Covid-19 Policy

COVID Policy beginning September 21, 2022

Due to the decline in Covid-19 case rates in Los Angeles County, and lowered population numbers on the Claremont School of Theology campus and in classrooms, CST is suspending the indoor mask mandate, effective Sept. 21, 2022. Masks will no longer be required to be worn in indoor spaces, including classrooms and office buildings.

CST encourages community members to continue following  practices that support personal and collective health and safety, and to respectfully negotiate those practices with other community members when you gather in indoor spaces. Masks and sanitizer will continue to be available in CST classrooms and office spaces, and we encourage community members to remain current on immunizations and boosters. CST also asks that you follow CDC guidelines and wear masks and practice social distancing if you are exposed to the Covid-19 virus, and to stay home if you are ill so that you can recover and prevent virus spread to other community members.

The indoor mask policy may be reinstated during the 2023 Winter Intensive and Hybrid Weeks, when there will be many people on the CST campus who have traveled from different locations, especially if Covid-19 or other respiratory virus case numbers increase in Los Angeles County.

COVID Policy beginning Monday, August 15, 2022

Letter from President Kuan

We are planning with excitement the return of in-person classes here at Claremont School of Theology, beginning with Hybrid Week (August 22-26) and followed by regular semester courses (starting August 29).

As you know, we have been an exclusively remote-learning community for several semesters because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But now the time has come to return to campus, as the federal government, our accreditors, and the United Methodist Church have ended the COVID-19 exemptions that allow for academic programs of entirely remote courses.

Even as we begin to return to campus, Los Angeles County has seen fluctuating levels of various strains of COVID-19. While the Los Angeles County Health Department is not requiring mandatory mask use indoors in public spaces, CST leadership feels we must protect those who enter our campus to learn and work.

Because of the potential of increased risks to students, faculty, and staff, we are taking steps to ensure everyone remains healthy. This effort aligns with CST’s commitment to attend to the well-being of communities near and far.

Here are the policies we have established, and that the CST community will be asked to follow beginning August 15, 2022, until further notice:

  1. MASK MANDATE:  Masks will be required indoors across the CST campus beginning August 15, 2022. All persons on our campus will be required to wear a mask indoors. Masks will be available for those who do not have one. Hand sanitizer will also be available.
  2. POLICY DURING IN-PERSON COURSES:  Masks are required while indoors in classes at all times. Instructors will be allowed to remove their masks while speaking, as long as they remain at least 6 feet from students. Students who speak during class can briefly remove their masks.
  3. VENTILATION: Classes during Hybrid Week and in the Fall 2022 semester will take place in rooms that have air conditioning units, which help filter and circulate air, and reduce the spread of the virus.
  4. VACCINES: We encourage all faculty, staff, and students to be fully vaccinated against COVID before returning to campus.

We will go forward with this policy until further notice and will revise or discontinue it as necessary.

Thank you for being a part of Claremont School of Theology and the special community we have developed for more than 150 years.  We look forward to seeing you around campus!

CST continues to monitor COVID-19, the novel strain of coronavirus that has created a worldwide pandemic. Please note both the Claremont campus and Salem campus are closed to visitors, however essential staff are reporting to work both in-person and remotely as their jobs require. All non-essential travel for staff and faculty continues to be restricted and additional cleaning measures as well as room/building closures are in place on both campuses.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting 

July 8, 2021

HEERF has been funded through several pieces of federal legislation with the intention of providing financial support to institutions of higher education and their students during the coronavirus pandemic.
At least 50% of the funding must be used for emergency financial aid grants to students which may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare. In making financial aid grants to students, an institution of higher education must prioritize grants to students with exceptional need.

9-30-2021 Student grant disclosure

HEERF Student Disclosures (all PDFs below)

HEERF Institutional Quarterly Reports (all PDFs below)

March 24, 2020

Dear Students,

I thank you for your patience as we work to respond to the ever-changing information and related details surrounding the country, state and county response to COVID-19. I want to assure you that your health and safety is our primary focus as we are making decisions for the CST community.

While many institutions across the country have encouraged students to move-out of their on-campus housing, CST has not decided to do so. We understand that for our students and their families, your apartment is not temporary housing, but your home. Therefore, we are staying committed to providing a safe and healthy residential community for our students.

However, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and be consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, students who stay on campus must adhere to the “Stay at Home” order enacted by Governor Newsom and the LA County “Safer at Home” policy. Students staying on-campus must commit to not traveling beyond the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange County borders. In other words, if you travel beyond these counties, you cannot return to CST housing for the rest of the spring semester. You will need to contact Christine Kang at ckang@cst.edu to schedule an appointment to return and move-out of your apartment with your belongings.

Finally, please look at the CST home page at https://cst.edu/coronavirus-updates/ for the latest campus updates and FAQ.

We hope you understand that we need to take these measures in the interest of prioritizing the health and safety of our community. Thank you again for your understanding during this difficult time. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Peace and Blessings,

Jeffrey

March 12, 2020

Dear CST Community,

By now all of you are likely aware of the growing concerns about COVID-19 and ways to keep our communities as safe as possible. We meet throughout each day to discuss the appropriate courses of action in this ever-changing landscape of public health concern. We continue to strongly encourage each of you to keep abreast of current reports, health tips, and strategies for taking care of yourself to the extent that each of you feel is necessary for your own well being. We’ve added the links to public health authorities for local, state, national, and international organizations to our website—you can find them here: https://cst.edu/coronavirus-updates/. This page will also show any of our latest updates regarding the Claremont and Salem campuses.

PLEASE NOTE: CST has made a number of decisions this week that will affect our community going forward:

  1. All face-to-face classes will be held online until further notice beginning Monday, March 23, 2020. Individual professors will determine the best needs for each particular class, but may include the following: synchronous zoom sessions, online format through Sakai, adjustments to the syllabus as necessary. Hybrid and courses that are already in an online format will not change.
  2. More flexible attendance policies will be enacted. We understand that community members may become ill or need to stay home to care for a family member. Students need to be in touch with your faculty with regards to your attendance should you need to miss class. Staff, including student employees, can choose to use sick leave through the online payroll system. If you have employment-related questions or concerns, please speak to your supervisor.
  3. Regular campus gatherings will be modified. Alternative arrangements will be made for Weekly Chapel in Claremont (information will be sent out shortly). Community Tea will be postponed until further notice. Grab and go pre-packaged snacks will be available in Craig 107 (Claremont) or Student Lounge (Salem)—please watch for email updates on days and times. We encourage you to practice social distancing and find alternative ways of greeting each other.
  4. CST Library, Computer Lab and Claremont and Salem Offices will remain open. Access to the CST Library is now restricted to those with a CST ID card only. Computer Lab access will continue to be available by tap card access only for posted hours.
  5. All non-essential travel has been eliminated for staff and faculty for the foreseeable future.
  6. All students, staff, and faculty who travel to a Level-3 country must stay away from campus or self-quarantine (if a campus resident) for 14 days upon return to the United States.
  7. Additional cleaning measures are being taken on campus.

Our Claremont and Salem campuses remain open and we will monitor the situation as it continues to evolve. We will update you about decisions as they are made regarding larger events planned for later in the semester (those pertaining to our transition and Commencement). Remember to check the CST website regularly and watch for additional emails that we will send as information is updated. (Willamette University may make additional announcements that affect our Salem campus community—please check your email.)

Please stay diligent in your hand hygiene and stay home when you are sick. As we enter into Spring Break next week, I hope you have time for rest and renewal.

Peace and Blessings,

Jeffrey

Official Links

As the information is constantly changing, please use reliable sources such as these for the latest information. (For those of you residing outside of California or Oregon, please see your local and state departments of health websites for information pertaining to your area.)

LA County Department of Health
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/