Campus Response Measures

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

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:

  • the employee was fully vaccinated before the close contact and is not experiencing symptoms;
  • the employee tested positive for COVID-19 and has remained symptom free for 90 days after the initial onset of COVID-19 symptoms, or 90 days after the first positive test for employees who never developed symptoms.

Quarantine & Isolation Policy

Whittier College will adhere to LA County infection control guidance regarding quarantine and isolation.

  • Individuals experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 will be restricted from campus and required to follow Home Isolation instructions for 10 days from symptom onset.
  • Individuals who have had close contact with a positive case will be restricted from campus and required to follow Home Quarantine instructions and should seek testing for COVID-19. If the test result is positive, individuals are required to follow instructions for Home Isolation. If the test result is negative, continue quarantine according to LA County guidance. Quarantine and testing are not required if you have no symptoms AND you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 OR have recovered from laboratory confirmed COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
  • Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will be restricted from campus and required to follow Home Isolation instructions.
  • Residential students will be moved to separate quarters designated for quarantine and 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 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.

Clearance for Return to Work and Campus

Student Campus Access

  • Residential Students: Students in quarantine or isolation cannot return to their assigned dormitory room and move about campus until cleared by the Student Health & Wellness Center.
  • Off-campus students: Students in quarantine or isolation who live off-campus cannot access campus for permitted 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 or quarantine must first receive clearance from Human Resources. Employees must confirm that they have remained in quarantine or isolation for the appropriate time, 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 certification from their healthcare provider to Human Resources.

Staff Return to Work

  • Staff who are well enough and able to work remotely during quarantine or isolation must first receive clearance from Human Resources. 
  • Staff who wish to resume work and access campus after completing isolation or quarantine must first receive clearance from Human Resources. Employees must confirm that they have remained in quarantine or isolation for the appropriate time, 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 certification from their healthcare provider to Human Resources.