03.10.20

Dear LMU Community:

The safety and well-being of each of you remains my highest priority and continues to guide our proactive planning and response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Fortunately, at this time, there are no suspected cases of COVID-19 on our campuses. Our frequent updates and community advisories reflect our efforts to prevent an outbreak on our campuses. I appreciate your cooperation, patience, and understanding as we respond to quickly changing circumstances. Please visit our Coronavirus Website regularly for the latest information and guidance.

California and Los Angeles County have declared emergencies to prepare for and manage the risks associated with the spread of COVID-19. In consultation and collaboration with LMU leaders and federal, state, and local public health experts and agencies, we are presently taking the following steps to mitigate the spread of the virus and safeguard our community:

From March 16-31, following our spring break, LMU will move temporarily from in-person classes and instruction to virtual and online formats. During this period, we will reevaluate our options and determine next steps for the remainder of the semester. Our campuses will remain open and operational. Our colleges, schools, and faculty will provide further information to students in the coming days. Please review Keep Learning Wherever You Are for helpful information about online learning resources.

During this period of online instruction, we encourage students to return home to their personal residences. For students who are unable to return home or who require access to their belongings or broadband connectivity, please complete this form so Student Housing can assist in providing accommodations.

Faculty and staff should continue reporting to campus but should consult these revised guidelines from Human Resources. If approved by your supervisor to work from home, please review Keep Working Wherever You Are for helpful information about working remotely.

We are reviewing campus events, in consultation with their hosts, to determine whether they should be postponed, canceled, or modified. We will migrate our Undergraduate Research Symposium to a secure, online format. We will replace Preview Day for admitted students, originally scheduled on April 19, with an enhanced online experience and offer smaller-group visit opportunities. Please consult our Coronavirus Website for an updated list of event changes.

I encourage faculty to participate in training offered this week by the LMU Center for Teaching Excellence and LMU Information Technology Services. These sessions will allow faculty to utilize both synchronous and asynchronous modalities and technologies for online adaptation of courses. The ITS Service Desk will be available for extended hours (7:30 a.m.-10 pm.), beginning March 16, with technical and instructional technology support. Please email helpdesk@lmu.edu or call 310.338.7777.

In recent communications to our LMU Community, we have shared the following information:

LMU has restricted all university international travel for students, faculty, and staff through April 12, 2020. International spring break travel programs, study abroad programs in impacted countries, and global immersion programs have also been canceled;

All students, faculty, staff, and campus guests who have returned or will return to the United States from countries with a Level 2 or Level 3 Travel Health Notice from the CDC are not permitted to return to the LMU campus for 14 days . Currently, this includes travelers who have been to China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, or Japan. Faculty and staff should consult their department heads to review whether domestic travel should be rescheduled or postponed on a case-by-case basis, informed by reports of coronavirus spread in relevant U.S. regions.

. Currently, this includes travelers who have been to China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, or Japan. Faculty and staff should consult their department heads to review whether domestic travel should be rescheduled or postponed on a case-by-case basis, informed by reports of coronavirus spread in relevant U.S. regions. Facilities Management has implemented enhanced cleaning and sanitizing of common areas and offices on our three campuses, increasing the frequency and scope of cleaning for regularly used surfaces, and we are coordinating with the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure best practices and training on the use of adequate personal protective equipment should an outbreak occur on campus.

We continue to monitor the latest developments in this rapidly changing situation. While COVID-19’s emergence has tested our public health professionals and systems, I am confident that LMU’s emergency response teams are proceeding with professionalism and dedication—aligning our decisions with our values, mission, and the best interests of our students. I am proud of our university community’s resilience, creativity, cooperation, and continued care for one another as we come together to confront and overcome COVID-19 challenges. Please join me in praying for the families who have been affected, particularly those who have lost loved ones, because of this virus.

Our support resources are available to assist you. We have also setup a dedicated online form to answer your questions and address your feedback.

With sincere appreciation and thanks,

Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D.

President