Planning by Area

The health of our students, faculty, and staff remains our top priority. We have learned during the pandemic the importance of being nimble and able to shift as necessary to ensure our community’s health and safety. This knowledge continues to guide our planning. The following plans are guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Cal/OSHA and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. 

Face masks and PPE

Face masks are only required in the Student Health Center. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are always welcome to wear a mask. The L.A. County Department of Public Health offers rules and recommendations regarding masking following COVID-19 infection or exposure.

Surgical masks are available for students, faculty, and staff in dispensers located in buildings throughout campus, often near main entrances, stairwells, or on various floors. The dispensers also offer hand sanitizer.

N95 respirators are available to faculty and staff upon request. You can request an N95 respirator on the Risk Management and EHS website using the N95 Respirator Request Form (Online). Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as clear-panel masks and gloves, are available for those who have job responsibilities necessitating use. Should you need these items, please contact your resource manager.

Faculty and staff can contact their resource managers, dean or associate dean to get required personal protective equipment, including masks.

Do not use masks that have valves, vents, or holes. Exception: The CDC states that a NIOSH-certified N95 respirator with an exhalation valve can be used.

It is recommended to have more than one mask readily available so that a dirty face mask can be easily replaced with a clean one. When you are out, carry a spare mask and hand sanitizer. If your mask gets damp or wet, replace it with a clean dry one.

Physical Distancing

Physical distancing and barrier requirements have been eliminated on campus, in line with state and county public health guidance.

Vaccinations

There is a CSU COVID-19 vaccination and booster requirement. The goal of this requirement, like other immunization requirements in the CSU, is to maintain the health and safety of the campus community.

This means that Cal State LA faculty, staff and students must certify that they are vaccinated with an approved vaccine or request a medical or religious exemption. The requirement is mandatory.

Students and non-represented employees who have not provided proof of vaccination are required to be tested for COVID-19 at least weekly. Cal State LA’s Office of Human Resources Management has provided details to non-represented employees about testing and details on the timing of the implementation of the vaccination policy to represented employees following the CSU meet and confer process.

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the vaccination requirement and information about how to get free vaccines on the COVID-19 Vaccination FAQ webpage.

Employee Health Self-Screenings

All Cal State LA employees, students and visitors are required to conduct a health self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms before arriving at Cal State LA.

If you are experiencing any of the below symptoms, please do not come onto the Cal State LA campus.

Fever of 100.4 F, or;
Alternating chills and sweating; or
Cough, trouble breathing, shortness of breath; or
Sore throat; or
Muscle or body aches; or
New loss of smell or taste; or
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; or
Headache; or
Congestion or runny nose; or
Fatigue

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

Stay home and avoid contact with others, except for seeking medical care if needed.
Students may seek medical care from the Student Health Center (SHC). Please call first at 323-343-3300 before visiting the SHC. The SHC is following the guidelines of Public Health in assessing and caring for patients presenting with symptoms. For other information and hours of operation, please visit the Student Health Center webpage.
Employees should contact their healthcare provider.
Employees who have any symptoms listed above must inform their appropriate administrator that they are exhibiting one or more of these symptoms, contact their medical provider for advice, and not report to work. Employees who develop these symptoms and/or test positive for COVID-19 are required to disclose this information to Human Resources Management at [email protected] and may not return to work until clearance from Human Resources Management.
Employees who develop these symptoms during the workday while on campus will be sent home and advised to contact their medical provider, and follow up with their appropriate administrator or chair for bargaining Unit 3 employees. The employee will be placed on a temporary telework assignment until the illness is defined, at which point, the employee will work with Human Resources Management to determine appropriate recording of absence.
Do not travel while sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Throw used tissues in trash and wash your hands immediately.
Separate yourself from other people in your home and avoid sharing personal items.
Rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Seek urgent medical care for serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing or inability to keep fluids down.

Public Health Hygiene

Employees will not come to work when they are sick.
Employees will frequently wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer (with minimum 60% ethanol content or 70% isopropanol) when soap and water are not available. Hand sanitizing stations are available campuswide. Hand sanitizer will be provided to employees if needed.
Employees should avoid touching eyes, nose or face.
Employees should cover coughs/sneezes with disposable tissues. If disposable tissues are not available, use the inside of your elbow to cover coughs/sneezes.
Employees are aware that a face mask does not change the requirement to cover your cough or sneeze.
Employees should also wash hands frequently throughout the day, including before and after eating or using the toilet, after touching shared surfaces or tools, and after close interactions with other people.

Employee Safety Training

We recommend that employees who are working on campus take the "Global Safety Short: Coronaviruses and COVID-19" training.

Campus Health and Safety Preparations

We have taken measures to keep everyone safe at Cal State LA. Campus custodians continue to support the maintenance and cleaning efforts across campus.

All drinking fountains are closed. We have added additional touch-free bottle-filling stations throughout campus and added touchless restroom fixtures to support a cleaner environment.

Cleaning and disinfecting of classrooms, offices, restrooms, and public spaces occur regularly throughout campus in line with requirements from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and CDC guidelines using EPA-approved disinfectants.

Safety signage has been posted at elevators, stairwells, and restrooms.

HVAC systems have been upgraded and improved campuswide to support the delivery of air and to remove and dilute concentrations of contaminants in the building air systems. The building mechanical ventilation systems are maximizing outside air and continue to run 24/7 to support a healthy indoor environment. Additionally, all filters are now MERV 13 or higher in support of greater filtration to capture airborne viruses.

Air duct cleaning and air damper replacement across all campus buildings is complete with newly upgraded and improved components to increase the delivery of clean air. Upgrades include the installation of MERV 13 or higher filters improving the filtration systems capacity to remove and dilute concentrations of contaminants in the building air systems. All buildings are maximizing the use of outside air with continued nighttime operation to flush the buildings to promote a healthy indoor air environment.

All buildings received updated air balance surveys to ensure proper ventilation and air exchange throughout the buildings. The University's Building Supervising Engineers continue to manage the buildings' mechanical system operations ensuring ventilation systems are maintained and operating in compliance with all regulatory requirements. In addition, temperature readings are taken throughout the campus daily to ensure systems are functional.

The Cal State LA Office of Risk Management and Environmental, Health and Safety (RMEHS) have been working with all divisions to follow the guidance of state and local public health officials. Cal State LA is committed to ensuring the safety of the University community.

Divisions, departments and offices have been provided a safety site assessment to manage their operations in a safe manner that complies with federal, state and local guidelines. Please visit the RMEHS COVID-19 Safety Site Assessment webpage for more information and email [email protected] for a safety site assessment.

To report an unsafe condition or violation of any health and safety related campus policies, please fill out a Hazard Incident Report.

Faculty Support

CETL Programming and Course Redesign

Our Center for Effective Teaching and Learning has been recognized by the Chancellor’s Office for the valuable support and resources it provides for our faculty. It offered a customized version of the Alt-Instruction Summer Institute to faculty who were unable to take it in 2020. Last year, CETL launched a comprehensive program to support departments' long-term efforts to advance their online curriculum, which will continue to be offered every fall, spring and summer term.

Classroom Technology Upgrades

Based on a CETL survey of faculty and in consultation with the Academic Instructional Resources Subcommittee (AIRS) of the Academic Senate, as well as the campus’ Scheduling Working Group and Information Technology Services, the University has upgraded the technology in 100 classrooms last academic year. Over 70 classrooms received a refresh of the baseline equipment, while another 30 received an enhanced package that includes new software, mounted cameras and mics to enable lecture capture, and updated instructor podiums that include dual monitor displays for augmented visibility.

Tenure Track Hiring

Ninety-one tenure track faculty searches for AY 2021-22 have been approved.

Staff Support

The Anna Bing Arnold Children’s Center on campus is open. Services that help employees manage transportation needs such as employee carpools, discounted U-Pass and transit passes, semester parking permits and daily parking are also available through Parking and Transportation Services.

Employees with concerns related to disabilities or underlying medical conditions associated with an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should contact Title IX Officer Mariel Mulet ([email protected]) to discuss accommodation options.

LifeMatters, is the University’s Employee Assistance Program. Contact information is 1-800-367-7474 or mylifematters.com. Our company password is GOEAGLES. Should you have any questions about the program, please contact Erika Ramirez at 323-343-3654.

Research

The pandemic has been disruptive to the research, scholarship, and creative activities (RSCA) that are so integral to teaching and learning on our campus. As conditions have improved, we have instituted safety protocols to ensure that faculty and students have been able to safely return to labs and studios to continue such activities.

The elimination of the physical distancing requirement means faculty will no longer need to submit a reopening application to access campus spaces. Please comply with the room occupancy posted in the lab or room. Personnel may access the building during any normal building operation hours. Faculty, staff, and students are advised that COVID-19 safety protocols require continuous airflow and filtration while buildings are in use; therefore, faculty, staff, and students are not permitted to work in buildings outside of the stated hours of operation.

Library and Computer Labs

The University Library is open to all Cal State LA students, faculty, and staff, with all floors, collections, public computers, printers, and one-person study rooms available. Access to Special Collections and Archives is available by appointment and Subject Specialist Librarians are available for virtual consultation. Additional information about University Library in-person and online services are available on the University Library updates page.

Information about the ITS Help Desk and open access computer labs is available on their websites.

Graduate Resource Center

The Graduate Resource Center is offering in-person and virtual services. Study space is available for graduate students in the GRC Commons area. Three study rooms can be reserved by individual students and a conference room is available for use by up to 8 students at a time. Virtual GRC services include writing consultations, thesis review appointments, and general graduate student policy advising. Academic and professional development workshops continue to be offered as webinars.

Managing Work Life

Paid Leave Programs

Faculty and staff who miss work because of COVID-19 may utilize:

Regular sick leave
Vacation leave
Workers’ compensation

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Parking and Transportation Services

Parking & Transportation Services is committed to assisting you with your return to campus by providing you with guidance on re-activating your parking permit, purchasing a permit, or providing you with alternative commuting options.

Parking Permit and Commuting Options

To purchase a semester parking permit, visit the parking information webpage. To enroll or re-activate your parking payroll deduction, please complete the Payroll Deduction Authorization Form. Please make sure to have your vehicle(s) license plate number ready. Once you complete the form, you will receive an email with further instructions.

Local transit agencies such as Metrolink, Metro and Foothill Transit, which serve the campus community, have taken all necessary measures to safeguard passengers’ health and keep them safe on their systems. You can find a detailed description of their safety procedures and cleaning protocols directly on their websites.

The following campus alternative transportation options are available:

Bus and Shuttle Services

Our Transportation Center services L.A. Metro and Foothill Transit buses, as well as shuttles that connect the University to Los Angeles’ Eastside, East Los Angeles, Alhambra and Monterey Park. Employees receive 25% off any monthly Metro line pass (fares range from $100 to $122 per month). Seven different Metro lines service Cal State LA. Find your route to the University with the Metro Trip Planner. Employees also receive 25% off any monthly Foothill Transit line pass (fares range from $50 to $170 per month). Find your route to the University with the Foothill Transit Trip Planner. Want to try riding Metro or Foothill Transit? Contact the Commuter Services Office to obtain a free one-week TAP card. Please visit our employee transit webpage for more information on riding the bus to campus.

Metrolink Train

A Metrolink station is located at the south end of the University and serves the San Bernardino Line. Metrolink offers a 25% fare reduction on the San Bernardino Line. Employees receive an additional 30% off a monthly train pass. Fares vary depending on distance traveled. View schedules and fares on the Metrolink website. Interested in trying Metrolink? Contact the Commuter Services Office to obtain a courtesy 7- day ticket, or visit our employee Metrolink webpage for more information on employee incentives.

Bicycle/Walker Program

Employees who walk or bike to work are encouraged to sign-up for the Bicycle/Walker Program. Participants can receive complimentary parking passes during bad weather and participate in semester drawings and commuter events. Faculty and staff can rent bicycle lockers from Commuter Services for $20. You can register your bicycle for free by bringing it to the Department of Public Safety office, along with your driver's license or Cal State LA ID.

For additional information, visit Parking and Transportation Services or see the various commute routes to campus on RideAmigos. You can also contact the Commuter Services Office by email or call 323-343-6116 for further information.

Food on Campus

Find updated hours for food locations on campus.

Travel

The CSU system does not have a current COVID-related travel ban. Faculty and staff are still subject to campus travel procedures and site-specific COVID-19 travel recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Please also take note of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel warnings and guidance.

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