New students must submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination by July 15 in order to register for classes.
Learn more about Whittier's vaccination policy
Regular COVID-19 surveillance testing is mandatory for all unvaccinated students, employees, and contracted workers. Testing will be conducted at the Student Health & Wellness Center.
Students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms may receive diagnostic testing at the Student Health & Wellness Center, through their healthcare provider, or at county testing locations.
In compliance with Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards, Whittier College will offer free COVID-19 testing at the Student Health & Wellness Center during employees' paid time to employees with COVID-19 symptoms who are not fully vaccinated.
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, with the following exceptions:
Whittier College will adhere to LA County infection control guidance regarding quarantine and isolation.
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.
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 positive cases and close contacts 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. The CDC defines close contact as “someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.” Staff members on the COVID-19 Compliance Team have completed contact tracing certification. Consistent with federal and state laws governing patient confidentiality, the College will not share any patients’ private medical information other than to confirm that they are an employee of the College. Individuals may also be contacted by LADPH contact tracers.
Individuals who have been exposed to the confirmed case will be notified to begin quarantine 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.