By LACCD

LOS ANGELES–The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees approved two new Board Policies which place requirements for the use of face coverings and vaccinations to access all District colleges and facilities. The Board approved the policies at its regularly scheduled meeting August 4 and directed the Chancellor to develop the administrative procedures needed to implement these policies. 

Neither policy prevents anyone from enrolling, attending or working at the District’s nine colleges or other facilities due to their vaccination status, but will, in fact, create safer in-person learning and workplace environments for students and District employees. Numerous people spoke in favor of the policies, including many District employees. 

The Board’s vaccination policy requires that “as a condition to physically access any District building, classroom, library, gymnasium, facility, or other indoor setting, all District employees and students shall either: 1) present proof that they have been fully vaccinated against the SARS- CoV-2 virus (COVID-19); or 2) undergo regular testing for COVID-19 infection and produce proof of negative COVID-19 test results.” 

The Board’s new face coverings policy strengthens the District’s current alignment with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health orders that all persons, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a facial covering or mask indoors. 

“These policies strengthen the Board’s position that the health and safety of our employees and students remains the District’s priority,” LACCD Board of Trustees President Steve Veres said. “The policies, complemented by our improved ventilation systems and increased sanitization standards, provide our highest assurance against the spread of the coronavirus and its variants.” 

The Board’s action is similar to what many other institutes of higher education, public sector organizations and businesses in California and the rest of the country are doing, including the University of California, the California State University system and other community colleges, according to District officials. Both the County and City of Los Angeles have recently announced vaccination requirements for employees. The Los Angeles City Council also announced it is considering proof of vaccination requirements for people when dining indoors at local restaurants. 

“We have to follow the science. Medical experts have made it clear the most effective weapons against this disease are facial coverings and vaccinations. We have ramped up our supplies for face coverings and we will ensure that our colleges remain active as vaccination and testing sites to make it easy for our students and employees to get vaccinated,” LACCD Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D., said. 

District officials believe the vaccination policy could be fully operational within about two months while the face covering policy is in operation now due to the county Health Orders. LACCD students are eligible to receive up to $150 in incentives from the Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges to get vaccinated.