Dear AULA Students,
I want to take a moment to update you about the coronavirus and how the AULA campus is responding. As you may know, the State of California, LA County Board of Supervisors and Department of Public Health have declared a local and public health emergency in response to the increased spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the region. There are no cases at AULA.
The designation reminds us all to take precautions to protect ourselves and others, and we can do so using common sense. We expect to continue to hold classes and to work as hard as ever to support your learning experiences. We will do a few things differently, such as increased cleaning and wiping down surfaces regularly, but we are still in the business of providing education.
I will say more about adjustments, but first, I want to note that much of the response to the coronavirus involves how we interact.
The CDC, the County Health Department, and many other reputable and responsible institutions provide similar advice on how to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. This includes:
- Wash your hands frequently, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid putting your hands on or near your face.
- Refrain from shaking hands; adopt other greetings, such as an “elbow bump.”
- When you cannot wash your hands, use hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately discard the tissue in the trash.
- In the event you feel ill, remain at home.
- If your condition worsens, seek medical assistance.
- Before going to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell the provider or office about any recent travel and symptoms.
- Have supplies at home of essentials, including any medications you may require.
Several websites provide excellent information about the COVID-19 outbreak and how to respond. One with a regional emphasis is LA County Public Health.
If you do not have a health care provider, call 211 and the LA County Health Department will assist you in finding an option near you.
Faculty and students have asked about the potential impact to instruction and what steps they should take. I want to reiterate, if you are sick or symptomatic (with fever and/or respiratory illness), you should stay at home. Communicate this to your course instructor(s) and work with them to find the best way to address any missed content, activities or assignments. I have instructed faculty to work with you if you find you cannot attend a class or need additional time for assignments because of illness. Course attendance requirements will not be enforced in such circumstances. Let your sense of your well-being be your guide.
Again, there are several very helpful websites, and I include a few below for your reference:
- CDC Website
- LA County Department of Health
- American Public Health Association
- World Health Organization
Further developments are likely, of course, and so look for additional communications from the AULA Provost’s office and the University Chancellor. In addition to email communications, all coronavirus related information can be found here and will be updated regularly.
Contact your faculty and program chair if you have program- or course-specific questions.
Finally, we are a caring community in addition to being a campus, and I know I can count on your individual and collective capacity to be supportive of each other and the common good in this challenging time.
Sincerely,
Mark Hower
Provost/CEO of AULA
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Mark Hower, Ph.D.
Provost/CEO
Antioch University Los Angeles
400 Corporate Pointe
Culver City, CA 90230
