Latest Event Updates
COVID-19 Community Update – April 17
The Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) and University leadership remain grateful for the support and cooperation of the Pepperdine community as the University responds to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. The EOC will continue to monitor the pandemic and its potential impact on University operations and the health and safety of the community. As new developments arise, the EOC will provide guidance and recommended actions that are responsive to rapidly changing circumstances due to COVID-19.
Safer at Home Order Compliance
Community members are encouraged to continue complying with the Los Angeles County Public Health Safer at Home Order, which is in effect through May 15. In compliance with the order, the University has implemented a Social Distancing Protocol (which largely formalizes the measures the University has already implemented) and a Face Covering Protocol requiring University critical support personnel interacting with others to wear face coverings. Additionally, campus homeowners and critical support personnel are advised to wear their face covering prior to checking in at campus entrance booths as outlined in the county order.
All faculty and staff should continue to work remotely when possible. Faculty and staff may access campuses to facilitate remote distance learning or perform essential functions if that work cannot be accomplished remotely. Supervisors should ensure the minimum number of Critical Support Personnel are reporting to work to maintain essential University operations.
Seaver College International Programs Update
Seaver College announced the suspension of the international programs planned for summer, including those in London and Fiji. This suspends all Seaver College summer international programs for 2020. This decision was made based on all information available to the University, including the spread of COVID-19, travel warnings from national and international organizations, commercial flight availability, academic programming needs, feedback from program directors and other personnel responsible for leading these programs, and our care for the student experience.
President’s Briefings
President Gash is holding weekly online President’s Briefings for faculty, staff, and students each Monday at 9 AM while the University maintains modified operations due to COVID-19. Live and archived viewing for each briefing are available on the President’s Briefing website.
The University will continue to keep the community informed on COVID-19 developments as new information becomes available. The latest updates can be found on the University’s COVID-19 website and Emergency Information Page.
COVID-19 Community Update – April 10
As this week comes to a close, the EOC and University leadership remain humbled by the responsiveness and steadfast support this community has demonstrated in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EOC continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 developments and will provide guidance and recommended actions that are responsive to rapidly changing circumstances due to the pandemic.
Safer At Home Order Extended
Los Angeles County Public Health extended its Safer at Home Order through May 15 and requires essential businesses to develop and implement social distancing plans and provide face coverings for critical employees by April 15. Due to the order’s extension, the University has taken the following actions:
- All of the University’s COVID-19 response measures including interim protocols for telecommuting, travel, and campus visitors are extended through May 15.
- All in-person University events have been suspended through May 15.
- All faculty and staff should continue to work remotely when possible. Faculty and staff may access campuses to facilitate remote distance learning or perform essential functions if that work cannot be accomplished remotely. Supervisors should ensure the minimum number of Critical Support Personnel are reporting to work to maintain essential University operations.
Guidance for Face Coverings
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued guidance for wearing cloth face coverings when in public spaces to obtain essential goods or services as an additional tool to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Face coverings are not intended to be a replacement of other evidence-based measures for preventing illness, including frequent hand washing; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; and practicing physical distancing, especially by staying at home. Community members should also follow any orders issued by local authorities.
To comply with the updated Los Angeles County Public Health Safer at Home Order, Pepperdine University is developing an Interim Face Coverings Protocol and is now requiring University Critical Support Personnel interacting with others to wear face coverings.
Graduate Campus Access and Mail Delivery Services
As the University adjusts operations to match the rhythm of the current working environment, graduate campus staffing, access, and mail delivery are temporarily changing. Beginning Monday, April 13, the Calabasas, Encino, Irvine, and West L.A. campuses will be closed with no graduate campus staffing. Critical support faculty and staff may continue to access these campuses to do essential work that must be completed on-site and can refer to the access instructions document for additional details. In addition, Mail Services will deliver mail to the graduate campuses on Mondays and Thursdays, instead of every weekday, starting next week.
Pepperdine Community Case Update
This week the University learned of an employee who received a positive COVID-19 test result and is currently hospitalized undergoing treatment. The University has notified all individuals known to the University to have been in contact with the individual. The University community is encouraged to keep this individual in its prayers.
As the University continues with remote operations for faculty, staff, and students, the EOC will be providing general updates when it learns of newly reported COVID-19 cases within the community. The University will continue to provide potential exposure notifications to impacted community members as appropriate.
President’s Briefing
President Gash is holding a special online President’s Briefing for faculty, staff, and students each Monday at 9 AM while the University maintains modified operations due to COVID-19. Live and archived viewing for each briefing are available on the President’s Briefing website.
The University will continue to keep the community informed on COVID-19 developments as new information becomes available. The latest updates can be found on the University’s COVID-19 website and Emergency Information Page.
COVID-19 Community Update – March 30
Leadership from around the University continues to evaluate the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and has begun making important decisions to most effectively serve the University’s students, faculty, and staff. Key announcements, including those shared today for Seaver College summer programs and faculty/staff wage and benefit commitments, will continue to be shared in these community updates. The University appreciates the patience of the community as it deliberates the best ways to move the University forward during this unprecedented time.
Seaver College Summer Programs
In an email to students this morning, Seaver College announced the cancelation of most international programs for summer 2020, as well as plans for academic offerings for summer sessions in Malibu. Notable changes include a new Session A during the month of May, which will be held through remote instruction, with Session I beginning in June. Sessions II and III will be combined into one session in the month of July. Seaver is currently planning to hold Sessions I, II, and III in-person in Malibu but has developed contingency plans to hold these sessions via remote instruction, if necessary. Information regarding summer programs will be regularly updated in the School-Specific FAQs for Seaver College.
Faculty/Staff Wage and Benefit Commitments
Acknowledging the essential work of our faculty and staff, President Gash announced this morning that the University will honor all currently anticipated wage and benefit commitments through the end of the University’s fiscal year on July 31, 2020. President Gash also acknowledged a renewed commitment to operational efficiency and encouraged employees to adopt practices to capture efficiencies and seek out opportunities to recognize other savings during this time. The latest information for employees, including updated guidance for how to complete time cards, has been added to the Faculty/Staff FAQs.
Pepperdine Community Case Updates
Over the weekend the University learned of three additional community members who reported positive test results for COVID-19. This number includes two new cases from the Seaver London cohort as well as one of a Seaver student from the Malibu campus who is now symptom free and in isolation at home.
President’s Briefing Archived Viewing
Archived viewing for this morning’s President’s Briefing is now available on the President’s Briefing website. The Zoom link is accessible using your Pepperdine NetworkID and password.
The University will continue to keep the community informed on COVID-19 developments as new information becomes available. The latest updates can be found on the University’s COVID-19 website and Emergency Information Page.
COVID-19 Community Update – March 27
The University continues to follow COVID-19 developments and is carefully monitoring new cases in the community. As community members follow Safer at Home orders and engage in safe social distancing, they should continue to routinely monitor their health and practice healthy hygiene habits.
Pepperdine Community Case Updates
This afternoon, the University learned of a report of a sixth positive COVID-19 test result of a London program participant who recently returned home. This student is no longer experiencing symptoms. Additionally, the University learned of a report of a second Malibu campus student with a positive COVID-19 test result. This student did not exhibit symptoms until Sunday, March 15 and moved off the Malibu campus and returned home on March 16. The University has notified all individuals known to the University to have been in close contact with these students.
President’s Briefing
President Gash will hold a special online President’s Briefing for faculty, staff, and students each Monday at 9 AM while the University maintains modified operations due to COVID-19. Live and archived viewing for each briefing will be available on the President’s Briefing website.
The University will continue to keep the community informed on COVID-19 developments as new information becomes available. The latest updates can be found on the University’s COVID-19 website and Emergency Information Page.
Pepperdine Emergency Information 
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