Latest Event Updates
COVID-19 Masking Update
COVID-19 conditions in the United States, California, and Los Angeles continue to dramatically improve, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced the consistent decline of important COVID-19 metrics allows for a “significant revision of required community-level infection strategies.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health have all issued updated public health guidance relaxing COVID-19 restrictions and no longer require indoor masking.
At Pepperdine, new weekly cases have consistently fallen, and our positivity rate has remained substantially lower than Los Angeles County’s rate throughout 2022. The University has thoughtfully evaluated this changing public health guidance, reviewed University COVID-19 conditions, consulted medical and public health experts, weighed feedback from the Pepperdine community, and benchmarked with other universities. Based on this analysis, and in line with updated health guidance from the CDC, the California Department of Public Health, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, beginning Monday, March 7, 2022, masks will be optional indoors for all members of the Pepperdine University community at Southern California campuses, regardless of vaccination status. Masks are still required while on University shuttles, in healthcare settings, and through day 10 of isolation or quarantine, and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health strongly encourages wearing masks while indoors.
Pepperdine respects individual choice based on personal preference or need and seeks to honor those who are ready to remove their masks, those who cannot remove their masks, and those who are not yet prepared to do so. The University encourages all who wish to continue wearing masks to do so, and will continue to provide medical-grade masks for free.
At this time, all other University COVID-19 infection control measures remain in place, including weekly testing, daily wellness checks, case and exposure notifications through the START Form, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine, enhanced ventilation measures, and vaccination clinics. The University will continue its evaluation of COVID-19 conditions, evolving public health guidance, and its own infection control measures and policies developed in support of COVID-19 impacted members of the community. Pending further evaluation, any changes to weekly testing would be implemented no earlier than Monday, March 21. If testing requirements for the University community are lifted, optional testing will remain available.
If you have any questions, please contact the University’s COVID-19 information line at 310.506.8111 or covid19info@pepperdine.edu.
Pepperdine Reviewing Latest Los Angeles County Public Health Order
Today, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a new health order, which takes effect on Friday, February 25, 2022. This new order contains protocols that allow for the relaxing of masking indoors in very limited settings and under certain circumstances. The University is reviewing this new order to determine if it applies to the University and if it is appropriate to implement any changes on campus. The University will communicate updates with the community during next week’s President’s Briefing but will not implement changes (if any apply) prior to Monday, March 7, 2022.
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.
Mountain Lion Information Sessions
To promote public safety, and as part of the response to recent increased mountain lion activity in our surrounding environment as detailed in the message from February 8, 2022, Pepperdine invited the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to conduct two educational safety sessions on mountain lions for the Pepperdine community on February 23, 2022. Both sessions will be held on Zoom and will include information on mountain lion behavior, safety tips, and an opportunity for questions. The University encourages you to attend and be engaged in these discussions.
Please use the links below to join the applicable session:
- February 23, 2022: 4-5 PM – Session for Students, Faculty, and Staff
- February 23, 2022: 6-7 PM – Session for Malibu Campus HOA Residents
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.
- Do not leave children or pets unattended outside, especially from dusk to dawn.
- 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.
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.
- 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 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.
Pepperdine Emergency Information 
You must be logged in to post a comment.