Updated August 16, 2022
The following policies and procedures have been established to respond to COVID-19 cases or exposures and to ensure infection control.
COVID-19 Reporting Requirement
- Whittier College requires that all students, employees, and contractors who plan to access campus must complete a COVID-19 health screening prior to arrival on campus. The health screening can be completed using the respective online screening form. Contracted workers should use these methods or comply with their company protocol.
- All students and employees who receive a positive test result or who have been diagnosed by a medical provider as presumed positive for COVID-19 must notify the College within eight hours.
- Contracted workers who receive a positive test result or who have been diagnosed by a medical provider as presumed positive for COVID-19 must comply with their respective company protocol or notify the College within eight hours.
- Failure to complete the health screening or report a positive COVID-19 test will be considered a policy violation and may result in disciplinary action.
Testing
Weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing is mandatory for all unvaccinated (exempt) students, employees, and contracted workers and those eligible for a booster dose who are overdue in receiving it.
Students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms may receive diagnostic testing at the Student Health & Wellness Center, through their healthcare provider, pharmacy, or other testing location.
In compliance with Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards, Whittier College offers free COVID-19 testing for employees with COVID-19 symptoms during employees' paid time.
The College will also offer free diagnostic testing at the Student Health & Wellness Center during employees' paid time to employees who had a close contact in the workplace.
Isolation & Exposure Policy
Whittier College will adhere to LA County infection control guidance regarding isolation and exposure.
- Individuals experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 are restricted from campus and required to self-isolate until cleared for return.
- Individuals who have had close contact with a positive case are required to follow Close Contact instructions and must seek COVID-19 testing 3-5 days from last exposure.
- Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will be restricted from campus for at least 5 days and are required to follow Home Isolation instructions.
- Residential students will be moved to separate quarters designated for isolation. Provisions will be made for meal delivery and other support.
Cleaning & Disinfection
If a positive or suspected case of COVID-19 occurs on campus, the area will be closed off for at least 24 hours or the longest time practicable. Trained facilities staff using personal protective equipment and proper ventilation will decontaminate infected areas.
Contact Tracing
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) requires institutions of higher education to conduct contact tracing to assist the County in protecting our campus community and containing the spread of COVID-19. The College is required to report a cluster of three linked positive cases to the LADPH within one business day. Therefore, the timely cooperation of all affected individuals is extremely important.
The College’s COVID-19 Compliance Team will conduct personal interviews with individuals who test positive to obtain information required by LADPH and to ascertain with whom the positive case has been in close contact. A “close contact” is anyone who has shared indoor airspace with someone infected with COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period while the positive case was infectious. Staff members on the COVID-19 Compliance Team have completed contact tracing certification. Individuals may also be contacted by LADPH contact tracers.
Individuals who have been exposed to the confirmed case will be notified to test as appropriate. The entire campus community will be notified of COVID-19 outbreaks (occurrence of three or more epidemiologically linked cases within a 14-day period) and of the measures that will be implemented to control the spread.
Clearance for Return to Work and Campus
Student Campus Access
- Residential Students: Students in isolation cannot return to their assigned dormitory room or attend academic, athletic, work, or social activities until cleared by the Student Health & Wellness Center.
- Off-campus students: Students in isolation who live off-campus cannot access campus for academic, athletic, work, or social activities until cleared by the Student Health & Wellness Center.
Faculty Return to Work
- Faculty who wish to resume work and access campus after completing isolation must first receive clearance from Human Resources. Employees must confirm that they have remained in isolation for the appropriate time or have tested negative for COVID-19, are fever-free without fever reducing medication, and that their symptoms have improved. Medical certification is not required.
- Faculty who report symptoms that are determined by their healthcare provider not to be related to COVID-19 and who wish to resume work and access campus, must provide a negative COVID-19 result or certification from their healthcare provider to Human Resources.
Staff Return to Work
- Staff who are well enough and able to work remotely during isolation must first receive clearance from Human Resources.
- Staff who wish to resume work and access campus after completing isolation must first receive clearance from Human Resources. Employees must confirm that they have remained in isolation for the appropriate time or have tested negative for COVID-19, are fever-free without fever reducing medication, and that their symptoms have improved. Medical certification is not required.
- Staff who report symptoms that are determined by their healthcare provider not to be related to COVID-19 and who wish to resume work and access campus, must provide a negative COVID-19 result or certification from their healthcare provider to Human Resources.
