’s Office of Occupational Safety and Health now mandates notice be given within one business day to all employees who occupy an “exposed workplace” when there are multiple COVID-19 infections or outbreaks in a single location. As a result, you may receive notices from the College from time to time as we track COVID-19 cases in our community.
As a reminder:
- A COVID-19 case is defined as a person who has tested positive, is subject to an order to isolate from a health professional or public health official or who has died from COVID-19.
- You are at risk for exposure if you were within six feet of the person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more, with or without the use of face coverings, over a 24-hour period, or had unprotected contact with the person’s body fluids and/or secretions (for example being coughed or sneezed on, sharing utensils or saliva) or provided care without using appropriate protective equipment.
- We will be sending out notices within one business day to faculty and staff who work in a particular workspace in cases of multiple COVID cases in a single location. If contact tracing reveals that you are at risk of exposure, you will be contacted by the HHB Nurse.
Additionally, resources are available for anyone who needs wellbeing assistance:
Employee Assistance Program: The EAP is administered by OptumHealth and is available to benefits-eligible staff and faculty for free counseling support during this stressful period.
You may contact the EAP by calling (800) 234-5465. You can also find information and resources online at www.liveandworkwell.com
