Latest Event Updates
COVID-19 Community Update – February 11
University officials continue to monitor the evolving research, announced rules, and best practices surrounding the pandemic. As part of this effort, the University is announcing the following COVID-19 updates:
Masking Requirements
Recently, with the decline in COVID-19 cases, California Department of Public Health officials announced they would not extend the indoor mask mandate for vaccinated individuals when it expires on February 15, 2022 (though the State still mandates masking for those not vaccinated). As you know, county rules may be more restrictive than state protocols, and that remains the case in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials have noted the County’s mask mandates will remain in place for all individuals regardless of vaccination status, and the County will not consider reducing these restrictions until certain specific thresholds regarding hospitalizations, vaccines, and weekly case rates are met.
With the County mandates still in place, the University’s current face covering policy will remain in effect until further notice. As a reminder, the policy requires all students, staff, and faculty to wear medical grade masks while indoors. Masks continue to be available for pickup at weekly screening test locations.
Post Spring Break Testing
As a precautionary measure, Pepperdine strongly encourages students who are traveling for spring break to take their own test before returning to campus. These tests do not need to be documented as entry tests were before the beginning of the term, but are important as one measure to protect against the risk of transmission after travel. At this time, the University does not have an inventory of home test kits to provide, but continues to pursue options to make kits available to the community.
At University weekly screening testing sites, early testing on your first week back on campus following spring break is strongly encouraged. Please complete your weekly screening test within 48 hours of your arrival back on campus.
Free Government COVID-19 Antigen Tests
As of January 19, every residential address in the US is eligible to order four, free, at-home COVID-19 tests from COVIDTests.gov, and we encourage all community members to order your tests. Residential students should be sure to include their mailbox number in the address line.
Remember, antigen tests are also available at pharmacies, large retailers, some county testing sites, medical providers, etc., and costs for these tests can be reimbursed through your health insurance if needed.
COVID-19 Boosters
Boosters are shown to protect individuals against severe illness from COVID-19. In support of the community, the University continues to offer vaccine and booster clinics. The next two clinics will take place on Tuesday, February 22 and Friday, March 11.
Reserve your appointment for either vaccination clinic using these links:
Remember, if you are fully vaccinated and have received your booster, if eligible, you will not be required to quarantine if identified as a close contact with someone who tested positive. Students should document receipt of their booster dose in the Student Health Center Patient Portal.
Utilizing the START and EXIT Forms
Students, faculty, and staff members, please use the START Form to report (1) a positive COVID-19 result from tests not taken at the on-campus weekly testing sites or the Student Health Center, or (2) an exposure to a positive case not in the Pepperdine community. The START Form is available on the COVID-19 Planning and Preparedness website.
Additionally, students, faculty, and staff members should utilize the EXIT Form to document completion of isolation or quarantine, whether testing out early or completing the full 10-day period. This confirms a student is cleared to return to in-person classes or an employee is cleared to return to work.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and partnership. If you have any questions, please contact the University’s COVID-19 information line at 310.506.8111 or covid19info@pepperdine.edu.
Campus Homeowner Dog Attack Update
Last Friday, February 4, a resident of the University’s on-campus faculty/staff condos on Baxter Drive reported his family dog was attacked and taken from his backyard in the middle of the night by an animal predator believed to be a mountain lion. The University immediately notified the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the National Parks Service, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Later that day, CDFW arrived on campus to begin an investigation.
Pepperdine Public Safety officers located the remains of the dog yesterday afternoon, and this morning, CDFW officials returned to campus, confirming the dog was taken and killed by a mountain lion. The pet’s remains have been removed, and CDFW indicates the mountain lion has likely moved on. Mountain lion sightings have become common on the Malibu campus, and while mountain lion attacks on domestic pets occur in the surrounding area, they are exceedingly rare on campus.
The University communicated the incident to the Malibu campus community for awareness and to encourage vigilance, in particular with pets and small children. Public Safety has also instituted additional patrols in the area, which remain in effect. Despite increased mountain lion sightings in recent years, CDFW scientists continue to affirm they do not perceive the mountain lion behavior as a threat to human activity on campus. Nevertheless, the University continues to pursue action in furtherance of public safety, including multiple discussions, correspondence, and meetings with CDFW.
Additionally, CDFW will host two educational sessions on mountain lions and will be available to answer questions from members of the community. They will conduct a session for students and employees and will hold another session for campus homeowners on February 23, 2022. Timing and details on these sessions are forthcoming.
If you have any questions about mountain lion safety, contact the Department of Public Safety at 310.506.4700 or via email at dispatch@pepperdine.edu.
As always, please be mindful of the following guidelines for mountain lion safety:
- Do not hike, bike, or jog alone, especially from dusk until dawn when mountain lions are most active.
- Do not feed the local deer population, which are known prey for mountain lions and may invite their presence.
- Public Safety security escorts are available on the Malibu campus 24/7 by calling Public Safety Dispatch at 310.506.4442.
- If you see a mountain lion 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.
As a reminder, if you encounter a mountain lion:
- Respect the animal.
- Maintain eye contact and move away slowly.
- Do NOT run. Running will trigger the mountain lion’s instinct to chase you.
- Appear as large, loud, and powerful as possible.
- If there are small children or pets present, pick them up immediately. Additionally, do NOT leave them unattended outside.
- Do not approach the mountain lion; leave space for the cat to escape.
- In the unlikely event of an attack, fight back. Do not fall to the ground or roll into the fetal position.
Campus Homeowner’s Dog Attacked on Malibu Campus
A resident of the University’s on-campus faculty/staff condos at Baxter Drive reported their dog was attacked and taken from their backyard by an animal predator at an unknown time in the early hours of Friday, February 4, 2022. We have reason to believe the predator was a mountain lion.
The University is taking this seriously and has reported the incident to the local sheriff’s department, the National Park Service, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, advocating for the safety of our community. The University has worked for years with and continues to press these agencies to address the safety of the community with the presence of mountain lions on the Malibu campus.
Pepperdine is sharing this incident to ensure the University community is informed, so community members may remain vigilant, especially with regard to pets and small children. Pepperdine’s Malibu campus sits in the Santa Monica Mountains, which is home to various forms of wildlife. Rarely do interactions result in contact between the wildlife and humans or domestic pets.
Please remember:
- Do not hike, bike, or jog alone, especially from dusk until dawn when mountain lions are most active.
- 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 a mountain lion 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.
As a reminder, if you encounter a mountain lion:
- Respect the animal.
- Maintain eye contact and move away slowly.
- Do NOT run. Running will trigger the mountain lion’s instinct to chase you.
- Appear as large, loud, and powerful as possible.
- If there are small children or pets present, pick them up immediately. Additionally, do NOT leave them unattended outside.
- Do not approach the mountain lion; leave space for the cat to escape.
- In the unlikely event of an attack, fight back. Do not fall to the ground or roll into the fetal position.
COVID-19 Updates and Reminders
In an effort to keep the Pepperdine community informed, the University is announcing the following COVID-19 updates:
Masks
While Pepperdine’s COVID-19 metrics continue to improve, the University is extending the policy requiring students to wear surgical masks or KN95/N95 masks in all indoor campus settings until at least February 15. As a reminder, faculty and staff are also required to wear these upgraded masks. Please remember masks are required in all public indoor spaces, especially including classrooms, hallways, and the fitness center.
The University has so far been successful in procuring these types of masks, which will continue to be available for pick up by faculty, staff, and students at any of the Malibu or graduate campus COVID-19 screening test sites. Upon showing a Pepperdine ID card, community members will be provided with a weekly supply of medical grade masks.
START Form for Self- Reporting COVID-19 Positive Cases and Exposures
It is important the University is aware of positive tests and close contacts. As you know, the University automatically receives test results from tests taken at the Student Health Center and the weekly screening testing sites on campuses after which it begins contact tracing on these cases.
As a reminder, positive COVID-19 tests conducted outside the University and close contact exposures should also be reported by faculty, staff, and students. To simplify this notification process, the University is launching a new START Form to make it easier to report positive test results from tests NOT taken at the Student Health Center or at campus testing sites.
Students, staff, and faculty should use this START Form to:
- Report a positive COVID-19 test result taken anywhere other than at the Student Health Center or a Pepperdine screening test site.
- Self-identify as a close contact if exposed to a COVID-19 case and if not yet contacted by University contact tracers. (Remember, close contact is defined as being within six feet of a positive case for 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period.)
EXIT Form for Release from Quarantine and Isolation
If you are in isolation or quarantine, the University is also simplifying the process to exit quarantine or isolation. When you qualify to end your quarantine or isolation period, you should complete the EXIT Form. This communicates to the University you have met the qualifications to exit and are leaving isolation or quarantine. It also generates an email sent to you, which can be used to confirm your ability to return to class or work if needed (class rosters will also be updated).
Boosters
The well-being of the University community is integral to the Pepperdine mission, and boosters are shown to protect individuals against severe illness. In support of the community, the University will continue to offer vaccine and booster clinics. The University will host another vaccine and booster clinic on January 27 and will continue to add additional clinics throughout the coming weeks.
You can reserve your spot for the January 27 clinic at the following link: https://kordinator.mhealthcoach.net/vcl/1618591555769
If you are eligible for a booster but have not yet received it, you will have to enter quarantine if exposed to someone infected with COVID-19. If you are fully vaccinated and received your booster, if eligible, you will not be required to quarantine if identified as a close contact with someone who tested positive. Once boosted, students should document this updated vaccination status within the Student Health Center Patient Portal to ensure the accuracy of University records.
If you have questions, please contact the COVID-19 Information Line at 310.506.8111 or via email at covid19info@pepperdine.edu.
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