Booster Requirement & Winter Break Updates

December 17, 2021

Dear Students,

The winter break offers many opportunities for rest and rejuvenation, but it also presents significant chances of exposure to individuals and our community. We also recognize that the current COVID-19 situation nationally and globally is in flux as more information becomes available about the impact of the Omicron variant. We continue to be partners in providing accommodations and response to students as their plans may change unexpectedly. We thank you for your partnership during finals week in Pitzer’s response to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the consortium (See link to Community Update sent on 12.11.2021 below). The additional COVID-19 prevention measures put into place during fall semester finals week will be evaluated over the winter break. A community email will be sent prior to spring semester to clarify what measures will remain in effect. In advance of this break, we ask our whole community to remain vigilant and make informed decisions about safety as we enter the break and plan to reunite on campus for spring semester.

*Community Update Sent 12.11.2021: https://www.pitzer.edu/pathway-forward/2021/12/11/covid-19-community-update/

Booster Vaccine Requirement
Given the rapid COVID-19 surge we are seeing across the nation and at institutions of higher education, we must remain vigilant and take necessary steps to help proactively protect ourselves, each other, and our greater community. We know all too well how impacted health providers were earlier on in the pandemic as it relates to vaccine access. Our Mindful of Each Other Community Agreement guidelines and our core value of Social Responsibility continue to serve as our compass as we continue to navigate the pandemic. In addition to existing COVID-19 vaccine requirements, with support from Student Health Services, Pitzer students are required to receive their COVID-19 booster and upload their record to Healthy Pitzer: https://www.pitzer.edu/information-technology/healthy-pitzer-vaccine-reporting/.

The deadline to get boosted and verify COVID-19 booster status is Tuesday, January 11, 2022. Those not eligible for the booster, per CDC guidelines (see link below), by January 11 must get boosted within two weeks of becoming eligible.
Students unable to receive their booster by this date due to either equitable access limitations or not having met current CDC booster access guidelines, must notify Pitzer Nurse Zephyr at [email protected] by January 11, 2022.
Student Health Services will be hosting booster clinics for these students beginning the second week of classes. Student Affairs will also continue to provide support to students, including transportation as needed.

*CDC Guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html
*Pitzer College Health Pitzer Vaccine Reporting: https://www.pitzer.edu/information-technology/healthy-pitzer-vaccine-reporting/

Winter Break

College Closure
- Pitzer offices will close for the break on Friday, December 17, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. and will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. During this time, Campus Safety and the Pitzer Dean On-Call remains accessible for emergent needs.
- COVID testing will remain available throughout the break for students local to Claremont.
  
  *Holiday Testing Schedule: https://www.pitzer.edu/pathway-forward/2021/08/24/mandatory-weekly-student-routine-covid-19-testing/

Students Staying at [email protected] for Winter Break
- Students who have applied to stay at [email protected] for the winter break should have received details last week. All students staying at CCA for the break are required to continue weekly testing and to be responsive to emails or phone calls from Contact Tracers at Student Health Services or the Pitzer Dean On-Call.
- California Department of Public Health December 15, 2021 Statewide Masking Requirements (Link Below): Due to a recent increase in cases, California Department of Public Health is requiring that masks to be worn in all indoor public settings, irrespective of vaccine status, for the next four weeks (December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022).
- Student Health Services strongly encourages students to enhance masking efforts, including continuing to mask indoors (including when in suites with roommates except for when sleeping or eating) and masking outdoors when around others (except for when consuming food), to help ourselves and each other during this time in the midst of the Covid-19 surge.
  
  *California Department of Public Health December 15, 2021 Statewide Masking Requirements: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx

Travel Recommendations
- Prior to Travel:
  - Students are encouraged to monitor the CDC’s Travel Recommendations by Destination (link below) for international travel advisory risk assessment alert updates and the International Travel During COVID-19 guidance (link below).
  - For students choosing to travel within the United States or outside of our local surrounding Los Angeles County, please monitor the CDC’s Domestic Travel, Travel Planner and COVID-19 Data Tracker sites to access information about COVID-19 risk assessments levels, travel restrictions, guidance and resources in your United States destination.
  - We ask that students please not travel to destinations currently under the CDC’s status of not recommended for travel or where non-essential travel is not recommended at this time.
  - If planning to travel by plane, students are strongly encouraged to become informed about any airline COVID-19 health and safety requirements.
    
    *CDC Travel Recommendations by Destination: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html
    *International Travel During COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html
    *CDC’s Domestic Travel Guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html
    *CDC Travel Planner: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-planner/index.html
    *CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view
- During Travel:
  - Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus). *Link to CDC guidance below.
  - Follow all state and local recommendations and requirements, including mask wearing and social distancing.
  - In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases (see link below), consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
    
    *Requirement for Face Masks on Public Transportation Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/face-masks-public-transportation.html
    *Areas with High Numbers of COVID Cases: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view*Close Contact Information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html#contact

Spring Semester Arrival

Pre-arrival COVID test requirement
- All Pitzer students will be required to complete a PCR COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours prior to move-in arrival and produce a negative test upon move-in arrival OR, for off-campus students, email proof of the test to [email protected] (or any testing access support needs) no later than Tuesday, Jan. 18.
- Travel Requirements have changed (See link below). Starting December 6, all air passengers traveling into the US, regardless of vaccination status, must show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before travel to the United States.
  
  *Travel Requirements: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/index.html
Residential Check-In
- The residence halls will re-open for check-in on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022 at 10am.
- More information on Spring Move-In can be found here: https://www.pitzer.edu/student-life/spring-move-in-guide/

Increased COVID Testing & Masking Upon Return
- As a reminder, information on COVID testing via SHS can be found at the link below, and enhanced masking guidelines will continue consistent with SHS and California Department of Public Health guidelines.
  
  *COVID Testing via SHS: https://www.pitzer.edu/pathway-forward/2021/08/24/mandatory-weekly-student-routine-covid-19-testing/
- All asymptomatic students will engage in the following testing schedule upon arrival to campus, test two times each week for the first two weeks upon return:

First year	Sophomore	Junior	Senior
Tues, Jan. 18 & Thurs, Jan. 20	Tues, Jan. 18 & Thurs, Jan. 20	Wed, Jan. 19 & Fri, Jan. 21	Wed, Jan. 19 & Fri, Jan. 21
Tues, Jan. 25 & Thurs, Jan. 27	Tues, Jan. 25 & Thurs, Jan. 27	Wed, Jan. 26 & Fri, Jan. 28	Wed, Jan. 26 & Fri, Jan. 28

Students Arriving from International Travel to Campus
- Per CDC guidance (see link below), before leaving your international destination and prior to your arrival in the United States:
  - All air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 1 day before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the United States.
- *CDC Guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html

After travel:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/diagnostic-testing.html).
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements after travel: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-planner/index.html

Students Experiencing Symptoms
- Must get evaluated and/or tested as soon as they develop symptoms and comply with medical recommendations to quarantine or isolate.
- Pitzer’s COVID-19 Symptoms and Support Protocols can be found here: https://www.pitzer.edu/pathway-forward/covid-19-symptoms-protocol-support/

Spring Semester

Upon return to campus for Spring, consistent with current crossover dining guidelines, no in-person 5C events will be held from the beginning of the semester through February 7, pending evaluation of our COVID-19 case trends and student compliance with testing requirements.
Consistent with Fall 2021, no non-5C community guests will be allowed to attend Pitzer events and programs until further notice.
Pitzer student clubs and organizations will be able to access their spaces, while honoring masking requirements and space capacity limitations. Student clubs and organizations will continue to partner with Campus Life for event registration and community COVID-19 guidelines support implementation.
Student partnership with Mindful of Each Other community agreement, testing compliance, cooperation with SHS Contact Tracer and Pitzer Dean on Call guidance, and masking guidelines will be critical for our ability to safely engage in community and care for each other.

As always, resources and support activation for students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are available on Pathway Forward (link below), 24/7 access to providers via 7CHealth (link below) continues to be available, and our on-call deans are available 24/7 by contacting Campus Safety at 909-607-2000. Your ongoing commitment to Mindful of Each Other in action is appreciated.

*Pathway Forward: https://www.pitzer.edu/pathway-forward/covid-19-symptoms-protocol-support/
*7CHealth: https://timely.md/schools/index.html?school=7chealth&

Sincerely, Sandy

Sandra Vasquez
Vice President for Student Affairs