August 17, 2022 Share Your Ideas

Dean Waterstone welcomes incoming students to campus during #LLSOrientation.

Welcoming Incoming LLS Students to Campus!

New Student Orientation events began on Saturday and have continued throughout the week with such sessions as Essential Law School Skills; Law, Justice & Systemic Inequality; and Year in the Life of a 1L. Alumni Anthony Lai '12 and Kenny Ramirez '14 were among those providing welcome remarks. A Thursday reception caps the week before classes begin on Monday. Follow along on social media with #LLSOrientation!

Updates

Update: Masks Recommended, But Not Required on Campuses

In response to L.A. County’s recent move into the medium tier of COVID-19 transmission and recent updates from the CDC, LMU will no longer require masks. The university continues to recommend masking for certain indoor settings*, welcomes community members who choose to mask, and asks everyone to respect each other’s masking preferences. These updates align the university’s approach with current guidance from local public health authorities. Although serving food at an indoor meeting, event, or gathering is permitted, it is recommended that food be served outdoors whenever possible.

As a reminder, LLS students, faculty, staff, and visitors may obtain masks at the Information Center, which is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Fridays. Outside of those hours, masks may be obtained from LLS Security. Students may also obtain masks after hours at the Rains Library Circulation Desk.

*Please note that L.A. County Public Health orders and ordinances still require masks in specific indoors settings: Student Health Services, Student Psychological Services, and LMU shuttles, including the LLS Shuttle. Other university departments or units are not authorized to set their own masking protocols.

Changes to COVID-19 Exposure Notification

Over the summer, LMU revised the university’s exposure notification protocol to align with exposure management policies issued by the California Department of Public Health and L.A. County Department of Public Health. In a classroom, office, conference room, or similarly sized space with a capacity of 30 people, every individual in the space is considered a close contact. In those instances, all individuals in the class would receive an exposure notification. In larger spaces, close contacts are defined as only those within 6 feet of the infected individual.

Seating charts in all classrooms will continue to be required to facilitate contact tracing. As seating charts in larger classrooms are finalized at the outset of the semester, close contacts may be interpreted more broadly to help ensure notification of impacted individuals. This policy is subject to change as the university remains in alignment with changing guidance from public health authorities.

Sonia's Café Hours Expand with Start of Classes

This week, Sonia's Café is open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. through Friday. This includes grill service, as well as the Simply to Go section, coffee bar, and Farmer's Fridge. Starting next week, August 22, its hours will expand to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday.

Reminders

LLS COVID-19 Testing Center Hours Expand

As previously announced, the on-campus LLS COVID-19 Testing Center is now open 12-6 p.m. from Monday-Thursday. Advance appointments are no longer required. Individuals will simply submit a one-time registration in the university’s new portal and receive a personalized QR code. They may then walk up to the LLS Testing Center in the Bannan Room, near Sonia's on the first floor of the Burns Building, and show their personalized QR code for all future testing without needing to schedule an appointment.

Pre-Return COVID-19 Testing for Students

As was announced last week, the university is asking that all students get tested and obtain a negative result before arriving at any LMU campus – including the LMU Loyola Law School (LLS) campus – for the fall semester. Students must submit their negative test or attestation here. The university also asks faculty and staff to receive a negative test before the start of the school year.

COVID Vaccine and Booster Required

The university requires that eligible community members provide proof that they have received their COVID-19 vaccine and at least one COVID-19 booster, unless they have a medical or religious exemption. Those who have already received a vaccine exemption do not need to request an additional exemption for the booster. As a reminder, you are eligible for your booster six months after you have received two doses of Pfizer, Moderna, or WHO approved two-dose COVID-19 vaccines or two months after you have received the single Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Upload your vaccine and booster information in Vax LMU using your phone or tablet as soon as possible and prior to your arrival on campus. As a reminder, those who have a religious or medical exemption, or are not yet eligible to be fully vaccinated and boosted, are required to test weekly at the LLS COVID-19 Testing Center (details above).

Events

Attorneys for Others Returns to Prepare Meals at St. Francis Center

Volunteer with the LLS community in downtown Los Angeles at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 20 by helping prepare a hot to-go breakfast from scratch for the homeless and hungry at St. Francis Center. The volunteer event occurs every third Saturday of the month. More>>

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This email was sent to brian.costello@lls.edu.