Campus Updates

Keep up with the latest updates regarding the CalArts campus and any Covid-related issues. 

Recent Developments

COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Will Continue Until June 30, 2023

The Office of Human Resources is pleased to share that the Institute is continuing COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave until June 30, 2023. This is an important decision and benefit because the current California COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is scheduled to end on Sept. 30, 2022, for California covered employees. The decision was made to support employees impacted by COVID so that they may focus on their well-being. 

Please use this brief Q&A as a guide to understand eligibility and benefits.

What does the COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Leave cover and how much time am I eligible for?

The COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave provided by CalArts provides eligible employees up to 80 hours of COVID-19 related paid leave, with up to 40 of those hours for isolation and quarantine, receiving vaccines, and caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed. Additionally, when an employee, or family member, for whom the employee provides care, tests positive for COVID-19, eligible employees can receive up to an additional 40 hours.  

Who is eligible for the COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave? 

A full-time covered employee may take up to 40 hours of leave if the employee is unable to work or telework for any of the following reasons:

  • Vaccine-related: The covered employee is attending a vaccine or booster appointment for themselves or a family member* or cannot work or telework because they have vaccine-related symptoms or are caring for a family member with vaccine-related symptoms. CalArts may limit an employee to 24 hours or 3 days of leave for each vaccination or booster appointment and any consequent side effects, unless a health care provider verifies that more recovery time is needed.
  • Caring for yourself: The covered employee is subject to a quarantine or isolation period related to COVID-19 as defined by an order or guidance of the California Department of Public Health, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or a local public health officer with jurisdiction over the workplace; has been advised by a healthcare provider to quarantine; or is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis.
  • Caring for a family member*: The covered employee is caring for a family member who is subject to a COVID-19 quarantine or isolation period or has been advised by a healthcare provider to quarantine due to COVID-19, or is caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed or unavailable due to COVID-19 on the premises.

Is additional leave available?

A full-time covered employee may take up to an additional 40 hours of leave if the employee is unable to work or telework for either of the following reasons:

  • The covered employee tests positive for COVID-19
  • The covered employee is caring for a family member* who tested positive for COVID-19.

*A family member includes a child, parent, spouse, registered domestic partner, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling.

What are the benefits for part-time employees?

Part-Time covered employees: Part-time covered employees may take leave up to the amount of hours they work over two weeks, with half of those hours available only when they or a family member* test positive for COVID-19.

How do I submit a request COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave?  

To submit your request for COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave, please email hr@calarts.edu with the dates that you were out for COVID. An HR team member will contact you for additional details and documentation.

As a community, let’s continue to take care of each other. Our individual efforts will create a collective result of well-being for the community.

We encourage you to stay safe and be well.

COVID-19 Vaccination Exemptions & Weekly Testing Requirements

CalArts requires all community members be up to date (meaning that they have received the full initial dose(s) of their specific vaccine, along with an available booster dose if eligible [CDC Booster info]).   

Vaccination Verifications 

Proof of vaccination can be submitted online:

If you are not fully vaccinated, you can also schedule an appointment by contacting your local pharmacy or Urgent Care (COVID-19 Vaccine Locator).

Vaccination Exemptions

Vaccination exemptions are available for medical or religious reasons by completing the Exemption Forms below. You can also use this form if you will not be fully vaccinated by the start of the semester.

Weekly Testing Requirements (for those with vaccination exemptions)

Even if you are not in class or on campus any given week, you are still responsible for getting tested that week. Please read the COVID-19 Policies related to weekly testing requirements.

  • Students approved for medical or religious exemptions (including student employees) are required to submit a weekly testing form

  • Faculty and staff working on campus approved for medical or religious exemptions are required to submit a weekly testing form

  • Faculty and staff working remotely approved for medical or religious exemptions are required to submit a monthly testing form

  • Find Free COVID-19 Testing Sites

Even if you are not in class or on campus any given week, you are still responsible for getting tested that week (Monday through Friday), especially due to the exposure-to-infection time span of 3-5 days.

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Health and Safety Guidelines

​COVID-19 Exposure

  • Anyone in the community that has experienced close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, must report this using the LiveSafe app and be tested.

  • Anyone who has been exposed to someone who tested positive for Covid-19 does NOT need to quarantine unless they are experiencing symptoms. Every exposed person must take a test within 3-5 days, wear a mask for 10 days, and monitor their symptoms.

Reporting COVID-19 Positive Cases

Anyone in the community that tests positive for COVID-19 must report their status using the LiveSafe app, emailing covidcompliance@calarts.edu, and will need to isolate. After positive results are reported the COVID Compliance Team will reach out to the individual with instructions and specific questions for the purpose of contact tracing.

Individuals may return to work after the following:

  • they have isolated for a minimum of 5 days,
  • they no longer have COVID symptoms, and
  • they have tested negative using an antigen test.

The community will be notified of all positive cases that are related to campus and off-campus facilities. Those who are identified as having close contact with someone testing positive for COVID will be contacted and asked to take a COVID test.

COVID-19 Testing

If a student shows symptoms of COVID-19, students should use the link below to:

  • Find a testing site

  • If a student has a positive COVID-19 test, they should contact the COVID Compliance Team at covidcompliance@calarts.edu to notify them of having tested positive, self-isolate for 5 days, and contact their primary care provider/clinic for proper medical guidance. Once the 5 days have passed and have been symptom-free for 3 days (72 hours), the student must have one negative test result submitted to the COVID Compliance Team at covidcompliance@calarts.edu. The covid compliance team will notify the student with permission to return back to campus.

Isolation for Residence Life

For students living in the dorms on campus, spaces have been reserved on campus in the event that a student needs to be quarantined or isolated.  If these spaces are full, the Institute will assist the student in finding an appropriate place to fulfill this requirement.

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