ArtCenter is requiring vaccinations, including booster vaccines when eligible, as part of our commitment to a healthy and safe learning and working environment. These procedures are being implemented to provide students, faculty and staff with greater access to our physical spaces without occupancy limits as we welcome people back to campus.

Who needs to submit proof of vaccination?
Everyone—students, faculty and staff who are planning on accessing campus, as well as any vendors, contractors and visitors.

Visitors and vendors coming on campus for business-related purposes must submit proof of vaccination using the link below. 

Guests visiting campus to see an exhibition, take a tour or attend an event may show proof of vaccination at check in when they arrive on campus with the exception of persons who were vaccinated outside the United States, in which case we request they submit proof of vaccination electronically at least 48 hours before arriving on campus. 

Proof of vaccination must be submitted at least two business days prior to arriving on campus.

Submission forms
Students, faculty and staff
Vendors and visitors

What if I can't get vaccinated?
You will need to request an exemption by emailing ehs@artcenter.edu. When emailing your request, please include your affilation (student, faculty or staff) and indicate the frequency in which you intend to access campus in person.

Contact tracing is a critical component to controlling community spread of COVID-19. All individuals have a responsibility to monitor their comings and goings at all times to be able to assist contact tracing should it be necessary. If an individual is identified as a positive case, presumed positive case, or is a close contact of a positive or presumed positive case, they will be asked to provide information regarding their activities and whereabouts related to campus activity. The College has a legal obligation to notify the community of any exposure while still maintaining the privacy of the reported case.

Based on current health department contact tracing protocols, only those who meet the definition of a close contact within a span of 48 hours of a positive or presumed positive case will be notified. Close contacts are defined as any individual who has been in close proximity of less than six feet for 15 minutes or more. The 15 minutes is counted as a one-time exposure or an accumulation of 15 minutes over a period of time. Individuals who have been identified as a close contact of a positive or presumed positive case of COVID-19 must contact the director of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management at ehs@artcenter.edu, consult with their medical provider and self-isolate for 14 days. Individuals will be permitted to return to campus once the 14-day isolation period is over, if they have been symptom-free for 72 hours prior to the requested campus access date/time.

Hand-washing - Everyone must maintain the strictest hand hygiene protocol by frequently washing their hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds. Ring your hands in a circular motion, cleaning arms, up to the elbows and underneath fingernails. Use hand sanitizer frequently if there is no access to soap and water.

Coughing/Sneezing hygiene - If you are in a private setting and do not have your face covering on, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Then throw used tissues in the trash. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Physical distancing - Everyone on campus is required to maintain a minimum six-foot physical distance from other individuals at all times. No exceptions will be made since COVID-19 can spread without an individual showing symptoms or feeling sick. There will be no public access or events inside any of the College’s buildings. Similarly, mass gatherings for events, shows, lectures or other activities, are not permitted.

Face Coverings - Face coverings must be worn by all students, faculty, staff, contractors, vendors and visitors while on campus when in the presence of others and in public spaces (e.g., elevators, common work spaces, meeting rooms, classrooms, studios, labs, shops, etc.). Appropriate use of approved face coverings is critical in minimizing risks to others near you. Face covers must be properly worn, covering the nose and mouth at all times except when eating or drinking while maintaining physical distance between yourself and others. You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not show symptoms or feel sick. The face-covering is not a substitute for physical distancing, both must be practiced in tandem.

Type, description and intended use of face coverings/respirators:

• Disposable - Commercially manufactured masks that help contain the wearer's respiratory emissions. Must be replaced daily.
• Particulate - Commercially manufactured, NIOSH and OSHA approved respirators. Required for use in shops and lab areas based on the work being performed.
• Particulate with nuisance vapor relief - Commercially manufactured, NIOSH and OSHA approved respirators. Required for use in shops and lab areas based on the work being performed.
• Half facepiece reusable respirator - Commercially manufactured, NIOSH and OSHA approved respirators. Required for use in shops and lab areas based on the work being performed.
• Variable style with exhalation valve - Any style mask or facepiece with exhalation valves are prohibited, even if an individual purchases one for themselves. These types of exhalation valves are not equipped with a filter, therefore, the wearer releases droplets that could potentially spread the virus.
• Gaiters - Gaiters and bib-style face covers are prohibited for use on campus.

How to put on a face covering:

• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer prior to handling the face covering.
• Ensure the face covering fits over the nose and under the chin.
• Situate the face covering properly with nose wire snug against the nose (where applicable).
• Depending on the type, tie straps behind the head and neck or loop around the ears.
• Throughout the process, avoid touching the front of the face covering.
• Note: if you wear glasses, to prevent steaming, you may want to try a tissue inside of your face covering.

How to remove a face covering (disposable, cloth or other types):

• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer prior to handling the face covering.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth when removing the face covering.
• When taking off the face covering, loop your finger into the strap and pull the strap away from the ear, or untie the straps.
• Wash hands immediately after removing your face covering.

Care, storage and laundering:

• Keep face coverings stored in a paper bag or a bag made of other breathable material when not in use.
• Disposable masks must not be used for more than one day and should be placed in the trash after use or if it is soiled, damaged (e.g., stretched ear loops, torn or punctured material) or visibly contaminated. Prior to disposing of the masks, cut or tear the earloops.

Individuals who are unable to wear one form of face covering due to health reasons will be required to wear an alternate face covering. Employees (faculty and staff) should contact Human Resources (HR) to discuss reasonable accommodations, but will not be required to disclose any diagnosis/diagnoses. Students must provide medical documentation from a health care professional to the CSE describing the need for an accommodation to this public health mandate.

Goggles/Face shields - As a reminder, the eyes are an additional route of entry to the body for COVID-19. You may be required to wear goggles or face shields as assigned PPE when performing your work and interacting with others if your job requires the use of tools, equipment and/or machinery if these were assigned prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional positions requiring the use of eye protection will be reviewed and announced based on specific activities being performed. Good hand hygiene and avoiding touching your face are generally sufficient for non-healthcare environments.

Gloves - Based on your job, you may be required to wear gloves as assigned PPE when performing your work and interacting with others. If not job-required, but you prefer to wear gloves while performing work for your own comfort level, contact your supervisor or EHSRM. According to the CDC, gloves are not necessary for general use and do not replace good hand hygiene. Washing your hands often is considered the best practice for common everyday tasks.

Facilities Disinfecting - The Facilities Department will ensure that cleaning and sanitation of high-touch surfaces occurs frequently throughout the day. All used spaces will be cleaned thoroughly every night. Cleaning procedures for equipment, specialty labs, maker spaces and dedicated spaces will be established with each department prior to the start of term. Cleaning supplies or requests can be made using the Facilities Work Order available on Inside ArtCenter.

Personal Disinfecting - Take time to wipe down tables, tools, pens, equipment, workstations, keyboards, computer mouse, etc. before utilizing them with a disinfectant wipe or with a clean cloth and disinfecting cleanser. This should be repeated regularly throughout the time you are on campus. Do not reuse soiled rags. Disinfecting wipe dispensers are located in select areas for your convenience.

Breaks provide an opportunity for people to walk outside, alone and physically distanced from others. Individuals should not congregate in groups during breaks or resting periods. As stated previously, face coverings are required indoors at all times. Face coverings are also required if you are outdoors and unable to maintain a minimum six-feet of distance from another person. Practice strict hand hygiene before going on break and immediately after break.

Restrooms will be cleaned frequently per our current sanitation schedule. A physical distance of six feet should be maintained at all times, even in restrooms. If there is insufficient space to maintain distance due to others in the restroom, individuals should either wait outside or return at a later time. Do not visit another floor in the same building to access a restroom except in urgent situations. All individuals should carefully limit the areas they visit while on campus. Hand washing hygiene practices must be followed after any visit to the restroom.

Elevator occupancy will be limited. Stairs should be used as much as possible. People using the elevator must wear face coverings even if they are the only occupant and should avoid touching elevator buttons with exposed hand/fingers. Hand hygiene practices must be followed after any elevator ride.

As COVID-19 has been identified mainly as a respiratory virus, ArtCenter reminds the community that we are a tobacco- and smoke-free campus. The policy is available on the ArtCenter website, with additional information and resources available on Inside ArtCenter.

Anyone who has traveled anywhere—internationally, domestically or outside of the Greater Los Angeles region—is required to take a clinical (PCR) test at days three and five and submit those results via Inside ArtCenter. (Greater Los Angeles encompasses five counties in Southern California, including Ventura County, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Orange County.)

Persons who experience symptoms must contact a medical provider. Positive or presumed positive cases are to be immediately reported to ehs@artcenter.edu. Any impact to work or classes due to self-quarantine will be mitigated by the use of remote methodologies to ensure the individual can safely meet their obligations. Individuals are instructed to also communicate directly with their supervisor, affected instructor(s) and/or academic department chair and staff (director/coordinator).

The CDC and the U.S. Department of State have applied heightened levels of travel warnings and advisories, meaning that there is ongoing community transmission in the U.S., and all travelers (even those who do not leave the country or re-enter from another country) must apply these additional precautions. The specific recommendations from the CDC include:

• All travelers (domestic or international) are required to monitor their health and practice physical distancing for 10 days after returning from travel;
• Travelers (domestic or international) should avoid contact with sick people and wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol;
• Travelers (domestic or international) who are sick with fever, cough, or have trouble breathing should stay home and call ahead before seeking medical care; and
• Older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions should consider postponing nonessential travel.

Anyone who has traveled outside the United States should be aware of factors that may impact their return and re-entry, including:

• Availability (and costs) of commercial air travel.
• Operations of U.S. consulates regarding processing visa applications has been greatly delayed in some cases recently and vary from country-to-country.
• Restrictions on non-U.S. nationals have already been implemented. (Future decisions may also apply to all travelers, regardless of nationality.)

Anyone planning to leave the United States should research applicable travel advisories or restrictions and be aware that they may be subject to health protocols such as enhanced screenings at airports and mandatory quarantines, which may prevent individuals from starting work or school for approximately 10 days after entry into this (or any other) country. People should consider that choosing to leave the U.S. may have serious consequences impacting their academic programs and/or visa status. Please understand that the decision to stay in the U.S. or in any other country, or the decision to leave one location for a home country is a deeply personal one that considers finances, family, health needs, etc. ArtCenter will not tell anyone what decision they should make; but we will provide the most accurate information available.

If you are an international student and you have already left the U.S., please email international@artcenter.edu to discuss your travel itinerary, and any expected or planned date of return so that we can properly update your international student visa records as we are required to do with the U.S. federal government. Failure to inform us so that we can update those records may affect any future re-entry to the U.S. or any future visa applications (of any sort).

International students should also keep up to date on any travel or health advisories from their home countries.