Winter and Spring 2022 Operations – Virtual Classes Week of January 17

Cal Lutheran Community,

Just as we have done throughout the entire pandemic, officials at California Lutheran University continue to monitor the COVID situation. In reviewing this week’s current case surge and its associated impact on regional testing resources, we have made major decisions that affect the Spring 2022 terms and semesters. Please read this list carefully.  

ALL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Classes across all academic programs at the University will meet virtually from January 17 to January 23 (inclusive). Once in-person instruction resumes—on January 24th— students will be expected to attend their classes in person. We realize, though, that sickness or COVID exposure may create special (and temporary) circumstances where students work with their faculty members to attend class virtually or make other arrangements to stay current with class activities and assignments.

TESTING

We have pushed back the start of face-to-face classes to create a window of time that will assist all members of the community in obtaining a negative Covid test prior to the start of on-site instruction.

We understand that tests are difficult to get right now and that result times are lagging. Still, in an effort to keep the community as safe as we can, we are asking everyone to make an effort to get tested this week if at all possible. Please note that county and regional officials have informed us that additional testing sites will be made available in the coming days.

In terms of testing, please know the following:

• Links for county testing sites can be found here: Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Alameda County.
• Ideally, large numbers of students will be able to secure a test and results prior to the start of in-person instruction. In addition to off-site tests, these on-campus testing opportunities exist for students:

• Residential students will be expected take a self-administered nasal swab PCR test when they get to campus. New residential students can pick up their test in the Residence Life Office in Mt. Clef Hall. Returning students can pick up their test at the front desk of their residence hall.
• Commuter students who are unable to obtain an off-site test may be able to obtain a self-administered nasal swab PCR test. A limited number of such tests are available to commuter students at Health Services.

• Please know we are working closely with Ventura County to use the Thousand Oaks campus as a drive-through testing site starting January 24. Further details are forthcoming.
• Individuals who have recently had COVID are exempt from testing for 90 days.
• All students, faculty, and staff who test positive for COVID, have symptoms, or are exposed to someone with COVID-19 must report it as soon as possible to COVID19reporting@callutheran.edu. This includes anyone who tested positive during the holiday break.

SPECIFIC ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Specific program guidance is provided below. As has been the case all the while, the COVID-related situation changes quickly based on trend data, infection rates, resource availability, etc. Hence, Cal Lutheran officials may be prompted to make further modifications on short notice.

MBA, MSM, MPPA, MSIT, MSQE, MA in Educational Leadership 11 Week Programs –These programs will continue to meet virtually and are planned to resume in-person instruction on January 24, 2022. Administrators and/or Faculty will reach out to students with further instruction.

Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals – Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals courses will continue to meet virtually and are planned to resume hyflex instruction starting January 24, 2022. Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals staff will be in communication with faculty and students with further instruction.

Traditional Undergraduate – Traditional undergraduate classes will meet virtually for the first three days of instruction (January 19-21). We expect these classes will resume in-person instruction on January 24, 2022 and will follow the designated academic calendar as published.

Graduate Education and Psychology 15 Week Programs – All Graduate Education and Graduate Psychology classes will meet virtually for the first three days of instruction (January 19-21). We expect these classes will resume in-person instruction on January 24, 2022 and will follow the designated academic calendar as published.

Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary – Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary staff will be in communication with faculty and students regarding classes starting in January 2022. PLTS classes will follow the designated academic calendar.

SELECT STUDENT PROGRAMS

Residential Student Move-In – Residential students will be able to move into their assigned rooms as scheduled. Given the change in course delivery mode for the first few days of the semester, students may choose to postpone their arrival. If a student chooses to postpone their arrival, there will be no reduction in cost for the semester.

New Undergraduate Student Orientation - Spring Orientation on January 18 will also proceed as previously scheduled with the vast majority of activities occurring outside.

Food Service and Meal Plans – All food service locations will be open in accordance with the “Dining and Campus Store Update” email of January 05, 2022. (Please email Auxiliaries Directory Clinton Oie at oie@callutheran.edu regarding any questions.) To mitigate as much as possible the spread of COVID during this surge period, indoor eating spaces will be closed until January 24. Food will be made available for takeout and/or outdoor consumption. Menu options will be available at all locations.

OFFICE STAFFING

Vice Presidents will determine how their respective offices will be staffed (remote, hybrid, onsite) until January 24. Departments with non-student facing staff may allow for staggered onsite coverage per the VP’s discretion.  Supervisors should touch base with their VPs to ensure that essential work continues in the event employees must isolate or quarantine.

OTHER PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Masks, Outdoor Spaces, Boosters – All information contained in the Cal Lutheran email of December 31, 2021 remain in effect. Cal Lutheran community members are particularly encouraged to wear a high-quality well-fitted mask (e.g., KN95 or N95) while attending university classes and events.

No one should come to campus if they are experiencing cold or flu symptoms. As always, additional information regarding Cal Lutheran’s COVID protocol can be found at the Cal Lutheran KNOW page.

Please address any questions regarding the institution’s COVID response to covidquestions@callutheran.edu.

Please address any requests regarding COVID mitigation such as air purifiers to covid-operations@callutheran.edu.

Sincerely,

Lori E. Varlotta, Ph.D.
President