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Fall Faculty Updates

05.05.21

Dear Faculty Colleagues,  
 
As the university prepares for our return to campus for the fall 2021 semester, including a return to in-person instruction, we are cognizant that, for some, this will be a challenge. To that end we are working to ease this transition while also meeting the university’s operational needs.  

  • The reasonable accommodation process is available for faculty and staff who need assistance to perform the essential functions of their position due to a medical condition. To initiate the process, please read and follow the Reasonable Accommodations Policy & Procedures and for fall 2021, fill out the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form. For questions or clarifications, please contact Janet Lindsay, Senior HR Partner for Academic Services.  
  • We understand many in our community face challenges and demands in caring for family members or limitations on returning to campus related to the health condition of others living in your home. Faculty who wish to be excused from returning to campus in the fall semester are asked to fill out the Request to be Excused from Reporting to Campus (Faculty) Form by May 15, 2021. For questions or clarifications, please contact Janet Lindsay.  
  • Following the recommendations of the CDC, LMU will require that all students coming to our campuses be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the fall semester. The university will allow exceptions on a case-by-case basis for students with qualifying medical or religious reasons. Where exceptions are granted, LMU will require regular COVID-19 testing and other situational requirements or limitations. Details are being finalized and will be shared shortly.  
  • Vax LMU, the university’s new vaccination documentation portal is now live. I encourage all faculty and staff to provide the university with documentation showing they have been vaccinated. While this is voluntary, per recent CDC guidelines, vaccinated individuals follow different protocols during contact tracing from those who are unvaccinated or from those whose vaccination status is unknown. This information will be collected by HR and COVID Support Team (CST) staff only and will be maintained with the strictest confidentiality pursuant to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements. The system, which is only available to faculty, staff, and contractors, is easy to use and can be accessed via computer or mobile device. Learn more about Vax LMU here.  
  • COVID surveillance testing will remain in place on-site at no cost to members of our community. This allows the university to identify asymptomatic COVID positive individuals, take appropriate measures to protect others, and mitigate transmission. The number of days a community member is on campus each week will determine the frequency of testing. More information to follow.  
  • Extensive safety protocols have been put in place, including: university provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face masks; signage used to guide social distancing; multiple hand sanitizing stations; on-site COVID testing; modified work areas that ensure appropriate physical distancing; increased cleaning in all common use areas; improved building ventilation (HVAC); comprehensive training for faculty and staff; a highly trained CST; implementation of a campus access health screen application (Lion Health Check); workplace assessments; frequent community communications; and more.  

Thank you for doing your part to assure a safe return to campus. We will communicate updates throughout the summer as we receive guidance from the County. Please visit the LMU Together website frequently for the latest updates and additional information.  

 
Sincerely,  
 
Thomas Poon, Ph.D.  
Executive Vice President and Provost