A Look Forward to 2022
Si desea obtener una copia de este mensaje en español, por favor comuníquese con Genesis Rodriguez via correo electrónico a grodri@CalLutheran.edu.
January 12, 2022
Dear Cal Lutheran Families,
As we enter the first weeks of the New Year, I hope 2022 quickly becomes more predictable
than last year. One of the most frustrating parts of the pandemic-impacted world is
that things change so quickly: often, with little warning and not enough lead time
for planning. I empathize that the University is one of many institutions in your
life that is forced to make, remake, and repeatedly revise plans that affect your
student, and, perhaps, your entire family. I wish things were stable and static; but,
they are not.
Amidst these ever-changing times, here is where we stand today.
BOOSTER VACCINE
As my December 23rd note and Vice President Roper’s January 6th note reinforced, Cal Lutheran is requiring the COVID-19 booster vaccine. Except for those with an approved exemption, all faculty, staff, and students must submit proof of a having received the booster by January 18th or within one week of being eligible to receive one. Information on this new requirement can be found on the KNOW (add link) site.
CLASS FORMAT and COVID TESTING
All traditional undergraduate programs at the University will meet virtually from
January 17 to January 23(inclusive). We expect these classes will resume in-person instruction on January 24, 2022 with
mask policies in place. Undergraduate programs will follow the designated academic calendar as published.
We have pushed back the start of face-to-face classes to create a window of time that
allows members of the community to obtain a negative Covid test prior to the start
of onsite instruction. As of today, Covid testing is still limited. However, county
and regional officials have informed us that additional testing sites will be made
available in the coming days.
In terms of Covid testing please know the following:
- All members of the community are urged to schedule an off-campus covid test as soon as possible. Links for county testing county sites can be found here: Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Alameda County.
- In addition to the off-campus test we hope resident students will obtain, they will also be able to secure a self-administered “Inspire” test in Mt. Clef Hall and/or at the front desk in each hall the day they check in.
- In addition to the off-campus test we expect commuter students to schedule, they, too, may be able to obtain an Inspire test. A limited number of such tests will be made available to commuter students at Health Services starting January 18 .
- Please know we are working closely with Ventura County to see if the Thousand Oaks campus can be approved as a drive-through testing site starting January 18. At the current time, we do not know if the State of California has approved our application to serve in this capacity.
The University has maintained a limited number of outdoor classrooms that are available
per instructor’s request. This means that starting January 24th, some classes may
be taught outdoors. If your professor has chosen this option, please dress accordingly.
Whether indoor or outdoor, students and faculty are required to wear masks during
the entire class period. Students will be asked to wear correctly the highest quality
(N95, KN95, surgical) mask they are able to secure. Students should take a food or
beverage break before or after class or exit the classroom if such a break is needed
during the class period. If a student loses or damages their daily mask, they can
get a spare one at XXX.
OTHER PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Masks, Outdoor Spaces, Boosters – All information contained in the Cal Lutheran email of December 31, 2022 <insert
link> remain in effect. Recent research has shown that cloth masks are not as effective
as N95, KN95, surgical masks, or a double layer of surgical mask plus cloth mask.
Therefore, Cal Lutheran community members are strongly encouraged to obtain and correctly
wear a high-quality, well-fitted mask while attending university classes and events.
If a student loses or damages their daily mask, they can get a spare one at XXX.
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.
SELECT STUDENT PROGRAMS
- Residential Student Move-In and New Undergraduate Student Orientation Residence halls will remain open as planned. Students may either move in as previously scheduled or at a later time if they choose to postpone their semester’s move to campus. If a student chooses to postpone their arrival, there will be no reduction in housing or meal fees for the semester.
- Many of the Halls will offer welcome back activities, and these programs will be hosted outside.
- Spring Orientation on January X will also proceed as previously scheduled with as many of the component 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 take out and/or outdoor consumption. Menu options will be available at all locations.
- Co-curricular campus life programs — We are endeavoring to provide students with a spring programming calendar that offers many opportunities for involvement and fun. As of now, we expect to make maintain these types of signature programs: a CLU night at the Mountain High Ski Resort; an Alternative Spring Break trip to Fort Apache, Arizona; and the ever popular ASCLUG Spring Formal at the Camarillo Ranch House. If things go as planned, students will wrap up the school year with our traditional Buh-Bye Bash and several Cultural Celebrations. For more details and to view the full programming calendar, please visit http://www.callutheran.edu/thehub.
OFFICE STAFFING
Vice Presidents will determine how their respective offices will be staffed (remote, hybrid, onsite) over the next couple of weeks. Departments with non-student facing staff may allow for staggered onsite coverage per the VP’s discretion. Students who need to conduct on-campus business should be able to do so.
ATHLETICS
Matt or Holly to Add
I hope that most of the aforementioned updates further engender a sense of confidence
in California Lutheran and our ability to be nimble in times of change and uncertainty.
While we perceive most of the updates to be positive and pragmatic, I know that pieces
and parts of the emerging plan will be frustrating for some.
Knowing that some anxiety persists, we respectfully remind you that our overarching
plans and protocols are informed by assumptions that the leadership team feels are
in the best interest of our overall community. Hence, in a community Iike ours where
one student’s or employee’s decisions and behaviors affect many others, we ask you
to prioritize our Lutheran value of “serving our neighbor so that all may thrive.”
It’s been a long and arduous journey. The clearings in any community’s path do not
simply or arbitrarily appear. They are shaped and positioned by the individual and
collective decisions, compromises, and sacrifices that “neighbors” are willing to
make. Please continue to navigate as best you can your own path and to help clear
the thorny patches that others cannot traverse.
Thank you for all you do to assist us in serving our students,
Lori E. Varlotta, Ph.D
President