Latest Event Updates
PCH Closed at Point Dume Due to Police Activity
Pacific Coast Highway is closed in both directions, north of campus, between Heathercliff Road and Busch Drive due to police activity involving an assault with a deadly weapon suspect barricaded in a vehicle. The Los Angeles County Sheriff advises the public to avoid the area until further notice.
All other routes to campus remain open and clear of delays.
Students and employees are encouraged to drive slowly and carefully, leave plenty of extra time for travel, and remain informed about Pepperdine’s Southern California campuses by utilizing the following resources:
- Malibu Campus Road hotline: 310.506.ROAD (7623)
- Emergency Information Page: emergency.pepperdine.edu
Greater Los Angeles traffic information can be viewed online at www.sigalert.com.
Black Bear Sighting On Malibu Campus
Department of Facilities Services staff spotted what appears to be a black bear in the Terrace Parking Lot shortly before 11 PM tonight. The sighting was reported to Public Safety, who contacted the local sheriff’s department and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, per University practice for wildlife sightings. Public Safety officers were dispatched to the area but were unable to locate the animal. Out of an abundance of caution, Public Safety officers will conduct additional patrols throughout the evening.
Black bear sightings in Malibu are exceedingly rare, as their normal range is farther north. Pepperdine officials share confirmed wildlife sightings near the Malibu campus to ensure the University community is informed of, but not alarmed by, the wildlife with whom we share the Santa Monica Mountains.
If you encounter a black bear:
- Respect the animal.
- Keep a safe distance and back away slowly.
- Do NOT run.
- Do not make eye contact.
- Appear as large, loud, and powerful as possible. Let the bear know you are there.
- Let the bear leave the area on its own.
- If there are small children or pets present, pick them up immediately. Additionally do NOT leave them unattended outside.
- In the unlikely event of an attack, fight back. Do not fall to the ground or roll into the fetal position.
Please remember:
- Public Safety security escorts are available on the Malibu campus 24/7 by calling Public Safety Dispatch at (310) 506-4442.
- If you see concerning wildlife on or near the Malibu campus, please report the incident to Public Safety at (310) 506-4441.
- If safe to do so, please take a picture and/or video and send it to Public Safety via the LiveSafe app.
A Message from President Gash: Pepperdine’s Emergency Preparedness
Each year, Pepperdine prepares this message to better inform parents and students of the University’s emergency response plans. Most years, this letter shares what Pepperdine does to keep our students, faculty, and staff safe. In other years, it also serves as a reminder of how important awareness, emergency preparedness, and resilience are for the entire University—and the role each member of our community has in managing our collective response.
As we bring our community together again this school year, you can take comfort in knowing that life safety is our top priority. We remain poised to address natural and man-made disasters. Pepperdine University is like a small, well-equipped city. We have fire trucks and emergency response personnel; capable facilities employees able to respond 24/7; medical supplies, food, and water; health and counseling centers; and numerous other resources available to us in an emergency. Additionally, faculty and staff who live on campus are present and active in assisting the University’s response.
Through diligent training, equipping, studying, staffing, and commitment, we are prepared to be our own first responders until local and state agencies reach campus. We are prepared to be self-reliant in the event utilities and other infrastructure services are disrupted. When the University activates an emergency response plan, our expertly trained staff gather support personnel, disseminate information, and, if necessary, open pre-planned relocation centers. The University has an exhaustive and well-rehearsed protocol to evaluate risks and make decisions in the best interests of both our community and our campuses.
I can attest from personal experience that, in the middle of an emergency at Pepperdine, a sense of calm permeates our community, which may be radically different than what is portrayed in the media. This is because we have done our due diligence to be prepared. One of our greatest tasks is to transmit accurate information from, to, and within the campus community. Our emergency notification system, Everbridge, allows the University to send voice messages to the cell, office, and home phones of every faculty, staff, and student, as well as deliver text messages and emails. The system is dependent upon each of our community members entering his or her contact information into the University web portal that feeds into Everbridge.
In addition, the latest updates and decisions of the University’s Emergency Operations Committee are posted on Pepperdine’s Emergency Information Page. You may also call our Department of Public Safety at 310.506.4442 (non-emergency line) or 310.506.4441 (emergency line) at any time. The only things that may impair our communications are things we simply cannot plan for or control. Throughout all of this, our every effort is directed toward protecting our community and returning to safe and normal operations, including classes, as soon as possible.
Furthermore, we use the StepUp campaign to emphasize the importance of looking out for one another, both in emergency situations and in daily life. Through the StepUp campaign, our students, faculty, and staff have received valuable bystander intervention and Title IX training that encourages participants to step up and speak up for themselves and others who may be in distress.
Another instrumental tool in this effort is the LiveSafe campus safety app, which allows users to submit emergency and non-emergency messages to Public Safety; utilize SafeWalk, a peer-to-peer virtual security escort allowing users to ensure their loved ones reach their destinations safely; and see a full list of the University’s emergency procedures. Importantly, the app also works for users who are traveling or participating in one of our international programs. Further, we partner with International SOS, a global emergency medical and security services firm that provides assistance to our students, faculty, and staff abroad.
Pepperdine maintains a multi-disciplinary threat assessment team that meets as needed to immediately address potential threats to our community. The team includes University leaders, members of our Counseling Center, and outside experts and law enforcement when applicable. The group is experienced and well-trained, and it always works to serve the best interests of the University community and the individual about whom the concern was raised.
Our emergency plans are living documents, regularly updated to include the latest best practices adapted to best serve our community. In addition to learning from our own experiences, we also study disasters around the world to better inform our plans. This thoughtful preparation places us in a state of readiness as we move into this new school year. While we hope and pray our emergency preparedness efforts each year are unneeded, our response teams and plans are ready to be activated if needed.
All of us at Pepperdine are excited for the school year ahead, and we look forward to completing it successfully—and safely—with each student who has been entrusted to us.
NON-CREDIBLE Bomb Threat Received
Today, we learned an unknown individual sent anonymous bomb threats to multiple colleges and universities across the country, including to some people at Pepperdine. In collaboration with law enforcement and threat assessment experts, Pepperdine, along with other schools, has determined that the threats are not credible. Out of an abundance of caution, you may notice an increased security presence patrolling on campus.
The University’s first priority remains the safety of our community. If you see something suspicious on campus, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 310.506.4441.
Pepperdine Emergency Information 
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