Dean of Students Newsletter | March 30, 2021

As we approach the end of March, we would like to remind you during this busy and challenging time, to take care of yourselves and take advantage of wellness resources and opportunities offered throughout this newsletter and throughout our social media accounts. As we finish this semester much of our work is now turning towards a return to in-person learning this fall semester. Although much remains to be finalized, we are optimistic and hopeful about setting foot on our beautiful Pitzer Mounds once again. Please take time to review upcoming announcements and engage with us as we envision our return to campus.

Your Student Affairs Leadership Team,
Sandy Vasquez, Interim Vice-President of Student Affairs
Kirsten Carrier, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life & Conference Services
Meriam Merrill, Director of Athletics and Chair of Physical Education (Pomona-Pitzer Athletics)
Alayna Session-Goins, Assistant Dean of Campus Life
Gabriella Tempestoso, Associate Dean & Director (Pitzer Academic Support Services)
Brad Tharpe, Director (Pitzer Career Services)

We are committed to working with partners to make available support groups for transgender students of color and survivors of intimate partner violence. If you are interested in either types of support please reach out to Fiona Vajk or Patty Gonzalez.
In partnership with the Diversity Committee, Individual Students and Student Groups requesting additional support resources during this time can contact Gabriella Tempestoso in the Office of Student Affairs. Funding is not a barrier to access support for students.
The EmPOWER Center (909-607-2689 or [email protected]) & Queer Resource Center (909-607-1817) or [email protected]) are available to provide 1 on 1 confidential support.
Lastly, we acknowledge the need for long-term sustainable support, strategic curricular plans, and structural solutions around diversity, equity and inclusion.

Full information on move-in dates and fall housing planning can be found here.

Housing Selection Updates
Returning students are encouraged to stay tuned to their email and begin considering their housing preferences for fall semester. More information, including the housing selection timeline this April/May for Fall Housing, will be released via email soon. Information can always be found on our website.

Question: At this time, can I make travel plans back to Pitzer this fall?

Answer: As this time, due to the fluidity of protocols and LA County’s changing COVID-19 situation, students are encouraged to make flexible travel plans based on the dates and information below. We encourage you to review flight change fees, travel insurance, alternative travel options, etc. in case you need to alter your arrival plans.

Currently LA County requires a 10-day quarantine, even for fully vaccinated individuals. However, we hope that as more data comes in regarding vaccine efficacy, LA County will waive this quarantine restriction for those who are fully vaccinated. We encourage all students to seek COVID-19 vaccination as soon as it is available to them in their local area and to continue monitoring LACDPH guidance. Vaccinated students who are arriving from domestic locations this August should plan to arrive as scheduled.
Conversely, we encourage students arriving this August from international locations to be in close contact with Pitzer International Programs in regards to their travel planning. Students traveling to the United States will be expected to follow travel guidance and it is unknown what travel restrictions will be in place in August. Students arriving from international locations who are living in the residence halls in the fall semester will have the option to register with International Programs/Residence Life to arrive early and complete their quarantine period in campus housing. More information on this process will be communicated to eligible students soon

Meet the new Student Success Fellows! They are here to bring the student voice into OSA student success initiatives, as well as work with students and student groups to provide student feedback to the Office of Student Affairs and the Student Success Advisory Group. Feel free to reach out to them at student_succe s [email protected].

Michelle Muturi ’23
My name is Michelle Muturi, a sophomore and international student from Kenya. I am a Biochemistry major on the pre-med track. My hopes for this position aim at improving student life for international students in terms of their transition into college and student life through creating better relationships between them and the schools resources.

Kira Bloomenthal ’22
Hi! My name is Kira and I am a Junior majoring in political science and economics with a focus on public policy. I am thrilled to be a student success fellow because I want to ensure that all students are getting the resources they need and deserve to succeed at Pitzer. My goals are to increase awareness of existing resources, especially to first year students, augment existing mental health resources, and develop new resources based on student feedback and by identifying areas that we are falling short in.

Wherever possible, we HIGHLY encourage students to receive vaccination in their local area PRIOR to arrival at Pitzer this fall. Any questions related to the vaccination can be fielded by Student Health Services (SHS). There many benefits to receiving the vaccination prior to arrival. For example, students who are vaccinated will not need to observe the same quarantine periods if identified as a close contact to someone with COVID-19 and will likely to be exempt from regular COVID-19 testing protocols.

Local, student employees are currently eligible for access to a COVID-19 vaccination.

Free donut for those who have been vaccinated: https://www.krispykreme.com/promos/vaccineoffer

Resources for students who have questions or concerns related to the COVID-19 vaccine:

TCCS COVID-19 FAQs section on COVID vaccines
Nursing phone appointments available by contacting SHS (909) 621-8222
Provider phone appointments also available by contact SHS (909) 621-8222
7C.Health provider appointments available via telemedicine 24/7

More information about Pitzer student access to Pomona outdoor recreation facilities will be coming soon.

Click here to view Student Resources & Local, Off-Campus Guidance.

Virtual Fresh Check Day via Hop-In [2 Options]

Thursday, April 8 from 7-9 pm (pst) and again on Friday, April 9 from 9 am – 11 am (pst).

Registration required: https://hopin.com/events/fresh-check-day

Virtual Fresh Check Day is an event to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention through peer-to-peer conversations and activities. Our virtual event will have interactive expo booths, hosted by your peers, with the support of multiple campus departments and groups.

Join us through the virtual platform Hop-In for DIY projects, mental health screenings, physical activity and a variety of informative booths. Write a letter to someone you’re grateful for, create a self-portrait or de-stress and practice gratitude through quiet reflection. Tips on care and support resources will also be available.

Orientation Student Leader Recruitment
We will be starting the selection process for student leader positions for Fall 2021 orientation programs for incoming first-years, rising sophomores, and transfer students.
- We will be selecting Orientation Leaders, Academic Guides and Orientation Logistics Assistants.
- These three student leader positions are only open to returning students that started at Pitzer during the Fall 2019/Spring 2020 academic year or earlier.
- All students that started at Pitzer virtually during the 2020/2021 academic year are not eligible to apply, because you will be invited to participate in fall 2021 orientation for rising sophomore and transfer students!
- The application for new candidates to apply and the re-commitment form for student leaders chosen for fall 2020 will become available Monday March 29 and applications and re-commitment forms will be due Wednesday April 14. Interviews for new candidates will be conducted the week of April 19th-23rd.
- Info sessions will be held on Thursday April 1 at 5pm for Fall 2020 student leaders who are interested in re-committing and an info session for all new candidates on Tuesday April 6 at 5pm.
  
  All details on the selection process, position descriptions, info sessions, and form links will be emailed out to students on Monday March 29 at 5pm.

Career Services Events & Pitzer Internship Fund

Pitzer Internship Fund

Applications are now open for the Pitzer Internship Fund (PIF). This fund is intended to provide assistance for unpaid or low-paid summer 2021 internships. Students can apply for up to $2800. For more information such as the PIF Application Instructions, PIF Timeline, PIF Eligible Internships, PIF Funding Guidelines, and PIF Application Evaluation Criteria for the Pitzer Internship Fund, please visit https://www.pitzer.edu/career-services/students/pitzer-internship-fund/ Deadline is Thursday, April 1 by 11:59 pm (PST). If you have any questions contact Teresa Flores Roberts Associate Director at [email protected] or 909-621-8519.

Upcoming Events

Pitzer Connect Series: Law
Tuesday, March 30th
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PDT

Three alumni board members will speak on careers in Law; Diana Bob ’02, Mark Cunningham ’89, and Evan Slovak ’14.

Our Pitzer Connect virtual connect series provides us with a regular platform for Pitzer alumni (particularly alumni board members) and families to discuss careers in a variety of fields. We have specifically designed these series events to be small, approximately 10-15 students, to allow for meaningful conversations.

RSVP in Handshake.

Practice GRE Test
Saturday, April 3rd
10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PDT

The Princeton Review and Pitzer College are going to take students through a full GRE practice exam. Get actual practice, and a good baseline for your GRE official score. After completing the practice exam you will receive a full score report which will highlight your strengths and weaknesses.

DEADLINE TO RSVP: March 30 Midnight (PST) Your registration will be sent to our GRE Rep who will contact you via email before the exam with your special test URL.

RSVP in Handshake.

Pitzer Connect Series: Mental Health
Tuesday, April 6th
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PDT

Pitzer Alumni Board member Elaine Waldman ’90 will talk about career paths in Mental Health.

Our virtual Pitzer Connect series provides us with a regular platform for Pitzer alumni (particularly alumni board members) and families to discuss careers in a variety of fields. We have specifically designed these series events to be small, approximately 10-15 students, to allow for meaningful conversations.

RSVP on Handshake.

Office of Black Student Affairs (OBSA)

JOIN OBSA’S MENTOR TEAM! Be an OBSA Mentor for the 2021-2022 Academic Year!

Click here to apply

DEADLINE EXTENDED! The Office of Black Student Affairs invites students to apply to be a Mentor with the OBSA Mentorship Program. You must be rising sophomore, junior or senior in fall 2021 to be eligible to apply, and currently enrolled in a 5C institution. Mentors participate for one full academic year. The program is designed to offer a supportive community for incoming undergraduate students of African descent. Mentoring occurs in groups (1 mentor and a small group of mentees) and matching is done based on the stated preferences of mentors and protégés—we don’t automatically match students from the same schools or who share academic interests.

RSVP NOW! APRIL 13, 5-6pm PST: OBSA presents the Black In… Career Series Panel
featuring Starlett Quarles, Dana Goland, Pomona College alum Michelle Schultz and Odest Riley Jr.
Click here to RSVP

7C Graduates: Sign up to receive your Black Graduation package including a free kente stole! Click here to register
For more information visit OBSA’s website

EmPOWER Center Events

Alternate Thursdays: April 1st, 15th, & 29th. 4PM PST.

Healthy relationships workshops on topics including self-care, gender stereotypes, & communication skills

Zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85687719875 

Passcode: LTAI559

Friday, April 2nd – Friday, April 9th

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Scavenger Hunt

Visit @EmPOWERCenterClaremont on Instagram to access the Scavenger Hunt.

Alternate Fridays: April 2nd, 16th, & 30th. 4PM PST.

Restorative Yoga Workshops

Link to register:

https://pomonacollege.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvdeihrjgsG9xXHiIe-5wnUsPkmZC0f-vs

Monday, April 5th. 12:30PM PST.

Cultivating Healthy Masculinity Q&A on Instagram Live with Dan Hirsch

Visit @EmPOWERCenterClaremont on Instagram at 12:30PM PST to participate!

Friday, April 9th. 4PM PST.

Recycle and Restore Collage Workshop

Link to register:

https://cmc-its.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlfuCrqjsuG9y5tmuLXnbxjj4vVpd0yg8T

Monday, April 19th. 12:30PM PST.

Understanding Gender, Culture, Power, and Violence with Center for the Pacific Asian Family

Register by emailing [email protected].

Student Health Services
Student Health Services (SHS)
- Access to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is currently available to students through Student Health Services.
- COVID-19 testing, both rapid antigen and traditional PCR tests, are available for local students at Student Health Services.

Contents:

**NEW** One-Stop Student Support Center https://www.pitzer.edu/student-support/

NEW One-Stop Student Support Center
https://www.pitzer.edu/student-support/