November 19, 2021
Dear Campus Community,
This weekly update features reminders about November break guidelines, testing, and COVID-19 booster access updates.
We wish students traveling for the November break safe travels, and are grateful to Campus Life for helping make possible opportunities for students staying at Pitzer to engage in community during the break. This week we were inspired by several inspirational community engagement opportunities including, but not limited to, the First Year Seminar Mi Familia course offered in partnership between Maria Torres and Professor Norma Rodriguez that provided a memorable class cooking of family recipes experience, the First Year Class came together for a celebration as a cohort, Pitzer International Student Association hosted a 5C Friendsgiving Dinner, and the Office of Alumni & Family Engagement hosted a panel on True Equity Beyond Solidarity: Awareness, Accountability, and Action. Congratulations to the People’s Pitzer, the Community Engagement Center, and many partners that contributed to the College earning the platinum seal award from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. We are also proud of our Women’s Soccer team for their progress in the NCAA tournament, Men’s Cross-Country for winning the SCIAC Championship and Western Regional title for the 4th straight year, and or Football team for winning the Sixth Street rivalry against CMS. Chirp! Chirp! Students wishing to cheer on runners or participate in the annual Claremont Turkey Trot scheduled for Thursday, November 25, can learn more information here. Check out @pitzer.campuslife, @pzreslife, and our Pitzer Events site for more information about weekend events and programs.
Below are important updates and reminders of the week:
- LOCAL ON-CAMPUS STUDENT COVID-19 SUPPORT & BREAK TESTING SCHEDULE: Just a friendly reminder that any student staying on campus during the break who are symptomatic must stay in their room and contact Student Health Services for testing as soon as possible and not wait until their scheduled weekly testing date. Student Health Services and testing break hours of operation can be found here. For 24/7 medical support guidance, 7C.Health is available anytime. Due to the impact of November break on student weekly testing routine, if your early departure or late return will impact your testing schedule this week, please email Melissa Burrows at [email protected]. We appreciate continued proactive student outreach for alternative day coordination support needs. Students needing weekend COVID-19 related support or who find themselves needing assistance accessing care, should contact Pitzer’s 24/7 On-call Dean via Campus Safety at 909-607-2000. Our team is here to help you!
- COVID-19 BOOSTERS: Please see the attached update from Dr. Prateek Jindal in Student Health Services regarding access updates and our shared strong encouragement for students to get the COVID-19 booster shot. Students needing transportation support to local Claremont vaccine sites or to Pomona Valley Hospital, may contact Bryce Sternquist (via email at [email protected] or in the Office of Student Affairs Scott Hall 120) for access to Claremont Dial-a-Ride booklet support or Uber/Lyft transportation during normal business hours. For support after normal business hours, students may contact Pitzer’s 24/7 Dean on Call to request Uber/Lyft transportation support at 909-607-2000. Students needing academic accommodations due to the impact of the booster, may contact Associate Dean Gabriella Tempestoso at [email protected].
- FLU VACCINE REQUIREMENT REMINDER & POSSIBLE REGISTRATION HOLD: Thank you to the over 1,100 students who have obtained their flu vaccine. We trust many of you received the vaccine at Student Health Services or off campus and have yet to upload the record to your student medical record portal. Students who have not been responsive to multiple outreach requests have a registration hold on their student account. We strongly encourage you to please contact Student Health Services to get your flu vaccine as soon as possible or to upload proof of your flu vaccine to avoid the hold, and fulfill the requirement.
- ELECTRONIC COVID-19 VACCINE RECORD ACCESS PORTAL: The portal provides only a digital copy of your vaccine record, including a QR code to help make access easier for any needs that may arise where you are required to provide proof of your vaccination.
- NEW LA COUNTY VACCINE VERIFICATION: Beginning Nov. 4, 2021, proof of full vaccination and photo ID for indoor entry into bars, breweries, wineries, distilleries, nightclubs, and lounges for all patrons and employees goes into effect. Patrons now need to be fully vaccinated to be indoors at any of these establishments. Please continue to be mindful of each other and our greater campus community with your safe engagement in the local surrounding community.
- WELL-BEING & SELF-CARE: Staying healthy is important during this time as it is the season for the flu, colds, strep throat, and mono. Students needing 24/7 medical or mental health support, can meet with providers via 7C.Health. Attached are wellness reminders from Student Health Services.
We continue to be proud of our numbers below. This has and continues to an evolving journey we are committed to in community. May we continue to strive to maintain this momentum.
Below please find summary student quarantine and isolation data between Saturday, November 13 – Friday, November 19:
- Students Placed in Travel Quarantine: 0
- Students Released from Travel Quarantine: 0
- Total Students Currently in Travel Quarantine: 0
- Students Placed in Quarantine: 0
- Students Released from Quarantine: 0
- Total Students Currently in Quarantine: 0
- Students Placed in Isolation: 2
- Students Released from Isolation: 1
- Total Students Currently in Isolation: 3
As a reminder, our on-call staff is available 24/7 to assist with any community support concerns (909-607-2000) and our COVID-19 Concern Reporting Form is also available. Information and updates are also available on our Pathway Forward website, including our COVID-19 Dashboard, Mindful of Each Other Community Agreement expectations, and Pitzer Student-led Gatherings and Events/Meetings Guidelines.
As always, I have an open door for anyone who would like to meet with me for any feedback or ideas regarding how we can enhance our Mindful of Each Other practices in community action.
Sincerely,
Sandy
Sandra Vasquez, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Pitzer College
