Test:
COVID-19 Community Response Plan

Subplans

• Testing
• Daily Wellness Check

Testing

Consistent with current best practices and consistent with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health guidance for institutes of higher education, Pepperdine has implemented a comprehensive, multi-layered testing strategy. The University has an ample supply of testing kits, on-site processing equipment, established relationships for off-site lab processing, and additional medical and support staff.  The University is well-prepared for all needed testing during this academic year.

Pepperdine COVID-19 Testing - What to Expect

Entry Screening Testing

As a precautionary measure and screening tool for the start of the semester in compliance with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health guidance, Pepperdine requires all students accessing a Pepperdine campus or facility, regardless of vaccination status, including those students arriving from international locations, to obtain a diagnostic test for COVID-19 no more than 72 hours before arrival at one of Pepperdine's campuses or facilities. This is a one-time test required prior to arrival on campus.

Before coming to campus, all students referenced above must do the following:

• Take a COVID-19 test (either a rapid/antigen test or a PCR test) no earlier than 72 hours before arriving on campus. If you are unsure of how to get a COVID-19 test, visit your state, tribal, local, or territorial health department's website to look for the latest local information on testing or contact your healthcare provider.
• Upload the test results (positive or negative) to the Student Health Center patient portal before arriving on campus:
  
  1. Go to the Student Health Center Patient Portal and login using your Pepperdine Network ID and password.
  2. Select "Upload" in the gray navigation bar/menu at the top of the webpage. 
  3. Select “COVID-19 Test” and upload the test results.

Students who test negative for COVID-19 are cleared to arrive on campus. 

Students who test positive for COVID-19 must:

• Not come to campus
• Contact the Student Health Center (310.506.4316, option 3)
• Follow instructions from their medical provider
• Isolate for 10 days or until symptoms resolve if beyond 10 days
  
  

Routine Screening Testing

Screening testing refers to the periodic testing of individuals, regardless of whether they exhibit symptoms of COVID-19. Because people with COVID-19 can show no symptoms at all (asymptomatic), screening testing helps proactively identify COVID-19 cases and reduce further transmission in the community. Screening testing will be provided at no cost to the community.

To prioritize health and safety and in compliance with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health guidance, all students, faculty, and staff accessing a University campus or facility will be required to test on a regular basis (weekly beginning fall 2021). The frequency of testing is subject to change and will be determined by an ongoing analysis, considering such factors as, public health orders and guidance, the number of people on campus, the presence of COVID-19 cases on campus, the level of COVID-19 transmission in the local community, and the percentage of Pepperdine community members who are vaccinated. For students, faculty, and staff accessing a campus or facility on an infrequent basis, routine screening testing will be required only for the week(s) when they will be present.

Screening testing at the University is simple and quick, and community members do not need to quarantine while they wait for test results. Community members will do the following:

• Use a web-based software platform to schedule testing
• Once a week, go to an on-campus testing pod
• Use a nasal swab or saliva tube to submit a sample
• See their test results in the web-based software within one business day

Those who receive negative test results do not need to do anything and can continue normal activities. Though unlikely, test results could come back inconclusive on occasion. If results are inconclusive, a follow-up test will be conducted on the same sample without further action on the individual’s part.

Those who receive positive test results must immediately:

• Contact the Student Health Center (310.506.4316, option 3)
• Isolate (refrain from going to campus or class, or otherwise interacting with other people)
• Follow all Student Health Center instructions on next steps

An email invitation will be sent to all students, faculty, and staff required to participate in routine screening testing, including details on how to register for the web-based testing software, how to schedule a weekly test, and the on-campus locations and times for the available testing sites. Required routine screening testing will begin on the following schedule:

The campus testing sites are only used for screening testing. If you are symptomatic or have had a known exposure to COVID-19, please DO NOT visit the campus routine screening testing sites to test for COVID-19. Instead, follow specific instructions for testing arrangements received through contact tracing, the Student Health Center (students), or your personal healthcare provider (employees).
 

Diagnostic Testing

Diagnostic testing is intended to identify current infection in individuals and is performed when a person has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or within 5 days after a person has been identified as a close contact to a positive COVID-19 case.

If you are symptomatic or have had a known exposure to COVID-19, please DO NOT visit the campus routine screening testing sites to test for COVID-19 and await specific instructions for testing arrangements.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms:

• Do not go to campus or to class. 
• Remain in your residence.
• Contact the appropriate healthcare provider. 
  
  
  • Students: Immediately call the Student Health Center (310.506.4316, option 3) and follow their instructions, which may include diagnostic testing and quarantine/isolation. Testing may be completed either at the Student Health Center, or urgent care facilities near graduate campus locations.
  • Faculty/Staff: Contact your healthcare provider and follow their instructions, which may include diagnostic testing and quarantine/isolation. If you test positive for COVID-19, notify the Student Health Center (310.506.4316, option 3) of your case so appropriate contact tracing can occur.

While awaiting your diagnostic test results following an exposure if you are asymptomatic:

• Unvaccinated Students must quarantine for 10 days from the time of their exposure.
• Vaccinated Students must follow LACDPH’s modified quarantine procedures staying in their rooms, but continuing to attend classes and pick up their own food. However, all non-academic activities, social activities, and participation in athletic training, practice, and competition are prohibited. 
• Unvaccinated Faculty/Staff must quarantine for 10 days from the time of their exposure.
• Vaccinated Faculty/Staff may continue to come to work as long as they remain asymptomatic. 

While awaiting your diagnostic test results symptomatic individuals should not come to campus or class, should minimize contact with others, and follow the directives of their healthcare providers.

Those who receive positive test results should notify the Student Health Center immediately and follow their instructions, which will include directions on when it is safe to return to campus spaces. Those who receive positive test results, regardless of vaccination status, should isolate for a minimum of 10 days beginning the day of a positive test result for those who are asymptomatic or the day symptoms began for those who are symptomatic. Notification to the Student Health Center is necessary for contact tracing.

Compliance

We are confident community members will comply with these important health and safety provisions. In the unlikely event of non-compliance, these matters will be directed to the Office of Community Standards for students, the Office of the Provost for faculty, or Human Resources
for staff members. Consequences will be aligned with other failures to comply with University policy.

For questions, please contact the COVID-19 Information Line at covid19info@pepperdine.edu or 310.506.8111.

Daily Wellness Check

Every member of the Pepperdine University community will be required to complete a COVID-19 daily wellness check before arriving on campus each day. The daily check asks all individuals to note if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19. The time employees spend completing this form each day is considered paid time.

Forms will be delivered to each University community member daily by email.

Compliance will be monitored by:

• Supervisors for faculty/staff
• Housing and Residence Life staff for residential students
• Student Affairs for Seaver commuter students
• Dean's office designee for non-residential graduate students
• International programs directors for international programs participants when programs resume

Do not come to campus or leave your on-campus residence if you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Students should call the Student Health Center (310.506.4316, option 3) for further instructions. Employees should contact their supervisor to discuss arrangements and their medical provider for further instructions.

For questions, please contact the COVID-19 Information Line at covid19info@pepperdine.edu or 310.506.8111.