The responsibility of keeping ourselves and others safe while on campus continues to be important. To this end, Otis College provides information and training to ensure that all public health protocols are shared, understood, and observed. The educational information on the COVID-19 Response Hub represents an ongoing effort to provide up-to-date and reliable information, with an emphasis on campus community health and safety.
COVID-19 Policies
Vaccination Update
Starting June 1, 2023, the COVID-19 vaccination will be strongly recommended, rather than required, for students, faculty, and staff. Otis College continues to stress the importance of the COVID-19 vaccines and will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccine clinics throughout the school year.
Where to Get Vaccines
Because of changes in how the federal government is managing COVID-19, Otis College will no longer host free COVID-19 vaccination clinics. Now staff and faculty can go through their healthcare providers to get the most current COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to the patient from their insurance plan.
As of September 14, 2023 a new COVID-19 vaccine that has been formulated to target newer variants of the virus that are currently circulating is available—and recommended—for everyone aged 6 months and older.
According to the CDC, there are several options for finding vaccination providers, such as:
- Visit vaccines.gov to find vaccination providers near you. In some states, information may be limited as more U.S. vaccination providers and pharmacies are being added. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination locations on vaccines.gov.
- Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or community health center if they provide vaccines.
- Check your local pharmacy’s website to see if vaccination appointments are available. Find out which pharmacies are participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program.
COVID-19 vaccines help protect people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and dying. As with other vaccine-preventable diseases, you are best protected from COVID-19 when you stay up to date with the recommended vaccinations. LACDPH has aligned with the CDC recommending that “up to date” with the COVID vaccine means everyone aged 6 years and older receive one (1) updated Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 bivalent vaccine, regardless of whether you have received any of the original COVID-19 vaccines.
Please note the following reminders:
- Otis College strongly recommends that students, faculty, and staff remain up to date on vaccinations.
- To continue our mission to be a community of care, please respect those in our community who choose to wear masks and continue to remain up to date with the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Otis College will continue to be compliant with all Cal OSHA regulations.
Proof of Vaccination
Proof of vaccination is no longer required for all faculty, staff, and long-term vendors, however, the request for vaccination status is subject to change based on recommendations from the CDC, WHO, FDA, or LACDPH.
If there are questions regarding proof of vaccination or other COVID-related topics, please direct them to Helane Wilbourne, Associate Vice President, Human Resources, at hwilbourne@otis.edu.
Visitors
Visitors are no longer required to show proof of vaccination.
Where to Get Tested for COVID
Otis College partners with Reliant Urgent Care at 5901 Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90045 (additional clinics throughout the greater Los Angeles area can be located via relianturgentcare.com). To utilize this testing facility, an authorization for treatment form is shared with staff and faculty who are considered “close contacts” after exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case. The authorization form is required for testing. If there are any issues at the clinic, please contact Helane Wilbourne at hwilbourne@otis.edu or call 310-665-6862.
Testing is important to determine our COVID-19 status—regardless of whether we have symptoms—and whether we are at risk of spreading the infection to others. Taking measures to prevent the spread of infection is the most effective strategy for helping to stop the spread of COVID-19
To find a testing site through the City of Los Angeles, visit dhs.lacounty.gov/covid-19/testing/.
COVID Exposure Guidelines
COVID Exposure GuidelinesConfirmed Case Protocol
Though the spread of the COVID-19 virus has waned, if a faculty or staff member has a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, they are required to contact Helane Wilbourne, AVP of Human Resources, at hwilbourne@otis.edu or 310-665-6862.
All confirmed COVID cases must be reported as soon as a diagnosis is known, including over weekends and during holidays. It is also important to share information of any contacts who might have been exposed, including their phone numbers, to facilitate contact tracing, which is most effective when executed swiftly.
Faculty and staff should not come into work for at least 5 days after the start of symptoms or after the date of their first positive test. Isolation can end and employees may return to the workplace after day 5 if symptoms are not present or are resolving, and an antigen test collected on day 5 or later tests negative.
Note: All employees who tested positive for COVID-19 must check-in with Helane Wilbourne, hwilbourne@otis.edu prior to their return to work.
Exposure Protocols
If you are asymptomatic, regardless of vaccination status:
If an employee has been identified to be in close contact with someone with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case, the LACDPH and the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) state that the employee MUST test 3-5 days after the last known exposure and watch for COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days.
At this time, quarantining after exposure is not required if a person is asymptomatic and tests negative 3-5 days after exposure.
If you are symptomatic, regardless of vaccination status:
If an employee has been identified as a close contact of someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and is showing symptoms of the virus, LACDPH and CalOSHA recommend that you quarantine away from work and get tested as soon as possible. Otis College faculty or staff members who have a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis are required to contact Helane Wilbourne, AVP of Human Resources, at hwilbourne@otis.edu or 310-665-6862 to determine next steps.
The Student Health and Wellness Center now offers rapid at-home antigen tests to any faculty or staff member who has been exposed to COVID-19 while at work. Please visit the SHWC during office hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Time Off Guidelines
It may be necessary to take time off to take care of yourself, a family member who is sick, or to quarantine. Following are guidelines for managing time off.
You may use accrued sick time for the following:
- To care for yourself or family members who are sick
- To stay home during state- or locally-required quarantine periods after travel
- To stay home during state- or locally-required quarantine periods instituted after the start of otherwise approved time off
You may use accrued vacation time for the following, subject to approval:
- To stay home during state- or locally-required quarantine periods after travel only if requested and approved prior to the scheduled time off
- To stay home during state- or locally-required quarantine periods instituted after the start of otherwise approved time off
You may request unpaid time off for the following, subject to approval:
- To stay home during state- or locally-required quarantine periods after travel
- To stay home during state- or locally-required quarantine periods instituted after the start of otherwise approved time off
Employee Assistance Program
As a reminder, Otis College faculty and staff have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which is offered at no cost to help you and your dependents cope with any concerns.
When visiting the site, log-in using the following :
Username: EAP4OTIS
Password: EAP4OTIS
All services are confidential and available 24/7.