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COVID-19 University Updates

The University will report major University actions decided by the Emergency Operations Committee and any new reported cases of COVID-19 within the community as information becomes available

University Actions

At this time, and in accordance with County and State orders, the University has taken a number of actions including:

  • Academic Instruction: All Pepperdine in-person classes ended on Friday, March 13. Classes transitioned to remote alternative instruction the week of March 16 and will continue online for the remainder of the spring semester.
  • International Programs: Pepperdine suspended all Seaver College International Programs for the Spring semester.
  • Campus Population: Effective March 17, Pepperdine transitioned to a critical support personnel model where departments will work remotely except for essential tasks that must be handled on-site to support the reduced on-campus student population.
  • Events: All on-campus events have been suspended through September 30.
  • University Travel: All University international and domestic travel for employees has been suspended through September 30.
  • Campus Visitors: Restricted access to campus to essential personnel to support the remaining campus population.

University Reported Cases

Since the beginning of the pandemic in spring 2020, Pepperdine has learned of 56 reported cases of COVID-19 within the University community of students, faculty and staff. These are individuals who reside in a variety of locations in the Los Angeles area and beyond. The University has received the reports of positive COVID-19 test results either through testing at Pepperdine's Student Health Center or self-reports of those tested elsewhere, or reports of presumed positive cases.

  • Twenty-one reported cases prompted a potential exposure notification from the University to other members within the community. Pepperdine officials, working closely with the Student Health Center and public health officials, notified those in the Pepperdine community who may have had close contact or potential exposure with the infected individuals and asked them to quarantine for 14 days and monitor their symptoms.

    • Sadly,  retired faculty member Professor Emeritus Wayne Strom passed away following complications from COVID-19.
    • Sadly, Caruso School of Law Professor James M. McGoldrick passed away following complications related to COVID-19.
  • Thirty-five additional individuals reported positive tests or presumed positive diagnoses of COVID-19 to the University but have not had contact with the Pepperdine community during their contagious period.

The University intends to provide periodic updates on this webpage as new COVID-19 cases are reported. This count should not be considered comprehensive due to the University's significant reliance upon self-reporting and the quickly changing nature of the outbreak.

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