March 10: In-Person Classes Suspended as of 3/11/2020

The following message was distributed to the CalArts community from CalArts President Ravi Rajan:

Dear CalArts Community,

I am writing tonight to update you on our ongoing response to COVID-19. First, I want to make clear that there are no known cases affecting our campus community, but it is important that we do everything possible to prevent exposure to our students, faculty, and staff.

Out of an abundance of caution, CalArts is suspending all in-person classes, activities, and performances between Wednesday, March 11 through Sunday, March 22. The campus is closed to students for this duration. 

We will immediately begin the move to remote forms of instruction—including telephonic, online, and web-based instruction—to begin Monday, March 23, 2020. We anticipate returning to face-to-face classes by April 13. However, we will update the community as the situation evolves. Please know our faculty and academic leadership will make every effort to prevent these plans from having an adverse impact on your studies and your arts practice.

The residence hall and dining services will be available for current students who live on campus. We encourage all students to remain at home, pending notification of the resumption of normal activities. It is vital that all members of the community check their emails regularly for updates.

If you have any questions about this temporary closing to students, please contact the following offices:

For Students - Office of Student Experience

For Faculty - Office of the Provost or your School Dean

For Academic Staff - your supervisor, program director, or Dean

For Administrative Staff – your supervisor, manager, or the Human Resources Department

We will continue to post updates to our website as more information becomes available, the situation evolves, or if there are changes in policies affecting students, faculty, or staff.  

During this time, and over spring break, we encourage all CalArts community members to avoid personal travel to countries with a CDC Level 2 or Level 3 Travel Health Notice related to COVID-19. Although CalArts cannot prohibit personal travel, members of the CalArts community should be aware their personal travel could impact their ability to return to our campus. Specifically, all students, faculty, staff, and campus guests who have returned or will return to the United States from countries with a Travel Health Notice from the CDC are not permitted to return to the CalArts campus for 14 days. The CDC updates its travel notices regularly; please visit the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.

We understand that these measures will disrupt our community, but we believe these steps are helpful in minimizing risk to the CalArts community. This will be in place at least through April 13, 2020, and we will reassess our plans and communicate any changes as early as we are able.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support. Our work together will help us navigate this complex situation.

Sincerely,

Ravi 

Go to Coronavirus Information and Updates