A Message From President Gash: COVID-19 Spring Semester Update

Posted on March 11, 2020, 8:00 AM Updated on March 24, 2020, 1:57 PM

I want to begin this message by expressing my gratitude to you for the grace and understanding you’ve shown to the entire Pepperdine community as the University manages its response to the COVID-19 outbreak. You and your safety are our most important priorities at Pepperdine. To that end, over the last two months we’ve had to take some extremely difficult, unprecedented actions that have significantly impacted the academic experience for many of our students. We are confident they were the right decisions, but we also know how disappointed many of you were that your semesters or academic journeys haven’t gone according to plan. We share your disappointment. Thank you for the support and comfort you have provided one another and for the resilience you continue to show in the face of adversity.

We have no information indicating that we have, or have had, on our campus any individual infected with COVID-19. Nevertheless, as Pepperdine looks toward the end of the spring semester, our Infectious Disease Task Force and Emergency Operations Committee, comprised of leaders from across the university, have been carefully evaluating the current situation our community is facing in light of continuing challenges presented by the spread of COVID-19. I can assure you that the decisions we have reached are the result of careful and deliberate thought, and reflect the views of Pepperdine’s senior administration and the officers of the Board of Regents, as advised by our internal task force and committee, as well as our nationally recognized external infectious disease consultants. 

Consequently, Pepperdine will be taking the following steps: 

Remote classes: The last day of scheduled in-person classes at all five schools and across every campus will be on Friday, March 13. These classes will transition to online beginning the week of March 16 and will continue online for the remainder of the spring semester. Faculty have been preparing for some time for this possible outcome and, having learned from our efforts during the Woolsey Fire, they will provide highly effective instruction via this remote alternative instruction format. Information and additional details about your specific courses and their formats will be provided to you by your professors and/or deans over the next day or two. We are also giving special attention to our graduating students and carefully addressing their needs. 

While Seaver Chapel has been canceled this morning, Seaver students and faculty are invited to attend an online informational town hall at 10 AM where further information will be provided. Additional details about the town hall will be sent to Seaver students and faculty in advance of this meeting. Students from our graduate schools will receive an update from their deans later today.

On-campus housing: As we move to an online learning format and minimize the concentration of people on the Malibu campus, we are asking all residential students to move out of their on-campus housing by 3 PM on Sunday, March 15. Exception requests for students who have a need to remain on campus can be made by completing this form. International students should also contact the Office of International Student Services to seek further guidance and support during this time. Pepperdine student athletes should coordinate directly with their coaches or the athletics director. 

Campus events: The University is canceling or postponing non-essential Pepperdine events with expected attendance of 100 or more through the end of March. More information about athletic teams and their seasons will be communicated directly to the athletes and coaches. We sincerely hope we will be able to host commencement ceremonies as scheduled, but we will make a final decision on these events at a later date based upon information available at that time.

Faculty and staff: The University remains open, and staff will continue to work as normal during this period of academic transition to remote alternative instruction. Additional details for staff will be forthcoming, but know that your health and safety continue to come first. As we have communicated many times before, please stay home if you are sick and practice healthy habits. The University is also encouraging actions in the workplace that help minimize contact in large group settings. Individuals who may need additional accommodations are encouraged to work with their supervisors. As a reminder, all faculty and staff are encouraged to attend today’s online informational town hall at 3 PM.

Travel restrictions: Pepperdine is restricting all non-essential international and domestic travel for employees through Tuesday, March 31. Determinations on what qualifies as essential should be discussed with your supervisor and must ultimately be approved by either the provost or the chief operating officer. All other restrictions and guidance for business and personal travel remain in effect. Please contact the Office of Emergency Services at 310.506.4996 with questions regarding University travel.

Pepperdine’s leadership team will, of course, continue to follow the COVID-19 outbreak and to seek guidance from our local health agencies and retained expert consultants. Given the rapidly unfolding developments with this outbreak, we cannot know fully what to expect, but we will work with the school deans to resume normal operations as quickly as possible following the conclusion of the spring semester. The University continues to closely evaluate the status of both domestic and international summer programs, and decisions will be made over the next few weeks. In the meantime, we will continue to take the appropriate precautions to safeguard our community and do our part to protect the communities in our region.

We fully appreciate that these steps are inconvenient—even disruptive—and unlike any we’ve ever had to take before. Please know these decisions are made with great care, and with your health and safety as our top priority. Joline and I are praying for each of you and those impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak around the globe. We are grateful for your understanding, your partnership, and your confidence in Pepperdine University.

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Community Update and Travel Restrictions – March 5

Posted on March 5, 2020, 5:30 PM Updated on March 24, 2020, 1:58 PM

Pepperdine continues to monitor and respond to the domestic and international spread of COVID-19 with the safety and well-being of the entire Pepperdine community always remaining the University’s highest priority. The University has no known cases of COVID-19 at any of our campuses worldwide. The situation is evolving daily. California and Los Angeles County have declared a state of emergency with confirmed cases increasing and a need to secure preparation funding through these declarations. To help keep the University community informed, the University has launched a new COVID-19 planning and preparedness website, which provides the latest information related to the University’s response, guidance, and resources for the community. 

New Travel Restrictions

Effective immediately, Pepperdine is implementing Interim Travel Restrictions for the University community until further notice due to the outbreak of COVID-19. All other provisions of the University’s International Travel Policy remain in effect. 

• Pepperdine is prohibiting University-sponsored travel to countries with a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Level 2 or Level 3 Travel Health Notice for COVID-19. As of today, these include China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, and Japan. Other countries may be added at any time.
• Pepperdine is not restricting domestic travel at this time.
• Employees who have already scheduled or are considering University-sponsored travel should review their trips with their supervisors to assess whether to continue, postpone, or cancel the trip in light of current circumstances. 
• Pepperdine is temporarily allowing the purchase of travel cancellation insurance while this interim travel policy is in effect.
• University employees are encouraged to avoid personal travel to countries with a CDC Level 2 or Level 3 Travel Health Notice related to COVID-19.
• The University will restrict community members from coming to University campuses for 14 days after returning to the US from countries with a CDC Level 2 or Level 3 Travel Health Notice related to COVID-19. Students who have academic questions should contact their academic dean’s offices. They may contact the Student Care Team if they need other assistance. Although the University will do what it can to be supportive, to reduce health risks to the entire community, these restrictions will be enforced. Students or employees who violate these restrictions may face discipline. 
  • Affected employees should work with their supervisors and affected students should contact the Office of Student Information and Services at onestop@pepperdine.edu or 310.506.7999.
  • Students and employees will assume all responsibility for their personal travel decisions to countries designated with a CDC Level 2 or 3 Travel Health Notice for COVID-19, including any consequence related to an inability to complete their coursework or fulfill their job duties immediately following their return. 

Upcoming University Events

At this time, it is expected all scheduled University events through the end of the academic year will continue as planned. However, community members should be aware that events may be canceled if the Los Angeles County Department of Health or another health agency mandates such action, or if University officials determine event cancellation is the best course of action given the totality of circumstances. Pepperdine community members and their families should consider travel plans for upcoming University events, including commencements, and plan accordingly. The University recommends considering the purchase of refundable ticketing options or travel insurance when appropriate.

University Preparations

The University’s Infectious Disease Task Force and Emergency Operations Committee are fully engaged in preparations and response to the global COVID-19 outbreak, and are in regular contact with outside experts and local health authorities. Internationally, the University has suspended operations on some campuses where warranted by the circumstances, and the London and Buenos Aires campuses remain operational. The University’s pandemic plan is updated, and departments and schools are reviewing and further developing response protocols for any number of possible scenarios for each of our campuses. The University’s cleaning protocols meet CDC and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health standards, and Human Resources policies are being updated to best position the University to respond, if needed.

Supporting Each Other Through COVID-19

Pepperdine is a community of compassion and care. University community members enjoy an inclusive community committed to ensuring no one is ostracized, bullied, or mistreated due to misinformation around this disease. The risk of contracting COVID-19 in the US remains low, and someone who has completed quarantine or has been released from isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people. Continue to recognize the symptoms of COVID-19 and practice healthy hygiene habits to help prevent the spread of illness.

Updates will continue to be shared with the Pepperdine community as more information is made available. Frequently asked questions are regularly updated on our COVID-19 website and the latest information can be found on the University’s Emergency Information Page. If you have other questions, please contact the Office of Emergency Services at 310.506.4996 or the Office of the Chief Operations Officer at 310.506.7227.