Start of the 2025 Spring Semester at Pitzer

Dear Pitzer Community:

As we prepare for the start of the spring semester, there have been questions about the College’s plans for students returning to campus and other updates regarding the continuing Southern California wildfires.

The Pitzer College physical campus and the other Claremont Colleges are safe and have not experienced any damage from the wind-driven fires. Though there is no immediate danger, the College’s crisis management team is activated and monitoring the situation.

The spring semester at Pitzer will begin as scheduled on January 21 with in-person classes.

Information for Pitzer community members in need

For those in our community who have been directly impacted we extend not only our sympathy but also our support. Pitzer and The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS) are providing help—including an on-campus temporary evacuation site and kitchen, emotional support, housing support, and financial assistance—during this extremely difficult time.

You will find more information about these resources on Pitzer’s Safety & Emergency Preparedness page.

Financial Assistance: Students who need help should reach out to the Office of Financial Aid or staff in our Division of Student Affairs. Additionally, students who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the fires can learn more and apply for assistance through the Student Emergency Fund.

One way to directly assist students in need is by designating the Student Emergency Fund when making a gift to Pitzer. For those who wish to support displaced faculty and staff, contributions can be made to the Pitzer Fund, which supports the College’s annual budget, including unexpected expenses like those caused by the recent fires.

Information for returning students and their families

Residence Hall Information: All residence halls will be open beginning at 9 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 18, for students to move in. 

If you need to request an early arrival or have other move-in questions, please email housing@ballballu.com. You can also call the main housing number (909) 607-3900. More information, including contact information for our residence hall team members, can be found on the Residence Life Office page.

Travel to Southern California: As of Jan. 15, major airports in the Los Angeles area are operating normally. We encourage students and families traveling to campus from outside of Southern California to check with their airline and to monitor the situation as their travel date approaches. While the fires are not likely to impact our local airports, strong Santa Ana wind conditions as well as blowing smoke could affect air travel. 

Los Angeles International Airport
Hollywood Burbank Airport
John Wayne Airport
Ontario International Airport 

Regional and Campus Air Quality: We continue to monitor the air quality on campus and will modify and enhance our responses, as necessary. To view a map of current air quality conditions in the Southern California area, visit the South Coast AQMD website.  N95 Masks are available in Student Affairs and Facilities at Pitzer if needed.

General Wildfire Information: CalFire provides updated information on each of the current wildfires. The Watch Duty App provides real-time updates about local conditions, emergency alerts, and evacuation notices during natural disasters. Download the app or go directly to the website at Watch Duty to stay informed and connected. To monitor the situation on campus, select “Los Angeles County” if prompted and enter the main campus address: 1050 North Mills Avenue, Claremont, CA  91711.

General emergency information for the campus community

Evacuation plans: In the event that an evacuation of The Claremont Colleges was necessary, Campus Safety maintains a plan to ensure the safety of our entire community. This Mass Evacuation Plan [PDF] includes the following campuses: Pomona Colleges, Claremont Graduate University, Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, and Pitzer College. We encourage members of our community to review this plan and familiarize themselves with the details.

Timely Communications: Campus Safety and Pitzer will send mass notifications via text and email to students, faculty, and staff as needed. The Everbridge notification system delivers timely warnings, emergency alerts, and community messages to keep campus constituents informed. Should campus operations be impacted, the College and/or Campus Safety will communicate updates regarding important information, closures or relocations, and any instructions.

We hope that this information is helpful, especially as students plan their return next week. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the resources listed above. We look forward to seeing you on campus soon.