Spring 2024 COVID Updates - 01.22.24

January 16, 2024

Dear Pitzer Staff and Faculty members, 

Welcome back! We hope you had a rejuvenating winter break and are ready for the exciting challenges that the new year brings. 

As we commence the second half of the academic year, our top priority remains the health and safety of our community. We want to keep you informed about the latest COVID updates to our protocols and guidelines. Please take a moment to review the following information:

Staff/Faculty 

  1. Masking: Masking with medical grade masks (e.g., KN95) is still recommended considering the current national increase in infections, but masking is not required. Surgical masks and KN95 masks are available across campus, including at the Dean of Faculty’s Office, Office of Student Affairs, Gold Student Center, Human Resources, and Facilities. Faculty may continue to require masks in classrooms at their discretion.
  2. Testing Procedures: COVID tests for staff and faculty are available through HR, Facilities, and the Dean of Faculty’s Office. Tests are also available through Pitzer-sponsored medical insurance plans. Staff and faculty may test at home or off campus. Positive results must be reported to HR within 24 hours using the new Smartsheet link: Covid Exposure – Self-Reporting FormFollowing form submission, HR will advise individuals on the isolation period of 5 days and the additional resources available to them.
  3. Vaccination Updates: All faculty and staff must be up to date with their COVID vaccinations, meaning they have received all doses of the primary vaccine series and at least one booster. Please contact HR ([email protected]) if you have questions about this expectation or require a medical or religious exemption.
  4. Reporting Symptoms: If you experience any COVID or flu like symptoms, please contact your supervisor. Swift action to mitigate potential risks and protect our community is expected.
  5. Continued Hygiene Practices: Hand sanitizing stations will remain throughout campus and within buildings. Disinfecting wipes will be available for classrooms. Please assist in keeping Pitzer safe and healthy by regularly washing hands and wiping down surfaces (e.g., printers, keyboards before and after use) and shared community areas. Let’s all continue to encourage and model these behaviors for our students.

Your adherence to these safety protocols is instrumental in maintaining a safe and healthy campus environment. You can always find the latest L.A. County Department of Public Health updates on their site. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Human Resources.

Thank you for your dedication to the well-being of our community, and we look forward to a successful and healthy second half of the school year!

Kind regards, 

Samantha Greer, MPA
Safety and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Facilities and Campus Services

Spring 2024 Student COVID-19 Updates - 01.17.24

Hello Pitzer students,

We hope the start of the spring semester has gone well!
Last week, LA County released updated Covid guidelines which will impact our Pitzer Covid processes.

As we commence the second half of the academic year, our top priority remains the health and safety of our community. We want to keep you informed about the latest COVID updates to our protocols and guidelines. Please take a moment to review the following information:

  1. Testing Procedures: Beginning Spring 2024, testing for COVID-19 is only available on-campus at Student Health Services via a lab visit. Check out the SHS website for more information about setting up a lab appointment.  Students may also test at home or off-campus. Positive results must be reported immediately via email to [email protected]Swift action to mitigate potential risks and protect our community is expected.
  2. Positive Test Protocol Update: Due to the updated LA County guidelines, the process for students that test positive are as follows (effectively immediately):

·         Students who test positive with Covid will need to email [email protected]

·         If student is asymptomatic, the student is required to mask for 10 days when around others.

·         If student has symptoms, the student is required to isolate at CCA until they have been cleared from SHS to return to their room.  The duration of the isolation is dependent on the duration of the symptoms.  Students will only be released from isolation with clearance from SHS.  Once cleared from isolation, student is required to wear a mask for 10 days when around others.  *Failure to comply with isolation may result in a judicial conduct process.

  1. Vaccination Updates: If you would like to receive the updated Pfizer and Moderna vaccines release in Fall 2023, please set-up a vaccination appointment through Student Health Services. Although not a requirement, it is highly encouraged for protection against COVID-19. All Pitzer students were required to be up to date with their COVID vaccinations, meaning they have received all doses of the primary vaccine series and at least one booster. Please contact the Division of Student Affairs if you have questions about this expectation or require a medical or religious exemption.
  2. Masking: Masking with medical grade masks (e.g., KN95) is still recommended considering the current national increase in infections, but masking is not required. Surgical masks and KN95 masks are available across campus, including at the Dean of Faculty’s Office, Office of Student Affairs, Gold Student Center, Human Resources, and Facilities. Faculty may continue to require masks in classrooms at their discretion.
  3. Continued Hygiene Practices: Hand sanitizing stations will remain throughout campus and within buildings. Disinfecting wipes will be available for classrooms and at the ResLife office. Please assist in keeping Pitzer safe and healthy by regularly washing hands and wiping down surfaces (e.g., printers, keyboards before and after use) and shared community areas. Let’s all continue to encourage and model these behaviors for our students.

Your adherence to these safety protocols is instrumental in maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for everyone. For more information regarding LA County’s Public Health updates, you may visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/coronavirus/guidances.htm

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Division of Student Affairs. 

Thank you for your dedication to the well-being of our community, and we look forward to a successful and healthy second half of the school year!

Sincerely

Division of Student Affairs 
1050 N. Mills Ave., Scott Hall 120
Claremont, CA 91711-6101
Phone: 909-607-2821 

Student COVID-19 Testing - 01.16.24

All Students Must:

  • Complete a pre-arrival PCR COVID test 3-5 days before coming to campus for the first time (students with access barriers should notify [email protected] prior for access support). If your test is positive, we ask that you isolate in place and not return to campus until you receive a negative test.

If you test positive after you have checked-in to the halls, please notify [email protected] and contact SHS. All symptomatic students and students identified as ”close contacts” are required to comply with Student Health Services directives to participate in testing.

Symptomatic students MUST test by no later than 48 hours from the onset of symptoms.

Students instructed to test by a medical provider, MUST test immediately or contact SHS immediately.

Student Health Services (SHS) will be coordinating on-campus testing and vaccine access.

Testing hours are available as listed at Student Health Services. Testing can be done at any time during testing hours, appointments are not required.

Please do not eat, drink, smoke, brush your teeth or apply lipstick/chapstick 60 minutes prior to your test. Please watch these video instructions prior to arriving at SHS (https://rise.articulate.com/share/-q6MdIeo2V42boWuOGTu8i4- cT9E_pjy).

More information can be found here (https://services.claremont.edu/covid/).


Monkeypox Update and Information - 08.19.22

August 19, 2022

Dear Pitzer Community,

As we near the start of the fall semester, we want to share information and resources concerning the nationwide outbreak of Monkeypox, which the Biden administration has declared a national public health emergency. Pitzer, in partnership with Student Health Services (SHS) at The Claremont Colleges, is closely monitoring the situation. Pitzer College participates in weekly higher education-specific briefings with public health experts at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH). 

Please visit Pitzer’s Pathway Forward site for updates and resources, including:

As with the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect public health guidelines and protocols for Monkeypox to continue to evolve. Pitzer will continue working with SHS and the County to help keep the campus community informed and as safe as possible.

Sincerely,

Laura A. Troendle, CPA, MBA
Vice President, Chief Operating Officer & Treasurer

Allen M. Omoto, PhD
Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of Faculty

Sandra Vasquez, EdD
Vice President for Student Affairs

Monkeypox Update from The Claremont Colleges Services - 08.05.22

As you all may be aware, the Biden administration declared monkeypox to be a public health emergency in the U.S. on August 4, 2022. Both California as well as Los Angeles County have also made similar declarations recently.

First, I would like to share with you a few current facts regarding monkeypox:

  • Monkeypox is a viral infection
  • As of August 4, 2022, there have been more than 6,600 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico
  • While this is a cause for concern, thankfully, monkeypox is rarely fatal and no deaths have been reported in the U.S. so far. However, there have been eight reported deaths from this disease across the world during the current outbreak, primarily in Africa and other regions where the health systems aren’t as robust
  • Early signs may include fever, muscle aches, headache, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion. A rash may also develop, often beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body, including the hands, feet, eyes, mouth and/or genitals. This rash can sometimes be quite painful in nature
  • Infection can be spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed, usually 2-4 weeks
  • Current transmission/spread is primarily through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact
  • There is no specific treatment for monkeypox virus infections. Treatment for monkeypox infection is mainly supportive care (e.g., easing the symptoms by taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever or pain)
  •  However, since monkeypox virus and smallpox virus are genetically similar, antiviral drugs and vaccines developed to protect against smallpox may sometimes be used to treat and prevent monkeypox virus infections, currently only in those at highest risk
  • Vaccine supplies to prevent monkeypox remain limited currently. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has established priority criteria to administer first dose of vaccine to as many people who are at higher risk for monkeypox exposure as possible. When supply improves, they will make second doses available. Vaccines are not currently available for administration to private clinics such as Student Health Services

As with the last public health emergency declared in the U.S. in January 2020 in response to COVID-19, Student Health Services (SHS) at The Claremont Colleges continues to closely monitor the situation and is in touch with our local public health officials at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for regular updates. SHS current response includes:

  • Keeping our staff up to date on the latest monkeypox information
  • Keeping up to date with our laboratory partner on proper methods of collecting and submitting samples from suspicious lesions for testing
  • Creation of a webpage with more detailed and regularly updated information to keep the campus community informed on monkeypox
  • Reinforcing proper cleaning and hygiene habits, both within our department as well as across the consortium

Prateek Jindal, DO

AVP for Health and Wellness

The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS)

Link to update on Student Health Services site