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What we've done to help keep our community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic | April 27, 2021

Dear Woodbury Community,

With your safety and health our number one priority, we have taken several precautions to help ensure a safe campus environment during the COVID 19 pandemic. Following is a comprehensive look at what we have done to help keep you safe since the start of the pandemic. We will continue to adhere to local, state and national health guidelines moving forward and keep you updated along the way.

Formation of a COVID-19 Response Team

At the start of the Pandemic, a team was formed to specifically address COVID-19. Woodbury’s COVID response team meets every day and consists of the following individuals:

  • Natalie Avalos, VP of Administration & Human Resources
  • John Lewis, Security Coordinator
  • Gabriela Preciado, Campus Registered Nurse
  • Shannon Savage, Associate Dean of Students
  • Ian Wright, Security Specialist

The COVID response team also meets once a week with faculty representatives to ensure successful cross-collaboration is achieved. These individuals are:

  • Randy Stauffer, Academic Affairs
  • Satinder Dhiman, School of Business
  • Jason Rebillot, School of Architecture & San Diego Campus
  • Reuben Ellis, College of Liberal Arts
  • Nedra Peterson, Library
  • Wayne Kastning, School of Media, Culture & Design
  • Matthew Corbitt, Making Complex
  • Anna Leiker, Faculty Senate Representative
  • Marina Sais, Admissions
Classroom, Studio, and Common Area Space Planning

At the start of the Pandemic, Woodbury implemented Center for Disease Control (CDC), Los Angeles Department of Health (LADPH), and California Department of Health (CDPH) protocols related to Woodbury. These protocols called for physical distancing of six feet and a lowered occupancy. All spaces on both of our campuses have updated floor plans posted in each area so our community members can see how we have implemented the necessary changes to help keep everyone safe.

Offices, Workspaces, and Common Areas

Plexiglass partitions (better known as sneeze guards) have been installed in each office, workspace, and common area. Each department has also created a rotating schedule to ensure we limit the number of individuals in any space at one time. All departments are still functioning and usually have at least one department representative on campus to serve student walk-ins. Please check with a department ahead of time to see how they are serving students before entering campus. Shared spaces and areas that serve students have had a flow of traffic signs and six-foot physical distancing makers installed.

Further, all heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units on campus have been under a new preventative maintenance schedule, with filters replaced once every other month as opposed to once a quarter.

Increased Cleaning and Sanitation

Please view the two linked documents below.

Bi-weekly COVID-19 Testing

Since the start of the pandemic, Woodbury has offered free on-site COVID-19 testing to all of our community members. Our Burbank campus has testing every other Wednesday, and our San Diego campus has testing every other Thursday. While the COVID-19 response team acknowledges that COVID tests are only a snapshot in time, testing still allows us to slow the spread of COVID-19 on campus.

Campus Access

Access to the campus is based on several factors.

  • A negative test result documented with the Campus Nurse no more than two weeks old.
  •  Completion of the Health Coach Daily Symptom Check. Each community member must answer questions regarding COVID-19 symptoms before entering campus. Once a successful symptom check is achieved, community members receive a green QR code to show security before entering campus. Access is denied without showing the green QR Code. Further, a part-time Registered Nurse was hired last year to assist in following up with anyone who answers “yes” to having any symptoms of COVID-19. The questions asked on the Health Coach Daily Symptom Check are below:
    • Have you had contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
    • Are you currently waiting for a COVID-19 test result due to suspected exposure?
    • Have you had contact with anyone who is currently waiting for a COVID-19 test result due to suspected exposure?
    • Have you received a COVId-19 vaccine?
    • Have you had any one or more of COVID-19 symptoms today or within the past 24 hours, which is new or not explained by another reason?
    • Have you received a positive COVID-19 test result in the past 14 days?
    • Do you currently have a fever of 100.4 degrees F or greater?
    • Have you received a COVID-19 Vaccine?

Our campus nurse and security specialist work together in coordinating campus testing results with the front gate. A new vehicle access control system (and a card reader for our pedestrian gate) was installed. The system ensures that only those who have an up-to-date COVID-19 test can enter the campus. Should an individual arrive at the front gate and not have an up-to-date COVID-19 test, security officers receive a “DENIED ACCESS” notification.

If you get tested off-campus, you will need to send your negative test result to the campus nurse and await her confirmation before entering campus.

All individuals will have their entrance and exit times logged either by the vehicle access control system, a card swipe at the pedestrian gate, or a hand-written log for those who get dropped off at the flag poles. This protocol assists our campus nurse in conducting contract tracing should someone on-campus test positive. Our campus nurse also uses this data to work with local health departments regarding contact tracing.

Further, our campus remains closed to non-business essential visitors/vendors. All visitors/vendors must receive prior approval before entering campus. If you require a business essential visitor or vendor to enter the campus, please email [email protected] at least one business day in advance. Visitors and vendors are required to fill out a waiver that asserts that they are not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.

No-Smoking Policy

To promote more extraordinary physical distancing measures on campus, Woodbury is shifting its smoking/tobacco use policy. The previous smoking areas on campus did not promote physical distancing. Woodbury University recognizes that using tobacco products is harmful to one’s health and that exposure to secondhand smoke poses a health risk to non-smokers. Combined with the current COVID-19 pandemic, the University has implemented a no-smoking policy to address these health concerns and provide a smoke-free study and workplace for all campus community members.

This announcement and policy can be found on our Campus Safety & Security Website.

Free Personal Protective Equipment

Woodbury offers free PPE to our faculty, staff, and students. We provide free face masks, face shields, gloves, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and other items. Please visit Human Resources or Central Services to pick these items up free of charge.

Notification of Positive COVID-19 Test

Should there be a positive case on campus, the COVID-19 response team will alert the campus community within one business day. This protocol aligns with several rules and regulations from local health departments and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We believe that by being transparent, we can provide a safer environment for our community members.

Student Social Distancing Ambassadors

Last year the campus safety and security department hired students to help patrol the campus and report anyone not wearing a face mask or maintaining six-foot physical distancing. Students work all hours of the day and wear a yellow vest to make them easily viewed. Our student workers report any issues to our campus security officers to obtain compliance. If you see someone in your area not following physical distancing or mask-wearing, please contact security. Our Burbank security phone number is 818-252-5208. Our San Diego security phone number is 619-235-4405.

COVID-19 Training

All community members receive virtual training that provides critical information on COVID-19 and how to keep yourself safe. Woodbury believes that education on the COVID-19 virus will assist our community in slowing the spread.

Dedicated Email for Questions/Concerns

Woodbury has created a dedicated email for community members to contact if they have any questions or concerns. [email protected]. Each email you send will be responded to by our campus security administrators, who are also on the COVID-19 team.

 

Last Updated on April 27, 2021. 

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