Dear UIS Students, Faculty and Staff —
We have just completed an exceptionally successful Fall 2021 semester. A quick look at the numbers clearly shows how important being a highly vaccinated campus was for moving us closer to the campus experience we all miss and want.
12.6.21
Dear UIS Students, Faculty and Staff –
Dear students, faculty and staff:
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff and the communities around us has been our priority. Your sacrifice and commitment have been instrumental in us maintaining our status as a national model for navigating the pandemic.
As a result of your efforts, we are close to completing a safe, successful semester and beginning to plan for the spring.
The three campuses in Urbana-Champaign, Springfield, and Chicago all have different vaccine exemption policies. In Springfield, UIS says get vaccinated or prove you should be exempt, otherwise don't come to campus.
"I think it's really good that everyone here has to get vaccinated to be on campus, but I know a lot of people who think otherwise because they're scared of it,” UIS freshman Mina Edmondson said.
Saying that he wanted to head off a “pandemic of the unvaccinated," Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Thursday mandated COVID-19 vaccines for all public education employees who work with students pre-kindergarten through college.
The vaccine mandate is scheduled to begin Sept. 5.
While the vaccine mandate does not cover students in grades K through 12, it does apply to college students.
If you’re planning to attend a show at the UIS Performing Arts Center this fall, be prepared to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test.
That’s just one of the precautions being put in place by UIS amid an ongoing surge of new COVID cases. Attendance at Sangamon Auditorium events is being limited to 1,000… which is 50-percent capacity. Concession stands will be closed, although patrons can bring bottled water into shows.
This article appeared on WMAY on August 19, 2021.
Due to our on-campus density increasing with the start of the Fall 2021 semester and the high transmission rates of COVID-19 throughout our region, state and country, the UIS COVID-19 Rapid Response Team has made the decision to require COVID-19 testing for all on-campus individuals for a one-month “entry testing” period beginning the week of Aug. 16. Compliance with this directive will be closely monitored.
All on-campus students, faculty and staff who are fully vaccinated must test once per week.
7.30.21
Dear UIS Students, Faculty and Staff —
Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention issued new recommendations that all individuals, including those who are fully vaccinated, wear face coverings when indoors in public settings in areas that have substantial or high community transmission of COVID-19. Sangamon County is included among many counties in Illinois with substantial transmission.
7.27.21
Dear Students:
As we quickly approach the fall semester, my hope is that you are seeing your university act in many ways to prioritize your safety to the greatest extent possible. Last year, we clearly heard that you want, to the closest extent possible, a traditional college experience at our university — a college experience that is filled with opportunity, experiences and people. You want to be able to have lunch with others in the Student Union, have friends over to your apartment on campus and attend more events and meetings in person.
7.27.21
Dear UIS Colleagues —
Today we are issuing our UIS Fall 2021 Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Policy in alignment with the UI System’s recently announced requirement that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the start of the Fall 2021 semester.
